Pan-Seared Greek Keftedes with Fresh Herb Tzatziki

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-30 · Updated 2026-05-30

Juicy Greek meatballs seasoned with fresh herbs, pan-seared until golden, served with a cooling cucumber-yogurt tzatziki sauce. This Greek recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs ground beef, ground pork, fresh parsley for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 410 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 beef
• 1/2 lb ground pork
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh mint
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup grated onion
• 3 minced garlic cloves
• 1/2 cup day-old bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup whole milk
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup Greek yogurt
• 1/2 medium, grated and drained cucumber
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh dill
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 minced garlic clove (for tzatziki)

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, soak 1/2 cup day-old bread crumbs in 1/4 cup whole milk for 5 minutes until soft.
2. Step 2: To the soaked bread crumbs, add 1 lb ground beef, 1/2 lb ground pork, 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, 2 tbsp chopped fresh mint, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 cup grated onion, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 large egg, 1 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Mix gently but thoroughly until combined.
3. Step 3: Shape the mixture into 1 1/2-inch diameter meatballs, about 16-18 pieces.
4. Step 4: Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs and cook for 4-5 minutes per side, turning carefully, until golden brown and cooked through with an internal temperature of 160°F.
5. Step 5: While the meatballs cook, prepare the tzatziki sauce: In a small bowl, combine 1 cup Greek yogurt, 1/2 grated and drained cucumber, 2 tbsp chopped fresh dill, 1 tbsp lemon juice, and 1 minced garlic clove. Stir well and chill until serving.
6. Step 6: Serve the warm meatballs with a generous dollop of fresh herb tzatziki sauce alongside warm pita or salad.