Turkey, Spinach & Cheese Meatballs

Turkey, Spinach & Cheese Meatballs

There’s always excitement at my house when meatballs are on the menu, but I wasn’t sure how the kids would feel about these because, well, spinach. But they loved them, spinach and all. What makes them special is the addition of turkey sausage. Not only does the sausage make the meatballs tender, it also adds great flavor without the need for a ton of other ingredients. To make life easy, I brown the meatballs under the broiler rather than in a frying pan. That means no stovetop splatters, and you can get the rest of dinner ready while the meatballs cook.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 large egg
• 3 ounces baby spinach, chopped (3-1/2 cups whole; 1-1/2 cups chopped)
• 3 scallions, white and green parts, finely sliced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1.25 pounds 93/7 ground turkey (I use Shady Brook Farms)
• 1.25 pounds Italian turkey sausage, removed from the casings (I use Shady Brook Farms)
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella (preferably whole milk but low-fat will work)
• 1/3 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano, plus more for serving
• 1/2 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
• 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce, homemade or good quality store-bought

Instructions

1. Preheat the broiler and set an oven rack on the second-highest rack. Line a baking sheet with heavy duty aluminum foil and grease with the olive oil.
2. In a bowl large enough to hold all of the ingredients, beat the egg. Add the chopped spinach, scallions, and garlic and stir until evenly combined. Add the ground turkey, turkey sausage, mozzarella, Parmigiano-Reggiano and bread crumbs. Using your hands, mix until evenly combined. Shape the mixture into 1-1/2 inch balls and place on the prepared baking sheet.
3. Broil the meatballs until golden brown on top, about 10 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, heat the tomato sauce in a large pan on the stovetop. Add the broiled meatballs and simmer over low heat for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the meatballs are fully cooked.

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