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The Yummy Bowl » Recipes » 30-Minute Meals

Quick Greek Bowls With Turkey Meatballs (Ready in 15 minutes!)

Apr 19, 2024 · Last updated: Dec 31, 2024 by Julia · 10 Comments · this post may contain affiliate links

Jump to Recipe
turkey meatball rice bowls.

Enjoy the wholesome and satisfying Greek Turkey Rice Bowls, infused with vibrant Mediterranean flavors and my favorite tzatziki sauce!

Perfect for meal prepping, this under 30-minute & kid-friendly recipe offers a week's worth of clean and nutritious eating, brimming with fresh ingredients.

ground turkey baked meatballs rice bowl.

Love easy dinner bowls? Try my 10-minute salmon bowl, ramen and air fryer chicken with vegetable bowl.

Ingredients

  • Meat - while I used ground turkey for this recipe, you can easily substitute it with ground beef, ground chicken or use your favorite marinated and cooked chicken, chopped into pieces, for added variety in your bowl.
  • Rice - for the brown rice base, feel free to switch things up! Whether you prefer white rice, quinoa, couscous, barley, farro, or wheat berries, the choice is yours.
  • Cucumbers - I used my Mediterranean cucumber salad here with cherry tomatoes. 
  • Breadcrumbs - use seasoned breadcrumbs or for low carb version almond flour works well too.
  • Liven up your bowl! Add chopped romaine lettuce for a crisp crunch, chopped bell peppers (raw or roasted/grilled), baked zucchini, kale, or sauteed mushroom for extra flavor. For a creamy and tangy touch, add roasted red pepper hummus, pumpkin hummus or sprinkle feta cheese on top of the bowl.

Step by step photos can be found below the recipe card.

Vegetarian Substitute

My favorite vegetarian substitute is using these chickpea burger patties or falafel they are incredibly moist and delicious!

turkey meatball rice bowls.

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Freezing And Storing Instructions

For optimal freshness, I recommend storing these bowls in the fridge for up to 4 days.

And store all the ingredients separately. Meatballs will last in the fridge for 4 days and 2-3 months in the freezer.

However, due to the presence of fresh vegetables and yogurt sauce, they are not suitable for freezing.

Meal Prep

Divide the rice evenly among four containers and top each with the ground turkey meatballs.

In a separate container or small bag, pack the chopped veggies or salad, olives, rice separately, and lemon wedge if using. Store the tzatziki sauce in another separate container.

When ready to eat, warm the rice bowls for about 45 seconds in the microwave and cover them with a damp paper towel to prevent drying.

Top with cucumber salad, olives, squeeze lemon, and add tzatziki sauce to taste.

Hot or Cold?

Enjoy these bowls, warm or cold. Freshly made, the warm rice and turkey complement the crisp, cold vegetables.

As leftovers for meal prep, they make a refreshing cold salad.

More Favorite Mediterranean Recipes

  • Lemon Greek Potatoes
  • Feta Rolls
  • Chicken Souvlaki
  • Mediterranean Cucumber Salad
  • Mediterranean Chicken Recipe
  • Mediterranean Chickpea Pasta Salad

Did You Like This Recipe?

Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below and share it on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!

Recipe Card

turkey meatballs with brown rice, lemon, tzatziki sauce and cucumber tomato salad.

15 Minute Greek Rice Bowl With Turkey Meatballs

Julia
Enjoy this healthy Greek Rice Bowl with tzatziki sauce, packed with vibrant Mediterranean taste! Perfect for meal prep, these bowls offer a week of clean, nutritious eating with fresh ingredients.
5 from 3 votes
Print SaveSaved! Pin
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 25 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Mediterranean
Servings 4 servings
Calories 608 kcal

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INGREDIENTS
  

For Baked Turkey Meatballs

  • 1 pound ground turkey
  • ½ cup Italian breadcrumbs , GF if needed or blanched almond flour
  • ¾ cup brown onion, chopped
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 teaspoon garlic, minced
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

For Serving

  • 4 cups chopped cucumbers and tomatoes, or Mediterranean cucumber salad
  • 2 cups Kalamata olives
  • 1 recipe Tzatziki sauce
  • fresh dill
  • lemon wedges or slices
  • 3 ½ cups cooked brown rice , or pearl couscous

INSTRUCTIONS
 

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Mix everything in a bowl, then roll into 2-inch balls (about 2 tablespoons each, making 16 meatballs).
    1 pound ground turkey, ½ cup Italian breadcrumbs, ¾ cup brown onion, 1 large egg, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, 2 teaspoon garlic
  • Bake in the oven for 15 minutes, turning the broiler to high for the last 2-3 minutes for a golden brown exteriror (depending on your oven you may need only 1-2 minutes).
  • Assemble the bowls with your favorite cooked grain, salad, tzatziki sauce, olives, dill and drizzle with freshly squeezed lemon juice on top.
    4 cups chopped cucumbers and tomatoes, 2 cups Kalamata olives, 1 recipe Tzatziki sauce, fresh dill, lemon wedges or slices, 3 ½ cups cooked brown rice

NOTES

  • Tzatziki sauce recipe.
  • Without Egg - I've also tested these meatballs without an egg and with just ¼ cup of breadcrumbs. The texture is slightly different, still tasty but in this case I recommend testing one after 10-11 minutes for doneness.
  • Nutrition is calculated together with rice, cucumbers salad, dill, olives.
  • Meal prep.
    • Divide the rice evenly among four containers and top each with the ground turkey meatballs. In a separate container or small bag, pack the chopped veggies or salad, olives, rice separately, and lemon wedge if using. Store the tzatziki sauce in another separate containers.
    • When ready to eat, warm the rice bowls for about 45 seconds in the microwave, covered with a damp paper towel to prevent drying. Top with cucumber salad, olives, squeeze lemon, and add tzatziki sauce to taste.

