One Skillet Greek Meatballs and Lemon Butter Orzo.
One Skillet Greek Meatballs and Lemon Butter Orzo with lemony whipped feta and sun-dried tomato vinaigrette. The perfect weeknight dinner…simple, hearty, and delicious! Pan-seared Greek seasoned chicken meatballs, cooked together with lemon butter orzo pasta for a complete dinner made in just one skillet. Serve everything over creamy, salty whipped feta cheese. Truly one of those dinners that everyone at the table will love. Great for a weeknight, but fancy and unique enough to serve to guests as well.
You guys, this recipe? It’s one of my favorites of the week. Yes, I say that often, but I honestly mean it each time I say it.
I’m not sure if I mentioned or not, but my older brother Creighton was recently in town visiting. Creighton loves food and he is one of my favorite brothers to be able to cook for. The one thing he really loves? Any kind of meatball. The other thing he really loves? Any kind of Greek food.
Naturally, I put the two together and got this colorful bowl of crispy chicken meatballs, buttery orzo, and salty whipped feta cheese. There’s a lot happening with this recipe, but it’s worth the extra time. And my oh gosh, every bite is truly so delicious. Bonus? It’s all pretty healthy, and simple too.
To make this simple skillet dinner…
Start with the meatballs. I seasoned the ground chicken with shallots, garlic, smoked paprika, and plenty of fresh oregano, then rolled into balls and done. Typically when I make meatballs I keep the mix very simple and opt out of using any kind of egg or breadcrumb. I know this is a little controversial, but I really don’t find the egg or breadcrumbs to be needed, especially with a chicken meatball.
Once the meatballs are formed, 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, so the process is quick. Once the meatballs are cooked, remove them from the skillet, then add in a couple of pats of butter and fresh lemon slices. Allow the lemons to caramelize, then toss in dry orzo pasta and some garlic.
Now stop and smell the wonderful smell of garlicky, lemony butter coming from your skillet. It’s very, very good. Let the orzo and garlic cook until lightly golden. Now pour in some water and boil the orzo until just perfectly al dente. Stir in some salty green olives and a handful of fresh dill. Toss the meatballs back in.
And now you’re done. Well, kind of, but not quite…
Let’s talk about the vinaigrette + that whipped feta.
While the orzo is cooking mix up a quick vinaigrette with some sun-dried tomatoes and the olive oil left in the tomato jar. Add in balsamic vinegar and a squeeze of lemon. This is your super simple tomato vinaigrette.
Now, the feta. Is this necessary? No, absolutely not. But do you need this? Yes, you absolutely do.
First things first, the feta is easy. If you have a food processor, all you do is whip it with olive oil until creamy. It takes just a few minutes and is worth every bit of extra effort…and even the extra dish to wash. Please trust me on this. Once the warm orzo and meatballs touch the creamy feta, it immediately begins to melt into everything creating a creamy, delicious “sauce”.
It’s the perfect amount of salty, creaminess to balance out all the savory flavors and crispy meatballs.
Finish it up.
Once you have everything all together, spread the feta out, top with orzo, and then the meatballs. Add baby arugula and fresh herbs, then spoon over that tangy vinaigrette.
DONE. It’s not my simplest skillet dinner, but it sure is GOOD. As I said, the feta melts into the orzo and meatballs making everything creamy, but perfectly salty too. It’s the perfect marriage of flavors, crispiness, and creaminess.
It’s fresh, vibrant, full of vegetables, but yet so cozy too. Perfect for these winter days that have us craving a pop of fresh color!
My only recommendation? Serve this dish with some kind of pita. It could be garlic naan, homemade pita, or something from the store. Either way, add some bread. It’s ideal for scooping up all the feta and sauces from this dish.
Delicious.
Looking for other Mediterranean inspired recipes? Try these!
One Skillet Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken and Orzo.
Greek Lamb Meatballs with Avocado Goddess Sauce
Lemony Garlic Chicken and Orzo Soup
Lastly, if you make this one skillet Greek meatballs and lemon butter orzo, 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!
