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Juicy Baked Greek Chicken Meatballs with Creamy Tzatziki and Lemon Orzo

Close-up of seared greek chicken meatballs served over yellow orzo pasta with a dollop of creamy tzatziki sauce.
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Make easy, flavorful Greek chicken meatballs baked in the oven. Serve them with zesty lemon orzo and homemade creamy tzatziki sauce for a quick, healthy weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 lbs ground chicken
  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon zest
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (for baking)
  • 1 cup orzo pasta
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (for orzo)
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh dill (for orzo)
  • 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 cup grated cucumber, squeezed dry
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice (for tzatziki)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (for tzatziki)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, panko breadcrumbs, parsley, minced garlic, feta cheese, egg, lemon zest, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix gently with your hands until just combined; avoid overmixing.
  3. Roll the mixture into uniform meatballs, about 1.5 inches in diameter. Place them on the prepared baking sheet.
  4. Brush the tops of the meatballs lightly with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
  5. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the meatballs are cooked through.
  6. While the meatballs bake, prepare the tzatziki sauce: In a small bowl, mix the Greek yogurt, squeezed cucumber, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir well and refrigerate until serving.
  7. Cook the orzo according to package directions. Drain well.
  8. In the same pot, toss the hot, drained orzo with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, and chopped dill. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  9. Serve the baked Greek chicken meatballs over the lemon orzo. Top with a dollop of the creamy tzatziki sauce.

Notes

  • For meal prep, store the meatballs, orzo, and tzatziki sauce separately in airtight containers.
  • If you prefer a richer flavor, substitute half of the ground chicken with ground turkey.
  • You can make the tzatziki sauce up to two days ahead of time.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://miameal.com/greek-chicken-meatballs-recipe-easy/