• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Cozy Fall Recipes
  • Start Here
  • Recipe Index
  • Subscribe

Season & Thyme logo

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Cozy Fall Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • About Me
  • Social
  • Subscribe
    • Email
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Chicken » Greek Chicken Meatballs

    Published: Aug 7, 2023 by Sarah Baumeister · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    Greek Chicken Meatballs

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Greek Chicken Meatballs are served with creamy pastina, spinach, and cherry tomatoes for a delicious one pot dinner. This Mediterranean fusion dish is satisfying without being heavy.

    closer shot of greek chicken meatballs on pasta topped with dill and feta.

    These are the BEST Greek chicken meatballs. Truly. Made with tender ground chicken, loads of fresh herbs and fresh lemon for a bit of brightness.

    These chicken keftedes (the traditional Greek term) are perfectly seasoned without being overpowering. They are juicy and have just enough binders to stick together without being tough.

    For even more delicious meatball recipes, try ground venison meatballs, mozzarella stuffed meatballs, french onion meatballs, and Asian pork meatballs.

    Jump to:
    • Recipe Highlights 
    • Ingredients for Greek chicken meatballs
    • How to Make the Best Greek Chicken Meatballs
    • Recipe Tips
    • How to Serve
    • More Greek chicken recipes 
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Greek Chicken Meatballs

    Recipe Highlights 

    greek chicken meatballs on pasta topped with dill and feta.
    • Full of Fresh Herbs: There’s lots of herbs packed in them, so these meatballs are bursting with flavor. Feel free to change things up based on your preferences. If dill and mint are too strong for you, basil and parsley would be lovely on their own. 
    • Easy Protein Source: Ground chicken is one of my favorite proteins to use because it’s just so darn versatile. It can pretty much go with whatever cuisine you want it to and it cooks up quick. White or dark meat ground chicken can be used, or even a blend of both. 
    • Simple Pasta Side: The pasta these Mediterranean chicken meatballs are served with is cooked right in the same pot, which equals even more flavor. The pasta is simmered in chicken stock as well, so it is seasoned from the inside and out. 

    Ingredients for Greek chicken meatballs

    ingredients for just the meatballs on a white background.
    ingredients for whole dish on a white background.
    • ground chicken
    • fresh herbs
    • garlic
    • lemon juice
    • lemon zest
    • egg
    • bread crumbs
    • salt
    • black pepper

    Ingredients for tomato and spinach pastina

    • pastina
    • chicken stock
    • heavy cream
    • Parmesan cheese
    • cherry tomatoes
    • fresh baby spinach

    How to Make the Best Greek Chicken Meatballs

    In a mixing bowl, add ground chicken, chopped herbs, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, egg, bread crumbs, and salt and pepper. Use your hands to mix until just combined.

    chicken meatball mixture unmixed.

    Form into 2-inch meatballs and place on a plate to the side.

    meatball mixture in a white dish.
    formed greek meatballs on a white plate.

    In a dutch oven or deep skillet, heat oil over medium heat.

    Working in batches, brown meatballs on all sides, turning gently as they cook. Continue to cook until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees. This should take around 10 minutes.

    finished greek meatballs on a white dish.

    Once cooked, place meatballs on a clean plate to the side.

    To the same pot, add chicken stock and scrap up any bits that are stuck to the bottom.

    Add in tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Once the stock is simmering, add dry pastina and stir. Cover and simmer until pasta is cooked through and has soaked up the majority of the broth, about 15 minutes.

    tomatoes and chicken broth added to pot.
    cooked pastina and tomatoes

    Add heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, and chopped spinach and stir to combine and wilt the spinach leaves.

    heavy cream added to cooked pastina.
    spinach added to pastina.

    Serve pasta with meatballs and top with feta and more fresh herbs, if desired.

    Recipe Tips

    • To avoid the meatball mixture sticking to your hands while forming the meatballs, coat your hands with olive oil first. Works like a charm.
    • Make sure to chop the herbs finely before adding them to the mixing bowl so there are no large leaves.
    • Mince the onion finely so that it cooks through and doesn't remain crunchy. You can also choose to grate the onion before adding to the ground chicken mixture which is a great technique when making meatballs to help the onion cook through and flavor the whole meatball.
    greek chicken meatballs plated with pastina.

    How to Serve

    This weeknight dinner is all made in one pot (which means less dishes!). 

    To serve, scoop a portion of the spinach pastina on to a plate and top with a few of the meatballs. Top with feta cheese and more chopped dill or parsley. 

    Here I share an easy creamy pasta to serve alongside the meatballs, but you can totally make the meatballs on their own as well. They can be cooked on the stove-top or baked in the oven. They would be amazing in gyros or on a gyro salad and topped with your favorite toppings like tzatziki sauce, kalamata olives, hummus, and naan.

    closer shot of finished meatballs on bed of pastina.

    More Greek chicken recipes 

    • finished tray bake dish.
      Greek Chicken Tray Bake
    • finished greek chicken thighs in slow cooker.
      Slow Cooker Greek Chicken Gyros
    • chicken in yogurt marinade
      Greek Yogurt Chicken Marinade
    • avgolemono soup featured
      Kotosoupa Avgolemono (Greek Lemon Chicken Soup)

    Recipe FAQs

    Can these Greek chicken meatballs be frozen?

