Spinach, breadcrumbs, and parmesan cheese wrapped up in a perfect bite sized appetizer. This easy spinach balls recipe will please a crowd and be whipped up in a snap.
What Is A Spinach Ball?
My Husband's brother makes these as a tradition every holiday season. I'll admit - at first I was really skeptical...especially of the name. "Spinach balls? Sounds Terrible!" Then I ate one as a courtesy. To my surprise they were delicious! I ate probably a half dozen and still wanted more! These have become one of my favorite appetizers to make...not only because they are tasty, but because they are EASY!
Think of a spinach ball as a meatless meatball. Spinach balls are made of spinach (obviously), breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, egg, butter, and seasonings. The combination is really tasty and makes for the perfect appetizer. I love eating these straight out of the oven, but they can also be served at room temp.
What Do I Need To Make This Spinach Balls Recipe
For this recipe you'll need:
- Italian bread crumbs
- grated parmesan cheese
- melted butter
- eggs
- spinach (fresh or frozen)
- salt and pepper
How Do I Make This Spinach Balls Recipe?
- If using fresh spinach, place it in a large bowl and pour 3 cups boiling water over top.
- Let stand for 5 minutes.
- Meanwhile add breadcrumbs to a large mixing bowl.
- Add grated parmesan cheese.
- Pour in eggs.
- Add melted butter.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Squeeze liquid from spinach.
- Add wilted spinach to mixing bowl. With clean hands, mix all ingredient until well combined.
- Spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray.
- Roll into 1 inch balls.
- Place on baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden.
Pro Tip - My favorite way to form these spinach balls, or meatballs for that matter, is to use a cookie scoop. It is the perfect size and they create uniform balls. Of course you can just eyeball it, and roll one and a half inch balls from the dough, but if you don't have a cookie scoop you need to invest! I love using it for cookies of course, and lots of other recipes.
What About The Dipping Sauce?
For the dipping sauce you'll need:
- white vinegar
- white sugar
- 1 egg
- ground mustard
How Do I Make This Dipping Sauce?
- In a medium saucepan, add ground mustard.
- Add white sugar.
- Add beaten egg.
- Pour in white vinegar.
- Stir continuously over medium heat until sauce thickens.
- Transfer to a bowl and serve alongside spinach balls.
The Perfect Finger Food
These spinach balls have been a welcomed addition among the
at your holiday party.
Can Spinach Balls Be Frozen?
Absolutely! Premake them and freeze before baking. When needed, transfer to a cookie sheet and bake! This is a perfect make-ahead recipe!
Should I Use Fresh or Frozen Spinach?
You can actually use both. If you are using frozen, thaw and squeeze excess liquid out. If you are using fresh - follow the steps in the recipe card for melting. I've used both and both are delicious.
GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK!
Even if you are a little apprehensive about this recipe - I hope you'll try it. I promise you'll be pleasantly surprised just like I was! After you make them, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave us a comment below. You can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest to see what else we’re getting up to!
Spinach Balls Recipe with Mustard Dipping Sauce
A tasty, easy appetizer!
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Servings: 24 spinach balls
Calories: 127kcal
Ingredients
Spinach Balls
- 20 ounces packages of frozen chopped spinach thawed and drained or 2 cups fresh spinach
- 2 cups italian bread crumbs
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- ½ cup butter melted
- 4 eggs lightly beaten
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
Mustard Sauce
- ⅓ cup ground mustard found on the spice aisle
- ½ cup white vinegar
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 1 beaten egg
Instructions
Spinach Balls
- If using fresh spinach, place it in a large bowl and pour 3 cups boiling water over top. If using frozen spinach, thaw and squeeze out excess liquid.
- Let stand for 5 minutes.Meanwhile add breadcrumbs to a large mixing bowl.
- Add grated parmesan cheese.
- Pour in eggs.
- Add melted butter.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Squeeze liquid from spinach.
- Add wilted spinach to mixing bowl. With clean hands, mix all ingredient until well combined.
- Spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray.
- Roll into 1 inch balls.Place on baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until golden.
Mustard Sauce
- Whisk all ingredients together and transfer to a small saucepan.
- Bring just to a boil whisking the entire time.
- Can be served warm or at room temp.
Nutrition
Calories: 127kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 304mg | Potassium: 132mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1550IU | Vitamin C: 4.4mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 1.2mg
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Erin V says
When I visited Peru there were some little balls sold on the street that look a lot like these. Really took me back because these look delish
Colleen says
Wow. That is a VERY spicy (horseradish kick) sauce. I had to cut it with a mild brown mustard to make it tolerable. It definitely give the spinach balls a depth of flavor, but it needs a toning down somehow IMO.
Kadee says
Hi Colleen, I would recommend only using 1/4 cup of mustard if you find the sauce too strong. We like things spicy around our house :)
Bev Dalzell says
Have made these several times, and they are always liked. Needed a Sauce recipe for them. This will work. Thanks