Greek food is one of my favorite cuisines to recreate at home. The flavors are fresh, herby, bright, and incredibly satisfying without being complicated. Whenever I'm feeling stuck in a dinner rut, Mediterranean-inspired meals always bring something new to the table.
These homemade Greek meatballs are one of those recipes I come back to again and again. They're filled with herbs like dill, mint, and oregano, which gives them that classic Greek flavor. Paired with lemony rice and a crisp cucumber, tomato, and olive salad, this meal feels balanced and vibrant.
It's also perfect for meal prep. The meatballs hold up well in the fridge, the rice reheats beautifully, and the fresh salad adds the perfect refreshing contrast. Honestly, it's the kind of lunch that makes weekday meals feel a little more exciting.
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Summarize this Recipe or Get Macros
Ingredient Notes and Tips
This recipe uses simple ingredients, but the herbs and lemon bring everything to life.
For the Greek meatballs
- Ground beef keeps these meatballs hearty and flavorful.
- Fresh dill and mint are key for that traditional Greek flavor.
- Feta adds a salty, tangy bite that works beautifully with the herbs.
- Breadcrumbs help hold everything together.
If you prefer slightly juicier meatballs, you can mix lean ground beef with a little fattier beef.
For the cucumber salad
This salad keeps the meal fresh and bright.
- Cucumber adds crunch
- Grape tomatoes bring sweetness
- Kalamata olives add that classic briny flavor
- Red onion and oregano give it a little extra bite
For the lemon rice
The rice is simple but full of flavor thanks to lemon juice, zest, parsley, and basil.
How to Make Greek Meatballs
This whole meal prep recipe comes together in under an hour, which makes it great for a Sunday prep session.
1. Make the cucumber salad
I like to start with the salad so it can chill while I cook the rest of the meal.
Combine the cucumber, tomatoes, olives, and red onion in a bowl. Add the red wine vinegar, olive oil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Toss everything together and store it in the fridge.
2. Cook the lemon rice
Bring the chicken stock to a light boil over medium heat. Add the dry basmati rice and cook for about 15 minutes.
Once the rice is cooked, stir in olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, parsley, basil, salt, and pepper. Cover and set aside to keep warm.
3. Mix and form the meatballs
In a medium bowl, combine:
- Ground beef
- Eggs
- Breadcrumbs
- Dill
- Mint
- Oregano
- Garlic powder
- Feta
- Salt and pepper
I usually mix everything with clean hands until it just comes together. Be careful not to overmix or the meatballs can become dense.
Form the mixture into 12 meatballs.
4. Cook the meatballs
Heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
Add half the meatballs and cook for 2 minutes per side to brown them. Then cover the skillet and cook for another 10-12 minutes until fully cooked.
Repeat with the second batch.
And that's it. A full Greek-inspired meal in under an hour. Opa!
How to Customize This Recipe
This recipe is easy to adapt depending on what you have in your kitchen.
Some of my favorite variations:
- Use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef.
- Add tzatziki sauce for extra flavor.
- Serve the meatballs in pita bread for a quick wrap.
- Add roasted zucchini or bell peppers to the meal prep containers.
- Swap the rice for quinoa or cauliflower rice.
If you enjoy Mediterranean-style lunches like this, you might also like these
Meal Prep Salad Recipes.
How to Store and Reheat
These Greek meatballs are great for meal prep because everything stores well.
In the refrigerator
- Meatballs and rice last 3-4 days in airtight containers.
- The cucumber salad stays fresh for about 3 days.
To keep the salad crisp, you can also store the chopped vegetables separately and toss them together when you're ready to eat.
Reheating
Reheat the meatballs and rice in the microwave for 1-2 minutes until warm. Add the salad after reheating.
Can Greek Meatballs Be Frozen?
Yes, the meatballs freeze really well.
Store them in freezer-safe containers or bags for up to 4 months.
You can freeze the meatballs by themselves or together with the rice. I recommend leaving the cucumber salad fresh since it doesn't freeze well.
To reheat, thaw overnight in the fridge and warm in the microwave or skillet.
How to Portion Greek Meatballs for Meal Prep
For four meal prep servings:
- Divide the lemon rice between four containers.
- Add three meatballs to each container.
- Add the cucumber salad to the second compartment.
- Optional: include a lemon slice or a side of tzatziki.
It's a simple setup that gives you a complete, balanced meal ready to grab during the week.
FAQs
Greek meatballs last 3 to 4 days when stored in airtight containers in the refrigerator. The full meal prep with rice holds up well for several days, while the cucumber salad is best eaten within about 3 days for the freshest texture.
Yes. You can mix and form the meatballs up to a day ahead and store them in the refrigerator before cooking. You can also cook them completely and reheat throughout the week for quick lunches or dinners.
Tzatziki is the classic pairing. The creamy yogurt sauce with cucumber, garlic, and lemon complements the herbs in the meatballs perfectly. Hummus or a simple lemon yogurt sauce also works well.
Absolutely. Bake them at 400°F for about 15-18 minutes until fully cooked. Baking is great if you want to cook all the meatballs at once without standing at the stove.
Greek meatballs pair well with lemon rice, pita bread, roasted vegetables, or a fresh Greek salad. They also work well in wraps or bowls for easy meal prep lunches.
More Meatballs meal prep recipes:
Who doesn't love a good meatball? They're delicious, easy, and fun to make! Here are some more meatballs recipes to hit a home run with:
- Honey Garlic Mushroom Meatballs
- Molasses Bourbon BBQ Glazed Chicken Meatballs
- One Skillet Spaghetti Squash & Meatballs
- Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs
- Eggplant Meatballs and Zoodle Meal Prep
- Cranberry BBQ Vegan Meatballs
- Cheesy Keto Chicken Meatballs
- Keto Bacon Sausage Meatballs
- Carrot Meatballs With Mint Cauliflower Rice
- 20 Minute Paleo Thai Almond Butter Turkey Meatballs
Ingredients
For Meatballs
- 1 lb. 96% lean ground beef
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup gluten-free breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoon chopped dill
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ cup finely crumbled feta cheese
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper
- 2 teaspoon olive oil for cooking
Greek Cucumber Salad
- 2 cups chopped cucumber
- 1 cup grape tomatoes halved
- ⅓ cup pitted kalamata olives chopped
- ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ⅛ teaspoon cracked black pepper
For Lemon Rice
- 1 cup dry basmati rice
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 3 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ cup chopped parsley
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ⅛ teaspoon cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Stir together ingredients for Greek salad in a medium mixing bowl. Cover and refrigerate while preparing other recipes.
- Heat chicken stock in a medium saucepan over medium heat until boiling. Add rice and cook until Fully cooked, about 15 minutes. Turn heat off and stir in remaining ingredients. Cover with lid to keep warm.
- While rice is cooking, combine ingredients for meatballs in a medium mixing bowl and thoroughly mix with clean hands. Form mixture into 12 meatballs. Heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil over medium heat in a skillet for 1 minute. Add 5-6 meatballs and cook for 4 minutes, turning after 2 minutes for even browning. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover with lid and cook for 10-12 minutes longer to cook meatballs through. Transfer to a bowl and cover to keep warm. Add another teaspoon of olive oil to pan and repeat with remaining meatballs.
- Divide lemon rice between large compartment of 4 MPOF teal containers and place 3 meatballs on top. Divide Greek salad between 4 small compartments.
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