Ingredients
- For the meatballs:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- For the creamy sun-dried tomato tzatziki:
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cucumber, grated and drained
- 1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, garlic, oregano, cumin, smoked paprika, parsley, onion, salt, and black pepper.
- Mix gently until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
- Shape the mixture into evenly sized meatballs and place them on the prepared baking sheet.
- Lightly brush or drizzle the meatballs with olive oil.
- Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until browned and fully cooked through.
- While the meatballs bake, prepare the tzatziki sauce by combining Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, dill, salt, and black pepper in a bowl.
- Stir until smooth and creamy, then refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Serve the warm meatballs with the creamy sun-dried tomato tzatziki.
- Garnish with extra dill or parsley if desired.
Notes
- Ground lamb can replace beef for a more traditional Greek flavor.
- Add crumbled feta cheese to the meatball mixture for extra richness.
- Use fresh mint instead of dill for a brighter tzatziki flavor.
- For extra spice, add red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Serve with pita bread, rice, couscous, or a Greek salad.
- Store leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Cooked meatballs can be frozen for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 27g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 31g
- Cholesterol: 120mg