These Air Fryer Greek Turkey Meatballs with Tzatziki are one of my favorite healthy meals. It has so much flavor, but is still light and satisfying. Unlike a traditional meatball, the turkey meatballs are loaded with fresh herbs, garlic, lemon, and feta, then air-fried until golden brown outside and juicy inside.
Paired with a cool homemade tzatziki sauce, they make an easy dinner, appetizer, or meal prep option. These meatballs paired with Red Potatoes are simply delicious!
Try These Air Fryer Greek Turkey Meatballs
I love this turkey feta meatballs recipe because it is easy to make at home, even though it could be something you order in a Greek restaurant. The simple ingredients, lemon, dill, parsley, and feta, give the meatballs so much flavor, and the tzatziki keeps everything fresh and creamy. I often make a double batch because they disappear quickly and are perfect for lunches throughout the week.
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Video Instructions
Why You'll Love It
- Protein-packed: These meatballs are filled with lean turkey, making them a filling meal that is light.
- Air fryer advantage: I love how the air fryer fries the meatballs so well that they are juicy inside and have a lightly golden exterior with very little oil.
- Fresh Mediterranean flavors: The lemon, garlic, dill, parsley, oregano, and feta make every bite taste fresh and vibrant.
- Perfect for meal prep: I like to make these ahead of time because they reheat well and they work for lunches, dinners, or snacks.
- Various serving options: You can serve them as an appetizer, tuck them into pita bread, add them to salads, or enjoy them with rice and vegetables.
Ingredients
- Ground Turkey: I recommend using 93% lean ground turkey because it gives the best flavor and moisture overall. Leaner turkey can dry out more easily.
- Grated Onion: This is one of my favorite tricks. The onion and its juices add delicious flavor, and it keeps the turkey moist. I like using red onion for this recipe.
- Panko Breadcrumbs: This is what makes the meatballs tender instead of dense ones by absorbing moisture and keeping the mixture light.
- Feta Cheese: I love adding feta because these little pockets of cheese melt into the meatballs, adding richness and flavor.
- Greek Yogurt: I always use thick Greek yogurt because it creates a creamy tzatziki that doesn't become watery.
How to Make Air Fryer Greek Turkey Meatballs
1. In a medium bowl, combine Greek yogurt, cucumber, garlic, lemon juice, dill, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Stir well and refrigerate while preparing the meatballs.
2. In a large bowl, combine the grated onion and all of its liquid, garlic, egg, panko breadcrumbs, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes.
Tip: If you are adding your own dried herbs and spices, now would be the time.
3. Add ground turkey, parsley, dill, oregano, lemon zest, and feta cheese.
4. Gently fold everything together until just combined. Form the mixture into 20 equal meatballs. Lightly oil your hands if needed.
5. Preheat the air fryer to 380°F (195°C) for 3 minutes.
6. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with olive oil or cooking spray. Arrange the meatballs in a single layer with space between them.
7. Air fry for 10–12 minutes, turning halfway through. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
8. Garnish with chopped olives or cherry tomatoes, and serve immediately with chilled tzatziki sauce.
Recipe Tips
- I always squeeze as much water as possible from the cucumber. This is the secret to thick, creamy tzatziki.
- Don't overmix the turkey mixture. I gently fold everything together just until combined because overmixing can make the meatballs tough.
- Using the onion juice may seem unusual, but it adds incredible flavor and helps keep the turkey moist during cooking.
- A cookie scoop works really well if you want evenly sized meatballs.
- This Greek meatballs recipe is not limited to turkey; you can do this with ground beef, chicken, pork, and more!
- Remember to store meatballs and tzatziki separately in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- I like to sometimes mix it up a bit and add cumin and garlic powder.
What Can You Serve With This?
- Greek salad
- Warm pita bread
- Lemon rice
- Roasted vegetables
- Greek potatoes
- Couscous
- Hummus
FAQs
Yes, I have made these with ground chicken before, and they turn out great.
Yes, bake them at 400°F (200°C) for 15–18 minutes.
Absolutely. I often shape the meatballs a day ahead and keep them refrigerated until I'm ready to cook them.
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Air Fryer Greek Turkey Meatballs With Tzatziki
Ingredients
For the Turkey Meatballs
- 1½ lb ground turkey
- 1 small onion, finely grated + its juice
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoon crumbled feta cheese The pockets of melting feta add brine and fat directly to the lean turkey as it air-fries.
For the Tzatziki Sauce
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- ½ cucumber, grated and squeezed dry
- 1 garlic clove, finely minced
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, finely chopped
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Optional
- A drop of liquid honey. A tiny bit of honey balances the sharp raw garlic and lemon acidity without making the sauce taste sweet.
Serving
- Greek Salad
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine Greek yogurt, cucumber, garlic, lemon juice, dill, olive oil, salt and pepper. Mix well and refrigerate while preparing the meatballs.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the grated onion and all of its liquid, garlic, egg, panko, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper. Let this sit for 5 minutes.
- Add the ground turkey, fresh parsley, dill, oregano, lemon zest and the crumbled feta. Using cold hands, gently fold the mixture together until just combined.
- Form the mixture into 20 equal meatballs. Lightly oil your hands if needed.
- Preheat air fryer to 380°F (195°C) for 3 minutes.
- Mist the basket lightly with olive oil.
- Arrange the meatballs in a single layer with space between them.
- Air fry for 10-12 minutes, turning gently halfway through.
- Cook until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Serve warm with chilled tzatziki sauce and extra dill or parsley if desired.
Video
Notes
Cooking Time and Temperature
Air fry at 380°F (195°C) for 10–12 minutes, turning halfway through.Taste & Texture
These meatballs are tender, juicy, and packed with lemon, garlic, and herb flavor, while the tzatziki is cool, creamy, and refreshing.Storage, Freezing & Reheating
- Fridge: Store meatballs and tzatziki separately in airtight containers for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked or uncooked meatballs for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 3–4 minutes until heated through.
Serving Recommendations
I love serving these meatballs with Greek salad, warm pita bread, and plenty of tzatziki for a complete Mediterranean-inspired meal.Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- Use ground chicken instead of turkey.
- Swap dill for fresh mint.
- Use regular breadcrumbs instead of panko.
- Add extra feta for more richness.
- Serve in pita wraps with lettuce and tomatoes.
Proper Storage Tips
- Store the tzatziki separately from the meatballs.
- Keep everything in airtight containers.
- Add a lemon slice to meal prep containers to help keep the meatballs fresh.
Pro Tips
- Squeeze all excess water from the cucumber.
- Don't overmix the turkey mixture.
- Use the grated onion juice for extra moisture.
- Cook in a single layer.
- Remove the meatballs as soon as they reach 165°F (74°C) to keep them juicy.
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