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Spicy Oregano Meatballs with Grilled Vegetables and Tzatziki…a simple summer dinner with such wonderful flavor. Pan-seared meatballs with fresh oregano and chili flakes, tossed with summery grilled veggies, and a tasty lemon herb vinaigrette. Serve these spicy meatballs with creamy tzatziki sauce for a cooling touch. Truly one of those dinners that everyone at the table will love…especially if served with a side of fries.
I’m not sure if you can tell or not, but I’m really trying to embrace summer dinners. I want them fresh, colorful, fun, and well – different.
The fresh and colorful part is usually pretty easy. Thankfully I have access to so much incredible produce right now from both our garden and local stores.
But the coming up with different recipes part? Well, that’s a little trickier. I’ve mentioned before that sometimes I feel like summer recipes can be a repeat of tomatoes and corn, grilled chicken, lots of pesto, and plenty of caprese salads. Nothing wrong with that, but variety is nice too!
I scratched my brain a bit for this recipe and ended up being so excited with how it turned out. I feel like it’s different, but still simple, and of course, super flavorful.
The idea stemmed from my brother’s love of Greek food and meatballs. So I simply combined the two loves and added some summer herbs and vegetables.
Plus, fries on the side. Because something about a summer dinner requires a big plate of fries on the side.
The details – start with the meatballs
The meatballs…I seasoned the ground meat (I like to use a mix of ground chicken and ground pork) with shallots, smoked paprika, and plenty of fresh oregano. I then rolled everything into balls…and done. The chili flakes give them a really nice spiciness, but use them to your taste.
Once the meatballs are formed, I let them sit while I prep the vegetables.
Now the veggies and vinaigrette
This vinaigrette is sweet, tangy, and herby, with basil, oregano, thyme and lemon. It’s also got a slight kick from some chili flakes. And the honey keeps things sweet…a nice balance to the spicy.
If you love a lot of vinaigrette, double the recipe. This is that good, and adds a lot of flavor to the dish.
For the vegetables, I use a mix of red peppers, zucchini, and yellow summer squash. I like to toss them with olive oil, then grill them until lightly charred. If you don’t have a grill, you can easily roast these up in the oven, or saute them in a skillet.
When the veggies are finished cooking, toss them with the vinaigrette and let them sit while you cook the meatballs.
Cook the meatballs and finish it up
The rest is pretty simple. You’ll pan cook the meatballs until crisp on the outside and cooked through inside. This really only takes a few minutes, the process is quick.
To serve, I toss the meatballs with the grilled vegetables, then pile everything over some fresh naan. Then drizzle on some creamy tzatziki sauce plus the remaining vinaigrette.
All that’s left is to add a sprinkle of feta cheese and you’re done.
My only recommendation? Fries on the side!!
Delicious!
Looking for other simple summer dinners, try these:
Spinach Ricotta Gnocchi with Sage Butter and Cherry Tomatoes
Spicy Southern Style Shrimp with Lemon Basil Orzo
30 Minute Pineapple Chicken with Coconut Rice
Lastly, if you make these Spicy Oregano Meatballs with Grilled Vegetables and Tzatziki, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Spicy Oregano Meatballs with Grilled Vegetables and Tzatziki
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds ground chicken, pork, or a mix
- 1 shallot, chopped
- 1/4 cup fresh oregano, chopped
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 zucchini or yellow squash, sliced into rounds
- 2 bell peppers, quartered
- 1 cup tzatziki
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta
- naan, for serving
Lemon Herb Vinaigrette
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped
- 2 tablespoon fresh thyme, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, grated
Instructions
- 1. Add the meat, shallot, oregano, paprika, chili flakes, and a pinch of salt, and pepper to a bowl. Mix until combined. Coat your hands with a bit of oil and roll the meat into rounded tablespoon-size balls (will make 16-18 meatballs). Set aside. 2. In a bowl, toss the zucchini and peppers with 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, and pepper. Preheat the grill or grill pan to high. 3. Meanwhile, make the vinaigrette. Combine all ingredients in a glass jar and whisk until smooth. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper.5. Grill the peppers and zucchini until softened, 3-4 minutes per side. Remove from the grill to a serving plate and toss with half the vinaigrette.6. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons of oil. Add the meatballs and sear until crisp and cooked through, about 8-10 minutes, turning them 2-3 times. Transfer to a plate.7. Serve the meatballs warm, tossed with the vegetables. Add a large dollop of tzatziki to each plate, then crumble the feta over top. Enjoy with naan and/or french fries.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
This was SO good! I did add a little panko and plain yogurt to the meatball mix because I used ground pork and chicken breast and was paranoid they would turn out too dry. I also added an extra splash of the vinegar to the dressing and a little salt.
