Best Greek Meatballs Recipes

GREEK MEATBALLS

Steps:

• In a medium skillet, sweat onion and garlic in 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat until translucent, about 2 minutes. Let cool and set aside.
• Wring the excess milk out of the soaked bread cubes.
• Place all ingredients, except flour and garnishes, in a large mixing bowl and combine by hand until fully incorporated. Form into little meatballs (about 1-ounce each).
• In a large skillet, heat remaining oil over medium heat. Dredge, or roll the meatballs in flour, and fry in the skillet until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove from the pan and place on paper towels to drain the excess fat.
• Place on platter and garnish with lemon wedges and torn mint leaves.

MARGARET'S KEFTEDES (GREEK MEATBALLS)

Steps:

• Moisten the bread pieces with the milk in a large bowl, and set aside. Mince the garlic in a food processor, then add the onion, mint, salt, and pepper. Process until the onion is finely chopped. Add the onion mixture to the bowl with the moist bread, along with the beef, lamb, and eggs. Mix with your hands until thoroughly blended.
• Roll the mixture into balls measuring 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter. Place the flour in a shallow pan, and roll the balls in the flour to coat. Shake off any excess flour, and place the meatballs onto a plate or baking sheet, pressing to flatten slightly. This will keep them from rolling away.
• Heat 1 inch of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs, 8 or 10 at a time, and cook until nicely browned on the outside, and no longer pink in the center, about 10 minutes; drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Repeat with remaining meatballs.

GREEK LAMB MEATBALLS IN LEMON SAUCE

Steps:

• Beat milk and egg together in a large bowl. Stir in bread crumbs, mint, parsley, onion, dill, garlic, salt, and pepper. Add ground lamb; mix well. Shape into 1-inch meatballs.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add meatballs; cook until browned, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Reduce heat and cover; cook until meatballs are no longer pink in the center, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan. Blend in flour, salt, and pepper. Add milk; cook and stir until thickened and bubbly, about 5 minutes. Simmer for 2 minutes more. Stir in lemon juice and zest.
• Drain meatballs and transfer them to a serving dish. Spoon the lemon sauce on top.

GREEK MEATBALLS AND TZATZIKI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Place a cooling rack over 2 baking sheets for roasting the meatballs and toasting the pita.
• Soak the bread in the milk. Peel the cucumber and grate into a strainer. Salt it and let it drain for 20 minutes.
• Pour the EVOO into a bowl, then add the meat and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Squeeze out the bread and crumble between your fingers as you add it to the meat. Add the mint, onions, oregano, cinnamon, 2 of the garlic cloves, egg and 1/2 of the lemon juice, and mix to combine.
• Using a small ice cream scoop, form the meat mixture into about 24 balls and place on the baking sheet. Roast to golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Remove the meatballs from the oven and place the broiler on high. Char the pita under the broiler, 30 seconds to 1 minute on each side.
• Press the cucumber in the strainer to get out the excess water and add to a food processor. Then add the yogurt, dill, remaining 1 clove garlic, zest and remaining juice of the lemon. Season the sauce with cumin and salt and process until smooth.
• Serve the meatballs with the sauce and pitas.

GREEK MEATBALLS WITH LEMON SAUCE

Steps:

• Combine egg and milk in a large bowl. Stir in bread crums, parsley, onion, garlic, salt, mint, and a dash of pepper. Add ground meat and mix well then shape into 1-inch meatballs. Brown meatballs in the shorteneing. Cover meatballs and cook over low heat for 15-20 minutes. Drain off fat. Transfer meatballs to serving dish.
• While meatballs are cooking make the lemon sauce. by melting the butter in a small saucepan. Blend in the flour , salt, and pepper. Add the milk and cook, stirring, until thick and bubbly. Cook 1-2 minutes longer. Stir in the chooped eggs, lemon peel, and lemon juice.
• Goes very well with a nice white rice.

