Greek Meatballs (Keftedes) with Herb Butter Recipe
Traditional Greek Meatballs known as Keftedes, made with ground beef mixed with herbs, garlic, and onion, baked to perfection and topped with a flavorful herb-infused butter drizzle. A delicious and aromatic dish perfect for a family dinner or gathering.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients
Meatball Mixture
- 3/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup milk (or water)
- 1 yellow onion (grated with juices)
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano (or 2 tablespoons fresh)
- 2 teaspoons dried mint (or 2 tablespoons fresh)
- 1.5 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1.5 lbs. lean ground beef
Herb Butter
- 4 tablespoons butter (melted)
- 2 tablespoons fresh herbs (such as oregano, mint, dill, chives, and/or parsley, chopped)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F to prepare for baking the meatballs evenly.
- Combine Breadcrumbs, Milk, and Onion: In a large bowl, mix the breadcrumbs, milk (or water), and the grated onion along with its juices until the mixture is well combined and moist.
- Add Seasonings and Egg: To the breadcrumb mixture, add the egg, minced garlic, dried oregano, dried mint, kosher salt, and black pepper. Stir everything together to distribute the flavors evenly.
- Incorporate Ground Beef: Add the ground beef to the bowl and mix thoroughly. Using your hands is preferred for even mixing, but a spoon can be used if you prefer not to touch raw meat. Ensure the mixture is homogeneous.
- Form Meatballs: Using a large disher scoop or your hands, form the mixture into evenly sized meatballs and place them on a rimmed baking sheet.
- Prepare Herb Butter: In a small bowl, combine the melted butter with the chopped fresh herbs, mixing well to infuse the butter with herb flavors.
- Apply Herb Butter: Spoon the herb butter mixture evenly over the meatballs to keep them moist and add rich flavor during baking.
- Bake Meatballs: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake at 375 degrees F for 30 minutes, or until the meatballs are fully cooked and browned on the outside.
- Serve: Remove the meatballs from the oven and serve them drizzled with the melted herb butter and the pan juices for maximum flavor and moisture.
Notes
- You can substitute water for milk to make the recipe dairy-free.
- Using fresh herbs will provide a brighter flavor than dried, but dried herbs are a good pantry staple alternative.
- Make sure not to overmix the meat mixture to keep the meatballs tender.
- These meatballs can also be cooked on a stovetop in a skillet for a quicker option.
- Leftover meatballs are great served cold or reheated in sauces or sandwiches.