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    Home » Recipes » Savory » One Skillet Greek Chicken Meatballs with Lemon Feta Orzo

    Published: Mar 17, 2022 by Ansley Beutler

    One Skillet Greek Chicken Meatballs with Lemon Feta Orzo

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    These greek chicken meatballs are incredibly tender, packed with mediterranean-inspired flavor, and perfectly paired with soft orzo dressed in zesty lemon and a sprinkle of feta. Add a side of lemon garlic yogurt sauce for extra dipping, trust me you won't regret it. The entire dish is made in one skillet for an easy and delicious weeknight meal.

    Overhead view of a black skillet with orzo and greek chicken meatballs.

    If you're a lover of mediterranean food like me, you'll love this one skillet greek chicken meatball dish. It's loaded with fresh dill and mint, hints of citrusy lemon, and crumbles of feta.

    You'll also love my whipped goat cheese and baked turkey meatballs.

    Jump to:
    • Recipe characteristics
    • Ingredients and notes
    • Step by step directions
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Recipe
    • Reviews

    Recipe characteristics

    • Made in one skillet
    • Prepared with fresh ingredients
    • Perfect for a weeknight meal
    • Packed with flavor

    Ingredients and notes

    Greek chicken meatball ingredients on a blue surface with labels in black.
    • Ground chicken - Anything from 94 - 99% lean will work. I like to use 94% which helps the meatballs remain tender when cooked.
    • Egg - This is used in the meatballs and helps to bind everything together. If you can't go eggs, substitute with 3 tablespoon greek yogurt.
    • Feta - Sprinkled over the warm orzo where it softens and melts into the pasta. Substitute with goat cheese if desired or a dairy free cheese.
    • Lemon - Fresh lemon juice is always better but feel free to use the kind in the bottle if you need to.
    • Orzo - This is the grain used in the dish to give it some bulk. You can swap with any grain you want like quinoa, brown rice, couscous, etc.
    • Greek yogurt - For the sauce. I like to use anything from 0 - 5% fat for optimal consistency. Make sure to use plain and unsweetened. Swap with a dairy free greek yogurt if needed.
    Greek meatballs and orzo in a skillet with herbs and a serving spoon.

    Step by step directions

    This greek chicken meatball dish is super easy to make! You will need a large skillet, I prefer cast iron but non-stick will work too, a bowl to make the meatballs, and a small cookie scoop or spoon.

    Step 1 : Make the yogurt sauce

    First, heat the olive oil and garlic in a large skillet and cook until the garlic has browned. Pour the garlic and olive oil mixture into a a bowl with the yogurt and stir together with a spoon. The yogurt will thin out as you stir in the oil.

    Set the bowl aside while you prepare the rest of the dish.

    Glass bowl with lemon garlic yogurt sauce and a spoon resting inside.

    Step 2 : Prepare the meatballs

    This part is simple. Add all the meatball ingredients to a medium-sized bowl and mix well with a spoon or spatula until well mixed. The egg should be broken up and the spices evenly distributed.

    Greek chicken meatball ingredients in a bowl about to be mixed.

    Step 3 : Cook the meatballs

    Next, use a small cookie scoop or a spoon to scoop the meat into balls and roll in between the palms of your hands. I recommend putting a tiny bit of olive oil on your hands before you dive into this step. It helps prevent the meat from sticking to your hands.

    Place each meatball inside the skillet heated with olive oil. You should have enough meatballs to completely cover the bottom of the skillet so it's okay if they touch a little.

    Allow the meatballs to cool until semi-firm on one side, about 3 - 4 minutes, before flipping them over to cook on the other side for another 3 - 4 minutes. The meatballs are done with they are firm to the touch and have golden brown crispy edges.

    Greek meatballs cooking in a black skillet.

    Remove the meatballs from the skillet and place them on a separate place off to the side. Keep the skillet heated over medium heat.

    Step 4 : Heat the orzo

    In the same skillet, add the orzo along with the water. Stir the orzo around to make sure each little grain is coated in water. Bring the orzo to a simmer where it will soak up the liquid and become soft and fluffy.

    Be sure to stir continuously here as the orzo can stick to the bottom of the pan if not stirred often.

    Orzo cooking in a skillet with a spatula stirring.

    Reduce the heat to low and stir in the feta. The feta should soften almost immediately as it's stirred into the orzo.

    Step 5 : Add the meatballs back and garnish

    Place the meatballs back into the skillet to warm up again. It's easiest to make little wells in the orzo to place each meatball back into the dish.

    Sprinkle some extra feta over top in addition to some fresh dill and mint leaves. Top with a few spoonfuls of the yogurt sauce, serve, and enjoy!

