Lamb Meatballs with Tzatziki

by Mackenzie Burgess, RDN | Oct 11, 2021

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These lamb meatballs are filled with Mediterranean spices and fresh herbs for a delicious and unique spin on classic meatballs. Served with a quick tzatziki on the side.

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Mix up your typical meatballs

Meatballs are a classic protein option, but have you ever tried ground lamb meatballs before? If not, it’s a must-try. This flavorful recipe is super simple yet guaranteed to impress. It’s perfect for the holidays or dinner parties.

These meatballs are so versatile and pair well with all kinds of other side dishes. They are also perfect to add into Mediterranean style grain bowls.

Be sure to also check out our Italian Meatloaf recipe.

Is lamb healthy?

While it’s not recommended to eat lamb everyday, it can definitely be a part of a balanced diet. Lamb contains important nutrients like vitamin B12, iron, zinc, and protein.

Keep in mind, lamb is also going to be higher in saturated fat so try to limit it to once a week or for special occasions to enjoy as a real treat.

How do you make spiced lamb meatballs?

Even though this recipe contains several ingredients, it’s super simple to make.

1. First, prep your herbs and spices.

Use a knife or kitchen shears to finely chop your herbs. To toast whole spices, add them to a dry pan and heat until they are slightly golden and aromatic. Then transfer to mortar and pestle or spice grinder and grind until broken down. If you don’t have whole spices, no worries. Just throw in the same amount of the ground spice.

Whole coriander and cumin seeds in a mortar and pestle

2. Then, make your meatball mixture.

Add everything to a bowl and mix together with a large fork or your hands.

3. Next, prepare the tzatziki.

You could also buy a store bought tzatziki if you want less prep work but I think fresh is best!

4. Finally, form into balls and cook.

This recipe makes 12 meatballs. If you need more, feel free to double the recipe.

Can you make these meatballs ahead of time?

Yes! You can form into meatballs and leave in the fridge for up to 3 days until you make them.

You can also store meatballs in the freezer for up to 2 months. To do this, add the meatballs over parchment paper in a single layer until frozen. Then, transfer to a zip top freezer bag, label, and take out when you’re ready to cook.

These are both great options if you are meal prepping. I often like to double the recipe to cook one batch the day of and freeze the other batch to have ready to go at a later time.

Customize it your way

Like all of my other recipes, these lamb meatballs can be easily customized. If you don’t have fresh herbs for the meatball mixture, try adding a sprinkle of dried herbs instead. If you’re not a fan of lamb, you could totally use another type of ground meat like chicken, beef, or turkey.

Make your own lamb bowl

I love adding these lamb meatballs with tzatziki into CAVA-inspired bowls with greens, grains, and extras. This is perfect for a weeknight dinner where everything can pick and choose what they like best. Feel free to set out any or all of the following ingredients to choose from:

Leafy greens
Cooked basmati rice
Cooked lentils
Pickled red onion
Crumbled feta cheese
Sliced avocado
Corn
Cherry tomatoes
Hummus

What else can I serve with these meatballs?

Try adding these lamb meatballs into pitas, over pasta, or zucchini noodles (zoodles). These meatballs are also great when paired with some type of grain or vegetable side dish. Here are some recipe ideas to pair with:

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