Greek Turkey Meatballs With Tzatziki (Printable Version)
Herb-infused turkey meatballs paired with cool, creamy tzatziki for a healthy Mediterranean meal.
# What You Need:
→ Turkey Meatballs
01 - 1 lb ground turkey
02 - 1 small onion, finely grated
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (use gluten-free if desired)
05 - 1 large egg
06 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
07 - 1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
08 - 1 tsp dried oregano
09 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
10 - Zest of 1 lemon
11 - 1 tsp salt
12 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
13 - 2 tbsp olive oil (for frying or baking)
→ Tzatziki Sauce
14 - 7 oz Greek yogurt
15 - 1/2 cucumber, finely grated and well drained
16 - 1 clove garlic, minced
17 - 1 tbsp fresh dill, chopped
18 - 1 tbsp fresh mint, chopped (optional)
19 - 1 tbsp olive oil
20 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
21 - Salt and pepper to taste
→ To Serve
22 - Lemon wedges
23 - Fresh parsley or dill, chopped
24 - Pita bread or salad (optional)
# Directions:
01 - In a medium bowl, combine the grated cucumber (squeeze out all excess moisture), Greek yogurt, garlic, dill, mint, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Stir until well blended, then refrigerate to allow the flavors to meld.
02 - In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, grated onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, parsley, dill, oregano, cumin, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Gently mix until just incorporated—avoid overworking the mixture to keep the meatballs tender.
03 - Roll the mixture into 20 to 24 uniform small meatballs, approximately 1 tablespoon each, ensuring even sizing for consistent cooking.
04 - For pan-frying: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the meatballs in batches, turning occasionally to brown on all sides, about 8 to 10 minutes until cooked through. For baking: Preheat oven to 400°F. Arrange meatballs on a greased baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and bake for 18 to 20 minutes until golden and cooked through.
05 - Serve the meatballs hot alongside the chilled tzatziki sauce, lemon wedges, and a scattering of fresh herbs. Accompany with warm pita bread or a crisp salad if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- Ground turkey stays incredibly tender when you treat the mixture gently and grate the onion instead of chopping it.
- The tzatziki comes together in five minutes and tastes better than anything from a store.
- You can pan fry or bake them depending on your mood and still get golden delicious results.
02 -
- Wet cucumber in tzatziki will turn it into soup so spend a full minute squeezing the grated cucumber dry.
- Overmixing the turkey mixture creates dense rubbery meatballs so stop as soon as everything is evenly distributed.
03 -
- A pinch of chili flakes in the meat mixture adds a subtle warmth that plays beautifully against the cool tzatziki.
- Double the tzatziki recipe because you will want to put it on everything from sandwiches to roasted vegetables all week.