Juicy Feta Chicken Meatball Bowls

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground chicken
• 5 oz cow feta cheese (cut in smaller chunks)
• 1 red onion (finely shredded)
• 1 red bell pepper (finely shredded)
• 3 tbsp fresh parsley (finely chopped)
• salt (to taste)
• black pepper (to taste)
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1.5 tsp dried oregano
• 1.5 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp bifteki spice
• chili flakes (to taste)
• oil or butter (for frying)
• 1.25 cup basmati rice (washed and soaked)
• 1.5 tbsp butter (1-2 tbsp)
• 1.875 cup broth (about 1¾–2 cups)
• salt (to taste for rice)
• cherry tomatoes (chopped)
• cucumber (chopped)
• red onion (thinly sliced for topping)
• 0.5 lemon juice (juice of ½ lemon)
• salt (to taste for topping)
• olives (a handful of good olives)
• fresh dill (chopped)
• 0.75 cup sour cream
• 1.5 cloves garlic (1-2 cloves, finely grated; or 0.5 tsp garlic powder)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• salt (to taste for dressing)
• black pepper (to taste for dressing)

Steps

1. 1

   Melt the butter in a pot over medium heat.

2. 2

   Add the washed and soaked basmati rice to the pot and toast for 1–2 minutes until slightly glossy.

3. 3

   Pour in the broth and add a pinch of salt.

4. 4

   Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover and simmer on low heat until the rice is tender and fluffy. Set aside.

5. 5

   In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, feta cheese chunks, shredded red onion, shredded red bell pepper, fresh parsley, salt, pepper, paprika, dried oregano, garlic powder, bifteki spice, and chili flakes.

6. 6

   Mix the ingredients until just combined, being careful not to overwork the meat.

7. 7

   Shape the mixture into meatballs.

8. 8

   Heat a pan over medium heat with oil or butter.

9. 9

   Cook the meatballs, turning occasionally, until golden brown on the outside and cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°F.

10. 10

    Chop the cherry tomatoes and cucumber.

11. 11

    Thinly slice the red onion and toss it with lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Let it sit for a few minutes to soften and mellow the flavor.

12. 12

    In a small bowl, mix the sour cream, grated garlic (or garlic powder), lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

13. 13

    Spoon the cooked rice onto a plate as the base.

14. 14

    Arrange the chicken meatballs around the rice.

15. 15

    Place the chopped tomatoes, cucumber, softened red onions, and olives alongside the meatballs to create a composed bowl.

16. 16

    Drizzle the entire bowl with the garlic dressing and finish with fresh chopped dill on top.

Notes

Bifteki spice is a Greek seasoning blend typically containing oregano, thyme, coriander, and cumin. If you cannot find it, a general Greek seasoning or a mix of those herbs will work. For the onions, letting them sit in lemon juice (macerating) helps remove the harsh raw bite.

Nutrition per serving

• main
• meatballs
• chicken
• bowl
• dinner
• healthy
• high-protein
• mediterranean