Description
These Greek Meatballs with Tzatziki Sauce combine tender, flavorful meatballs made from ground beef and pork with fresh herbs and spices, baked to perfection and served alongside a cool, creamy, and tangy tzatziki sauce. This dish is perfect for a satisfying dinner or appetizer with authentic Mediterranean flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Meatballs:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound 85/15 ground beef
- 1 pound ground pork
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground 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 cloves fresh garlic, finely minced
For the Tzatziki Sauce:
- 1/2 cup diced seedless cucumber
- 2 cloves fresh garlic
- 1/2 cup fresh dill
- 1 cup full-fat Greek yogurt
- Juice of one lemon
- salt (to taste)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the meatballs, ensuring a hot environment for a nicely browned exterior.
- Mix the meatball ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground pork, ground beef, fresh parsley, dill, mint, finely diced red onion, minced garlic, salt, pepper, cumin, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Use your hands to thoroughly mix until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
- Form the meatballs: Using a cookie dough scoop, portion the meat mixture and roll each portion between the palms of your hands to create uniform meatballs. Place them on a sheet pan lightly drizzled with olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Bake the meatballs: Place the sheet pan in the preheated oven and bake the meatballs for 15-20 minutes, or until their internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit as measured by a meat thermometer.
- Prepare the tzatziki sauce: While the meatballs are baking, put the diced cucumber, fresh garlic cloves, and dill in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Transfer this mixture to a bowl, then add the Greek yogurt, stirring until well combined. Incorporate the lemon juice and salt to taste, then refrigerate the sauce until serving.
- Serve: Once the meatballs are cooked, let them cool slightly. Serve warm alongside the chilled tzatziki sauce for dipping or drizzling. Enjoy this classic Greek pairing!
Notes
- You can substitute ground lamb for pork or beef to make the meatballs more traditional in Greek cuisine.
- For a spicier kick, increase the red pepper flakes to 1 1/2 teaspoons.
- If you don’t have a food processor, finely chop cucumber, garlic, and dill by hand for the tzatziki sauce.
- Make the tzatziki sauce a few hours ahead to allow flavors to meld nicely.
- Serve meatballs with warm pita bread or over a bed of rice or salad for a fuller meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 5-6 meatballs with sauce)
- Calories: 430 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
