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Greek Meatballs with Tzatziki Sauce Recipe

Greek Meatballs with Tzatziki Sauce feature seasoned beef and lamb.The meatballs are baked with garlic, herbs, cumin, and oregano.Serve with creamy cucumber-dill tzatziki for a fresh Mediterranean meal.

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Prep Time 20 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Greek-Inspired Mediterranean

Ingredients
  

For the Meatballs

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound 85/15 ground beef
  • 1 pound ground lamb
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint leaves
  • 1/4 cup finely diced red onion
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 4 garlic cloves finely minced

For the Tzatziki Sauce

  • 1/2 cup diced seedless cucumber
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1/2 cup fresh dill
  • 1 cup full-fat Greek yogurt
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • Salt to taste

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
  • Lightly drizzle a large rimmed baking sheet with olive oil or line it with parchment paper and brush lightly with oil.
  • Add the ground beef and ground lamb to a large mixing bowl.
  • Add the salt, cumin, oregano, red pepper flakes, parsley, dill, mint, red onion, black pepper, and minced garlic.
  • Using clean hands, gently combine the ingredients until evenly distributed. Avoid excessively mixing or compressing the meat, which can make the finished meatballs dense.
  • Use a cookie scoop or tablespoon to portion the mixture into evenly sized pieces.
  • Gently roll each portion between your palms to form meatballs and arrange them on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space between each one.
  • Bake for approximately 15–20 minutes, or until browned and safely cooked through. Ground beef and lamb should reach an internal temperature of at least 160°F (71°C).
  • While the meatballs bake, prepare the tzatziki. Add the cucumber, garlic, and fresh dill to a food processor.
  • Pulse until finely chopped. For a thicker sauce, gently squeeze excess liquid from the cucumber mixture.
  • Transfer the cucumber mixture to a bowl and add the Greek yogurt.
  • Stir in the fresh lemon juice and season with salt to taste.
  • Refrigerate the tzatziki until you're ready to serve.
  • Serve the warm Greek Meatballs with Tzatziki Sauce generously spooned alongside or drizzled over the top.

Notes

The original pork component is replaced with ground lamb to keep this recipe halal-friendly. Lamb also pairs naturally with the garlic, herbs, cumin, and cool tzatziki.
You can make the meatballs entirely with ground beef if lamb isn't available.
Serve the meatballs with pita bread, basmati rice, lemon rice, couscous, roasted potatoes, or a fresh Greek-style salad.