Watch the How To Video:
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
One Skillet Greek Meatballs and Lemon Butter Orzo with Whipped Feta
Pan-seared Greek seasoned chicken meatballs, cooked together with lemon butter orzo pasta, for a complete dinner made in just one skillet.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 small shallot, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano (or 2 teaspoons dried)
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 lemon, sliced, plus 3-4 tbs lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 cup dry orzo pasta
- 1/2 cup pitted green olives
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, plus more for serving
- 1/2 cup oil packed sun-dried tomatoes, chopped, and reserve the oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- arugula and fresh herbs, for serving
Whipped Feta
- 8 ounces feta cheese
- 1/4 cup plain greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
-
1. Add the chicken, shallot, 1 clove garlic, oregano, paprika, and a pinch of red pepper, salt, and pepper to a bowl. Mix until just combined. Coat your hands with a bit of oil, roll the meat into tablespoon-size balls (will make 14-15 meatballs).
2. Heat a large skillet or dutch oven over medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons oil. When the oil shimmers, add the meatballs and sear until crisp and cooked through, about 8-10 minutes, turning them 2-3 times. Transfer to a plate.
3. To the same skillet, add the butter and lemon slices. Sear the lemon until golden on each side, about 1 minute. Remove the lemon from the pan and add to the plate with the meatballs. To the same skillet, add 1 clove garlic and the orzo. Cook until the garlic is fragrant and the orzo toasted, about 2-3 minutes. Add the 2 1/2 cups water and 1-2 tablespoons juice from 1 lemon. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook, stirring often, until al dente, about 7-8 minutes. Stir in the olives and dill. Slide the meatballs back into the skillet and cook until warmed through.
4. Meanwhile, make the sun-dried tomato vinaigrette. In a bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup of the reserved sun-dried tomato oil, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, and the balsamic vinegar until combined. Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes, 1 tablespoon dill, and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
5. To make the feta. Combine all ingredients in a food processor and pulse until smooth and creamy. The feta can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days.
6. To serve, spread the feta onto plates and drizzle with the vinaigrette. Add the orzo, seared lemons, and meatballs. Sprinkle on some greens and herbs. Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Whipped Feta: if you prefer you can just crumble the feta cheese over the meatballs instead of whipping it.
Our Favorite Recipes
Saucy Garlic Butter Shrimp with Coconut Milk and Rice Noodles.
Love one pot meals like this. Looks so delicious.
The best! I hope you try this one Arpita! xTieghan
Oo, this looks like a feast! Yum xx
Thank you Kelly! xTieghan
Could I use quinoa instead of the orzo?
Thanks!
Hey Kim! I am sure quinoa will be delicious. Love that idea! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you!! xTieghan
These meatballs look amazing! I need them in my life asap!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
Yes!! I hope you try these! Let me know if you do! Thank you Paige! xTieghan
It looks SO good, but I just wondered a few things. It doesn’t say anything in the above text about the leminjuice from 2 lemons! Is all that juice going in the pan before the orzo? And how much garlic is used with the orzo?
Hope to get this clear to me, and the to get on cooking ?
Hi there! All the directions for the lemon just are listed out properly in the recipe. I just double checked. Perhaps you missed it when reading through? Yes, all the lemon juice goes into the pan before the orzo.
You need 1 clove garlic for the orzo. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you!! xTieghan
I’m not the biggest fan of having to wash extra dishes for things, but in spite of myself, I found I was actually starting to drool reading this post. You’ve convinced me to try it. 😉
Hi Lauren! I am so glad you are making this! I hope it turns out amazing for you! Let me know! Thank you so much! xTieghan
Please put quantity of lemon juice… I used two regular sized lemons and WAY TOO much lemon-and we are lemon/vinegar/tart flavor people
Hi Jennifer! It is updated! Sorry about that. 2-3 tbsp of lemon juice! xTieghan
This is one of the easiest & best recipes ever! I added lemon zest to the meatballs for some brightness, amazing!! Added fresh dill to the whipped feta too. Will definitely make this again.
Thank you so much Briana! So glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Incredible! I used ground lamb and omitted the olives and dill (subbed a little thyme). Big hit with everyone! Thank you!
Thank you so much Dawn! So glad you all enjoyed! xTieghan
Oh my gosh! This looks and sounds So good! I’m going to have to make this since I have pretty much everything on hand that it calls for, but first my son has called dibs on chicken chili tomorrow night so I will have to put this recipe on the backburner for a few days since there will be chili leftovers since it’s only two of us. This recipe looks delicious, another keeper as always!
