Greek Chicken Meatballs with Lemon and Feta Recipe
These Greek Chicken Meatballs are a flavorful and healthy twist on traditional meatballs, infused with fresh herbs, spices, lemon, and tangy feta cheese. Baked to perfection, they are juicy and tender with a delightful Mediterranean flair, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or appetizer.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings (approximately 16-20 meatballs)
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Greek
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Meatball Mixture
- 1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup chopped flat leaf parsley
- 3 tablespoons grated yellow onion
- 1 clove garlic (grated or minced)
- Zest of a lemon
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 egg
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt (or to taste)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 pound ground chicken (or ground turkey, 93/7%)
- 2 ounces feta cheese (crumbled)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 450° F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Spray the lined sheet lightly with cooking oil to prevent sticking.
- Mix the dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the panko bread crumbs, chopped parsley, grated onion, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, egg, kosher salt, oregano, coriander, cumin, and cinnamon. Whisk these together until well blended.
- Combine with meat and cheese: Add the ground chicken and crumbled feta cheese to the bowl with the seasoned mixture. Use your hands to gently mix the ingredients together, taking care not to overwork the meat to keep the meatballs tender.
- Form the meatballs: Lightly coat your hands with a small amount of oil to prevent sticking. Scoop out about one tablespoon of the meat mixture and roll it into a smooth ball. Repeat until all the mixture is formed into meatballs.
- Prepare for baking: Place the formed meatballs evenly spaced on the prepared baking sheet. Spray or brush the tops of the meatballs lightly with olive oil to help them brown nicely in the oven.
- Bake the meatballs: Place the baking sheet on the center rack of the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the meatballs are golden brown and cooked through.
- Serve: Serve warm with your favorite side dishes and a dipping sauce such as tzatziki for a refreshing Mediterranean touch.
Notes
- To keep meatballs tender and juicy, avoid overmixing the meat.
- Panko bread crumbs help create a light texture; if unavailable, regular bread crumbs can be used but may change the texture slightly.
- These meatballs freeze well — freeze uncooked in a single layer on a tray, then transfer to a bag for up to 3 months.
- Substitute ground turkey if preferred or for a leaner option.
- Adjust spices according to taste; adding a pinch of red pepper flakes can add some heat.
- Serve with tzatziki sauce or a Greek yogurt dip for an authentic finish.
