Last Updated 09-22-2024
If you’re looking for a delicious, healthy twist on classic meatballs, these Greek Turkey Meatballs are the answer. Packed with fresh herbs, crumbled feta, and spinach, these meatballs are full of Mediterranean flavors. They’re a versatile, easy meal for weeknight dinners or weekend meal prep.
Why You’ll Love These Greek Turkey Meatballs
Our neighbors recently invited us to dinner and served absolutely delicious turkey burgers, loaded with spinach and feta cheese. I wasn’t sure if my kids would like them, but they were a hit with everyone. Of course I asked for the recipe, and transformed it into these Greek Turkey Meatballs.
My whole family loves these meatballs. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.
Tricia
We’ve been eating a lot more ground turkey at our house lately. My husband and I both love that it’s so much less greasy than ground beef. And the kids honestly can’t tell the difference.
Now I know some of you think ground turkey doesn’t have much flavor, but these meatballs are packed with flavor! The secret is adding plenty of herbs and spices.
We’re talking garlic, onion powder, oregano, cumin and fresh mint. That’s right, fresh mint–it’s a traditional ingredient in Greek cooking. Trust me, you don’t want to skip it!
These meatballs are also loaded with feta cheese and chopped fresh spinach–which is a great way to sneak some veggies into your diet. Especially if you have picky eaters in the house.
I also threw in a handful of lemon zest to really brighten things up and give these meatballs a unique, fresh flavor.
Now, I don’t want to tell you what to do, but I highly recommend serving these meatballs with a side of orzo, some flatbread, and a big dollop of tzatziki sauce. You’ll feel like you’re eating at your favorite Greek restaurant.
My last tip: bake your meatballs in the oven. Of course, it’s better for you, and it’s a lot less messy too. Plus, it give you time to prepare your sides while the meatballs bake.
My family devoured these Greek Turkey Meatballs with Spinach and Feta. It was one of those dinners where I wanted to eat more, but I couldn’t because I was absolutely stuffed! The leftovers were delicious though.
This has become one of my favorite recipes to make. It is healthy and relatively simple. Instead of mixing the feta cheese in with the mixture, I stuff each meatball with a couple small feta crumbles and they are perfect! I pair these with basmati rice and make my own tzatziki sauce with a Greek yogurt base. Delicious!! Thank you for this recipe!
Hannah
What Should I Serve With Greek Turkey Meatballs?
We like to enjoy these meatballs in a bowl of rice or orzo, with a big dollop of tzatziki sauce and some pita or flatbread on the side
These are some of our favorite side dishes to enjoy with these meatballs.
Ingredients for Greek Turkey Meatballs with Spinach and Feta
- Ground Turkey: I like to use lean ground turkey (93% lean) to keep the meatballs light, yet moist.
- Feta Cheese: Crumbled feta adds a tangy, salty flavor to the meatballs. If you like, you can experiment with a sheep’s milk variety for a richer flavor.
- Fresh Spinach: Fresh spinach brings some color and nutrition to the dish. I like to use baby spinach because it’s more tender and easy to chop. You can use frozen spinach, but make sure to squeeze out any excess moisture to avoid watery meatballs.
- Parsley: Fresh parsley enhances the overall freshness of the dish. I prefer flat-leaf parsley, but curly parsley works if it’s what you have on hand.
- Spices: The mix of classic Mediterranean spices like cumin and oregano are so important for flavor. Feel free to adjust the quantities to match your taste preferences.
- Fresh Mint: This is my secret ingredient! It brightens the meatballs and brings a distinctive Mediterranean flavor. If you’re not a fan of mint, you can reduce the amount, but I don’t recommend leaving it out completely.
- Lemon Zest: Another ingredient that add freshness to this dish. Be sure to zest only the yellow part of the peel, as the white pith can be bitter.
Tips for making Greek Turkey Meatballs
- Don’t overmix! When mixing the turkey with the other ingredients, try to handle it as gently as possible. Overmixing can make the meatballs dense and tough.
