Description
Greek Chicken Meatballs with Lemon Orzo is a flavorful and easy-to-make dish featuring juicy chicken meatballs seasoned with lemon and herbs, served with orzo pasta tossed in feta cheese and fresh herbs.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large egg
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 2 cups vegetable or chicken broth
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, red onion, garlic, egg, parsley, oregano, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined.
- Form the mixture into 1-inch meatballs, place on a parchment-lined baking sheet spaced evenly apart.
- Bake meatballs for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature 165°F/74°C).
- While meatballs bake, bring broth to a boil in a saucepan. Add orzo and cook 8-10 minutes until al dente. Drain any excess broth.
- Return orzo to saucepan, drizzle with olive oil, add feta, parsley, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Serve meatballs alongside lemon orzo, garnish with extra parsley and lemon wedges if desired.
Notes
- Do not overmix meatball mixture to avoid tough meatballs.
- Shape meatballs evenly for uniform cooking.
- Use fresh herbs for best flavor; dried herbs work as a substitute.
- Let meatballs rest a few minutes after baking to retain juices.
- Adjust seasoning to taste before serving.
- Optional: Add crushed red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
- Store leftovers in airtight containers; refrigerate up to 3 days or freeze separately.
- Reheat gently in microwave or on stove with a splash of broth.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
Keywords: Greek chicken meatballs, lemon orzo, Greek dinner recipe, easy chicken meatballs, orzo pasta with chicken