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.






Erin says
Yum! My almost five year old (IVF baby!) helped me make these and enjoyed them as well. The only thing we changed is we added a little bit more breadcrumbs bc the freshly thawed out ground turkey felt extra wet. We made these in advance and they heated up well!! Super versatile- great over rice or in a pita!
Erin says
Hi Erin, ah I love to hear that! Thanks for sharing and glad you loved them!!
Rachel says
Very yummy! Next time would like to make spicier but as a hit with my husband!
Erin says
Hi Rachel, so happy you loved them!!
Gabrielle Glassford says
Fire ass meatballs. Highly recommend.
Erin says
Hi Gabrielle, so happy you loved them!!
Stuti Gakhar says
Meal prepped these meatballs for dinners this week. So versatile & delicious
Erin says
Hi Stuti, so happy you loved them!! 🙂
Kelly says
New staple in the dinner rotation. Delicious!!!
Erin says
Hi Kelly, so glad you enjoyed them!! 🙂
Brittany Bishop says
Best meatballs. Double the recipe and so glad I did. Even my picky 8 year old gobbled them up.
Erin says
Hi Brittany, so happy they were a huge hit!! 🙂
Lauren Parkes says
Absolutely amazing! I may go as far as to say this is my favourite meal 🤤 In terms of meal prep, can the meatballs be frozen once cooked?
Erin says
Hi Lauren, so happy you loved it and yes, freeze in an airtight container!
Meg Petersen says
Yummy! I cooked them in the oven and by mistake put the oil in the mixture! Turned out perfect!
Erin says
Hi Meg, so happy you still loved them! 🙂
Kim says
It was delicious and my entire family loved it. I will definitely make this again!
Erin says
Hi Kim, so happy you all enjoyed them! 🙂
Savannah Hennig says
This was absolutely phenomenal, and it’s now 3 hours later and I’m still thinking about it. I made the meatballs with the homemade tzatziki and cucumber/tomato/feta salad and put it over rice- just like the photo. Incredible flavor combinations and perfect pairings. LOVED
Erin says
Hi Savannah, so happy you loved them so much!! 🙂
Diane Trentham says
Delicious and easy to make. Thanks for sharing
Erin says
Hi Diane, so happy you loved them! 🙂
Emma says
Just made these with your tzatziki and tomato, feta and cucumber salad. Truly so good and such an easy recipe! Thanks Erin !!!
Erin says
Hi Emma, so happy you loved it so much and great idea! 🙂
Laura says
So easy and delicious and work great for a meal prep protein!
Erin says
Hi Laura, so happy you loved them! 🙂
Kristen says
These were so juicy and delicious. My entire family loved them! Will definitely be in our dinner rotation and would be great for meal prep.
Erin says
Hi Kristen, so happy they were a hit!! 🙂
Laura says
Made these meatballs for dinner tonight and they were a hit!! My picky four year old even ate hers without complaining which definitely says something. So easy to make and love that there are leftovers for my lunches this week. Another ELW winner in my book.
Erin says
Hi Laura, so happy they were such a big hit! 🙂
Josie says
Do you think I could make the meatballs in the airfryer? If so, any suggestions on time/temp?
Maura says
My fiance and I have had this in our weekly rotation of meals the last couple of months – we always get so excited for our ‘greek’ night! we actually throw the meatballs in the airfryer instead. So tasty, thanks for the recipe!
Erin says
Hi Maura, so happy you both love it! 🙂
Lauren says
So good!! Boyfriend and I loved! Perfect for a weeknight.
Erin says
Hi Lauren, so happy you loved them so much! 🙂
elie says
hi! is it possible to bake these instead? and if so, what temp and for how long? they look delicious and i’m looking forward to making them for dinner!
Erin says
Hi Elie, yes! 375 for 15 minutes. Let me know how they come out for you!
Kimberly Welch says
We make this recipe weekly! Soooo good! ❤️
Erin says
Hi Kimberly, so happy you love them so much!! 🙂