    Yes, cook them first, either by baking or in a pan. Allow to cool completely before freezing in an airtight container for up to six months.

    What are Greek meatballs?

    Greek meatballs (Keftedes) are small, seasoned meatballs made from ground beef, lamb, or a mix of both, with onions, garlic, herbs, breadcrumbs, and egg. These take all of the same flavors but are made with chicken instead.

    Can these meatballs be made gluten free?

    Yes, simply use gluten free breadcrumbs. Target's Good and Gather line has a great gluten free breadcrumb option. 

    greek chicken meatballs on pasta topped with dill and feta.

    Greek Chicken Meatballs

    Sarah Baumeister
    Put together flavorful weeknight meal with these greek chicken meatballs served with creamy tomato and spinach pastina.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 25 minutes mins
    Total Time 40 minutes mins
    Course chicken, Main Course
    Cuisine Greek
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 624 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Ingredients for greek chicken meatballs

    • 1 lb. ground chicken
    • 1 tbsp. fresh parsley
    • 1 tbsp. fresh dill
    • 4 garlic cloves minced
    • ½ lemon juice and zest
    • 1 egg
    • ¼ cup bread crumbs
    • ½ tsp. salt
    • ¼ tsp. black pepper

    Ingredients for tomato and spinach pastina

    • 1 ½ cups dry pastina pasta or another small pasta such as orzo
    • 3 cups chicken stock
    • ⅓ cup heavy cream
    • ¼ cup parmesan cheese
    • 1 pint cherry tomatoes
    • 2 cups fresh baby spinach

    Instructions
     

    • In a mixing bowl, add ground chicken, chopped herbs, garlic, lemon juice, lemon zest, egg, bread crumbs, and salt and pepper. Use your hands to mix until just combined.
    • Form into 2-inch meatballs and place on a plate to the side.
    • In a dutch oven or deep skillet, heat oil over medium heat.
    • Working in batches, brown meatballs on all sides, turning gently as they cook. Continue to cook until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees. This should take around 10 minutes.
    • Once cooked, place meatballs on a clean plate to the side.
    • To the same pot, add chicken stock and scrap up any bits that are stuck to the bottom.
    • Add in tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Once the stock is simmering, add dry pastina and stir. Cover and simmer until pasta is cooked through and has soaked up the majority of the broth, about 15 minutes.
    • Add heavy cream, parmesan cheese, and chopped spinach and stir to combine and wilt the spinach leaves.
    • Serve pasta with meatballs and top with feta and more fresh herbs, if desired.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 624kcalCarbohydrates: 68gProtein: 39gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 171mgSodium: 767mgPotassium: 1272mgFiber: 5gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 3329IUVitamin C: 54mgCalcium: 171mgIron: 6mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!


    More Flavorful Chicken Recipes

    • spicy chicken pasta dish with basil leaves on top.
      Spicy Chicken Pasta
    • 4 ingredient slow cooker chicken and stuffing on a plate.
      4 ingredient slow cooker chicken with stuffing
    • air fryer trader joes chicken on a white plate.
      Air Fryer Trader Joe's Orange Chicken
    • whole ninja foodi roasted chicken in a white serving dish.
      Ninja Foodi Whole Chicken

    Reader Interactions

    Trackbacks

    1. Creamy Spinach Casserole - Season & Thyme says:
      February 20, 2021 at 11:05 pm

      […] Organics so much. Their baby spinach is the BEST. Looking for more spinach recipes? Why not try Greek Chicken Meatballs, or this Garlic Butter Sauteed Spinach, or maybe this Homemade Spinach […]

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Sarah! I am a wife, mother, and believer. I have been cooking since I could stand and am excited to share my love for being in the kitchen with all of you. You will find a variety of recipes here from healthy family dinners, to ways to prepare venison, to soups, to baked goods, we love it all!

    Learn more about me →

    Fall Favorites

    • bowl of mashed pumpkin next to pressure cooker.
      Instant Pot Pumpkin
    • overhead of pumpkin cheesecake cookies sprinkled with cinnamon.
      Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies
    • Protein Pumpkin Muffins
    • one apple cider muffin on a wooden cutting board with apples in the background.
      Apple Cider Muffins
    • finished granola in a container on a wooden cutting board
      Brown Butter Cinnamon Granola
    • img 0899
      Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup

    Popular Posts

    • Chicken Pastina with Egg
    • overhead of finished ranch dressing.
      Copycat Wingstop Ranch Recipe
    • thai eggplant curry featured
      Thai Eggplant Curry (and all about Thai eggplants)
    • featured image of fermented pickles without vinegar in a mason jar
      Fermented Pickles without Vinegar
    • bowl of mexican sopita with a spoon.
      Mexican Sopita (Sopa de Conchas)
    • finished burger on a plate
      Ninja Foodi Frozen Burgers (in Air Fryer)

    Season and Thyme has been featured in:

    image of brand logos of all the places Season and Thyme has been featured.

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Copyright © 2023 Season and Thyme