Greek Meatballs Recipe (Easy Keftedes with Sides)

A hand picking up a Greek Meatball from a platter garnished with fresh mint and dill, with a side of Greek salad and yogurt dip.

No ratings yet

Greek Meatballs Recipe (Easy Keftedes with Sides)

If you’re craving bold Mediterranean flavors and an easy dish that works for weeknights or entertaining, you’re going to love this Greek Meatballs (Keftedes) recipe. These juicy, tender meatballs are packed with herbs, garlic, and a hint of spice. This recipe comes together in under 40 minutes!

Prep Time15

Cook Time25

Total Time40

Course: Appetizer, Main Course

Cuisine: Greek

Servings: people

Author: Luay Ghafari

Cost: $15

Ingredients

1½ lbs Ground beef - Lean
1 Large onion (grated)
4 Garlic cloves (minced)
½ cup Breadcrumbs
1 Egg
1½ tbsp Dried oregano
2 tbsp Fresh parsley (finely chopped)
1½ tsp Kosher salt
¼ tsp Black pepper
1 tsp Chili flakes - Optional
Fresh dill, mint and lemon wedges for garnish

Perfect Sauces

Salads

Rice and Starch

Instructions

Prep Ingredients. Add all the ingredients to a large mixing bowl: 1½ lbs Ground beef, 1 Large onion (grated), 4 Garlic cloves (minced), ½ cup Breadcrumbs, 1 Egg, 1½ tbsp Dried oregano, 2 tbsp Fresh parsley (finely chopped), 1½ tsp Kosher salt, ¼ tsp Black pepper, and optional 1 tsp Chili flakes.
Mix well. Mix everything together thoroughly by hand until well combined. To check seasoning, fry a small piece of the mixture and adjust salt and pepper if needed.
Make Meatballs. Form the meatballs by hand, using an ice cream scoop or spoon to keep them uniform in size. Roll them in your hand and place them on a parchment paper-lined rimmed baking sheet. This recipe will make 12 large, 18 medium or 24 small bite-sized meatballs. So portion the mixture accordingly.
Bake. Arrange the meatballs on a baking sheet and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 18–24 minutes. The cooking time will depend on the size of your meatballs. Always check that the internal temperature reaches a safe 160°F (71°C). They should be nice and golden brown.
Serve. Serve warm and garnish with fresh mint, fresh dill and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

Video

Notes

Refer to the post above for more information and step-by-step recipe photos.

Key Ingredient Notes:

Ground Meat: The base for these flavorful meatballs is ground beef. I recommend using lean ground beef. Don’t use extra lean or else the meatballs will be dry. You can substitute ground lamb if you have access to it. You can even use ground chicken or ground turkey.
Breadcrumbs: The breadcrumbs bind the juices and help give the meatballs some structure. I like to use unseasoned breadcrumbs, but you can use seasoned ones. I would avoid panko bread crumbs.
Onion: I am using a medium to large yellow onion, but if you only have red onion, it’ll work too. Grating the onion is key here.

The nutritional information provided is approximate and only for the meatballs.

Nutrition