ADD YOUR OWN PRIVATE NOTES

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NUTRITION

Calories: 608kcalCarbohydrates: 59gProtein: 36gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 109mgSodium: 1627mgPotassium: 782mgFiber: 8gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 488IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 119mgIron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?@theyummy_bowl and tag #theyummy_bowl! Thank you!

Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on the products used.

Full Nutrition Disclaimer can be found here.

How To Make Greek Rice Bowls

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Mix everything in a bowl, then roll into 2-inch balls (about 2 tablespoons each, making 14-16 meatballs).
  2. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes, turning the broiler to high for the last 2-3 minutes (P.S. Depending on your oven, you may need only 1-2 minutes for broiling).
  3. Assemble the bowls with your favorite cooked grain, Mediterranean salad or creamy cucumber salad, greek yogurt sauce, olives, dill land drizzle with freshly squeezed lemon juice ont op.
process of making baked turkey meatball rice bowls.
Greek turkey meatball rice bowls.

FAQs

What is your secret to tender meatballs?

Generally, eggs, olive oil and milk add moisture and help the meatball mixture bind when cooked. If your recipe uses breadcrumbs, don't overmeasure and add too many; they will make your meatballs chewy and dry.

When shaping the meatballs, they shouldn't be overly dry; instead, they should be slightly moist and firm (resulting in tender meatballs once cooked). Keep a bowl of cold water nearby to dip your hands in. This trick is a lifesaver! Give it a try!

Is it better to fry or bake meatballs?

Baking the meatballs will give them a light, crunchy exterior, although the caramelization achieved from frying will be more pronounced. Both are good; don't overcook them, whatever method you use!

How to make meatballs not dry?

1. Don't overmix the breadcrumbs and meat mixture. 2. Follow the recipe instructions and ingredients quantities.

More Turkey Recipes

  • turkey stuffing meatballs served with cranberry sauce.
    Baked Turkey Stuffing Meatballs
  • two sliced turkey breasts with oranges and rosemary.
    Cajun Turkey Breast Recipe (Easy Oven- Roasted Recipe)
  • cranberry wraps stacked on top of each other.
    Leftover Turkey Wrap (with Lettuce and Cranberry Sauce)
  • a bunch of cheesy turkey stuffed peppers.
    Air Fryer Stuffed Peppers (With Turkey)
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sarah Elizabeth Abela

    December 03, 2024 at 7:22 pm

    5 stars
    Does the nutrition information also include the tzatziki?

    Reply
    • Julia

      December 08, 2024 at 2:34 pm

      Yes I've made sure to includ the tzatziki sauce from my site.

      Reply
  2. Devon_S

    April 28, 2024 at 12:00 am

    The freezing and storing instructions were particularly useful. It's great to see a recipe that considers meal prep beyond just the cooking. Makes planning for the week a breeze.

    Reply
  3. Mark_theShark

    April 27, 2024 at 10:18 pm

    If I prepare this Greek Rice Bowl in under 15 minutes, does it come with a trip to Greece? Asking for a friend. 😉

    Reply
  4. Liz Greenfield

    April 25, 2024 at 10:34 pm

    For anyone looking to substitute, I used lentil balls instead of turkey and it was fabulous. Maybe next time, the article could include more vegetarian options upfront? Just a thought!

    Reply
  5. jayme_p

    April 24, 2024 at 4:25 pm

    tried making the rice bowl and it turned out great. cheap and easy, just what i need. gotta love a meal that doesnt break the bank

    Reply
  6. Terry Johnson

    April 23, 2024 at 2:24 am

    Loving the idea of a 15 Minute Greek Rice Bowl. It's perfect for my protein needs and quick to whip up after a workout. Gonna give the turkey meatballs a shot this week. Cheers for the recipe, Julia!

    Reply
    • Julia

      April 28, 2024 at 1:03 pm

      thank you Terry!

      Reply
  7. Julia

    April 19, 2024 at 2:55 am

    5 stars
    You'll love this easy under 30-minute dinner with turkey meatballs is healthy and delicious! Let me know what you think in comments!

    Reply
  8. Julia

    April 19, 2024 at 2:55 am

    5 stars
    You'll love this easy under 30-minute dinner with turkey meatballs is health and delicious! Let me know what you think in comments!

    Reply
5 from 3 votes

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the yummy bowl julia author

I'm Julia and welcome to The Yummy Bowl. I share easy and healthier recipes for busy people. Whether you're craving something deliciously healthy or a bit indulgent, you'll discover a variety of satisfying and comforting dishes here.

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