Tender, flavorful, and ready in about 40 minutes! These Greek Turkey Meatballs are the kind of dinner I find myself making on repeat every single week. I love that lean ground turkey keeps them light and high in protein without sacrificing any of that juicy, satisfying flavor. Topped with creamy homemade tzatziki, this is Mediterranean comfort food at its absolute best!

A Quick Look: Greek Turkey Meatballs
- ✅ Recipe Name: Greek Turkey Meatballs with Tzatziki Sauce
- 🕒 Ready In: About 40 minutes (20 min prep, 20 min cook)
- 👪 Serves: 14 meatballs (about 3–4 servings)
- 🍽 Calories: ~76 per meatball
- 📋 Protein: ~9g per meatball
- 🥬 Main Ingredients: Ground turkey, fresh dill, garlic, red onion, breadcrumbs, egg
- 📖 Dietary Info: Nut-free, easily made gluten-free
- 🥣 Best For: Meal prep, weeknight dinners, Greek bowls, snack boxes
BEST Ground Turkey Greek Meatballs
I have made a lot of meatballs on this blog, from my Thai turkey meatballs with peanut sauce to my butter chicken meatballs, but these Greek turkey meatballs hold a very special place in my heart. They are so easy to throw together on a weeknight, they reheat beautifully for meal prep, and here’s the part I love most: even the kiddos go absolutely crazy for them!
I love using lean ground turkey for this recipe (specifically 93/7) because it’s a bit more wholesome than beef while still being juicy and satisfying. Turkey is naturally lower in fat and still high in protein, which makes these meatballs a genuinely nutritious dinner choice. Mix everything together in one bowl, roll into balls, and you’re about 10 minutes away from getting them in the pan.
Paired with my homemade tzatziki sauce and a side of tomato cucumber feta salad, this meal is Mediterranean magic on a plate. It’s become one of those recipes I make almost every single week, and I’m not even a little bit sorry about it!
Table of contents
Why You’ll Love These Greek Turkey Meatballs
- Quick and easy. The whole Greek turkey meatballs recipe comes together in about 40 minutes with simple, straightforward steps, perfect for a busy weeknight.
- High in protein! At 9 grams of protein per meatball, these are a genuinely filling and nourishing meal.
- Meal prep friendly. Make a batch on Sunday and enjoy them in bowls, salads, or snack boxes all week long.
- Kid-approved! This might be the best part. The mild Mediterranean flavors are a total crowd-pleaser, and even little ones love them!
- Easily made gluten-free. A simple breadcrumb swap is all it takes to make this recipe work for everyone at the table.
Ingredients Needed
To make a batch of these juicy Greek turkey meatballs, you’ll need just a few simple ingredients! Here’s a bit more about what I used:

- Ground Turkey: My go-to protein whenever I make meatballs! I prefer to use 93/7 lean ground turkey as it has enough fat to keep the meatballs juicy. You’ll need about 1 pound.
- Garlic: 2 minced cloves of garlic add wonderful flavor to the meatballs. You can also use garlic powder if you don’t have fresh.
- Breadcrumbs: Adding in 1/2 cup of plain breadcrumbs helps bind the meatballs and keep them from falling apart. Panko breadcrumbs also work great! For a low-carb and gluten-free version, you can swap out the breadcrumbs for almond flour instead.
- Dill: Chopped fresh dill add authentic Mediterranean flavor. If you can’t find fresh, use 1 tablespoon of dried dill.
- Oregano: 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano adds an earthy, aromatic flavor.
- Red Onion: Using a 1/4 of a red onion can add flavor and moisture. Not to mention a bite of tanginess.
- Egg: 1 beaten egg helps bind the meatballs and keep them together!
- Olive Oil: To cook the Greek turkey meatballs, you’ll need about 2 tablespoons of olive oil. You can also use avocado oil or coconut oil.
Tip: You can follow my recipe for healthy tzatziki sauce recipe to make a homemade version. Just cut the recipe in half!
Substitutions & Additions
- Swap the protein: Ground chicken works just as well as turkey. The meatballs will be slightly lighter in color and flavor but still delicious.
- Make it gluten-free: Use 1/2 cup almond flour in place of breadcrumbs.
- Add feta: Fold 2 to 3 tablespoons of crumbled feta cheese into the meatball mixture for a salty bite.
- Bake instead of pan-fry: Place meatballs on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake at 375°F for 28–30 minutes, flipping halfway through. Several readers have also made these in the air fryer at 400°F for 12 minutes!
How to Make Greek Turkey Meatballs

Step 1: Mix the meatball mixture. In a large bowl, combine ground turkey and minced garlic cloves. Grate 1/4 of a large red onion directly into the bowl (or chop it very finely). Add egg, breadcrumbs, chopped fresh dill, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined.

