If you love surprises,ย you are going to love these feta-stuffed greek meatballs! With juicy turkey, lemon, garlic, oregano, and a gooey feta surprise hiding inside, you can have them on your table in under 30 minutes.
Baked turkey meatballs are a staple in our meal prep routine. Not only are they simple to prepare, but they freeze so well, too! These feta-stuffed greek turkey meatballs are delicious and fun, with a feta surprise hiding inside.
These Greek turkey meatballs are perfect served with herbed lemon rice (or lemon garlic cauliflower rice), a salad dressed in classic Greek salad dressing, and super speedy tzatziki.
Get them on the table in just 25 minutes. Easy peasy!
Reasons you'll โก Greek turkey meatballs
- they are tender and juicy
- they are loaded with Greek flavors: lemon, garlic, oregano and feta cheese
- there is a fun surprise hiding inside in the form of gooey feta cheese!
The best meat for turkey meatballs
When it comes to meatloaf, burgers or meatballs, higher fat content will help you get a juicy product. When purchasing ground turkey, often the package will simply say 'ground turkey'. This is a mix of both dark and white meat and will work great for turkey meatballs. Avoid anything labelled 'lean ground turkey', as it is the leanest cut and is prone to drying out.
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Making the meatballs
For this recipe, we will start by mixing together the meatballs: ground turkey, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, dried oregano, worcestershire sauce and salt & pepper. Get right in there with your hands to mix it until completely combined. You want to mix it well, but don't over-do it, as this can result in dense meatballs.
Once you have your meatball base mixed together, cut up feta cheese into ยพ inch cubes. This will seem large, but it shrinks while cooking.
Form a 2-tablespoon sized meatball and place it in the palm of your hand. Stick one cube of feta in the middle and carefully work the meat around the feta until it is fully enclosed.
Cooking the meatballs
For this recipe, I fried the meatballs in a non-stick pan, however you could also try baking them.
- To fry- fry on medium- low heat in vegetable oil, turning every 2-3 minutes until browned on all sides and cooked through. This should take approximately 15 minutes.
- To bake- heat oven to 375ยฐF. Bake for 25-30 minutes.
Check that the meatballs are cooked through with a digital thermometer (make sure not to stick it all the way into the feta cheese). Ground turkey should reach a temperature of 165ยฐF.
Make ahead and storage tips
Greek turkey meatballs work great for meal prep! Here are some tips for making feta-stuffed meatballs ahead:
- fridge- store fully cooked meatballs in the fridge in an air tight container for up to 4 days
- reheat- heat in the oven in a covered baking dish for 15 minutes at 350ยฐF. You could also reheat on the stove in a covered pan on low heat for 10-15 minutes.
- freezer- cool completely and arrange on a baking sheet. Freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag, reusable silicone bag, or meal prep container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Raw meatballs may be frozen the same way.
More ground turkey recipes
- Korean Turkey Meal Prep
- Instant Pot Ground Turkey Lettuce Wraps
- Low Carb Greek Turkey Meal Prep Bowls
- Smoky Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
- Hoisin Turkey Meatloaf
Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!
Feta-Stuffed Greek Turkey Meatballs
Ingredients
Meatballs
- 1 lb ground turkey (450 g; avoid 'lean' ground turkey)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
- ยฝ teaspoon salt
- โ cup feta cheese (cut into ยพ inch cubes)
- ยผ cup vegetable oil
Lemon-Garlic Yogurt Sauce
- ยพ cup plain yogurt
- ยผ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
Instructions
Meatballs
- In a large bowl, mix together all meatball ingredients. Use your hands and mix until *just* combined; do not over-mix.
- Form approximately 2 tablespoon-sized balls, patting firmly together.
- Tuck a cube of feta inside, making sure to seal all around it. You want the meatballs to be fairly compact so they don't break apart during frying.
- Heat oil over medium-low heat {just enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan}.
- Fry meatballs for 2-3 minutes per side, turning frequently. Mine took 15 minutes to cook through.
