Greek Meatballs (Keftedes)

Name: Greek Meatballs (Keftedes)
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 36 meatballs
Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients: 1 pound pork/beef; 1 cup panko; 1 egg; 1 1/2 tablespoons dried minced onion; 2 teaspoons minced garlic; 2 tablespoon mint oregano; 2 tablespoons dried parsley; 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar; 1 teaspoon coarse salt; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

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These Greek meatballs are made with a mixture of beef and pork and seasoned with fresh herbs. They’re baked on a sheet pan for a easy cleanup. Serve these keftedes with dairy free tzatziki sauce, cucumbers, heirloom tomatoes and couscous for a delicious and healthy meal. Make 36 meatballs.

Why I love these Greek meatballs

When I started my meatball mission, I didn’t think I would get around to making these Greek meatballs – mostly because I was hesitant about not being about to use feta cheese. But, the more I felt like I was being held back by the no dairy thing, the more I felt compelled to make them.

And, now I’m so glad I did. They’re super flavorful and remind me so much of a Greek gyros, which were one of my favorite late night meals in college. They’re also a little bit like the kebabs with sauce blanc we ate regularly our first year in France.

To make the dairy free, I used Panko breadcrumbs (check the label still!), and I made a dairy free tzatziki sauce with vegan sour cream.

More delicious meatball recipes: baked Italian meatballs / meatball stroganoff / giant meatballs baked in tomato sauce / meatball satay with peanut sauce

Here’s what you’ll need to make Greek meatballs

Ingredients

Ground beef
Ground pork
Panko breadcrumbs
Fresh herbs (mint, oregano, parsley)
Minced onion and garlic
Nutmeg

Tools

How to make Greek meatballs

Combine the meatball ingredients.

In a large bowl, mix the ingredients together, using your hands (or a fork), until they’re evenly combined. Be careful not to overwork the meat or you’ll end up with tough meatballs.

Shape the meatballs.

Roll the meat into 2-inch meatballs. Use a cookie scoop to ensure your meatballs are uniform in size. Place them on a parchment lined baking sheet.

Bake the meatballs.

Bake your keftedes in a 400˚F oven for about 20 minutes. The internal temperature should reach 165˚F and the outside of the meatballs should be golden brown.

Tips for making keftedes

Keep your Greek meatballs cold to prevent breaking down right away in the oven. This helps retain moisture in your meatballs.
To avoid tough meatballs, don’t over mix or squeeze your meatballs too tight.
Wet your hands to prevent the meatballs from sticking to you when you’re shaping them.

What to serve with Greek meatballs

I like to serve my keftedes as a bowl style meal with Israeli couscous, but you could also use them to fill pitas for a gyro sandwich or wrap. Whatever you prefer.

Tzatziki sauce (or vegan tzatziki)
Pita or flatbread
Cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion
Couscous
Feta cheese (or dairy free feta, such as Violife)