Hi Lou! I am so glad this recipe turned out so well for you! Thank you for trying this one! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan, I made this tonight with a but of an alteration. I didn’t have ground chicken but I did have left over rotisserie chicken. So, I deconstructed a chicken breast and two thighs, added all your other seasonings and made the meatballs. I did add 2 tbls. of white wine for some moisture before making the meatballs. I followed the rest of the recipe exactly and it all came out fantastic.
Hi Diane! Thank you so much for trying this recipe! I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Made this with ground turkey tonight! Sooooo good!
Thank you so much Carly! xTieghan
this was excellent – the whipped cheese was a phenomenal delight to go on the plate. I found the smoked paprika to be a little bit overpowering.. I think I might try 1/2 a tsp next time.
Entire family ate it all(age 4,11,13)… thought someone might get a lunch out of this… but nope!
Hi Christine! So amazing to hear that you all loved this recipe! Thank you so much for trying this! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan! I made this last night and it was amazing! Loved the flavors combined together, definitely going to make for guests as it is such a unique flavor combo ? the only thing though, why do you add oil to the whipped feta? I found that it is creamy enough without the added fat but there might be a specific reason you add it. Thanks so much for the recipe!
Hi there! I add oil for flavor, but if you don’t feel you need you can omit it from the recipe! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I am so glad you love this recipe! Thank you!! xTieghan
Could you bake the meatballs in the oven?
Hi Barbara! Sure! Just bake at 425 for 10-15 minutes, until browned and cooked through. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you!! xTieghan
That feta creme is a winner!!! So yummy!
I added an egg to the meatballs, as they wouldn’t hold shape without.
Love it! Thank you so much Emilia! xTieghan
I made this tonight for my kids. It was absolutely delicious! Love all the greek flavors!!
Thank you so much Laura! xTieghan
Made this for dinner last night! So, so good. We will be fighting over who gets to eat what’s left today. Another great recipe to have in the dinner rotation from Half-Baked Harvest.
Haha that is so amazing! Thank you so much for trying this Linda! So glad it turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Made this tonight, big hit! The flavors were spot on
Thank you so much Shannon! xTieghan
its really great effort..
Thank You!
This is so delicious! You are making me look good with my family LOL. I shared this recipe with the girls at work as we all like to eat Greek from the fast food restaurant at Faneuil Hall, Boston. They are looking forward to making it. Thank you!
Haha that is the best! I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe and I hope you enjoy others of mine as well! Thank you Christine! xTieghan
Another winner! Love this recipe. It is so delicious. Thank you, Tieghan!
Thank you Christine! xTieghan
Would definitely make this recipe again!!! The lemon in the orzo and the balsamic sauce was perfect!!! I loved this recipe!
Thank you Victoria! So glad you loved this! xTieghan
Can you recommend a gluten free alternative to orzo? I’m planning to use rice instead and am wondering if I should add it to the recipe dry same as you did the orzo…Thank you! Can’t wait to try 🙂
HI! You can use an equal amount of gluten free orzo, quinoa, or rice. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you!! xTieghan
This was so good!! Will make again ?
Thank you Lacy! So glad you enjoyed this! xTieghan
This recipe was delicious! My kids (14mo and 3.5yo) loved it. Especially the whipped feta. The only reason I have 4 stars was “6 servings” barely had enough for 4 adults and 2 kids.
Hi Nikki! I am so glad you enjoyed this recipe! Thank you so much for trying it! xTieghan
I made this last night and my husband LOVED it. It was yummy.! Definitely a keeper. I try to make at least 2 new recipes a month, but between your cookbooks and your posts I’ve tried 11 already this year. 9 are yours! You never disappoint and we’ve discovered orzo which we love. Keep those recipes coming. We bought your new cookbook for our daughter and daughter-in-law for Christmas and frequently I get pictures and phone calls and text messages about something they’ve tried. It was a great gift. Thanks! So sorry that you’re not coming to our local bookstore, Lake Forest Bookstore in Lake Forest, I’ll. There’s a Williams Sonoma there, too. Your Super Simple cookbook was a recommendation by the staff when it came out.
