Baked Chicken and Feta Meatballs

By Yasmin Fahr

Published September 26, 2022

  • Browned chicken and feta meatballs are piled on a white plate and topped with scattered chopped mint and feta cheese crumbles.
    David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne.
Media 1 of 1
Total Time
30 minutes
Rating
5(1,014)
Comments
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Filled with feta, yogurt and oats to keep the chicken tender and flavorful, these meatballs lean Mediterranean, but they’re subtle enough to play well with others. Though they anchor any meal as the main character, they welcome a wide range of supporting cast members. You could roast broccoli, asparagus or other vegetables with a similar cooking time in another sheet pan in the oven, or add heartier vegetables like delicata squash to the oven first, since they take a bit longer to cook. Serving the meatballs in a bowl of leftover tomato sauce or your favorite marinara would be a winning combination, too. Use them to add heft to salad, or (gently) drop them into a brothy soup just until warmed. 

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings

  • ¾ cup finely crumbled feta

  • ¼ packed cup fresh mint leaves, finely chopped

  • ¼ cup old-fashioned rolled oats

  • 1 tablespoon plain thick yogurt (such as labneh) or Greek or Icelandic yogurt

  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

  • ½ to 1 teaspoon red-pepper flakes

  • Kosher salt

  • 1 pound ground chicken or turkey (preferably dark meat)

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1 lemon, halved

Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

7 grams carbs; 123 milligrams cholesterol; 327 calories; 10 grams monosaturated fat; 3 grams polyunsaturated fat; 7 grams saturated fat; 23 grams fat; 2 grams fiber; 428 milligrams sodium; 25 grams protein; 1 gram sugar

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat the oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, mix ½ cup feta with half the chopped mint, plus the oats, yogurt, oregano, red-pepper flakes and 1 teaspoon salt, breaking up any lingering feta chunks with your hands. Add the chicken, gently combining until it’s lightly speckled with green dots.

  2. Step 2

    Drizzle the oil on a sheet pan and use your hands to spread it around. Use your oiled palms to shape the chicken into 1- to 1 ¼-inch loosely firm but not compact balls; lightly roll them in the oil on the sheet pan when shaping to coat them and prevent them from sticking. You should have 18 to 20 meatballs. Once the meatballs have all been rolled out, spread them out evenly on the sheet pan.

  3. Step 3

    Cook meatballs until the bottoms are browned and the centers are no longer pink, 15 to 18 minutes.

  4. Step 4

    Squeeze half of the lemon over the pan, then use a wooden spoon to move the meatballs around, turning the browned side up, and scraping up any browned bits on the pan. Transfer to a bowl or leave in the pan and top with the remaining feta and mint. Cut the remaining lemon half into quarters and serve at the table for squeezing on top.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
1,014 user ratings
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Comments

M Clark

These little meatballs by themselves are nice, but I think they'd really shine with a zesty, herbaceous" supporting dish." I served them with zucchini noodles, feta, and mint and liked it, but I think a hearty Greek salad with olives, cucumbers, tomato, red onion, and herbs would be the perfect pairing. They have nice, subtle flavor but are asking to be paired with more!

Laura

These are fantastic! They are easy, quick, and have great flavor. I used chicken and they turned out super moist. Definitely the best meatball I’ve ever made. Be sure to lightly mix the ingredients and just drop them on the sheet as a loose ball, don’t compact. I put them on a bed of arugula, with hummus, tzatziki, pickled onions, kalamata olives and cucumber. Pita would be a nice addition.

Mai F

I subbed fresh, chopped basil for the mint and added the olive oil directly into the meatball mix. Placed the rolled up meatballs on a parchment paper-lined sheet pan. They turned out moist and I had a no-fuss clean up!

xojs82

This recipe is such a classic in our household. Sometimes I dice up a shallot for an extra kick. Also broil at the end for two mins to get some color. Usually I'll make this with orzo or rice and add cucumber, tomato, and feta into a Mediterranean bowl. If you don't have fresh herbs I substitute with herbs de Provence.

El

Are the oats necessary?

Tina

Added these to our Greek salad. Winner!!! Will make a double batch and freeze some.

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