Spinach Feta Baked Turkey Meatballs
These Spinach Feta Baked Turkey Meatballs are packed with baby spinach, creamy feta cheese and plenty of flavor! There’s no browning required, they’re great for meal prep, and the recipe includes a gluten-free option!
I absolutely love meatballs, but I used to avoid making them because I despise browning them on the stove top. It’s extremely time consuming and it makes such a mess!
I’ve made it my mission to make meatballs easier so that I can enjoy them more often. These oven baked meatballs with ground beef and firecracker meatballs with ground chicken are two varieties that I love to make often because no browning is required.
I love changing things up with ground turkey, so I created these Spinach Feta Baked Turkey Meatballs years ago. They’re packed with baby spinach and creamy feta cheese, which gives them plenty of mediterranean flair.
The spinach and feta adds a ton of flavor and moisture to the meatballs as well, which makes them incredibly juicy.
This is an easy dinner that the entire family will love. 🙂
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- The oven baked turkey meatballs are juicy, flavorful and no browning is required!
- They include a whopping 5 ounces of baby spinach for added moisture and nutrition.
- Ground turkey meatballs are easily made gluten-free and/or dairy free with a couple of simple swaps.
- This recipe is great for meal prep dinners and it’s freezer-friendly!
Recipe ingredients
- Ground turkey. Use lean ground turkey for best results as it contains more fat than ground turkey breast. The added fat translates to more flavor and a juicier meatball.
- Marinara sauce. Use my homemade marinara sauce, which can be made completely in advance, or use your favorite store bought brand.
- Olive oil. A bit of olive oil is necessary to sauté the spinach and garlic.
- Spinach. The spinach adds moisture and nutrition. I’ve used fresh baby spinach, but frozen spinach may be used as well. Be sure that it’s completely thawed and it’s squeezed to remove excess liquid.
- Garlic. Sub fresh garlic with 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Egg. The egg helps bind the turkey meatballs together.
- Breadcrumbs. The breadcrumbs add moisture. Use gluten-free breadcrumbs if gluten intolerant.
- Feta cheese. The feta cheese adds creaminess and umami flavor. It may be substituted with parmesan cheese or omitted altogether to make them dairy-free.
- Dried oregano. Sub with dried basil, thyme or your favorite herbs.
How to make ground turkey meatballs
Ground turkey meatballs are super easy to make, and they can be prepped up to a day in advance to make this recipe go even more quickly.
The marinara sauce may also be made ahead of time, or you can use your favorite store bought brand as a time saver.
Pro tip: Use lean ground turkey for best results as it contains more fat than ground turkey breast. The added fat translates to more flavor and a juicier meatball.
See the recipe card below for full instructions.
- Sauté the spinach in the olive oil until wilted, then add the garlic and cook 30 seconds more.
- Coarsely chop the spinach.
- Place the ground turkey in a medium bowl and add the chopped spinach, egg, breadcrumbs, feta cheese, oregano, salt and pepper. Mix together gently with your hands until the ingredients are incorporated, being careful not to overwork the meat.
- Pour the marinara sauce into the bottom of a skillet or baking dish.
- Form about 2 tablespoons of the meatball mixture into a ball and place in marinara sauce. Repeat until all the meatballs have been made.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a thermometer inserted into the center of a meatball registers 165 degrees.
FAQs
How do you keep turkey meatballs from falling apart?
It’s important to use binders to help the ground turkey meatballs retain their shape.
Meatball binders include the following:
– Egg
– Breadcrumbs
– Crushed crackers
– Rice
– Quick oats
– Flour (wheat, oat, almond, etc.)
– Cooked vegetables such as onions, riced cauliflower, carrots, zucchini and spinach
– Cheese
Ground turkey meatballs normally take 20-25 minutes to bake at 375 degrees, but check for doneness after 15 minutes as all oven temperatures vary.
If your turkey meatballs are tough, the ground turkey may have been overworked when it was combined with the other ingredients or they were simply overcooked.
Turkey meatballs are done when a thermometer inserted into the center registers 165 degrees.
Serving suggestions
Turkey meatballs are incredibly versatile, so they can be served a number of delicious ways.
- Serve over your favorite pasta or polenta. They’re also wonderful over spaghetti squash or veggie noodles.
