Easy Baked Spinach Balls Recipe (Gluten-Free)

This recipe for baked gluten-free spinach balls is both easy to make and packed with flavor. Unlike other spinach ball recipes, these bites are gluten-free and don’t contain bread crumbs or stuffing mix. Instead, they’re loaded with spinach and chopped almonds, making them a healthy and delicious appetizer or snack that will be a huge hit. In addition to serving these as appetizers, they are a great alternative for a vegetarian meatball.

This recipe was inspired by an old recipe that a friend gave me years ago. The original recipe was made with more stuffing and much less spinach. Since I love spinach, I decided to add a lighter, more spinach, gluten-free version made with almonds to replace the stuffing, also providing a little protein. Ever since, these spinach balls have been a hit for every party I host, especially among veggie lovers! If you’re searching for a unique, low-carb, and gluten-free vegetable appetizer, these are for you.

Here is what you will need

This is a brief summary of the ingredients needed to make Easy Baked Spinach Balls Recipe and a convenient shopping list from my Instacart affiliate link. For a printable recipe card with exact measurements and detailed instructions, scroll down to the recipe card section.

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How to make this gluten-free spinach balls recipe

Prepare the ingredients. Mince the onions, garlic and herbs with a knife or a food processor. Thaw and drain the spinach thoroughly, shred the cheese, whisk the eggs and make the almond crumbles in a food processor or blender.

STEP 1: Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the onions and garlic. Cook them for a few minutes until they begin to soften.

STEP 2: Add the thawed and drained frozen spinach to the skillet and cook spinach with the onions and garlic until all of the moisture disappears.

STEP 3: Stir the nuts and spices into the skillet and cook for about five minutes; then stir in the parmesan cheese. Turn the heat off place the mixture into a large bowl and let it cool off for 5 to 10 minutes.

STEP 4: Stir in the eggs and place the bowl into the refrigerator for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, heat the oven to 350 degrees f and remove the mixture from the fridge. Roll the chilled spinach mixture into 1-inch balls and place them onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Step 5. Bake the spinach balls for 30 minutes until they turn golden brown; serve and enjoy.

How to prepare frozen spinach for spinach balls

I usually use fresh ingredients, but frozen spinach is the best choice for these spinach balls. It’s already cooked and reduced in size, plus it’s chopped. Before making the spinach balls, you will need to thoroughly drain the excess liquid from the thawed spinach for the best results. The easiest way to remove the liquid is to line a strainer or colander with paper towels and place the spinach on top. Wrap the paper towels around the spinach and squeeze out the water.

Substitutions and variations

Change up the nuts – Almonds are mild tasting and they add a nice texture and protein to these healthy, gluten-free spinach balls. They can be substituted with an equal amount of walnuts, pecans, cashews, or almond flour.

Change up the cheese – Parmesan adds a salty flavor, and it can be left out or substituted with your favorite shredded cheese such as cheddar cheese, provolone cheese, mozzarella cheese or feta cheese.

Greek – Skip the parmesan cheese and add a tablespoon or two of any combination of these to the spinach mixture: chopped kalamata olives, feta cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and a sprinkle of oregano or Italian seasoning.

Vegan- Replace the eggs with flax eggs (1 tablespoon flaxseed meal mixed with 3 tablespoons water per egg) and replace the parmesan cheese with equal nutritional yeast.

Mushrooms – Add 6 ounces of finely chopped mushrooms for and earthy flavor.

Spicy – Add a kick to your spinach balls by incorporating chopped jalapenos, or red pepper flakes.

Fresh garlic and onions – Can be substituted with 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder.

Fresh Herbs – Fresh sage and thyme can be substituted with 1 teaspoon dried sage and 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme.

How to make healthy spinach balls ahead of time

This is a great recipe to prepare ahead of time, and there are a few options. First, you can make the spinach balls according to the recipe instructions but don’t bake them. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for a day. Before serving, let the spinach balls come to room temperature, preheat the oven, place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and bake for 30 minutes.

Alternatively, you can bake the spinach balls ahead of time and store them in the fridge for up to 4 days. To serve, reheat the cooked spinach balls in the oven for 10-15 minutes.

How to store spinach balls

Store leftover spinach balls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also freeze these tasty spinach balls by placing them on a baking sheet and putting it in the freezer. Once the spinach balls are frozen solid, remove them from the baking sheet and store them in a freezer-safe bag or container.

When ready to bake, place the frozen spinach balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake in a preheated 350°F oven until cooked through.

Serving suggestions

Spinach balls are more than an appetizer!  Make up a batch and enjoy them for lunch stuffed into a crusty roll, as vegetarian meatballs with pasta topped with marinara sauce. 

They also taste great dipped in a dipping sauce such as homemade onion dip, ranch dressing or homemade blue cheese dressing.

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