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Chicken meatballs in a bowl with tomatoes, cucumber and pomegranate seeds.
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4.91 from 10 votes

Mediterranean Meatballs

These Mediterranean-spiced chicken meatballs are so easy! They take under 30 minutes to make and freeze well so you can use them in lunches or dinners the rest of the week. Serve with chopped tomatoes, cucumber and hummus with rice, pita, or couscous.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free, Low Calorie, Low Lactose, Low Salt
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 281kcal
Author: Alicia

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron or oven-safe pan

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 pound ground chicken breast or thighs (or both)
  • 1 large garlic clove, minced
  • 1 shallot, chopped (about 2 tablespoons)
  • ½ teaspoon ground sumac
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 large egg
  • ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt and black pepper

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place all your ingredients, except oil, in a large bowl and mix thoroughly with your hands until well-combined. Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes if you have time. It will make forming the balls easier. 
  • Using a scoop or spoon, scoop the balls into roughly 2" pieces and roll with your hands. Coating your hands in water or oil can help the meat not stick to them. In a large oven-safe pan like a cast iron, add 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil and warm over medium heat. Add the meatballs, giving them enough room to sear properly - about 1 inch apart. Sear on all sides, about 3 minutes total, just until browned but not cooked through. Transfer seared meatballs to a baking sheet or a plate to make more room.
  • Once all the meatballs have been seared, place them back into the cast iron pan and bake for about 10 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, or until till cooked through. 
  • Serve with couscous, cucumbers, and tomatoes as well as with hummus or one of the sauce suggestions.

Notes

  • For toasted sesame seeds - use a clean, small pan over medium heat and toast for 1-2 minutes. Careful, they can burn fast! Or you can buy them pre-toasted.
  • If you can't find ground chicken, ask the butcher to grind it for you. Ground chicken thighs or breast work in this recipe. My preference is to combine the two 50/50. This recipe will also work with ground turkey or beef. I recommend a higher fat content for best flavor and texture. 
  • For gluten free, use gluten free panko. 
  • This recipe serves 4 people a light portion that's meant to be balanced with side dishes like salad, rice, or couscous. I would recommend doubling the recipe or planning on it serving 2 if not having with many sides. 
  • Doubling the recipe is also great for meal prep as these freeze very well!

Nutrition

Serving: 4meatballs | Calories: 281kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 144mg | Sodium: 114mg | Potassium: 641mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 71IU | Vitamin C: 0.04mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 2mg