Healthy Meatball Recipe with Spinach and Garlic

Check out this healthy meatball recipe made with grass-fed lean ground beef and the nutrient-rich spinach, carrots, onions, and spices garlic, oregano, and basil. This recipe also offers an egg-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free option for anyone with sensitivities.

A white plate with healthy meatball recipe featuring ground beef onion, carrots, spinach, garlic, basil and oregano | The Radiant Root
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I love finding new ways to add a vegetable to every meal. It is a great way to add nutrition to your diet. One way to easy way to make a healthy meatball recipe is by adding some vegetables and using grass-fed organic beef. The addition of veggies will give your meal extra nutrients.

Eating a largely plant-based diet is the best way to get an abundance of nutrients. However, there is room for meat in a balanced diet. This means not solely thinking of meat as the star of the show when it comes to a meal. I like to make the vegetables at the center of the meal with meat on the side.

Ingredients Used In This Recipe

My diet is gluten and dairy-free so in this recipe, I withheld the breadcrumbs and grated parmesan cheese you typically find in Italian meatballs. So this recipe is great for anyone on a low carb, paleo, or AIP diet.

In some places, you will find it says that almond flour can be used as a substitute for breadcrumbs for anyone who is gluten-free. It’s supposed to help the meatballs stick together.

Personally, I felt like I was getting too many almonds in my diet and wanted to see if I could make a meatball without any flour. After experimenting I found it’s not really necessary for this particular recipe. Another bonus of having no almonds or breadcrumbs is they are low carb in case you’re looking for a paleo-friendly recipe.

Glass bowls of various sizes with ingredients for a healthy meatball recipe, beef, spinach, garlic, basil, oregano, shredded carrots, chopped onion and the words "Healthy Meatball Recipe" in black font | The Radiant Root

Type of Meat to Use in this Healthy Meatball Recipe

Often healthy turkey meatballs recipes are baked turkey meatballs. Most times healthy meatball recipes will call for ground chicken or turkey Sometimes I find myself craving beef and that is why I incorporated grass-fed beef into this recipe.

I like to incorporate animal proteins with vegetables for extra nutrients. Another thing I like to do is use organic grass-fed beef if possible. There are studies showing this meat has a different nutrient and fat profile. Grass-fed beef is found to have

  • Less total fat
  • Less saturated fat
  • More omega 3 fatty acids
  • More conjugated linoleic acid

Grass-fed beef has a lower amount of total fat and less saturated fat than regular beef. This type of beef also offers a good intake of omega 3 fatty acids. It has five times more than conventional beef. There is also the presence of more conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). This is a polyunsaturated fat that is said to have health benefits.

And personally, to me, it tastes better. Grass-fed beef is available in most stores and sometimes they will have deals on this product. I have also found that using delivery services like Butcher Box and US Wellness Meats is another way to save money.

These subscriptions can be put on pause at any time. Also, if you purchase through companies like Honey you can get additional discounts. If you use Rakuten you can get cash back on your purchases.

Substitute Lean Ground Turkey for Beef

If you’re not a big beef eater you can use lean ground turkey as a substitute. I find that turkey meatball recipes come out just as tasty and make a healthy turkey recipe.

How to Make these Baked Meatballs

Growing up we would always make beef meatballs in a frying pan with olive oil. Little did I know that frying was not the healthiest way to make this meal. Over the past few years, I’ve learned how baking is a great alternative way to frying. So now I make my meatballs in the oven. Some people like to use an instant pot to make meatballs I haven’t tried this yet but want to in the future.

This recipe is pretty easy to make. The first thing you want to do is preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Take a baking sheet and line it with a silicone roasting mat. If you don’t have a reusable mat you can also use parchment paper. This is found in the section of the store where they have aluminum foil. Take the lined baking sheet and set it aside

Then combine the beef, shredded carrots, onion, spinach, and garlic and mix.

Glass bowl with beef, carrots, onion, and garlic stacked | The Radiant Root

Then add basil and oregano and blend all the ingredients together

Mixed meatball ingredients (beef, spinach, carrots, chopped onions, spinach and garlic, topped with oregano and basil | The Radiant Root

Once all ingredients are mixed you can start making the meatballs one at a time. Take a spoon-sized meat mixture, roll into a ball, and place on the lined baking sheet, and repeat until all of the mixtures is used up.

15 Raw Beef Meatballs on a Lined Baking Sheet | The Radiant Root

Place the baking sheet into the oven and cook for about 65 minutes or until they are golden and crispy

Baked beef, spinach, and carrot meatballs | The Radiant Root

These meatballs have yummy garlicky goodness and are delicious enough to eat on their own. Or if you’re the type who likes a little dip you can add them to your favorite marinara sauce or other dressings.

Ways to Save Time with This Recipe

Kitchen tools help save time during cooking. One of my favorite items to use in the kitchen is the food processor. In this recipe specifically, I used it to shred the carrots, onion, and spinach. It’s also a great way to avoid the dreaded tearing that occurs when cutting onions.

Another way to save time is to purchase prep-prepped veggies like shredded carrots, and chopped onions from your favorite store.

Equipment Used in This Recipe*

*Some of these links are affiliate links, this means when you sign up or purchase from these links we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more in our disclosure statement.

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Healthy Meatball Recipe

A garlickly delicious beef meatball recipe that adds a dose of veggies
Course Appetizer, dinner
Cuisine AIP, American, paleo
Keyword baked vegetables, protein, veggies
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 15 3 meatballs
Calories* 124kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 lb organic grass-fed beef
  • 1 medium white onion peeled and diced
  • 1 cup carrots shredded (2 medium carrots)
  • 1 cup spinach chopped
  • 1 tsp basil
  • 1 tsp  oregano
  • 3 cloves garlic peeled and crushed

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Take a baking sheet, cover with parchment paper or a reusable baking mat and set aside.
  • In a medium mixing bowl place the beef, carrots, onion, and spinach.
  • Top with the garlic and mix.
  • Add the basil, oregano, and mix well.
  • Take a spoon size of the meat mixture and roll into a ball.
  • Place on the lined baking sheet. Repeat until all the meat is used.
  • Place the baking sheet in the oven for about 65 minutes or until the meatballs are crisp and brown. Let cool and serve

Video

*Disclaimer: Some of these links are affiliate links, this means when you sign up or purchase from these links we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. The Radiant Root is also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Learn more in our disclosure statement.

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