Description
A delicious and healthy Greek Meatball Bowl featuring flavorful meatballs made with ground beef or lamb, served over rice with fresh cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, feta, Kalamata olives, and topped with a creamy homemade tzatziki sauce. Perfect for a wholesome dinner or meal prep.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Meatballs
- 1 pound ground beef or lamb
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (for cooking)
For the Bowl
- 2 cups cooked white or brown rice
- 1 cup chopped cucumber
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup Kalamata olives (optional)
- Lemon wedges and fresh dill for garnish
For the Tzatziki
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup grated cucumber, squeezed dry
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Make the Meatballs: In a mixing bowl, combine ground meat, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic, parsley, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined to avoid overworking the meat. Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook the meatballs for 8–10 minutes, turning occasionally, until they are browned on all sides and cooked through.
- Prepare the Tzatziki: In a small bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, grated cucumber (make sure to squeeze out excess moisture), minced garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, chopped fresh dill, salt, and pepper. Stir well until smooth and creamy. Chill the tzatziki to allow flavors to meld while you prepare the rest of the dish.
- Assemble the Bowls: Divide the cooked rice evenly among four bowls. Top each with the cooked meatballs, chopped cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, crumbled feta cheese, and Kalamata olives if using. Drizzle generous amounts of chilled tzatziki over the top. Garnish with lemon wedges and fresh dill. Serve immediately for the freshest taste.
Notes
- You can use ground turkey as a lighter alternative to beef or lamb for the meatballs.
- Adding hummus or roasted chickpeas to the bowls increases protein content and variety.
- These bowls are excellent for meal prep; store the meatballs, rice, veggies, and tzatziki separately and assemble just before eating.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