- Use a cookie scoop to portion out your meatballs. Keeping the meatballs the same size is important for even cooking.
- If you have the time, chilling the meatball mixture for 15-30 minutes in the fridge before shaping makes the mixture easier to work with. It also helps the meatballs hold their shape better during baking.
- If you like a little kick in your meatballs, try adding a pinch of red pepper flakes to the mixture. It’s an easy way to introduce a hint of spice without overpowering the Mediterranean flavors.
How to make Greek Turkey Meatballs with Spinach and Feta
Preheat and Prep the Pan: Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan to prevent the meatballs from sticking. I use olive oil to grease my pan.
Prepare the Meatball Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground turkey, crumbled feta, chopped spinach, parsley, beaten egg, seasoned breadcrumbs, onion powder, salt, pepper, oregano, cumin, mint, and lemon zest. Use your hands or a spoon to mix the ingredients until just combined.
Shape the Meatballs: Using a spoon or a cookie scoop, shape the mixture into golf ball sized meatballs (about 1 ½ inches in diameter). Place them in the prepared baking pan, so they are just touching each other. This helps the meatballs hold their shape during baking.
Bake the Meatballs: Place the meatballs in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the meatballs are browned on the outside and fully cooked through on the inside (internal temperature should reach 165°F or 74°C). If you’re unsure, cut one open to check for doneness.
Serve and Enjoy: Remove the meatballs from the oven and allow them to rest for a few minutes. Serve them with orzo, flatbread, and tzatziki sauce for a complete Mediterranean-inspired meal.
Recipe FAQs
FAQS
Can I use ground chicken in this recipe?Absolutely! Ground chicken is a great alternative and will work just as well in this recipe. Just like turkey, chicken is lean, so the flavor and texture will be very similar.
Can I make these meatballs ahead of time?You can prepare the meatball mixture and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before shaping and baking. If you want to prep further, you can shape the meatballs, place them on a tray, and refrigerate until ready to cook.
Can I freeze these meatballs?Definitely. I prefer to freeze them before baking. Just place the shaped meatballs on a parchment lined baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. When ready to bake, you can cook them directly from frozen—just add a few extra minutes to the baking time.
Can I use frozen spinach?Yes, just make sure to thaw it completely and squeeze out any excess water before adding it to the mixture. Too much moisture can make the meatballs soggy.
Can I make these gluten-free?Yes! To make the recipe gluten-free, simply replace the seasoned breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs. You can also use almond meal or crushed gluten-free crackers as an alternative. The friend who gave me the recipe uses ground oats to make this recipe gluten-free.
Can I cook the meatballs on the stovetop instead of baking them?Yes. Simply heat some olive oil in a skillet over medium heat, and cook the meatballs, turning occasionally, until they’re browned on all sides and cooked through.
Be sure to save this recipe for Greek Turkey Meatballs with Spinach and Feta to your favorite Pinterest board for later.
More Meatball Recipes to Try
- Thai Chicken Meatball Curry
- Butter Chicken Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Kung Pao Meatballs
- Slow Cooker Red Curry Meatballs
Greek Turkey Meatballs with Spinach and Feta
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground turkey
- 4 ounces crumbled feta cheese
- 1 cup chopped fresh spinach
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 egg beaten
- 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
- Zest of one lemon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan.
- In a large bowl, combine the 2 pounds ground turkey, 4 ounces crumbled feta cheese, 1 cup chopped fresh spinach, 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, 1 egg, 1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon oregano, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint, and Zest of one lemon. Mix thoroughly with clean hands or a wooden spoon.
- Shape into golf ball sized meatballs using a spoon or cookie scoop. Place the meatballs in prepared pan so they are just touching.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until meatballs are browned and cooked through. let stand a few minutes before serving. Serve with orzo or flatbread and tzatziki sauce.
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Nutrition
Hello! I’m Danelle. Thanks for visiting.
Uptown foodie meets real life at Let’s Dish, where I share all my favorite recipes. Making meal time easy, but doing it in style!
