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Greek Meatballs and Lemon Butter Orzo

A delicious Mediterranean-inspired dish featuring flavorful chicken meatballs served on a bed of lemon-infused orzo, topped with creamy whipped feta and fresh herbs, all cooked in one skillet for easy cleanup.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Calories: 450

Ingredients
  

For the Greek Meatballs
  • 1 pound ground chicken
  • 1 small shallot, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano (or 2 teaspoons dried)
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • to taste Kosher salt and black pepper
  • 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
For the Orzo
  • 1 cup dry orzo pasta
  • 2 tablespoons salted butter
  • 1 lemon sliced, plus 3-4 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, plus more for serving
  • 1/2 cup pitted green olives
  • 1/2 cup oil packed sun-dried tomatoes, chopped, and reserve the oil
  • to taste Kosher salt and black pepper
  • 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes
For the Whipped Feta
  • 8 ounces feta cheese
  • 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
For Serving
  • Arugula and fresh herbs

Method
 

Preparation
  1. In a bowl, combine the chicken, shallot, 1 clove of garlic, oregano, paprika, and a pinch of red pepper, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined. Shape the mixture into tablespoon-sized meatballs, about 14-15 total.
Cooking the Meatballs
  1. Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons of oil. When it shimmers, add the meatballs and sear until crisp and fully cooked, about 8-10 minutes, turning them 2-3 times. Transfer the meatballs to a plate.
Cooking the Orzo
  1. In the same skillet, add the butter and lemon slices. Sear the lemon until golden on each side, about 1 minute. Remove the lemon and place it on the plate with the meatballs.
  2. To the skillet, add 1 clove of garlic and the orzo. Cook until the garlic is fragrant and the orzo is toasted, about 2-3 minutes.
  3. Then, add 2 1/2 cups of water and 1-2 tablespoons of lemon juice. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring often, until the orzo is al dente, about 7-8 minutes.
  4. Stir in the olives and dill. Return the meatballs to the skillet and warm through.
Making the Vinaigrette
  1. To make the sun-dried tomato vinaigrette, whisk together 1/4 cup of the reserved tomato oil, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice, and balsamic vinegar in a bowl. Mix in the sun-dried tomatoes, 1 tablespoon of dill, and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
Making the Whipped Feta
  1. For the whipped feta, combine all feta ingredients in a food processor and pulse until smooth and creamy. This can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Serving
  1. To serve, spread the whipped feta onto plates and drizzle with the vinaigrette. Top with orzo, seared lemons, and meatballs. Sprinkle with greens and fresh herbs. Enjoy!

Notes

Use a small ice cream scoop to easily shape the meatballs. Don’t skip the searing step for the meatballs; it adds great flavor and texture. Feel free to adjust the amount of herbs to your taste. Fresh herbs can elevate the dish.