Description
Hearty Creamy Spinach Turkey Meatballs blend Mediterranean flavors with comforting home-style cooking. Rich protein and leafy greens create a satisfying meal perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (454 g) ground turkey
- 1 egg
- 1 cup fresh spinach, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- ½ cup heavy cream (or coconut milk for dairy-free option)
- ⅓ cup breadcrumbs (or almond flour for gluten-free option)
- 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
- ¼ tsp nutmeg (optional)
- 2 tbsps olive oil or butter
- 1 cup chicken broth
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Mixture Preparation: Combine ground turkey, spinach, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl, ensuring thorough and even blending.
- Meatball Formation: Craft uniform spherical meatballs about one inch in diameter, maintaining a light touch to preserve a tender texture.
- Searing Process: Heat a skillet with olive oil over medium temperature, carefully positioning meatballs to develop a golden-brown exterior through strategic rotation, cooking completely within 8-10 minutes.
- Sauce Creation: Utilize the same skillet to sauté garlic, then introduce chicken broth, heavy cream, and Parmesan cheese, whisking until a smooth, luxurious sauce emerges.
- Sauce Refinement: If needed, incorporate a cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce, optionally enhancing with a hint of nutmeg for added complexity.
- Final Fusion: Gently return meatballs to the creamy sauce, allowing them to simmer and absorb flavors for 3-5 minutes.
- Plating and Presentation: Serve the creamy spinach turkey meatballs atop pasta, rice, or roasted vegetables, finishing with a sprinkle of Parmesan and fresh parsley for an elegant touch.
Notes
- Manage Meat Moisture: Mix ingredients gently without overworking to prevent dense, tough meatballs that can become dry and rubbery during cooking.
- Maintain Consistent Size: Use a small ice cream scoop or tablespoon to create uniform meatballs, ensuring even cooking and professional presentation.
- Control Cooking Temperature: Keep skillet at medium heat to develop golden-brown exterior without burning, which helps seal in juices and create perfect caramelization.
- Boost Flavor Variations: Experiment with alternative herbs like thyme or sage, swap turkey for ground chicken, or add red pepper flakes for subtle heat and personalized taste profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 100mg