- To check if cooked through middle, cut a meatball open and look for uncooked turkey meat or use a digital thermometer to make sure temperature is 165ยฐF.
- Drain on paper towel and serve immediately.
Lemon-Garlic Yogurt Sauce
- Combine all ingredients and mix until smooth.
- Serve as a dip, or over-top of meatballs.
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Tips:
- fridge- Store fully cooked meatballs in the fridge in an air tight container for up to 4 days
- freezerโ cool completely and arrange on a baking sheet. Freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag, reusable silicone bag, or meal prep container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Raw meatballs may be frozen the same way.
- heat in the oven in a covered baking dish for 15 minutes at 350ยฐF. You could also reheat on the stove in a covered pan on low heat for 10-15 minutes.
Nutrition Information
© Sweet Peas & Saffron - Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
gloria says
Sorry but I won't be making these again. I even added almost double the listed spices yet they were still lacking. I used good quality ground turkey and grape seed oil for frying. Oh well, they were edible so it wasn't a total loss!
Denise says
That's so strange because we make these all the time and absolutely love them! One of my readers even makes these on a weekly basis. Did you add the worchestire sauce? That definitely can't be left out. So sorry you didn't like them, Gloria!
leslie says
No Egg or Breadcrumbs hey? blew my mind! i have them prepped cant wait to cook them up.
Denise says
Hi Leslie! I know, right? I like my meatballs without the breadcrumbs and eggs. I hope you liked them!
Jen says
Can the meatballs be baked instead of fried? Has anyone tried them baked?
Denise says
Hi Jen! I am quoting PJ on this one, who commented on the meatballs on my Facebook page: " I make these weekly and sometimes twice! They're awesome fried or baked. If I bake, I do add a splash of olive oil as it keeps them moist and not dry. (375ยฐ for 30 minutes on each side I find works best) I also use the whole lemon zested and the entire lemon juice and throw in a handful of Italian bread crumbs to help bind things together" (THANK-YOU, PJ!!) I hope this works for you! Thanks, Jen!
Catherine says
Dear Denise, congratulations! How wonderful it is to have your own space to create! My office is in need of a makeover...when your space is kept fresh and exciting, so is your creativity. These meatballs look and sound wonderful. I love how the cheese melted so beautifully. The yogurt sauce is perfect. xo, Catherine
Pj Suttle says
I made these this evening - didn't make the yogurt sauce though (because I forgot the yogurt) and I had to add some breadcrumbs to the turkey because I was a tad over zealous with the lemon. Regardless, quite tasty and very filling - I had 5! The recipe said it yields 12, 15 are what I ended up getting and I used olive oil in lieu of vegetable oil!
Thanks for the recipe Denise! Tomorrow I'm making the guacamole pizza!
Denise says
I'm so glad you liked them, PJ! Thanks so much for reporting back ๐ Hope you enjoy the guacamole pizza!
Poppy says
Have you tried it with ground lamb?
Denise says
Hi Poppy! No, I haven't tried it with ground lamb, but I have seen lots of Greek-flavoured meatballs made with ground lamb...I bet the flavours would be perfect together!
chris says
I try not to fry things, it's messy & time comsuming. Can these be oven cooked?
Thanks.
Denise says
I agree, Chris! I haven't tried baking these, if you do, make sure to form very tight meatballs as frying them helped keep them together. For this recipe they baked at 400 F for 15 minutes...you could try that and see how it goes? And it would be great it you reported back here how it went!
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter says
Yay for the new office and new computer! So fun! And so are these meatballs! I love that you stuffed them with feta! They look so flavorful and juicy! The lemon garlic yogurt sauce sounds perfect with them!
Isadora says
Denise, I can't believe that you have a full time job, a baby, a blog, and you are doing school work?! I can barely keep up with a blog and a job! I'm impressed! I don't eat a ton of meat, but I'm kinda obsessed with turkey meatballs and obviously I love greek flavors AND these are stuffed with cheese?!! I want!
