EAT-YOUR-VEGGIES ITALIAN MEATBALLS

Eat-Your-Veggies Italian Meatballs image

Amp up spaghetti night with these clever veggie-packed meatballs. Convenient frozen collards and canned black beans are easy to sneak into the mix.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 45m

Yield 18 meatballs (6 servings)

Number Of Ingredients 9

Ingredients

2 cups frozen chopped collards
1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 cup black beans, drained and mashed
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 large egg
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 pound spaghetti, cooked
2 cups jarred marinara, warmed

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment and coat with cooking spray.
Cook the frozen collards in a large bowl in the microwave according to package instructions. Let cool slightly.
Add the beef, black beans, Italian seasoning, garlic, egg, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper to the collard greens. Mix with your hands until just combined. Mix with your hands until just combined. Scoop mounds of the meat mixture (about 2 tablespoons each) onto the prepared baking sheet. With damp hands, roll the mounds into balls and space them evenly apart on the baking sheet. Bake until completely cooked through, 12 to 14 minutes.
Serve the meatballs with warm pasta and sauce.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 510, Fat 11 grams, SaturatedFat 3.5 grams, Cholesterol 80 milligrams, Sodium 550 milligrams, Carbohydrate 68 grams, Fiber 5 grams, Protein 29 grams, Sugar 7 grams