Cozy Spinach Bites Snack (Printable Version)
Savory bites with creamy spinach and cheese, baked golden and perfect for a quick savory snack.
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables
01 - 9 oz fresh spinach, washed and chopped
02 - 1 small onion, finely diced
03 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
→ Dairy
04 - 1 cup cream cheese, softened
05 - 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
06 - 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Pantry
07 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
08 - 1/3 cup breadcrumbs
09 - 1 large egg
10 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
11 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
12 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
# How To Make:
01 - Set oven temperature to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Warm olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook until softened, roughly 3 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and continue cooking for 1 minute.
03 - Add chopped spinach to the skillet, stirring until wilted, approximately 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
04 - In a mixing bowl, blend the spinach mixture with cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, egg, nutmeg, salt, and black pepper until uniformly incorporated.
05 - Using a tablespoon or small scoop, shape the mixture into bite-sized balls and arrange them on the prepared baking sheet.
06 - Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake the bites for 18 to 20 minutes until golden and firm.
07 - Allow the bites to cool slightly before serving.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- They come together faster than you'd think and use ingredients you probably already have tucked in the fridge.
- The crispy golden outside gives way to a creamy, garlicky center that tastes like you spent way more effort than you did.
02 -
- If your spinach mixture looks too wet after cooking, press it gently with a spoon against the side of the skillet to squeeze out extra liquid or they won't hold their shape.
- Don't skip softening the cream cheese or you'll end up with stubborn chunks that never fully blend in.
03 -
- Use a small cookie scoop to portion them out evenly so they all bake at the same rate and look uniform on the plate.
- Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the filling if you want a subtle kick that sneaks up on you.