Wow that is so amazing! I am so glad you have been loving my recipes and I hope you continue to! Also, I wish I could make it everywhere! Thank you Jane! xTieghan
So so nummy! Make it with ground turkey because the good stuff (antibiotic free) was on sale. Didn’t add any salt during cooking, besides salted butter, based on your note about the feta. It was so so good!
Thank you!
Thank you so much Sarah! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
I made this today for my hubby. We LOVED it! You have a gift for flavor layering and presentation!
Thanks for all the inspiration!
Thank you so much Carol! I am so glad you both enjoyed this one! xTieghan
Made this last night, and my partner and I loved it!
So glad to hear that! Thank you Jess! xTieghan
We made this tonight and it was fantastic! We highly recommend it. The feta whip is awesome!
Thank you so much Scott! xTieghan
I love your recipes, but tonight I’m not sure what I did wrong because the meatballs fell apart when I tried to cook them. Smells great so I’m totally bummed!
Hi Carrie! Is there anything that could have gone wrong while making them? Another person said they used an egg to help them stick! Let me know if that helps! xTieghan
For a vegetarian/almost vegan version, I used Beyond Beef for the meatballs and plant butter. Pretty tasty!
Thank you so much Alex! xTieghan
This was so delicious! I made it last week, and I am going to make it again tonight – served it with a salad of cherry tomatoes, cucumber and red pepper. It was also really easy and you are 100% correct – did not need eggs or breadcrumbs in the meatballs! Thank you.
Thank you so much Nicole! xTieghan
Made this tonight for my family – I dislike ground chicken so I didn’t personally try the meatballs, but my family LOVED THEM and said this recipe was a keeper!
Just wanted to comment that when I print out your recipes, the serving size is not shown? I do meal prep for neighbors so serving sizes are important so I know how to portion things out.
I am really enjoying your recipes and feel like they are more like “my taste” than most other recipe blogs I subscribe too – so thank you for what you do! And your food photography is gorgeous, and so helpful for knowing how to plate your recipes as well. Thank you!
Hi Caryn! I am so glad your family enjoyed this recipe!! Thank you for trying it! Also, when I go to print it as a PDF it does show the number of servings on the right hand side.. If this problem persists would you mind sending me an email at the below address? Thanks again! xTieghan
[email protected]
Made this last night for the first time. About 40mins start to finish, and so good. I had made the whipped feta Sunday to save a bit of time. There are a ton of bold flavors going on here…lemon, balsamic, feta, green olives, wow, so good. I kinda overly browned the orzo but it still turned out great. Would be even better with some naan…next time.
Yes next time!! I am so glad this recipe turned out so well for you Johnny! Thank you for trying it! xTieghan
This was soooooo good! Very easy and straight forward to make. I wish I had leftovers but we ate them all. One of my favorites! Only thing I would say is this does NOT serve six. I feel like it barely feeds 4 unless you make something with it like a salad.
Hi Connie! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! Thank you for trying it! xTieghan
What kind of Feta do you recommend? Sheep’s milk or cow’s milk? Stored in brine or in brick form? Thanks!
Hi! I like sheeps milk and I buy it in the brine. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you!! xTieghan
Did I miss what were supposed to do with the sliced, seared lemons?
HI! Just simply serve the served lemons alongside the meatballs. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you!! xTieghan
Wonderful! I made this for dinner tonight and it was sooooo good. Will definitely make again, even though there were a lot of dirty dishes, bowls, etc. worth it. The whipped feta was a real plus . I don’t recommend skipping it.
Hi Sheran! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! Thank you so much for trying it! xTieghan
This dish was outstanding!! ???????? I cook a lot for my family. My husband rated this dinner as one of my top 5 meals. Do not skip the feta sauce and sun-dried tomato dressing – they are definitely worth the extra time and effort! Love it! Thanks, Tieghan!????
YES!! Love to hear that! Thank you so much for trying this Joona! xTieghan
Insanely delicious – my BF doesn’t like olives so I left them out and it was still just outrageously good!
I was worried it would be more labour intensive that I was up for tonight but it was quick and easy and the clean up took minutes. Yum, yum, yum!