- Serve in rolls like my bbq meatball subs.
- Serve as-is with a simple side of butter lettuce salad or Italian tricolore salad.
- Serve with focaccia bread or beer bread.
- Skip the sauce and simply bake them on a baking sheet, or cook them in the air fryer following the instructions for my air fryer meatballs.
Recipe notes
- Pro tip: Use lean ground turkey for best results as it contains more fat than ground turkey breast. The added fat translates to more flavor and a juicier meatball.
- Frozen spinach may be used instead of fresh. Be sure to thaw it completely and squeeze out all of the excess liquid.
- Sub the feta cheese for grated parmesan or omit to make dairy free.
- Baked turkey meatballs are a great meal prep meal and they’re freezer-friendly.
More ground turkey recipes you’ll love:
- Green enchiladas
- Grilled turkey burgers
- Asian turkey lettuce wraps by Eat Yourself Skinny
- Turkey meatloaf
- Turkey tacos
- Slow cooker turkey chili
- White bean turkey chili
Did you try this recipe? If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram
Spinach Feta Baked Turkey Meatballs
Ingredients
- homemade marinara sauce sub with 32 ounce jar of store bought
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 5 ounces baby spinach
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 1/2 lbs. lean ground turkey see notes
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs regular or gluten free
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano sub with your favorite herbs
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Freshly chopped parsley for serving (optional)
Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Pour the marinara sauce in a large skillet or baking dish and set aside.homemade marinara sauce
- Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the spinach and cook until wilted, then add the garlic and cook 30 seconds more. Remove the spinach from heat and coarsely chop on a cutting board.1 tablespoon olive oil, 5 ounces baby spinach, 3 cloves garlic
- Place the ground turkey in a medium bowl. Add the chopped spinach, egg, breadcrumbs, crumbled feta cheese, oregano, salt and pepper and mix gently with your hands until the ingredients are incorporated. Be careful not to over mix as this will toughen the meat.1 1/2 lbs. lean ground turkey, 1 large egg, 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese, 2 teaspoons dried oregano, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Form about 2 tablespoons of the turkey mixture into a ball and place in the skillet with marinara. Repeat with the remaining turkey mixture.
- Bake the turkey meatballs for 20-25 minutes, checking for doneness after 15 minutes, or until a thermometer inserted into the center of a meatball registers 165 degrees. Remove from heat. Garnish with parsley as desired and enjoy!Freshly chopped parsley
Notes
- Pro tip: Use lean ground turkey for best results as it contains more fat than ground turkey breast. The added fat translates to more flavor and a juicier meatball.
- Nutrition information does not include marinara sauce as that was calculated in a separate post.
- Frozen spinach may be used instead of fresh. Be sure to thaw it completely and squeeze out all of the excess liquid.
- Sub the feta cheese for grated parmesan or omit to make dairy free.
- Baked turkey meatballs are a great meal prep meal and they’re freezer-friendly.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
**This recipe was originally published in February 2020. Step by step photos have been added and the text has been modified to include more recipe information.
10 Comments on “Spinach Feta Baked Turkey Meatballs”
Haha, Marcie! I definitely hate ironing more than I hate browning meatballs, BUT I do love the idea of some hands off baking! We love meatballs too so I’ve definitely got to try this!
Hands off baking is my kind of baking! lol Thank you Katherine!
I normally meal prep turkey meat balls every second weekend. They are so great for lunches or busy weeknights. I need to give this recipe a try. Love the added spinach!
I need to meal prep meatballs more often too as they’re always a hit in my house! Thanks Leanne!
Delicious!
I’m glad you enjoyed them Dianne!
This recipe is a fan favorite in our home!! So easy to throw together and bake. I’ve also doubled the recipe and frozen half of them raw. Favorite way to serve them is with zoodles. Many thanks for all your amazing recipes!!!
I’m so glad you’re enjoying this recipe Jean! I love them with zoodles too, and I’m going to double the recipe and freeze half next time!
So easy and absolutely DELICIOUS!!
It says serves 6, 3 of us gobbled them all up…none left…
I printed and will save this recipe.
Thank you.
I’m so glad that you all enjoyed the meatballs, I totally understand how quickly they get eaten! LOL. Thanks for the feedback! 🙂