Julia
I was looking for a delicious recipe to take my daughter on the day they brought their new baby home. I have not always been impressed with recipes I get on the internet, but I cannot give Danelle enough credit for her recipes and website! Everything I have made that she has posted has been 5 star, and this recipe may be the best yet. Thank you!!
Danelle
Thank you SO much Julia! This really means so much to me. I’ve had the same experience getting recipes from the internet, and promised myself I would never share recipes I didn’t love, just to get something up on my site. Even if I had amazing photos! Haha! So when people say my recipes are always reliable, it’s the best feedback I could receive. Thank you! And congratulations on your new grandbaby!
Dawn
This is one our go-to recipes for my family. I used ground chicken instead of turkey. I serve with both orzo and pita along with grape tomatoes and cucumbers.
Dion Santiago
I made these for dinner and they were delicious! Super easy to make! I will be sharing this recipe with my friends and family! We love anything Greek!
Rachel
Panko bread crumbs are actually not lower in carbs. 65.93g of net carbs per 100g serving. They are lower in sodium and fat though. Panko is just basically flash fried breadcrumbs
Mary
Approximately how many meatballs does this make? Thank you!
Alma
I’m not sure how much they’re supposed to make, but 24 meatballs fit perfectly in my 9×13 glass Pyrex baking dish. This recipe is a staple in our house every few weeks! I follow the recipe to the letter, only substituting panko breadcrumbs since that’s what we prefer. I always make mine with a lemony-spinach orzo as a side dish. Perfect.
Amanda F.
Hi!!
Just wondering if these are freezer friendly and if so, should they be frozen cooked or uncooked?
Jenn
I have made these a number of times and when I have leftovers I freeze them. They are already cooked and turn out great even a second time. I have microwaved them and then a quick saute for taste. These are fantastic. My picky husband and the 5 year old twins love these!
Violeta
I love the flavor of these! The only is that I’ve made these twice and both times they come out a little more dry than I’d like. Do you have any suggestions? I’m debating between turning down the oven and leaving the same amount of time or decreasing the time, but I’m not sure which option is better.
Elizabeth
If I may suggest, use dark meat ground turkey if you can find it—a little higher fat content. Also, I make a Persian Turkey burger that calls for grated zucchini added. They are always moist. I think this recipe looks good and I plan to give it a try. Be sure to not overcook.
Amy
I drizzle with really high quality olive oil!!
Lauren
Has anyone tried to freeze them for later? How do they hold up?
Lauren
This has blown my mind. I’m Lauren and I came on here at 5.15pm today to see if i can freeze these!!!
Sorry i realise it’s not an answer but made me :O
Lauren
Hi I am also Lauren checking this recipe at 5:12.. almost 5:15 lol.
Tim
Can you make these with ground hamburger instead of turkey?
Danelle
Sure!
kjasus
I made these tonight using ground lamb! Tasted just like a gyro. Mmmmmmmm!!!!
Tricia
Hi Danielle
My whole family loves these meatballs. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I was wondering if you have ever made these into burgers? If so how did you cook them…oven or grill?
Thank you
Danelle
I have not, but the person who shared the recipe with me makes them as burgers.
Judi
I made these with ground chicken I’m not a fan of ground turkey.
Next time I make these :
Frozen spinach squeeze out water
And mince
Mince a small onion
And 1 garlic clove
And sauté . Let cool . Then add
I also used gloves and pour some olive oil on them and rolled the meatball and put into air fryer. I did not layer and cooked one 360 for 10 . And served with Tarziki .
Hannah
This has become one of my favorite recipes to make. It is healthy and relatively simple. I use Panko breadcrumbs to decrease the carbs and they hold up the same way. Instead of mixing the feta cheese in with the mixture, I stuff each meatball with a couple small feta crumbles and they are perfect! I pair these with basmati rice and make my own tzatiki sauce with a Greek yogurt base. Delicious!! Thank you for this recipe!