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Creamy Spinach Turkey Meatballs with Quick Pan-Sear and Oven Finish for Weeknights Pinterest recipe pin

Creamy Spinach Turkey Meatballs

Tender turkey meatballs seared and finished in the oven, coated in a quick creamy spinach sauce—moist interior, saucy finish, ideal for weeknight dinners.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 320

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound ground turkey 93% lean
  • 6 ounces fresh baby spinach
  • 1 small shallot finely diced
  • 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan divided
  • 2 cloves garlic minced (divided)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup half-and-half
  • 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice about 1/2 lemon
  • Chopped parsley for garnish optional

Equipment

  • 1 12-inch heavy skillet
  • 1 Rimmed baking sheet
  • 1 Medium sauté pan
  • 1 Instant-read thermometer

Method
 

Prepare the spinach and aromatics
  1. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a medium sauté pan over medium heat, add the diced shallot and cook 2–3 minutes until translucent, add the spinach with a pinch of salt and wilt for about 2 minutes; transfer to a bowl and press or squeeze to remove excess liquid until you have about 1/3 cup packed spinach.
Make the meatball mixture
  1. In a large bowl combine the ground turkey, drained spinach, panko, egg, Greek yogurt, 3 tablespoons Parmesan, 1 clove minced garlic, salt, pepper, and oregano; mix gently until just combined and form into sixteen 1.5-ounce meatballs.
Sear and oven finish
  1. Preheat oven to 375°F and heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high; sear half the meatballs until golden on most sides (about 3–4 minutes), transfer to a rimmed baking sheet, sear the remainder, then bake the sheet for 10–12 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F; rest meatballs 5 minutes.
Make the creamy spinach sauce
  1. Return the sauté pan to medium heat, add butter, sauté 1 minced garlic clove 30 seconds, stir in the flour and cook 1 minute, whisk in half-and-half and chicken broth and simmer until slightly thickened (3–4 minutes), stir in the reserved spinach, Dijon, remaining Parmesan, season to taste and simmer 1–2 minutes.
Finish and serve
  1. Add rested meatballs to the sauce, warm 1–2 minutes while spooning sauce over them, finish with lemon juice and chopped parsley, and serve hot.

Notes

Cook and squeeze the spinach thoroughly to avoid a watery sauce. Use an instant-read thermometer to confirm meatballs reach 165°F. For gluten-free, swap panko for gluten-free breadcrumbs and replace flour in the sauce with a cornstarch slurry. Bake times may vary slightly by meatball size—adjust as needed.