Turkey Mediterranean Meatballs Bowl (Printable)
Baked turkey meatballs over grains with fresh Mediterranean vegetables and a lemony yogurt-dill sauce.
# What You'll Need:
→ For the Turkey Meatballs
01 - 1.1 pounds ground turkey
02 - 1/3 cup breadcrumbs
03 - 1 large egg
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
06 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
07 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
11 - Zest of 1 lemon
→ For the Yogurt Sauce
12 - 1 cup Greek yogurt
13 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
14 - 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
15 - 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped or 1 teaspoon dried dill
16 - 1 clove garlic, minced
17 - Salt and pepper, to taste
→ For the Bowl Assembly
18 - 2 cups cooked brown rice or quinoa
19 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
20 - 1 small cucumber, diced
21 - 1/4 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
22 - 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
23 - 2 cups mixed greens such as arugula or spinach
24 - 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
25 - Lemon wedges, for serving
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Combine ground turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, minced garlic, red onion, parsley, oregano, cumin, salt, black pepper, and lemon zest in a large bowl. Blend until unified and cohesive.
03 - Form the mixture into 16 to 18 equal-sized meatballs. Arrange evenly on the lined baking sheet.
04 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until golden and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
05 - Whisk Greek yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, dill, minced garlic, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl until smooth.
06 - Divide cooked brown rice or quinoa among four bowls. Top each with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, Kalamata olives, and crumbled feta cheese.
07 - Add 4 to 5 turkey meatballs to each bowl. Drizzle with yogurt sauce and olive oil, garnish with lemon wedges and herbs if desired, and serve immediately.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It secretly feels like a restaurant dish, yet it comes together faster than you’d expect.
- The juicy turkey meatballs satisfy meat-lovers while the punchy veggies keep it fresh and light.
02 -
- If you over-mix the turkey meatball mixture, they turn dense—gentle hands truly matter here.
- Lemon zest in the meatball mix amps up flavor in a way juice alone never does.
03 -
- Letting the meatball mixture chill before rolling makes shaping them so much easier.
- A microplane zester gets just the fragrant outer layer of lemon—avoid the bitter white pith.