Easy Baked Spinach Balls Recipe (Gluten-Free)
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
If you are looking for a fast, flavorful appetizer or snack, these gluten-free spinach balls are it. They are packed with spinach, chopped almonds, and cheese; no breadcrumbs or stuffing mix required. They’re great for parties, meatless mains, or make-ahead snacks.
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Simple and Savory
Spinach Balls at a Glance
- Naturally gluten-free and low-carb
- Short ingredient list, big flavor
- Flexible: serve warm or room temp, snack or entree
- Freezer-friendly and easy to make ahead
How long does it take to prepare and bake these spinach balls?
It takes about 20 minutes to prepare the spinach balls, and they need 30 minutes to bake. There is an optional additional 30 minutes of chilling in the fridge to firm the mixture up which will make them easy to roll.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp avocado or olive oil
- 12 oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained
- ½ cup minced onion
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped or crushed
- ½ cup finely chopped almonds
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh sage (or 1 tsp dried)
- 1½ tsp fresh thyme (or ¾ tsp dried)
- ⅛ tsp ground nutmeg
- 2 eggs, beaten
- Kosher salt and black pepper to taste
Missing an ingredient? Find a substitute with the ingredient swap assistant!
Spinach Balls Step-By-Step Instructions
- Thaw the spinach and squeeze out all moisture; the drier, the better. Use a towel-lined strainer or paper towels to press it dry.
- In a skillet, heat oil over medium. Add onion and garlic; cook 2–3 minutes until softened.
- Stir in spinach. Cook 4–5 minutes to dry it out. Add almonds, herbs and nutmeg. Cook 2–3 minutes more. Remove from heat and cool slightly.
- Mix in Parmesan, then eggs. Chill mixture 30 minutes to firm up.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a pan with parchment. Roll into ¾- to 1-inch balls. Bake for 30 minutes, until lightly golden.
How to Make Them Ahead of Time
These are perfect for making ahead of time. Simply follow the recipe instructions and choose any of these methods below for finishing.
- Unbaked: Roll and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking.
- Baked: Store in fridge up to 4 days; reheat at 350°F for 10–15 minutes.
- Freeze: Freeze raw or baked. Bake from frozen, adding a few minutes.
Serving Suggestions
- Party appetizer: With ranch or onion dip
- Main dish: Over pasta or polenta
- Lunch: In a crusty roll with marinara and mozzarella
- Snack: With hummus or cucumber yogurt dip
- Charcuterie: These are the perfect healthy addition to a Charcuterie Board.
Variations
- Italian: Add chopped sun-dried tomatoes + Italian seasoning
- Mediterranean: Add feta, olives, and a pinch of oregano
- Mushroom: Sauté finely chopped mushrooms with onions
- Spicy: Mix in jalapeño or red pepper flakes
- Dairy-Free: Sub Parmesan with ¼–⅓ cup nutritional yeast
- Nuts: Walnuts, pecans, cashews, or almond flour
- Cheese: Try cheddar, provolone, mozzarella, or feta
- Herbs: Use dried if fresh isn’t available
- Vegan: Use flax eggs + nutritional yeast
How to Store
- Fridge: Keep leftover spinach balls in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Store baked or unbaked balls in a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze in a single layer first, then transfer.
- Reheat: Warm in a 350°F oven for 10–15 minutes (longer if frozen). This keeps them crisp on the outside.
Recommended Equuipment
Buy Now → 
Buy Now → 
Buy Now → Recipe FAQs
Even though you will get the best results for finely chopped almonds with a food processor or high-speed blender, you can use a sharp knife, but the almonds will not be as crumbly.
Yes you can! Here is how to do it: add one pound of fresh spinach into a pan of boiling water, turn off the heat. The fresh spinach should wilt fairly quickly. Once the spinach starts to wilt, drain it and pat it dry. Add it to the pan with the onions and garlic; continue with the recipe instructions.
You might also like these delicious recipes
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Simple and Savory
Click on serving size to scale this recipe
Easy Baked Spinach Balls
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon avocado or [Olive Oil]
- 12 ounce package frozen spinach
- 1/2 cup onion minced
- 2 cloves garlic chopped or crushed
- 1/2 cup almonds finely chopped
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese Freshly grated
- 1 tablespoon fresh sage Chopped, or 1/4 tsp dried
- 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh thyme or 3/4 teaspoon dried
- 1/8 teaspoon of [nutmeg]
- 2 eggs beaten
Instructions
- Prepare the ingredients: Thaw the spinach at room temperature or place it in a microwave to thaw it. Once the spinach has thawed; place it into a strainer lined with paper towels and press down to release the excess liquid and set it aside. Chop the almonds, onions and garlic in a food processor to a fine texture. Shred the parmesan cheese.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees f.
- Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat, add the garlic and onions; cook them until they become translucent – about 3 minutes.
- Stir in the spinach and cook for about 5 minutes until all of the liquid is absorbed.
- Mix in the nuts, sage, thyme and nutmeg; cook for a few minutes longer
- Turn the heat off and allow the mixture to cool off for a few minutes before adding the parmesan cheese and eggs
- Once the mixture is close to room temperature, add the two beaten eggs and stir well in the grated parmesan cheese.
- Place the mixture in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. This will firm up the spinach mixture which will make it easier to form it into balls.
- Once the spinach mixture has been chilled, use your hands or a cookie scoop to form the mixture into 3/4 inch balls and arrange them on a parchment-lined sheet, and bake for 30 minutes.
Notes
- Squeeze as much water as you can out of the spinach before adding it to the skillet. You can do this by placing the spinach into a strainer over a sink and pressing down on the spinach with your hand or a spoon. Or wrap the spinach in a paper towel and squeeze out the excess liquid.
- Don’t skip the refrigeration step. Once the mixture is cold it’s so much easier to form it into balls. If you are pressed for time, place the mixture into the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes.
- You will get the best results for finely chopped almonds with a food processor or high-speed blender. If you don’t have either one of those, you can use a sharp knife, but the almonds will not be as crumbly.
- The easiest way to form the spinach balls is to use a cookie scoop or small ice cream scoop.
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used
Sign Up for Easy Recipes Straight in Your In-Box!
Planning to make your Easy-Baked-Spinach-Balls; wondering about how many spinach balls this recipe will make? They look delicious.
Jackie
Hi Jackie! Depending on the size of the spinach balls, this recipe will make 18 to 24 spinach balls.