Description
A vibrant Greek-inspired bowl featuring tender, juicy meatballs packed with herbs and spices, served over fluffy rice. Topped with creamy tzatziki, crisp fresh veggies, and a drizzle of olive oil, it’s a refreshing, flavorful bite in every spoonful!
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1⁄2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1⁄4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1⁄4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
- 1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup cooked white rice
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cucumber, sliced
- 1⁄2 red onion, thinly sliced
- 1⁄4 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and sliced
- 1⁄2 cup tzatziki sauce
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, breadcrumbs, chopped fresh parsley, grated Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, dried oregano, ground cumin, ground cinnamon, salt, and black pepper.
3. Mix all ingredients together thoroughly using your hands or a spoon until evenly combined.
4. Shape the mixture into small meatballs, about 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter.
5. Place the meatballs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a lightly greased baking tray.
6. Drizzle olive oil over the meatballs.
7. Bake the meatballs in the preheated oven for 15–20 minutes, or until they are fully cooked through and lightly browned on the outside.
8. While the meatballs are baking, prepare the rice according to package instructions if it’s not already cooked.
9. In a medium bowl, combine the halved cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, and Kalamata olives.
10. Toss the vegetables together to combine them evenly.
11. Once the meatballs are done, remove them from the oven and set them aside to rest for a few minutes.
12. To assemble the bowls, start by placing a portion of cooked rice in each bowl.
13. Top the rice with the fresh vegetable mixture.
14. Add several meatballs on top of the vegetables.
15. Drizzle each bowl with a generous amount of tzatziki sauce.
16. Finish the bowls by squeezing fresh lemon juice over the top.
17. Serve immediately and enjoy.
Notes
Ensure meatballs are packed tightly to prevent them from falling apart during baking.
For a spicier version, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the meatball mixture.
You can substitute ground turkey or lamb for the ground beef for a different flavor.
For a lighter option, use brown rice instead of white rice.
Leftover meatballs can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.