Baked Cheesy Spinach Balls

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 12/16/21
Baked Cheesy Spinach Balls

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 35 mins
Servings: 48 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
59 Calories
5g Fat
2g Carbs
2g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 48
Amount per serving
Calories 59
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g 6%
Saturated Fat 2g 12%
Cholesterol 25mg 8%
Sodium 126mg 5%
Total Carbohydrate 2g 1%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 1mg 6%
Calcium 40mg 3%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 71mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

These spinach balls are incredibly delicious, easy to make, and ready in just 35 minutes. Made with tangy Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, and eggs, they're great as a party appetizer or part of a party spread. Use them as a meat-free meatball option with spaghetti and marinara sauce for a veggie alternative, and make bigger batches to bake and freeze for a last-minute meal served with mashed potatoes and salad.

A crunchy and dry outer crust makes them excellent finger food, as you'll only need napkins to serve them. A variety of dipping sauces make great accompaniments, like grainy mustard, dill sour cream sauce, marinara sauce, chipotle mayonnaise, mustard and mayonnaise dip, or even spicy guacamole. Make them smaller in size and put them by threes on skewers with a cherry tomato in between each.

Ingredients

  • 20 ounces frozen spinach, coarsely chopped

  • 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

  • 2 cups herb-seasoned stuffing crumbs

  • 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste

  • 4 large eggs

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg, or to taste

  • 1/2 cup seasoned or plain breadcrumbs, optional

  • 2 tablespoons finely minced onions, optional

  • 1/4 cup finely chopped pecans, pine nuts, or walnuts, optional

  • 1/4 cup finely chopped red bell pepper, optional

  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Baked Cheesy Spinach Balls ingredients

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  2. Cook the spinach following the package directions. Drain it in a colander, pressing with the help of a bowl or big cooking spoon to squeeze out as much of the liquid as possible.

    drained cooked spinach in a colander

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  3. In a large bowl, combine the warm spinach with the softened butter. Add the stuffing crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and minced onions. Mix well and add salt and pepper to taste, plus the nutmeg. Be mindful that stuffing crumbs already have salt in them so go light at first and check the seasoning again right before baking.

    stuffing crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and minced onions combined with spinach and butter

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  4. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs lightly and add them to the spinach mixture. Combine thoroughly and chill the mixture for about 30 minutes, covered.

    spinach ball ingredients mixed with egg in a bowl

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  5. Preheat the oven to 350 F.

  6. While the mixture chills, line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or spray it with nonstick cooking or baking spray.

    greased baking sheet

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  7. If using, put the fine dry breadcrumbs in a plate or bowl.

    breadcrumbs in a bowl

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  8. Once the mixture is cool, use a rounded teaspoon or small cookie scoop and shape the spinach mixture into small balls. If the mixture is sticking to your hands, dampen them with cold water as you work.

    spinach balls on a plate

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  9. Roll each ball in the breadcrumbs until it's lightly coated and place it on the baking sheet, leaving about 1/2-inch of space in between.

    spinach balls rolled in breadcrumbs on a baking sheet

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  10. Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until they feel firm to the touch. If you're serving them as an appetizer, you can keep them warm on a warming tray, or in a buffet server, chafing dish, or slow cooker.

    Baked Cheesy Spinach Balls

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Spinach Balls as a Main Dish

Here are a few suggestions on how to use these spinach balls as your main course:

  • Pasta: Cook short pasta, and coat with pesto or red sauce. Place 4 spinach balls per person and grate additional Parmesan on each bowl.
  • Sandwich: Use fresh baguette and cut lengthwise. Place slices of Brie and bake for 5 to 7 minutes until cheese is warm. Place meatballs on the bread and close the baguette. Slice in 3 big sandwiches or 6 medium ones.
  • Brunch: Poach one egg per guest and place it on top of 4 warm spinach balls. Serve with a green salad and fresh bread.
  • Veggie Burger: Shape the mixture like a patty and bake until firm. Use sesame buns, spicy mayo, any sliced cheese of your liking, slices of tomato, fresh lettuce, and build a veggie burger. Serve with oven fries and ketchup.
  • Kid's Lunch: Pack 2 hard-boiled eggs, 4 spinach meatballs, 1 apple, and 1/2 cup of trail mix for a protein-filled healthy lunch.