Step 2: Form the meatballs: Divide the mixture into 14 equal meatballs. A small ice cream scoop makes this incredibly easy and keeps them uniform in size. You can also use a spoon and roll them in your palms.

Step 3: Cook the meatballs. Heat a sauté pan over medium heat and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Once hot, add the meatballs and cook for 7–8 minutes, turning constantly to ensure even browning on all sides. The meatballs are done when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.

Step 4: Make tzatziki and serve. While the meatballs are cooking, whip up a half batch of my healthy tzatziki sauce. It only takes a few minutes and makes such a difference!
Tip: Add a little bit of olive oil to your hands before forming the meatballs to make the rolling easier!
Erins’ Expert Recipe Tips
- Don’t overmix the meat. Mix until the ingredients are just combined! Overmixing leads to dense, tough meatballs.
- Use a meat thermometer. Turkey meatballs can turn rubbery if overcooked. Pull them off the heat the moment they hit 165°F for perfectly moist, tender results every time.
- Use a small ice cream scoop. It’s the easiest way to get uniform meatballs that cook evenly.
- Grate (don’t chop) the onion. Grating releases more moisture and keeps the flavor subtle without any big chunks of onion in your meatballs!
- Serve it with: These Greek turkey meatballs are amazing served alongside Moroccan couscous salad, lemon garlic hummus, or baked falafel for the ultimate Mediterranean spread!
- Storage: Store cooked turkey Greek meatballs in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. They reheat wonderfully on the stovetop or in the microwave. These are my favorite meal prep meatballs!
- Freezing: To freeze, place formed (uncooked) Mediterranean turkey meatballs on a baking sheet and freeze for 1 hour until firm. Transfer to an airtight container or zip-top bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then cook as directed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ground chicken would also work great in this recipe. The end result may be slightly lighter in flavor and color but will still be tasty. You can use the same amount of ground chicken as the recipe calls for in ground turkey.
They can become rubbery if they are overcooked. Try reducing the cooking time to about 7-8 minutes or until an internal temperature of 165°F is reached. This will help keep the meatballs moist and tender.

If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!
Here are some of my favorite Greek recipes you should make next. Enjoy!
- Greek Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs
- Healthy Greek Turkey Burgers with Tzatziki
- Grilled Greek Chicken Salad
- Gluten-Free Greek Pasta Salad
- Mediterranean Salmon Foil Packs
Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photos by The Mindful Hapa
If you tried this recipe or any other recipes on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Follow @erinliveswhole on Instagram and tag me in any of the recipes you make so I can repost them!

Greek Turkey Meatballs with Tzatziki
Ingredients
Method
- In a large bowl, add ground turkey and minced garlic.
- Grate 1/4 red onion into turkey, alternatively chop red onion very small.
- Add egg, breadcrumbs, dill, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined, I use my hands.
- Form into 14 meatballs.
- Heat sauce pan with olive oil over medium heat. Once hot, add meatballs and cook for 7-8 minutes, turning every constantly to ensure even cooking on all sides. Once meatballs reach 165F they are done.
- While meatballs are cooking, make Tzatziki.
- Serve over rice!
Nutrition
Notes
- Use 93/7 lean ground turkey. This is my go-to for meatballs! It has just enough fat to keep them juicy and flavorful without drying out.
- Use a small ice cream scoop to form the meatballs. It’s the easiest way to get even, uniform balls every time! You can also use a spoon and roll them in your hands, just add a little olive oil to your palms to keep the mixture from sticking.
- Keep a meat thermometer handy and don’t overcook! Turkey meatballs can turn rubbery if they go too long. Pull them off the heat as soon as they hit 165°F — that’s the sweet spot for perfectly moist and tender meatballs every single time.
- Storage: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.