GREEK LAMB MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a large shallow flameproof casserole or frying pan over a medium heat. Add the meatballs and fry for 5 mins or until golden brown. Set aside on a plate.
• Heat the remaining oil in the same pan and fry the potatoes over a medium heat for 5 mins, or until they're starting to turn golden brown.
• Add the garlic to the pan and fry for 1 min. Stir through the chargrilled veg, tomatoes and sugar, as well as the olives. Season. Add the meatballs back to the pan, cover and cook over a medium-low heat for 30-35 mins, stirring occasionally. Remove the lid halfway through, the potatoes should be just cooked through with the liquid slightly reduced.
• Remove the pan from the heat and serve at the table with the feta, mint and lemon zest scattered over.

SOUTZOUKAKIA (GREEK MEATBALLS IN A TOMATO SAUCE)

Steps:

• Soak the bread in the wine for about 5 minutes, or until thoroughly softened.
• Then, squeeze out and reserve the excess wine.
• In a large bowl, combine the ground meat with the wine soaked bread, onion, garlic, egg, parsley, grated cheese, cumin, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Mix the ingredients until thoroughly blended.
• Cover and chill for 1 to 2 hours.
• Dampen your hands, pinch off small portions of meat mixture, about the quantity of a teaspoon or just over, and shape into approximately 20 oval rolls (looks sort of like an elongated, slightly flattened, meatball).
• Dredge them in flour.
• Heat olive oil in a large frying pan.
• Add the meatballs and fry until browned all over, turning occasionally and allowing time for the meat to cook thoroughly. (alternatively, if you want a 'lighter' recipe, you could just brown in a non-stick pan or bake them in the oven - not as flavourful, but still good).
• Remove from the pan using a slotted spoon and set aside.
• Strain the oil you fried the meatballs in through a fine sieve into a cooking pan.
• Add all the sauce ingredients, and the reserved wine.
• Bring to a boil and simmer until the sauce is thick.
• Drop in the meatballs, stir to cover all over with the sauce, and simmer covered for 15 minutes.
• Serve hot with rice, french fries, or mashed potatoes.

KEFTEDES - GREEK MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• Place the lemon juice in a large bowl. Coarsely grate the potatoes into the lemon juice, stirring well to prevent browning. Stir in the ground beef, onion, bread crumbs, parsley, mint, cinnamon, lemon zest, eggs, and salt and pepper. Mix well, and shape into oblong balls about 1 inch thick and 2 inches wide.
• Place meatballs in hot oil in batches; do not crowd. Fry until golden brown, and cooked through, about 6 to 7 minutes per batch. Serve with lemon wedges.

GREEK MEATBALLS IN EGG-LEMON SAUCE: (YOUVARLAKIA ME AVGOLEMONO)

Steps:

• Combine the ground beef, rice, onion, garlic, parsley, mint, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Add an egg and mix well.
• Pour some flour in a shallow pan. With floured hands, shape the meat into walnut-sized balls. Lightly roll the meatballs in the flour and shake off the excess.
• Heat 2 cups of the chicken broth in a Dutch oven, or large pot, until boiling.
• Carefully place the meatballs in a layer on the bottom of the pot. If the broth does not cover the meatballs, add a bit more broth until they are covered.
• Simmer, covered, on low for 45 minutes, adding more broth if there is less than 1 cup remaining.
• To make the sauce, beat the eggs in a medium sized bowl until frothy.
• Slowly whisk in the lemon juice. Ladle one cup of the pot liquid, little by little, into the egg mixture to temper the eggs.
• Remove the pot from the heat and add in the lemon/egg mixture, stirring gently.
• Heat over very low heat until sauce thickens and is heated through, making sure the sauce does not boil (which will result in the eggs curdling).

