Greek Meatballs

Name: Greek Meatballs
Total time: 35 min
Yield: Family
Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients: 600 g ground beef; 2 slices bread, soaked and squeezed; 1 onion, grated; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tbsp dried oregano; 2 tbsp fresh mint, chopped; 1 egg

Greek meatballs, or keftedes, are tender, herb-packed bites fragrant with oregano, mint, and garlic. Pan-fried until deeply browned, they are crisp outside and juicy within. Serve them as a meze with tzatziki, stuff them into pita, or pile them over rice.

Greek High-Protein Stovetop Dinner Appetizer Family Beef Egg

⏱ 35 min
📊 easy
🍽 Family

Ingredients

600 g ground beef
2 slices bread, soaked and squeezed
1 onion, grated
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp dried oregano
2 tbsp fresh mint, chopped
1 egg

Instructions

Mix the beef, soaked bread, onion, garlic, oregano, mint, egg, salt, and pepper until just combined.
Chill the mixture for 15 minutes.
Shape into small meatballs and chill again briefly.

Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
Fry the meatballs in batches, turning, until deeply browned and cooked through, about 8 minutes.
Drain on paper towels and serve with tzatziki and lemon wedges.

💡 Chef's tip

Chill the shaped meatballs for 15 minutes before frying so they hold together and brown evenly in the pan.

A little soaked bread mixed into the meat keeps these meatballs exceptionally tender and moist, a traditional trick that beats using breadcrumbs alone.