How to Make Greek Meatballs for a Quick and Easy Dinner

2025-09-26T16:10:39.092Z

Growing up as a Greek American, certain dishes were always part of my family's weekly dinner rotation.

My parents used food to help my sister and me connect to our Greek roots, introducing us to dishes like pastitsio (like lasagna, but better), avgolemono soup (similar to chicken noodle), and baklava (a holiday classic).

But no recipe is as quick and easy as my dad's Greek meatballs — or keftedes, as we call them. They're the perfect companion to some fries, pasta, or his Greek roasted potatoes.

Here's how to make them.

My dad's Greek meatballs only need a few ingredients, and you probably already have most of them in your kitchen.

Ingredients for Anneta's dad's Greek meatballs — My dad's Greek meatballs only require a few ingredients. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

To make a pan of my dad's Greek meatballs at home, you'll need:

1 pound of ground beef (my dad recommends 80-90% lean)
2-3 cloves of garlic
1 egg
⅔ cup of chopped Italian parsley
⅓ cup of breadcrumbs (my dad recommends Italian style)
⅓ cup of vegetable oil for frying
¼ cup of all-purpose flour
⅛ cup of water
1 teaspoon of salt

Before making the meatballs, we just need to do some quick prep.

Chopping parsley for Anneta's dad's Greek meatballs — My chopped parsley. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

Chop the parsley and garlic and set them aside.

Throw the ground beef in a bowl with the parsley, garlic, egg, and breadcrumbs, plus the salt and ⅛ cup of water.

Prepping the meat for Anneta's dad's Greek meatballs — Throw all your ingredients into a bowl before mixing. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

My dad says the egg works as a binding agent while the water helps keep the mixture moist, creating fluffier meatballs.

Then, mix everything together with your hands.

Making Anneta's dad's Greek meatballs — Make sure you don't overmix! Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

Be careful not to overmix, which could result in meatballs that taste tough.

Once your mixture is ready, start shaping the meatballs.

My dad recommends making each meatball about 1 ½ inches in size. The mixture should yield about a dozen meatballs, give or take.

Alternatively, you could turn the mixture into hamburger patties for grilling or baking in the oven. Greek burgers are also delicious!

Pour the flour on a paper towel or plate, then gently roll each meatball in the flour to cover it.

According to my dad, the flour serves a dual purpose. It helps give the meatballs their delicious crust and prevents the hot oil from splashing during frying.

Pour the oil into a pan — it should be large enough to fit all the meatballs — and heat it on medium-high.

Cooking Anneta's dad's Greek meatballs — Placing the meatballs in the pan with oil. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

"There should be enough oil to make a thin layer on the bottom of the pan," my dad says. "And avoid using olive oil; it is not good for frying."

Add the meatballs, one by one, into the pan.

My dad recommends placing the meatballs in a clockwise order to help you remember when to rotate them while frying.

Use two forks to gently rotate each meatball every two minutes.

The meatballs should develop a nice brown color on the outside, with no raw spots.

It will take about 10 minutes to cook the meatballs.

Anneta's dad's Greek meatballs — Cooking the meatballs. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

My dad said their internal temperature should be at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit. They'll continue to cook after you remove them from the frying pan.

Once your meatballs are cooked and out of the pan, let them rest.

My dad recommends letting them rest for about 5-10 minutes.

Now, serve my dad's Greek meatballs with your favorite side dish, and enjoy!

Anneta's dad with his Greek meatballs — You can serve the meatballs with fries, pasta, or my dad's Greek roasted potatoes. Anneta Konstantinides/Business Insider

These deliciously juicy meatballs pack so much flavor into each and every bite. They couldn't be easier to make after a busy workday, and they go great with just about anything.

If you're looking for a quick dinner or want to switch up your usual spaghetti, my dad's Greek meatballs are sure to impress you and your family.

My dad's Greek meatballs are the perfect quick dinner — and so easy to make

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Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

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Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

My dad's Greek meatballs are the perfect quick dinner — and so easy to make

My dad's Greek meatballs only need a few ingredients, and you probably already have most of them in your kitchen.

Before making the meatballs, we just need to do some quick prep.

Throw the ground beef in a bowl with the parsley, garlic, egg, and breadcrumbs, plus the salt and ⅛ cup of water.

Then, mix everything together with your hands.

Once your mixture is ready, start shaping the meatballs.

Pour the flour on a paper towel or plate, then gently roll each meatball in the flour to cover it.

Pour the oil into a pan — it should be large enough to fit all the meatballs — and heat it on medium-high.

Add the meatballs, one by one, into the pan.

Use two forks to gently rotate each meatball every two minutes.

It will take about 10 minutes to cook the meatballs.

Once your meatballs are cooked and out of the pan, let them rest.

Now, serve my dad's Greek meatballs with your favorite side dish, and enjoy!

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

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Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know