Arlene says
Made them last week and loved them that we’re making them again this week. Great recipe for meal prepping!
Erin says
Hi Arlene, so happy you loved them!! 🙂
Trudie says
One of my fav ELW recipes – highly recommend. Great for lunch the next day. Could eat daily!
Erin says
Hi Trudie, so happy you love it so much!! 🙂
Olivia says
This recipe is perfection! This is a staple in our recipe rotation and we make it a couple times a month.
Erin says
Hi Olivia, so happy you love it so much! 🙂
Alisa says
I usually grate the red onion to let the juices get into the mix. Also only do about 1/4c of bread crumbs. Bake at 400 for ~15-20 min and check with a meat thermometer. Usually serve with salad, tzatziki and/or lemony garlic smash potatoes. I’ve also made very mini party sized meatballs to serve with cut up veggies and Erin’s tzatziki recipe for a few different parties. Always get devoured!
Erin says
Hi Alisa, so happy you enjoyed them so much! 🙂
MamaKrup says
Made this a few times. Today was the first time I baked them instead of frying and much prefer them that way. 400• oven for 20 minutes. 🥰
Erin says
Hi, so happy you loved them and made them your own!!
QC says
I made these meatballs and before we even tried them, they smelled SO amazing wow. I did not have dill on hand but they were still great. We had leftovers and they were still yummy. Will definitely be making this again.
Erin says
Hi, so happy you loved them and made them your own!!
haley says
I can’t even count how many times I’ve made this. And every time it just HITS!! Have made it for large groups of people and everyone loves it. Amazing recipe, tysm ELW!
Erin says
Hi Haley, so glad they’re a hit! 🙂
Katie says
WOW 10/10 great work Erin. This was so easy and delicious.
Erin says
Hi Katie, so glad you loved it!!
Becca says
Finally made these and my husband, who would rather just have pizza everyday, said he loved them!! Huge win! Thanks for another great recipe!
Erin says
Hi Becca, so happy you both enjoyed them!! 🙂
Cesa Schmidt says
This recipe is delicious! I made it for dinner last night with the Tzatziki Recipe, Tomato Cucumber Feta Salad and rice. My husband and I typically make comments like “this was good, but next time I’ll do x, y, z.” We couldn’t think of anything to modify for this recipe and both commented on how excited we were to eat the leftovers for lunch. This will definitely go into a regular rotation at our house!
Erin says
Hi Cesa, so happy you both enjoyed them so much!! 🙂
Sophie says
HIGHLY suggest making these meatballs! I made them as a lunch prep for the week (w/ Erin’s Tzatziki Sauce and the Salad at the bottom do the recipe) and it’s now one of my favorite meal preps!!
They are so delicious and full of flavor!
Erin says
Hi Sophie, so glad you loved them so much! 🙂
Amy S says
So good!!! I made this tonight and served over cauliflower rice with some fresh tomatoes and red onions from the garden. The taziki sauce turned out great! Also loved serving it with a mixture of green beans, okra and squash from my garden. Definitely will keep this recipe in my rotation!
Erin says
Hi Amy, so happy you loved it and great additions!! 🙂
Janet O says
These were excellent! Baked them in the oven because I needed to do other things to get ready for guests and made the tzatziki. All so good! Will definitely make again
Erin says
Hi Janet, so happy you loved them!!
Eli says
Would love to know if you can bake them and if so what temp/time
Erin says
Hi Eli, I haven’t baked them that way, but in the comments below, another person said they baked them at 375 for about 15 minutes. Hope this helps!!
Erin Chang says
Immediately shared this recipe with 5 other people!! Soooo delicious and perfect for meal prep!
Erin says
Hi Erin, so glad you loved them!!
Taylor says
Such an easy recipe and the meatballs are INCREDIBLE. Made bowls with rice and veggies and feta and did store bought tzatziki to save some time! Will definitely add this to the rotating list!!
Erin says
Hi Taylor, so happy you loved them!!
Kathy says
These are absolutely AMAZING! Everyone in my house looooved. Great flavor and really easy! Delicious with some rice, tzatziki, and a simple cucumber and tomato salad.
Erin says
Hi Kathy, so happy it was a hit!!
Jenny Turner says
Quick, easy, versatile & delicious!
Erin says
Hi Jenny, so happy you loved them!!
Marissa says
I finally made these and they are delicious! I love how quick and simple they were. I ended up just dicing the onions super small but I can see where grating them would make them even better.
Erin says
Hi Marissa, so happy you loved them so much!
Crystal says
Loved it. Definitely gives gyro meat vibes. One small tweak: add a bit of cumin. This is absolutely being added to my rotation.
Erin says
Hi Crystal, so happy you loved it and made it your own! 🙂
Taylin says
This is by far the best meal I’ve ever prepared at home, it felt like we were eating restaurant quality food! Thank you Erin for creating this recipe!
Erin says
Hi Taylin, so glad you loved them so much! 🙂
Rachel says
These were delicious! Not dry at all and tons of flavor. Will definitely make again. Thanks!
Erin says
Hi Rachel, so glad you loved them! 🙂