KEFTEDES: GREEK MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Dunk bread quickly in milk and press the liquid out to dampen the bread.
• Combine the beef, bread, onion, garlic, oregano, mint, vinegar, eggs, nutmeg, salt, and pepper in a bowl and mix well. Take a large spoon of the mixture and roll into a ball until all the mixture has been rolled.
• In a saute pan, add the olive oil and bring it to 360-degrees F for frying. Dust the balls in flour and add to the oil. Brown on all sides, leaving room in the pan to roll them around. Pull from the pan and drain on paper towels.
• Serve with pita and cucumber yogurt sauce.
• Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.

GREEK MEATBALLS AND RICE SKILLET

Steps:

• In small bowl, mix bread crumbs and milk; let stand 5 minutes. In large bowl, mix beef, bread crumb mixture, onion, garlic, 2 tablespoons of the parsley, the mint, salt and egg. Shape mixture into 18 (1 3/4-inch) meatballs.
• In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat 1 teaspoon of the oil over medium heat. Add meatballs; cook 10 to 15 minutes, gently turning occasionally, until well browned on all sides. Transfer to plate, and wipe out skillet.
• In same skillet, heat remaining 1 teaspoon oil over medium-high heat. Add rice; stir 1 minute. Add broth and lemon juice; heat to simmering. Add meatballs; reduce heat to medium-low. Cover; cook 14 to 17 minutes or until meatballs are thoroughly cooked and no longer pink in center (165°F) and rice is tender.
• Top skillet with tomatoes, feta cheese, lemon zest and remaining 1 tablespoon parsley.

SKEWERED GREEK MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Make the dipping sauce: Mix together yogurt, cucumber, mint, lemon zest and juice, and 3/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl; season with pepper.
• Make the meatballs: Gently mix together meat, feta, oregano, and red-pepper flakes in a bowl; do not overmix. Form mixture into thirty 1 1/4-inch meatballs. (You may need to oil your hands to prevent mixture from sticking.) Slide 5 meatballs onto each of 6 metal skewers.
• Preheat broiler, with rack in top third of oven. Lightly brush a rimmed baking sheet with oil. Broil skewers on baking sheet until just cooked through and deep golden brown, about 8 minutes. Serve with dipping sauce.

GREEK MEATBALLS IN AVGOLEMONO SAUCE (KEFTEDES ME AVGOLEMONO)

Steps:

• Meatballs:.
• Apart from the flour and the vegetable oil, mix all the other ingredients together well.
• Make medium-size balls from the mixture.
• Roll the balls in flour and then deep fry them for approximately 15 minutes.
• Sauce:.
• In a heavy-bottomed pan, heat the oil, then add the flour and stir well for 3 minutes.
• Add 1 litre water and mix well.
• Add the meatballs and simmer for 30 minutes, until the sauce is slightly thick.
• Beat the egg yolk thoroughly.
• Add the lemon juice to the egg and keep beating.
• Add 5-6 tablespoons of the sauce to the egg & lemon mixture and stir well.
• Add this mixture to the meatballs in the sauce, shake the pan and remove from the heat.
• Serve with a sprinkling of pepper and fresh mint on top.

KEFTEDAKIA (GREEK MEATBALLS)

Steps:

• Mix meats, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, oregano and mint.
• Remove crusts from bread slices, process into crumbs (I use my mini food processor) and moisten in milk.
• Add bread and egg to meat (you can add a shot glass full of ouzo for flavouring at this point, if you like).
• Knead mixture so that everything is incorporated evenly. This probably means more handling of the meat than you're usually used to, but it's ok in this particular recipe. The milk does not need to be squeezed out of the bread. It will all come together after kneading into a kind of meat paste.
• Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before using (I often make this an evening earlier to use the next day).
• Shape into walnut-sized balls, dredge in flour, and saute in hot oil until meatballs are cooked and browned on all sides. (I use olive oil because I have an endless source, but a good vegetable oil, or a combination of vegetable and olive oil would be fine).
• Good hot or at room temperature.
• Note: To freeze (after cooking) Flash freeze separately. When frozen you can pop them into freezer bag.
• Note2: You can also bake these in the oven (you do not need to dredge in flour if you do). They are very good this way, too. Obviously, frying provides a lot of flavour, but sometimes, cutting some calories is also a good thing. ;-).
• To heat: Thaw and use as per directions above.

