Soft and Tender Baked Greek Chicken Meatballs – No Breadcrumbs Recipe
These Soft and Tender Baked Greek Chicken Meatballs are flavorful, moist, and free of breadcrumbs. Seasoned with herbs like dill, parsley, and mint, and a blend of spices, they make a perfect healthy appetizer or main dish. Baked to golden perfection, they’re easy to prepare and pair wonderfully with tzatziki sauce or served alongside rice or salad for a wholesome meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Greek
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Meatball Mixture
- 1 pound ground chicken (dark meat preferred, but either works)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes (optional)
- 1/4 cup very finely diced red onion
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh mint
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest (optional)
Instructions
- Make the meatball mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground chicken with kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, paprika, chili flakes if using, finely diced red onion, chopped dill, parsley, mint, and lemon zest. Use a fork or chopstick to mix thoroughly but gently to avoid overmixing, which can make the meatballs less tender.
- Shape the meatballs: Wet your hands with water to keep the mixture from sticking, then use a tablespoon or a 1 1/2 tablespoon cookie scoop to portion the mixture. Shape each portion into a meatball and place them evenly spaced on a prepared baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake the meatballs: Preheat oven and bake the meatballs for 20-25 minutes, until cooked through and golden brown. If you want extra browning, you can broil them for 1-2 minutes at the end, keeping a close watch to avoid burning the parchment paper.
- Serve and enjoy: Serve the meatballs hot, paired with tzatziki sauce as an appetizer, in a rice bowl, or alongside your favorite side dishes for a delicious meal.
Notes
- Do not overmix the meatball mixture to keep the meatballs tender.
- Keeping your hands wet while shaping prevents sticking.
- Broil briefly at the end if you want a crispier exterior, but watch carefully to avoid burning.
- These meatballs are great served with tzatziki or over rice.
- Using dark meat ground chicken adds more flavor and moisture, but white meat works too.
