Greek Chicken Meatballs

If you’re looking to elevate weeknight dinners or impress guests at your next gathering, look no further than these irresistible Greek chicken meatballs. Packed with flavor, these tender meatballs blend aromatic herbs like mint and basil with lean ground chicken and feta cheese, creating an easy dish that’s both light and satisfying. It’s one of our favorite meatball recipes made with fresh Mediterranean flavors.

The real star of the show in this Greek chicken meatball recipe is the homemade tzatziki sauce. Made with grated cucumber, garlic and yogurt, this creamy, tangy sauce perfectly complements the savory meatballs. It completes the dish when serving the meatballs as an appetizer and looks great as a finishing drizzle if you use the meatballs as a protein for rice bowls or salads.

Ingredients for Greek Chicken Meatballs

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• Bread crumbs: We use whole wheat panko bread crumbs instead of regular white bread crumbs. Panko has a crunchy texture that adds depth to the meatballs.
• Eggs: You’ll need one egg and one egg white for this recipe. The eggs work as a binding ingredient to hold the meatballs together and keep them nice and moist.
• Seasonings: Fresh mint and dried basil are common Mediterranean herbs and spices that add character to these chicken meatballs. We also add minced garlic to the mix to add savory flavor.
• Feta cheese: You can’t have a Greek dish without feta! This soft cheese adds moisture to the meatballs and infuses every bite with its perfectly salty, briny character.
• Chicken: Chicken-based meatballs are lighter than beef meatballs but still incredibly tasty.
• Tzatziki sauce: Tangy Greek yogurt is the base for our tzatziki sauce. The sauce gets its fresh, cool flavor from cucumbers, richness from garlic, bright acidity from lemon juice and herbaceous finish from fresh dill.

Directions

Step 1: Make the meatballs

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Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, combine the bread crumbs, egg, egg white, garlic, salt, mint, basil, pepper and feta cheese. Crumble the chicken over the mixture and mix lightly but thoroughly.

Step 2: Bake the meatballs

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Shape the meatballs into 1-1/2-inch balls. Place meatballs on a greased rack on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, 20 to 25 minutes.

Step 3: Make the tzatziki

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Meanwhile, combine the Greek yogurt, cucumber, garlic, lemon juice, dill and salt. If desired, garnish with additional grated cucumber and dill.

Editor’s Tip: Grated cucumbers give this dip its fresh, cool flavor. Make sure to strain all the liquid out of the shredded cucumber to prevent the tzatziki from becoming watery.

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Greek Chicken Meatball Variations

• Change the meat: Instead of ground chicken, you could use another type of ground meat. You could swap in other poultry (like turkey meatballs) or change it up with ground lamb (like this Mediterranean kofta meatball recipe).
• Add onion: Chopped red onion would add some toothsome texture and pungent flavor to the meatball mixture.
• Make them gluten-free: For gluten-free chicken meatballs, swap in a gluten-free substitute for bread crumbs like rolled oats.
• Add spinach: Sneak in a handful of wilted greens like spinach to increase the nutrients. You can use thawed frozen spinach, but be sure to squeeze out the excess moisture to keep the meatballs from falling apart.

How to Store Greek Chicken Meatballs

Store leftover Greek chicken meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Keep the tzatziki sauce in a separate airtight container. The meatballs and sauce will last up to four days.

Can you freeze Greek chicken meatballs?

You can freeze Greek chicken meatballs in a freezer-safe container for up to three months. Thaw them in the refrigerator overnight. We don’t recommend freezing tzatziki sauce, as the yogurt will have a grainy texture when thawed.

Greek Chicken Meatball Tips

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Are chicken meatballs healthier than beef meatballs?

Healthy means different things to different people, but ground chicken meatballs are generally leaner than ground beef meatballs. Compared to 80/20 ground beef, ground chicken has less saturated fat and fewer calories, making it a great protein for meatball recipes.

How do you prevent chicken meatballs from being dry?

Binders like eggs and bread crumbs keep the meatballs moist and prevent them from falling apart. Another trick is to soak your breadcrumbs in milk, water or stock before adding them to the meatball mixture. This technique (known as a panade) prevents the meat’s muscle fibers from linking together, creating tender, juicier meatballs.

What goes with Greek chicken meatballs?

Greek chicken meatballs pair well with most Mediterranean diet recipes. Try serving the meatballs over lemon Parmesan orzo with a side of grilled veggies like asparagus, romano beans or charred broccoli. You could also whip up a big Greek salad and serve these chicken meatballs on the side.