Mediterranean Meatballs

These Greek Chicken Meatballs with herby yogurt dipping sauce are a recipe that can do double duty as a healthy dinner, or as a party bite that can be kept warm in a slow cooker!

These Ground Chicken Meatballs are Award Winning!

“I have made this recipe so many times in the last year, I don’t even need to look at it anymore. The whole family enjoys them too; you can throw them in a marinara sauce and use them in a meatball sub, or with pasta, or even cold leftovers out of the fridge!”

—Sharon

If you’re looking for a recipe for ground chicken meatballs, you’ve landed in the right place. This recipe stands out – so much so that it was crowned a Community Pick in a chicken recipe contest at Food52.

Praise for being “as refreshing as it is easy to pull together,” these Greek chicken meatballs have earned their place as a fan favorite.

I make these meatballs countless times each year, whether for a festive New Year’s Eve gathering, or as a frequent part of my weekly dinner rotation.

Their versalitity is unmatched: bake or air fry them to perfection, then pair with tangy feta, orzo pasta, or creamy tzatziki sauce for a meal that feels restaurant-worthy.

Greek Chicken Meatballs Ingredients

• ground chicken – this is the main ingredient for these meatballs, and a great source of protein! This same recipe can be made with ground turkey for turkey meatballs.
• egg – you’ll need 1 egg, which will act as a binder that helps the meatballs hold together.
• breadcrumbs – these add texture and again, help bind the meatballs together. I like panko breadcrumbs, but whatever you have on hand will work. Gluten-free breadcrumbs are fine here, if needed.
• garlic – this adds lots of flavor to these meatballs.
• onion – adds even more flavor!
• dill – you can use fresh or dried dill for these Greek meatballs, and their yogurt sauce, to add a bright, herbaceous flavor.
• oregano – this adds an earthy, savory note to the meatball mixture. I usually use dried oregano, but if you happen to have fresh oregano on hand, you can use that, too. Just double the amount if you’re using fresh.
• parsley – this will be used in the yogurt sauce, as well as to garnish the finished dish.
• salt and pepper – I wouldn’t dream of making meatballs without seasoning them well.
• Greek yogurt – this is the main ingredient in the dipping sauce for these Mediterranean chicken meatballs.
• feta cheese – this is an optional ingredient for this chicken meatballs recipe, but I like to garnish the finished meatballs with a sprinkle of crumbled feta cheese.

How to Make Chicken Meatballs

1. STIR. Whisk the egg in a large bowl, then add the garlic, onion, breadcrumbs, dill, oregano, salt and pepper and stir until combined.

2. ADD. Add the chicken and stir (or mix with hands) until just combined. Do not overmix.

3. SHAPE. Form the mixture into balls just a bit smaller than golf balls and place on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray.

4. BAKE. Transfer to oven and bake until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. If desired, brown meatballs under broiler at end of cooking time.

Variations of Mediterranean Meatballs

Can I Make Greek Chicken Meatballs With a Different Type of Ground Meat?

Absolutely. You are not required to make these Mediterranean meatballs with chicken.

Feel free to make this Greek meatball recipe with ground beef, pork, or turkey. 

You could even use a combination of several different types of meat in this Mediterranean meatball recipe. Whatever you prefer is what you should use for these meatballs.

Air Fried Greek Meatballs

Just like my air fryer turkey meatballs, these Greek chicken meatballs can be air fried, too!

1. If necessary, preheat or set your air fryer to 400 degrees F. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
2. In batches, transfer the ground chicken meatballs to the air fryer basket and cook 10 to 15 minutes (exact timing will depend on your model of air fryer).
3. You’re looking to cook them until they are lightly browned and the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 165 degrees F.
4. Turn them once about halfway through cooking so that they brown evenly.

Greek Yogurt Sauce For Mediterranean Meatballs

The tangy, herby Greek yogurt dipping sauce I serve with these Greek chicken meatballs is so simple, but my favorite part of this recipe.

Simply stir together creamy Greek yogurt, parsley, dill and ground black pepper. I used fresh herbs here because I had them on hand, but dried herbs work great too.

If using dried herbs, use half the amount of fresh herbs called for in this Greek yogurt sauce for meatballs, since dried herbs have a stronger flavor than fresh herbs.

So, you’d need 1 tablespoon dried parsley and 1-1/2 teaspoons dried dill for the yogurt sauce recipe below.

If you have a cucumber on hand and you’d prefer to serve these Greek chicken meatballs with tzatziki, that would also be great.

What to Serve With Chicken Meatballs

I don’t only serve these baked chicken meatballs as a party appetizer. In fact, more often than not, I serve them for dinner, with a side of Greek yogurt mashed potatoes or a potato cakes.

I’ll sometimes serve these baked chicken meatballs on top of butternut squash noodles or with some balsamic roasted carrots.

I also love Mediterranean chicken meatballs paired with warm pita bread and orzo or rice. You can also put them over spaghetti.

They’re even great as a meal prep recipe for weekday lunches, served with a simple side of fruit salad.

Ground Chicken Meatballs Storage

• STORE. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• REHEAT. You can reheat these meatballs in the air fryer, oven or microwave until they are warmed through.
• FREEZE. To freeze, transfer leftovers to airtight container or freezer bag and freeze up to 3 months.

Ground Chicken Meatballs FAQs