GREEK MEATBALLS, FETA YOGURT SAUCE AND LEMON COUSCOUS

Steps:

• Sauce -- Mix the feta, yogurt, half and half, salt and pepper and lemon juice. Set to the side in a small bowl and refrigerate. Done!
• Couscous -- As I said takes literally 5 minutes to boil, stir in couscous and it's done. Don't worry about that until the dinner is done. Although you can put a pot on the stove with the broth, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper and put the couscous in a measuring cup on the side, just so it is all ready.
• Cucumber and Lemon -- Now I use a English (or seedless cucumber and just dice it up and set to the side (it's done). Same with slicing the lemon. One less thing to do at the end of the meal.
• Meatballs -- Simply in a large bowl, add the feta, milk, parsley, scallions, egg, oregano, salt and pepper. I mix everything well and then add the meat last. You don't want to over mix the meat as it can make it tough. Just mix enough to be combined. Roll into golf ball size meatballs.
• Saute -- Just heat up the olive oil in a large saute pan on medium high and cook them until golden brown. Remove to a plate while you make the sauce.
• Sauce -- In the same pan with the drippings from the meatballs, add the olives, garlic and red pepper and cook just a minute. then stir in the tomatoes, oregano and parsley and cook just another minute to heat up. Add the meatballs back in to finish cooking. They will take approximately 5-10 minutes depending on the size. Just keep them on a low simmer.
• Couscous -- As the meatballs finish, cook the couscous. Just bring the broth, lemon, olive oil and seasoning up to a boil. Add the couscous, stir and remove from the heat and cover. Use foil, a lid, saran wrap, a plate, or anything you have will work just fine. Just let it set for 5 minutes and it is done.
• Serve -- Use a fork to fluff the couscous and then just spoon some on your plate. Top with 2-3 of the meatballs and some of the tomato and olive sauce, and now the good part. Finish with a spoon of the yogurt sauce over the meatballs and some diced cucumber and then squeeze the lemon.
• And trust me -- now you have a totally amazing dish.

GREEK CREAMY LEMON MEATBALLS (AKA AVGOLEMONO)

Steps:

• 1. a small bowl, add your meatball ingredients. Mix well till rice is incorporated thoroughly with the meat mixture and spices. Using your melon ball scooper. Scoop out meat balls and set on a plate, set aside! When you have finished making your meatballs, in a large non stick skillet, add your olive oil, let heat and add your meatballs.
• 2. Let them brown on one side, turn over... and let them brown on the other side.
• 3. Lower heat to as low as it can go... add your stock (chicken base). Add your water and cover the meatballs thoroughly!! Increase your heat to medium.
• 4. Let the meatballs come to a boil/simmer. Lower the heat to low, cover and time them for approximately 15-18 minutes. Turn off heat when timer is done.
• 5. This is what they will look like when the 18 minutes or so are over... See how perfectly cooked the rice is... love it!!
• 6. Okay, let's get busy with that amazing lemon sauce shall we???? Gather your very simple ingredients! Juice your lemon, separate your egg. How simple can that be??? Now that you have separated your egg white from yolk, I want you take a whisk and beat the living daylights out of the eggwhite... till it's nice and frothy and creamy looking!! I don't want you to make it "meringue", we need it frothy....
• 7. Take about 1/3 cup of the chicken broth from the now cooked meatballs and pour directly into the beaten egg white mixture. Easy right? Now we need to add the lemon into this... beat well with the whisk. Finally add your egg yolk and the pinch of salt. Beat just a smidgen more, like 10 whisks is all I'm saying. What you are doing is literally "tempering" the eggs. In other words, you are introducing a very hot mixture into a "neutral atmosphere". So the mixture will not "curdle" when brought back into the hot.
• 8. Let the meatballs and now creamy lemon mixture come to a full boil. Turn off heat and your ready to serve!! Look at how creamy and low fat this sauce is... and did I mention AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS??? Our favorite way of eating this is over mashed potatoes... so darn good... just DELICIOUS!!!!!

