Turkish-Spiced Lamb Meatballs with Yogurt Sauce

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-12 · Updated 2026-05-12

Tender lamb meatballs seasoned with aromatic Turkish spices served with a cooling garlic yogurt sauce, perfect for a comforting dinner. This middle eastern-inspired lamb ready in about 35 minutes blends ground lamb, medium, finely grated onion, minced garlic cloves into a versatile sauce that lifts everything from grain bowls and roasted vegetables to grilled proteins — a small-batch staple worth keeping in the fridge. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 4, so a small batch covers several meals across the week without taking over the fridge. 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 medium, finely grated onion
• 3 minced garlic cloves
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup Greek yogurt
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 minced garlic clove for sauce
• 1 tbsp chopped (optional) fresh dill

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, combine 1 lb ground lamb, 1 finely grated medium onion, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp ground coriander, 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overwork the meat.
2. Step 2: Shape the mixture into 1 1/2-inch meatballs, about 16 total. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the meatballs in batches and cook for 4-5 minutes per side until browned and cooked through.
3. Step 3: While the meatballs cook, prepare the sauce by stirring together 1 cup Greek yogurt, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 minced garlic clove, and 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill in a small bowl. Season with a pinch of salt.
4. Step 4: Serve the lamb meatballs warm with a dollop of the garlic yogurt sauce and a sprinkle of extra parsley if desired.