Greek Chicken Meatballs are moist, herby mounds of tender ground chicken pan-fried to juicy perfection. Serve chicken meatballs with rice and veggies for a well-balanced weeknight meal that's ready in just 20 minutes!
This Greek chicken meatball recipe is an easy dinner entree or tasty party appetizer. Loaded with fresh herbs, bright lemon zest, and spices, each mouthwatering bite is packed with flavor. Toss them in a skillet with some olive oil and they're ready in minutes!
Looking for more meatball recipes? Try my Teriyaki Chicken Meatballs, Buffalo Chicken Meatballs, and these gooey Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs next!
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Chicken Meatball Ingredients
Greek meatballs have a light, herbaceous taste with a Mediterranean flair. Preparing the meatballs with chicken instead of beef or pork saves calories and grease. But we're not compromising when it comes to flavor!
- Ground chicken
- Kosher salt
- Ground cumin
- Red pepper flakes
- Black pepper
- Oregano, dried
- Fresh dill, minced
- Fresh Parsley, minced
- Fresh mint, minced
- Red onion, finely diced
- Lemon zest
- Olive oil, to fry
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Greek Chicken Meatballs
Combine ground chicken with various seasonings and herbs in a large bowl.
Gently mix the ingredients together without overworking the meatball mixture.
Form the mixture into uniform meatballs using an ice cream scoop or tablespoon. Place the meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Heat a little olive oil in a skillet and fry the meatballs until golden brown on each side.
Let the cooked meatballs rest briefly before serving, and enjoy them as an appetizer, over rice, or on a salad.
Hint: Ground chicken is substantially stickier than ground beef or pork. Add some olive oil to the scoop to prevent the mixture from sticking to surfaces.
Substitutions & Variations
- Meat - If you want to use another lean meat, this recipe works with ground turkey.
- Dried Herbs - Don't have fresh herbs? Use dried herbs as a substitute. Dried herbs have a deeper, concentrated flavor so use 1 teaspoon for every 1 tablespoon of fresh herbs.
- Air Fryer - Instead of pan frying, you can air fry the meatballs at 400°F for about 10 minutes.
What to Serve with Greek Chicken Meatballs
- Sauce - Whether you're enjoying these as an appetizer, snack, or meal, a tangy Greek yogurt-based sauce like homemade tzatziki sauce ties it all together.
- Salad - Serve chicken meatballs with Greek salad, a simple mixture of tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, Kalamata olives, feta cheese, and a dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, oregano, and salt.
- Rice - Enjoy them over a bed of fragrant, fluffy yellow rice.
- Pita - Stuff these Mediterranean chicken meatballs in warm pita bread for an easy, filling lunch.
Equipment
Use a large mixing bowl to contain and mix the ground chicken mixture with the other ingredients. Although you can use your hands to form the chicken meatballs, I suggest an ice cream scoop so each meatball is the same size and shape, for even cooking.
As you assemble the meatballs, place them on parchment paper because so they don't stick to the surface. Use a large skillet to pan fry them.
Storage
This Greek chicken meatball recipe is perfect for meal prep because leftovers store well. Once the meatballs have cooled down, store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. For longer storage, freeze them for 3 months.
To reheat frozen chicken meatballs, place them in the oven at 300°F for about 20 minutes or until warmed through. Alternatively, defrost them and reheat them in the microwave.
Top tip
The key to the best Greek chicken meatballs is moisture. Let them sit for a few minutes after cooking so they retain their juices.
FAQ
Are chicken meatballs healthier than beef?
Chicken is leaner with less fat than beef. Therefore, it's a healthier protein alternative for those looking to cut calories.
How do you make chicken meatballs less sticky?
Lightly coat your hands or ice cream scoop with oil to make the meatballs less sticky.
What are Greek meatballs made of?
Greek meatballs are made of ground chicken mixed with a variety of Mediterranean-inspired seasonings and herbs, including salt, cumin, red pepper flakes, black pepper, oregano, dill, parsley, mint, red onion, and lemon zest.
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with this Greek chicken meatballs recipe:
📖 Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds Ground chicken
- 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon Ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon Red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon Black pepper
- ½ teaspoon Oregano dried
- ¼ cup Fresh dill minced
- ¼ cup Fresh Parsley minced
- ¼ cup Fresh mint minced
- ¼ cup Red onion finely diced
- 1 teaspoon Lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil to fry
Instructions
- Add your ground chicken into a large bowl, then add in all of your seasonings and herbs including the salt, cumin, red pepper flakes, black pepper, oregano, dill, parsley, mint, red onion, and lemon zest.
- Use your clean or gloved hands to mix the chicken in with all of the seasonings and herbs. Be careful to not over work the mixture- as it will become tough.
- Once everything is mixed together well, use an ice cream scoop or a 1 tablespoon measuring spoon to form the chicken into uniform meatballs.
- Place the meatballs on a sheet of parchment paper until you have formed all of them.
- Once all of the meatballs are formed, heat up the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Gently place the meatballs in the oil and fry them on each side for 2-3 minutes (each side) until they are golden brown.
- Once they are cooked through, remove them from the skillet and allow them to rest for about one minute before serving.
- Enjoy as an appetizer, or over a bed of rice, or salad!
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Nutrition
Food Safety for Greek Chicken Meatballs
We sometimes take for granted that we have years (or decades) of cooking experience, that the average visitor may not. Add to, or remove from, the list below with health and safety tips.
- Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C).
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat.
- Wash hands after touching raw meat.
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods.
- Never leave cooking food unattended.
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds.
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove.
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
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