    Orzo greek chicken meatball skillet with herbs and a spoon resting inside.

    Frequently asked questions

    Can I make the meatballs ahead of time?

    Yes, the greek chicken meatballs are meal prep friendly. Make the meatball portion of the recipe as directed and allow them to cool completely before storing in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

    Can I make this dairy free?

    This recipe can be made dairy free with a few simple swaps. Use a dairy free feta like this one and swap the greek yogurt with a plain plant based version.

    How can I reheat this dish?

    To reheat on the stove, add a splash of water to the skillet and warm up the dish over medium heat until the orzo has soaked up the water. You can also microwave a portion of the dish in a bowl with a splash of water to keep the orzo soft and moist.

    For more fun dinner ideas, check out my:

    • Easy Baked Goat Cheese Pasta with Sausage and Mushrooms
    • Comforting Gluten free Turkey Lasagna (Dairy free & Paleo options)
    • Cozy Beanless Sweet Potato Turkey Chili

    PS : If you make this recipe, be sure to leave a star review and comment below! Also be sure to follow along with me on Instagram and Pinterest to stay up to date on all tasty recipes here at The Fit Peach!


    Recipe

    Skillet with greek chicken meatballs and orzo and garnished with greenery

    One Skillet Greek Chicken Meatballs with Lemon Feta Orzo

    These greek chicken meatballs are incredibly tender, packed with mediterranean-inspired flavor, and perfectly paired with soft orzo dressed in zesty lemon and a sprinkle of feta. Add a side of lemon garlic yogurt sauce for extra dipping, trust me you won't regret it. The entire dish is made in one skillet for an easy and delicious weeknight meal.
    4.75 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: Mediterranean
    Keyword: Greek chicken meatballs
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 4 Servings
    Calories: 497kcal
    Author: Ansley Beutler

    Ingredients
      

    For the yogurt sauce

    • 1 clove garlic - finely chopped
    • 3 tablespoon olive oil
    • ⅓ cup greek yogurt - plain and unsweetened
    • ¼ teaspoon sea salt

    For the meatballs

    • 1 lb ground chicken - 94-99% lean
    • 1 egg
    • ¼ cup red onion - chopped
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 2 teaspoon oregano
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • 1 teaspoon drill - finely chopped, plus more for garnish
    • 1 teaspoon mint - finely chopped, plus more for garnish
    • 3 tablespoon olive oil - to cook the meatballs in

    For the orzo

    • 1 cup orzo
    • 1 ½ cup water
    • ⅓ cup feta - plus more for garnish
    • ½ lemon - for juice

    Instructions

    • Heat the chopped garlic in a large skillet with the olive oil over medium heat. Cook until the garlic has browned. Pour the garlic and olive oil into a bowl with the yogurt and stir well. The yogurt will thin as the oil is incorporated. Set the bowl aside while you prepare the rest of the dish.
    • Place all chicken meatball ingredients, except the olive oil. in a medium bowl and mix well with a spoon or a spatula. The egg should be broken up and the spices well blended into the chicken. At this time, heat the skillet back up over medium heat with the olive oil. Use a small cookie scoop or spoon to scoop the meat into balls and roll in between the palms of your hands. I like to rub a little olive oil on my hands before diving into this step which helps prevent the meat from sticking to your hands. Place each meatball back into the warm skillet to cook. Allow the meatballs to cook for 3 - 4 minutes on one side until they are semi-firm to the touch. Then flip them over with tongs or a spatula so they can cook on the other side for another 3 - 4 minutes. You will know the meatballs are done with they are firm to the touch and have a golden brown crispy outer layer.
    • Remove the meatballs from the skillet and place on a plate. Set aside. Pour the orzo into the skillet along with the water and keep the skillet heated over medium heat. Continuously stir the orzo until it reaches a simmer where it will soak up the liquid and become soft and fluffy. Sprinkle the feta over the orzo and stir to distribute. The feta should melt into the orzo as it’s incorporated.
    • Turn the heat off the skillet and make little wells in the orzo and place the meatballs back into the skillet to warm up again. Garnish with extra feta, dill, and mint and spoon a few spoonfuls of the yogurt sauce over top. Serve the dish with the rest of the yogurt sauce and enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 497kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 114mg | Sodium: 601mg | Potassium: 614mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 197IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @the.fit.peach or tag #thefitpeach!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Susan c says

      March 08, 2023 at 6:01 pm

      When do you add the lemon juice?

      Reply
    2. Don says

      February 18, 2023 at 6:53 am

      5 stars
      This was so easy and delicious

      Reply

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