Can we get real with each other for a minute?
As a food blogger, there’s this ridiculous pressure that every recipe has to be earth shatteringly wonderful. They have to be unique, creative, and easy enough that people will actually attempt making it themselves. The photos have to be gorgeous and there has to be a story that goes along with them. Otherwise, they’re not deemed “blog worthy.”
What the heck?
That’s a lot to accomplish! Sure, I may have time on the weekend to make multiple batches of blondies in order to create the perfect version, but on a weeknight when I just want to get dinner on the table and get on with my life? No way. But because there’s this pressure sometimes I feel like if I’m not going to make something “blog worthy” I might as well not bother at all. Those nights, I throw up my hands and order a pizza. We eat a lot of pizza.
What’s wrong with food that’s just plain good? I almost didn’t share these chicken and spinach meatballs because they’re “boring.” They’re not made from unicorn tears and they won’t win any awards. They’ve almost certainly been done before. But the recipe is solid and they’re a nice twist on a classic. Shawn loves them and would never complain if they showed up on his plate. And I actually have enough energy to make them on a weeknight. Don’t we need more recipes like that?
Chicken, Spinach, and Feta Meatballs
I love eating these meatballs wrapped in pita bread with lettuce, red onion, tomato, chopped cucumber, and homemade tzatziki (plain nonfat Greek yogurt, shredded cucumber, garlic, dill, salt, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice). They're also great served with tzatziki as an appetizer.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- 2 cups fresh baby spinach
- 1 pound ground chicken breast
- 3/4 cup bread crumbs
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup crumbled reduced fat feta
Instructions
- Heat oven to 450ºF. Coat bottom of a baking dish with oil.
- Bring a small pot of water to a rapid simmer. Add the spinach and cook 1-2 minutes or until wilted. Drain and chop.
- In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, bread crumbs, garlic,egg, chopped spinach, and feta; mix until just incorporated. Firmly roll the mixture into 12 balls, about 2 inches each; place in prepared dish. Bake 15-20 minutes, or until lightly browned and cooked through.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving Size | |
| Amount Per Serving | As Served |
| Calories 333kcal Calories from fat 142 | |
| % Daily Value | |
| Total Fat 16g | 25% |
| Saturated Fat 5g | 25% |
| Transfat 0g | |
| Cholesterol 121mg | 40% |
| Sodium 333mg | 14% |
| Carbohydrate 17g | 6% |
| Dietary Fiber 1g | 4% |
| Sugars 2g | |
| Protein 30g | |
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:
| Calories | 2000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | Less than | 65g |
| Sat Fat | Less than | 25g |
| Cholesterol | Less than | 300mg |
| Sodium | Less than | 2,400mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 300g | |
| Dietary Fiber | 25g | |
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This recipe had my mouth watering…definitely going to try this. So fresh, simple and healthy…our family is really into meatballs and meatloaf which, when you say, “meatloaf” or meatballs, some people just say yuck…but I am always on the lookout for a different way to make meatballs and/or meatloaf…
This is a fantastic post, SO true and such an innocently perfect meal.
Hi Lauren! I never find simple boring. It’s usually the best, freshest, cleanest way to eat. I’ll bet The Hubby would love these #Spinach, #chicken, #feta tasty morsels…as would I. On my “to do” list. Thanks!
I agree with you KC, sometimes less is more and these are fantastic! Clean wholesome flavor, its the best!
How can I see a full web version instead of this ipad version? The recipes are scattered over several pages.
I know, the iPad version has anew kinks. I’m trying to sort them out but in the meantime you can try an alternate browser (I can view the desktop version in puffin) or use a feed reader like feedly
How long would you put in the oven if I made a meatloaf instead? Same temp?
Lauren,
Frankly I’m sick of unicorn tears recipes. That’s so done, you know?
These meatballs look wonderful–tonight for dinner I made a beef stew with dumplings (first time making dumplings, the kids were initially skeptical but we all went back for seconds) and I was thinking it wasn’t blog-worthy but you know what? It is.
An easy weeknight meal, and something that uses ingredients I usually have on hand (and veggies from my farm share)? You’ve made a winner in my book. Thanks!
It sounds great – I love dumplings! Can’t wait to see your recipe. 🙂
YES! We do need more recipes like that! My pinboard is full of recipes made with unicorn tears and pixie dust, but what I end up making 95% of the time are the simpler recipes that can be made in a half hour with stuff already in my fridge. 🙂
What quantity of breadcrumbs? It’s in the recipe but not the ingredients list.
3/4 cup. I’ll update the ingredients list now – thanks for pointing that out!
Meatballs are the perfect weeknight meal and like you, I like to pair my “alternative” version with some sort of yogurt based dipping sauce. It’s the perfect meal.
Easy enough for a weeknight, delicious, and don’t need to be browned first? Count me in! Pinning this now, with gratitude.