GREEK MEATBALLS WITH LEMON AND ARUGULA

Steps:

• Place the rice in a large microwave-safe bowl and add 1 cup water. Cover with plastic wrap, pierce with a knife a few times to vent, then microwave until the water is almost absorbed, 10 minutes. Uncover and fluff the rice with a fork; let cool completely.
• Lightly beat 1 egg in a small bowl. Add to the bowl with the rice along with the lamb, beef, provolone, onion, half each of the mint and parsley, the marjoram, garlic, allspice, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Mix with your hands until just combined (do not overmix); cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Dampen your hands and form the meat into 18 balls (about 1 1/2 inches each). Bring the chicken broth to a boil in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add the meatballs, cover and cook over medium heat until tender, about 30 minutes, turning halfway through.
• Whisk the remaining 2 eggs and the lemon juice in a small bowl until frothy. Remove 1 cup broth from the pot and gradually whisk it into the egg mixture. Push the meatballs to one side of the pot; reduce the heat to low and pour the egg mixture into the other side. Cook, stirring gently, until the sauce thickens slightly, about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining mint and parsley; season with salt and pepper. Serve the meatballs and sauce in shallow bowls. Top with arugula, drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

SPANAKOPITA MEATBALLS WITH GREEK YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a bowl combine 3 cloves of garlic and all of red onion EXCEPT 2 tablespoons, reserve 1 garlic clove and onion for yogurt sauce.
• Squeeze the water out of the spinach until completely dry. Separate the spinach as you add it to garlic and onion.
• Add feta, egg, breadcrumbs, ground beef, lamb and grill seasoning to the bowl. Mix and combine well.
• Form mixture into 1 1/2-inch, bite-sized meatballs. Place the meatballs on a nonstick cookie sheet. ***At this point you could refrigerate until ready to bake.
• Bake meatballs at 375 degrees for 20 minutes until they are cooked through.
• To make the sauce, place yogurt, 1 garlic clove, 2 Tablespoons onion, cucumber, dill, lemon juice, oregano and a little salt in food processor and process until smooth. Adjust seasonings to taste and transfer to a serving bowl. Serve meatballs alongside sauce with toothpicks.

GREEK FETA AND OLIVE MEATBALLS

Steps:

• Preheat oven's broiler.
• Mix all the ingredients in large bowl.
• Shape into medium sized meatballs--no bigger then a golf ball.
• Place the meatballs two inches apart on a baking sheet.
• Broil about 3 inches away from heat until they are golden brown on the top, about 3 to 4 minutes depending on the size of the meatball.
• Turn the ball over and broil the other side.
• Best served on Mediterranean jasmine rice or with cheese crackers and wine, a nice merlot.

GREEK PASTA WITH MEATBALLS AND FETA CHEESE

Steps:

• Cook orzo according to package directions; drain. Keep warm.
• Combine breadcrumbs , oregano, salt, cinnamon, black pepper, lamb and garlic in a medium bowl; stir in 1 1/2 tablespoons parsley. Add egg white, stirring mixture until just combined. Shape mixture into 12 (1-inch) meatballs; cover and chill meatballs 5 minutes. (Can be made ahead of time).
• Preheat oven to 375.
• Bake the meatballs on a roaster pan for 20 minutes. Drain the fat, if necessary. Place the meatballs in a new baking dish and spoon the marinara sauce over meatballs; sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 375° for 20 minutes or until meatballs are done. Sprinkle with remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons parsley.
• Serve over orzo.