Description
A flavorful and healthy Greek Meatball Bowl featuring tender baked chicken or turkey meatballs served over fluffy rice, topped with fresh vegetables and creamy homemade tzatziki sauce. Perfect for a nutritious lunch or dinner that’s easy to prepare and full of Mediterranean flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 lb ground chicken or turkey (or ground beef or lamb)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (use gluten-free for gluten-free option)
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Tzatziki Sauce
- 1 cup Greek yogurt (full-fat)
- 1 medium cucumber, grated and squeezed to remove excess moisture
- 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- 1/2 tsp pepper (adjust to taste)
Serving Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked rice (white or brown)
- 1 cup fresh veggies (e.g., diced tomatoes and bell peppers)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken or turkey, breadcrumbs, chopped parsley, minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix everything thoroughly until well incorporated. Shape the mixture into one-inch meatballs and place them evenly spaced on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Baking the Meatballs: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake the meatballs for 20-25 minutes, or until they are golden brown and cooked through.
- Making the Tzatziki Sauce: While the meatballs bake, prepare the tzatziki by combining the Greek yogurt, grated cucumber (make sure to squeeze out excess moisture), lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix well and set aside to chill.
- Cooking the Rice: Cook the rice according to the package instructions. You can use either white or brown rice depending on your preference. Fluff the rice once cooked.
- Assembling the Bowl: To assemble your Greek Meatball Bowl, start by placing the cooked rice as the base. Top with the warm meatballs, fresh diced veggies such as tomatoes and bell peppers, and finish with a generous dollop of the homemade tzatziki sauce. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- For a gluten-free option, substitute regular breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- You can substitute the ground chicken or turkey with ground beef or lamb for a richer flavor.
- Squeeze excess moisture from grated cucumber to prevent watery tzatziki sauce.
- Add fresh herbs like dill or mint to the tzatziki for additional flavor.
- Use brown rice for a higher fiber and more nutritious base.
- Leftover meatballs can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (about 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg
Keywords: Greek meatball bowl, baked meatballs, tzatziki sauce, healthy Greek recipe, chicken meatballs, Mediterranean bowl
