Baked Middle Eastern-Spiced Lamb Meatballs with Yogurt Sauce

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-07 · Updated 2026-05-07

Juicy lamb meatballs infused with warm Middle Eastern spices, baked to perfection and served with a cooling garlic yogurt drizzle. This Middle Eastern recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs ground lamb, onion, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 360 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground lamb
• 1 small, finely grated onion
• 3 cloves, minced garlic cloves
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tbsp, finely chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp (optional) ground sumac

The sheet pan we’d roast this on → Best Sheet Pans in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F. In a large bowl, combine 1 lb ground lamb, 1 finely grated small onion, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground coriander, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
2. Step 2: Shape the mixture into 20 equal-sized meatballs, about 1.5 inches in diameter, and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
3. Step 3: Drizzle 2 tbsp olive oil over meatballs and bake for 18-20 minutes until browned and cooked through but still juicy.
4. Step 4: While meatballs bake, whisk together 1 cup plain Greek yogurt, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 minced garlic clove, and 1/2 tsp ground sumac (if using) in a small bowl.
5. Step 5: Serve meatballs hot with the garlic yogurt sauce drizzled over or on the side for dipping.