Flavorful Greek Meatballs in Lemon Sauce Recipe
These Flavorful Greek Meatballs in Lemon Sauce combine tender, juicy meatballs made from ground beef or lamb with a zesty, aromatic lemon sauce. Perfectly seasoned with garlic, oregano, and fresh parsley, and simmered to perfection in a tangy broth, this dish brings a delightful Mediterranean flair to your dinner table. Ideal as a main course served with rice, potatoes, or crusty bread.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients
Scale
Meatballs
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef (90% lean) or ground lamb
- ½ cup (60g) plain or Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- ⅓ cup (15g) fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ small onion, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Sauce and Others
- 1 large lemon, zested and juiced
- 1½ cups (360ml) low-sodium chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Finely chop the onion and parsley, mince the garlic, and zest and juice the lemon to have everything ready.
- Make Meatball Mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, parsley, garlic, onion, half of the lemon zest, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix gently with your hands until just combined to keep the meatballs tender.
- Shape Meatballs: Wet your hands with water to prevent sticking and shape the mixture into golf ball-sized meatballs, about 1½ inches in diameter. Arrange them on a plate or baking sheet.
- Brown Meatballs: Heat olive oil in a 10-12 inch skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the meatballs in batches, cooking each side for 2-3 minutes until golden brown. Remove from skillet and drain on paper towels.
- Prepare Lemon Sauce: Reduce heat to medium. Add chicken broth, remaining lemon zest, and lemon juice to the skillet. Scrape the browned bits off the bottom of the pan and let the sauce simmer for 2 minutes to enhance flavor.
- Simmer Meatballs in Sauce: Return meatballs to the skillet, spoon sauce over them, cover, and let them simmer gently for 15 minutes until cooked through and the sauce slightly thickens.
- Finish and Serve: Taste and adjust the salt and pepper of the sauce if needed. Garnish with extra parsley and serve hot with your favorite sides like rice, potatoes, or bread.
Notes
- You can substitute ground lamb with ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
- For gluten-free, replace breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs or ground oats.
- Make sure not to overmix the meat mixture to keep meatballs tender.
- Serve with lemon wedges for extra citrus flavor if desired.
- These meatballs reheat well and can be frozen before cooking.
Keywords: Greek meatballs, lemon sauce, Mediterranean recipe, ground beef meatballs, easy dinner, lemon meatballs
