Mediterranean Chicken Meatballs Recipe
These Mediterranean Chicken Meatballs are a flavorful and healthy twist on traditional meatballs, packed with aromatic herbs, feta cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes. Baked to perfection and served with creamy tzatziki sauce, they make a perfect appetizer or main dish for any Mediterranean-inspired meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Total Time: 40-45 minutes
- Yield: 15 meatballs 1x
- Category: Main Course, Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 1/4 cup finely diced red onions
- 1/4 cup finely diced sun-dried tomatoes
- 1/4 tsp dried dill
- 1/4 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Garnish & Sauce
- 1 tbsp fresh mint (optional, for garnish)
- 1 recipe Tzatziki Sauce (for dipping)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare it for baking the meatballs evenly and thoroughly.
- Mix the ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, panko breadcrumbs, egg, crumbled feta, diced red onions, sun-dried tomatoes, dried dill, dried oregano, garlic powder, salt, and olive oil. Use your hands to mix everything thoroughly until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Form the meatballs: Shape the mixture into approximately 15 small, golf ball-sized meatballs. Arrange them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet in five rows of three for even cooking.
- Bake the meatballs: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Rest and serve: Remove the meatballs from the oven and let them rest for 2 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh mint if desired and serve with tzatziki sauce on the side for dipping.
Notes
- Ground chicken can be substituted with ground turkey for a leaner option.
- If panko breadcrumbs are not available, regular breadcrumbs can be used.
- Adjust the salt level if your feta cheese is particularly salty.
- Ensure meatballs are cooked through by checking with a meat thermometer to avoid any food safety issues.
- Tzatziki sauce can be homemade or store-bought depending on convenience.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free breadcrumbs instead of panko.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 meatballs
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
Keywords: Mediterranean chicken meatballs, baked chicken meatballs, feta meatballs, tzatziki, healthy meatballs, Mediterranean recipe
