Greek Meatball Bowl with Tzatziki, Rice, and Fresh Veggies 🥙🍚🥗✨

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 4

Calories per Serving: ~480

Ingredients

For the Greek Meatballs 🍖

500g ground beef or lamb (or a mix)

1/4 cup breadcrumbs (or almond flour for a gluten-free option) 🍞

1 egg 🥚

2 garlic cloves (minced) 🧄

1/4 cup red onion (finely chopped) 🧅

1 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped) 🌿

1 tbsp fresh dill (chopped) 🌿

1 tsp dried oregano 🌿

1/2 tsp ground cumin 🌿

Salt & pepper to taste 🧂

For the Tzatziki Sauce 🌿

1/2 cup Greek yogurt 🥛

1/4 cup cucumber (grated and squeezed to remove excess water) 🥒

1 garlic clove (minced) 🧄

1 tbsp olive oil 🫒

1 tbsp fresh dill (chopped) 🌿

Juice of 1/2 lemon 🍋

Salt & pepper to taste 🧂

For the Bowl Base 🍚

2 cups cooked jasmine rice, basmati rice, or cauliflower rice

For the Fresh Veggies 🥗

1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved) 🍅

1 cup cucumber (sliced) 🥒

1/2 cup red onion (thinly sliced) 🧅

For Garnish (Optional) 🌿

1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese 🧀

1 tbsp olive oil drizzle 🫒

Lemon wedges for serving 🍋

Instructions

Make the Meatballs:
In a large bowl, combine the ground meat, breadcrumbs, egg, minced garlic, red onion, parsley, dill, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper. Mix until all ingredients are well combined. Roll the mixture into small meatballs, about 1.5 inches in diameter.

Cook the Meatballs:
Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook the meatballs for 8-10 minutes, turning occasionally, until browned and fully cooked through. Alternatively, bake the meatballs in a preheated oven at 200°C (400°F) for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Prepare the Tzatziki Sauce:
In a small bowl, combine Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, minced garlic, olive oil, dill, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Stir until smooth and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Assemble the Bowl:
Divide the cooked rice among 4 bowls. Top each with meatballs, cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, and red onion.

Drizzle and Garnish:
Spoon a generous amount of tzatziki sauce over the meatballs and veggies. Sprinkle with crumbled feta cheese, drizzle with olive oil, and serve with lemon wedges for an added burst of flavor.

Notes:

For a lighter option, swap rice with quinoa, farro, or mixed greens.

Add kalamata olives or roasted bell peppers to enhance the Mediterranean flavor.

For a dairy-free version, use plant-based yogurt for the tzatziki sauce.