I have never been impressed with Tatziki but this one blew my tastebuds away and my daughter loved it as well. I love the addition of the avocado and plan to make all of this again. Thanks for another winner!
Hey there,
Happy Sunday! I am so glad this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xxTieghan
The recipe was delicious but it could be made so much more simply. The meatballs and vegetables could be roasted or grilled together, then make the dressing and naan while they are cooking. I followed the recipe as written and ended up with so many bowls and dishes to wash. I had some leftover pickled onions from another recipe, and they complemented the herby meatballs and vinaigrette perfectly.
Hey Suzanne,
Happy Sunday! I am so glad this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xxTieghan
This recipe is absolutely delicious! A must try! You have converted our house to a half baked harvest meal many times per week!
Hey Rosanne,
Happy Sunday! I am so glad this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xxTieghan
Wow this recipe is SO SUMMER GOOD! Added small tomatoes (grilled) like the photo. Used half chicken and half pork and naan bread. The vinaigrette is the best I’ve ever had. Fresh herbs (Basil, Oregano and Thyme) make a world of difference. The meatballs cook quickly. The dish with naan bread or fries is perfect on its own without additional sides. What a Flavor Bomb! Can’t go wrong on the BBQ.
Hey Brian,
Happy Sunday! I am so glad this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xxTieghan
One of the best yet! I was nervous to try because I rarely do any ground chicken / pork, and we did use ground turkey…. but it was absolutely fantastic!!!! We served alongside a Greek salad as well and I can’t wait for leftovers tomorrow ?
Hey Taylor,
Wonderful! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for giving it a try. Happy Weekend! xTieghan
Lemon herb vinaigrette and summer garden veggies *chef kiss* I put all the veggies (including added okra and cherry tomatoes ) on grill. It was so good!
Hey Stephanie,
Thank you so much for giving this recipe a try, love to hear that it was enjoyed! Have the best week:) xTieghan
What do I do with remainder oil? I see it only mentions to use half on the vinaigrette on the vegetables.
Hey Stephanie,
You are using all of the olive oil, just half of the vinaigrette that you make in step 5. I hope this makes sense! xTieghan
I don’t understand why you use half of the vinaigrette? What do you do with the other half? Why not half the recipe for the vinaigrette if you only use half?
Hey Angela,
Depending on your preference, you may want to use extra vinaigrette in your dish. I always like to have extra rather than not enough. If this is not something you are interested in, then just cut the recipe in half:) xTieghan
Hi Angela, just toss the grilled vegetables in half the vinaigrette like you did and serve the rest as an accompaniment on the side. The vinaigrette is so delicious people will want more.
10/10! This recipe was delicious! I baked the meatballs and veggies and everything turned out delicious.
Hey Grace,
Awesome! Thanks a lot for giving this recipe a try, I am so delighted that it was enjoyed!! xTieghan
Made this for the family tonight. It was delicious. Almost everything right from the garden. Next time I will double the veggies it was so good.
Hey there,
Awesome! Thanks a lot for giving this recipe a try, I am so delighted that it was enjoyed!! xTieghan
Just made this tonight! Loved it and so did hubby! ❤️❤️❤️
Hey Kathy,
Happy Wednesday! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for making it! xTieghan
I still don’t understand about the other half of the vinegarette? Is it extra?
Yup! You can save it for another time, or add to the dish per your liking:)
Made this last night with fresh ground lamb. Served it with some hummus and baba ghanoush. Delish! I will definitely make this again!
Hey Kathy,
Happy Wednesday! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for making it! xTieghan
This was so good! It was so flavorful and rich in different spices, textures, etc. Thank you!
Hey Cathy,
Wonderful! Thanks so much for making this dish, I am so glad to hear that it was enjoyed!! xTieghan
Made this today but used ground beef as it was what I had in the freezer. Grilled veggies and meat balls on my bbq using a silicone sheet. It turned out amazing. My husband loved it. Easy and very tasty
Hey Sue,
Wonderful! Thanks so much for making this dish, I am so glad to hear that it was enjoyed!! xTieghan
Hi! Can I substitute dried oregano for fresh? If so, how much should I put into the meatball mix? Thank you!
Hey there,
Yes, you will want to use 2 teaspoons of dried oregano. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Question… you don’t add any bread or bread crumbs , egg, milk to the meat. Do these meatballs turn out tough or tender? Thanks
Hey Geri,
I find that the meatballs turn out just fine, but feel free to add what you like to them:) I hope you love this dish, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
can you substitute dried oregano for fresh? if yes , how much
Hey Diane,
Sure, that will work just fine, you will want to use 1 teaspoon of dried oregano per 1 tablespoon of fresh oregano. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan