Description
Irresistible Baked Greek Lentil Meatballs with Tzatziki – Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, these Greek-inspired lentil meatballs are loaded with fresh herbs and warm spices, baked to golden perfection, and served with cool, tangy tzatziki for a wholesome vegetarian main.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1½ cups cooked green lentils, drained
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup grated onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp cumin
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- ½ cucumber, grated and squeezed dry
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mash lentils slightly, leaving some texture.
- Add breadcrumbs, egg, onion, garlic, parsley, dill, oregano, cumin, salt, pepper, and olive oil. Mix until combined.
- Shape mixture into golf ball-sized meatballs and place on the baking sheet.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and firm.
- While baking, mix all tzatziki ingredients in a bowl and chill until ready to serve.
- Serve lentil meatballs warm with tzatziki on the side.
Notes
- Best served warm; leftovers refrigerate well for meal prep.
- To keep them intact, avoid overmixing the lentil mixture.
- You can bake up to a day ahead and reheat gently.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25–30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Greek
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 recipe (about 4 meatballs)
- Calories: Approximately 284 per serving
- Sugar: Approximately 6 g
- Sodium: Approximately 520 mg
- Fat: Approximately 12.8 g
- Saturated Fat: Approximately 2.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: Approximately 9.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: Approximately 35 g
- Fiber: Approximately 6 g
- Protein: Approximately 18 g
- Cholesterol: Approximately 46 mg
Keywords: Irresistible Baked Greek Lentil Meatballs, Greek lentil meatballs, tzatziki, lentil meatballs, vegetarian Greek dinner, Mediterranean vegetarian, easy lentil recipe, Greek-inspired dinner, bake and serve