These Mediterranean Meatballs are easy to make and full of flavor. Made with ground turkey, spinach, feta and spices, they are versatile and protein-packed – perfect for lunch or dinner!
Hi friend!
I’m excited to share these Mediterranean Turkey Meatballs with you today. If you’ve been around a while, you know we love meatballs. They’re easy to make, taste good hot or cold and can often be eaten with or without sauce.
For a while, they were my favorite post-workout snack! Here are some of my favorites:
- Cheesy BBQ Meatballs
- Turkey Sweet Potato Meatballs
- Crockpot Meatballs
- Crescent Wrapped Beef Zucchini Meatballs
- Carrot Pineapple Turkey Meatballs
Mediterranean Turkey Meatballs
So what’s so good about these Mediterranean Turkey Meatballs? They’re versatile and protein-packed, perfect for Mediterranean-inspired meals.
They’re packed with spinach and feta plus lots of spices to add flavor. Using ground turkey makes them a source of lean protein and they pair well with pasta, rice, salads and more.
Mediterranean Meatball Variations
If you’re not a fan of ground turkey, you could easily use another ground meat like beef, chicken or lamb. Want recipes specific to those types of meat? Try:
What to serve with Mediterranean meatballs?
I like to serve these meatballs in a bowl with lots of other Mediterranean goodness. Think things like:
- Rice, couscous or orzo
- Lettuce mix
- Naan
- Tzatziki sauce
- Chopped olives
- Veggie mix – a combination of onion, tomato, red peppers, cucumbers and feta works really well with the flavors of the meatballs
If you don’t have a store-bought tzatziki you like, try this homemade version: Tzatziki Sauce Recipe. Or try this Spicy Red Feta Dip instead.
Ingredients for Mediterranean Meatballs
These meatballs don’t require any fancy ingredients. A few of the things you’ll need:
- Ground turkey – I go for 93/7 or 85/15 so they don’t dry out too much
- Egg
- Panko breadcrumbs – regular or gluten-free to help bind the meatballs together
- Spinach – I use half an 8oz box of frozen spinach, thawed and then squeezed to remove moisture
- Feta – crumbled feta adds tons of flavor
- Fresh parsley – feel free to add some mint or dill as well if you’d like
How To Make Easy Mediterranean Meatballs
To make these meatballs you just need one bowl!
Be sure to squeeze the excess moisture out of the frozen spinach once you thaw it. I also like to give the spinach a rough chop, even though it’s already chopped just to make the pieces a little smaller.
Once you’ve done that, combine all of the ingredients in a bowl. Use your hands to mix everything together so that it’s well combined.
Then use your hands or a cookie scoop to form into meatballs of your desired size. I prefer smaller meatballs so I typically make 20-24 per batch.
Then bake, flipping after about 9 minutes.
Mediterranean Meatballs Recipe
Mediterranean Meatballs
These Mediterranean Meatballs are easy to make and full of flavor. Made with ground turkey, spinach, feta and spices, they are versatile and protein-packed – perfect for lunch or dinner!
- Yield: serves 4
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey (i use 85/15 or 93/7)
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs (gluten-free if needed)
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 Tbsp minced fresh parsley
- 1/3 cup crumbled feta
- 4 oz chopped frozen spinach (thawed and squeezed to remove excess water)*
- Bowl additions: rice, pita, tzatziki sauce, chopped veggie mixture, lettuce, etc
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
- Use your hands to mix well and combine.
- Form into 20-24 meatballs of desired size.
- Bake at 400 degrees F for 14-15 minutes, flipping after 9 minutes.
- Serve in a bowl with rice, lettuce, mixture of chopped tomatoes, cucumber, onion, red pepper and feta, tzatziki sauce and naan.
Notes
*After squeezing spinach to remove moisture, I roughly chop it a few more times to get smaller pieces.
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Mediterranean Meatballs FAQs
What can I add for more herby Mediterranean meatballs?
This recipe calls for fresh parsley but if you wanted to add even more fresh herbs, you could try some chopped mint leaves or dill. You could also add dried oregano or a little cinnamon.
Are these healthy Mediterranean meatballs?
Yes! These meatballs are a great source of lean protein. They’re low-carb, can be made gluten-free and make a great addition to most diets.
Can these Mediterranean diet meatballs be gluten-free?
Yes. To make these meatballs gluten-free, simply use gluten-free panko breadcrumbs. I use Kikkoman.
Do you have to make these Mediterranean meatballs with feta?
I personally think the feta plays a big part in this recipe. It’s so flavorful and really gives the meatballs a Mediterranean spin. However, if you don’t like feta, you could leave it out. I would suggest adding 1 tsp oregano to ramp up the flavor instead.
Can you make Mediterranean meatballs in the air fryer?
Yes. Grease the air fry grates and cook at 400 for about 5 minutes, flipping half way through.
How to add spicy Mediterranean meatballs?
To make these meatballs spicy, try adding 1/2 teaspoon to 1 tsp of cayenne pepper or some dried chili flakes.
Can you serve Mediterranean meatballs with couscous?
Yes! Couscous pairs well with these meatballs as a source of carbohydrates. If you don’t like couscous, try rice (white or brown), orzo or even something like farro or wheatberries.
Can you pair Mediterranean meatballs with tomato sauce?
These meatballs are so versatile that you could easily pair them with tomato sauce and serve them on your next spaghetti night. If you want them to lean more Italian, just leave out the feta and pair them with tomato sauce and pasta.
Mediterranean Turkey Meatballs with Tzatziki
Need more Mediterranean recipes?
Try one of these:
Enjoy!
–Lindsay–