These Greek-inspired keftedes meatballs are packed with fresh, herby flavor and are surprisingly easy to make. Lean ground beef or turkey is combined with garlic, onion, parsley, oregano, cumin, then brightened with lemon zest for a classic Mediterranean flavor. They’re leaner than most meatball recipes, while still being tender and juicy thanks to the olive oil you bake in! Using a leaner meat but baking in olive oil means that we’re replacing saturated fat from animal meat with unsaturated fats in olive oil. Research shows replacing saturated fat with unsaturated fats is heart healthy and reduces risk of cardiovascular disease.
Whether you serve them with a side of greek salad and lemon roasted potatoes, tuck them into a pita, or pile them over a grain bowl with tzatziki, these meatballs make a satisfying, protein-rich meal that’s easy enough for weeknights and great for meal prep.
Greek Keftedes Inspired Meatballs
This Greek-inspired recipe combine herbs, spices, onion, garlic, and lemon zest into flavorful, juicy meatballs. Made with lean meat and baked in the oven, these protein-packed meatballs are an easy and healthy option for meal prep or weeknight dinners. Try adding them to a Greek salad, grain bowl, or pita wrap!
Ingredients
Directions
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Preheat oven to 400F. Prepare a baking sheet with 2 tbsp olive oil drizzled on it.
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Add all ingredients except the meat into a medium bowl and mix well. Next, add the meat and mix evenly, but be careful not to overwork the mixture.
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Roll into balls with oiled hands and place on the baking sheet. One pound of meat should make 16 meatballs.
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Once all your meatballs are done, slightly flatten them down and then flip them over to ensure even oil coating. Bake for about 15 mins until deeply brown or until internal temp is over 165F. Enjoy!
Notes
What type of meat should I use?
I like to use 93% lean ground beef or ground turkey. One of the best batches I've made was actually a double batch of the recipe with half 96% lean ground beef and half 90% ground turkey!
How should I serve Greek Keftedes Inspired Meatballs?
I love to serve these meatballs with a greek salad, roasted lemon potatoes, in a pita wrap, or in a grain bowl. Either way you serve them, I recommend some tzatziki yogurt sauce!
Can I make the meatballs without oil?
You can certainly reduce the amount of oil in the recipe, however to keep the meatballs juicy with the use of lean meat, you'll want to use at least 1 tbsp of olive oil. Olive oil is full of healthy fat!
How do you reheat Greek Keftedes Inspired Meatballs?
I love to reheat these meatballs in the air fryer for 5-6 minutes at 375F until crispy on the outside. You can also use the microwave, stove, or oven. They may dry out with too much time in the oven, though.