Denise says
Thanks Isadora ๐ I am busy, and feel like I have 3 full-time jobs some days, but this blog keep me sane...it is so fun to have a hobby like this (if you can call it a hobby).
Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel says
I really need to make myself a new office! Currently mine is the junk room lol! SO not motivating. Your meatballs sound amazing... love the Greek flavors and that gooey cheese is winning me over!!
Denise says
Thanks, Mary Frances! So far I'm loving sitting at a proper desk again ๐
CakePants says
Whoa...these look seriously delicious! I didn't know that feta even *could* melt...I'm sold!
Denise says
Ha ha, me neither! Apparently, it does ๐ Thanks, CakePants!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
You must be loving your new office! I never use my office at home, though I should! I always work from the kitchen table. That way, I can see my husband from across the room and don't feel like I'm ignoring him for hours on end while I blog! ๐ This stuffed meatballs look fantastic, Denise! I love that they're stuffed with feta. Sounds perfect! And that sauce looks amazing!
Denise says
I LOOOOVE my new office (although here I sit on the couch again!) It is so much easier to focus sitting at a desk! Thanks, Gayle!
Jess @ whatjessicabakednext says
These meatballs look delicious, Denise! I love Greek food - so all those flavours from the lemon and herbs are amazing. Really like the fact they're stuffed with feta! Yumm!
Denise says
I love Greek food, too, Jess! SO much flavor! Thanks ๐
Nora @ Savory Nothings says
I can guarantee you one thing: You're going to LOVE editing pictures on the iMac instead of on the MacBook - I can't imagine doing so at all and I adore the iMac more than anything (that sounds so bad, ha!).
My home office is going to be a nursery very soon. So far baby has been sleeping in our room but I think we're slowly ready to progress a step further ๐
On another note: These meatballs look beyond amazing. Meatballs were meant to be stuffed with Feta cheese!
Denise says
Absolutely, Nora! I have edited photos before on my 13 inch monitor, published the post, and then looked at it on my work monitor and wondered what the heck happened! No more! I just have to figure out if I can download photoshop & lightroom onto my new computer...don't want to pay for them again ๐ And you will love having your room back, one little step towards a little more freedom (at least that's how I felt).
Helen @ Scrummy Lane says
Oh, Denise, this is the perfect recipe for me to read about this morning because I am just about to catch a flight to Greece!
My goodness, now you've got my mouth watering! It's a perfect idea to stuff the meatballs with feta - really keen to try that now, especially with those big tubs of feta and oregano I'm going to pick up while over there!
Denise says
Oh my gosh, I am so jealous of your trip! I hope you have a great time, Helen!
April @ Girl Gone Gourmet says
First, Yum! I love meatballs with special insides ๐ and Second, Yay! about the new office/computer - I love having my own space to blog, makes it so much easier!
Denise says
Thanks, April! I'm LOVING the new setup! So much more efficient!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
Congrats on the new office! You must feel like a real fancy grown up now! I do all my editing on the couch. Haha! At least it's comfy : )
These meatballs sound delicious! How great would these be in a pita pocket? Can't wait to make these!
Denise says
Ha ha, yes, I am such a fancy grown up ๐ Although I may be sitting on the couch right now! Love your idea of the pita pocket! Sounds like the perfect lunch!
Ashley | The Recipe Rebel says
We just finished another space to use as an office too! My office also became a nursery, but it was nursery/office for only a couple weeks while my husband was working on our next space. Truth be told, though, I don't even use it. I'm still sitting at the kitchen table or on the couch with my laptop. Lol. ANYWAY, I'm continually blown away by your creativity in the kitchen!
Denise says
That's awesome, Ashley! I will still probably be couching it a bit, but it's nice to have a place to go for some quiet...and a decent computer! And thank-you for the HUGE compliment! ๐ ๐
Sarah@Whole and Heavenly Oven says
Oh my heavens. FETA stuffed in a big 'ol gorgeous meatball? Denise, I need some of your crazy-creative inspiration! These meatballs are pure perfection. Dying over that yogurt sauce!
Denise says
Thanks so much, Sarah!