So glad you both loved this Melissa! Thank you so much for trying it! xTieghan
This came out great! I doubled the recipe due to my husband’s extreme appetite and I wanted to have leftovers. The meatballs taste great but definitely took longer than 10 min to cook all the way through, maybe because I made too many at once . This is the 4th recipe of yours that I have made and I am a huge fan!! Thanks for your awesome recipes and pictures!
Hi Deb! Thank you so much for trying this! I hope you continue to enjoy my recipes! xTieghan
This came out great! I doubled the recipe due to my husband’s extreme appetite and I wanted to have leftovers. The meatballs taste great but definitely took longer than 10 min to cook all the way through, maybe because I made too many at once . We also served with hummus as a dairy free alternative (but the whipped feta was also awesome) Thanks for your delicious recipes and pictures!This is the 4th recipe of yours that I have made and I am a huge fan- Dinner has been much more interesting since I found your website!
Is it possible to make a day ahead and warm in skillet for the next day?
HI! Yes, of course! That works wonderfully! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you!! xTieghan
Okay this was amazing! Thank you so much for sharing. It should be noted this whipped feta needs to be put on EVERYTHING. Crackers, bagels, everything, but especially a warm piece of sour dough with sliced tomato, balsamic & hot sauce!
YES!! I completely agree and am so glad you’re loving it! Thank you Meg! xTieghan
Made this last night for a friend’s birthday and it is easily one of the top recipes I’ve ever made. Your combination of flavors was spot on, and I’m recommending this recipe to everyone I know! I did double the recipe and that fed 4 of us (we were pretty hungry). Thank you for all of your wonderful recipes, you have become my new favorite!
Wow that is so great to hear! Thank you so much for trying this Hayden! xTieghan
Making this AS WE SPEAK. But I’m confused… maybe I’m glossing over it but what is the point of cooking the lemon slices in the butter? Is it just to give the butter flavor, because I don’t see where you ever use the lemon again? Thanks!
Hey! Yes, the lemon slices add flavor to the butter and orzo. Serve the seared lemons with the meatballs. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you!! xTieghan
I made this last night and it was AMAZING! This will definitely be in constant dinner rotation.
Thank you so much Melissa! I am so glad you enjoyed this one! xTieghan
Best thing I’ve made all year! The flavors together are just sooo so good. And it’s fairly nutritious and not really heavy of a meal. I skipped the olives because I didn’t have any on hand. Also, I had to do the meatballs in batches because of the size of my pan and had to keep adding oil in-between batches.
But holly cow! Whipped feta, flavorful meatballs, and such good orzo for the WIN!
Thank you so much Katherine! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Made this for dinner tonight and it was a hit with my son and BF! I’ve made a couple of your recipes that include chicken meatballs and I love how quick and easy they are! I chopped the olives before adding to the orzo and my son didn’t even notice them 🙂
That is so great! Thank you so much for trying this recipe, Rachel! I am so glad you and your family enjoyed it! xTieghan
Looks and sounds delicious! Can’t wait to make this – just have one question. I see that at least 2 other people have also asked what happened to the lemon slices that were seared till golden, added to the plate with the meatballs and never mentioned again. I couldn’t see your reply to either person – what became of the lemon slices?
Hey Brenda! Serve the lemon slices alongside the meatballs and orzo. It’s delicious! Recipe is all fixed! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you!! xTieghan
Currently eating my second bowl of this and I’m obsessed. You’re so right, whipped feta is definitely worth the effort of cleaning my food processor. Thank you for an amazing recipe!
Thank you for trying this Kirsten! I am so glad you enjoyed it! xTieghan
Another great recipe! Loved the sweet/salty/savory combination of the feta spread, chicken meatballs with orzo and drizzle of the sundried tomato vinaigrette. After reading the reviews, I did alter the amount of lemon to the amount we like. And it comes together very quickly if you’ve prepped all the components before starting to cook the meatballs. it’s a snap!
Thank you so much Joanne! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
I made this tonight! used Risoni, a gluten-free alternative to orzo, had some issues with the meatballs sticking to my skillet, but overall awesome and fairly easy! The whipped feta ia a MUST–makes it so delicious. Will make this again!
Hi Heidi! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! Thank you for trying this! xTieghan
Absolutely delicious!! Sadly, there were no leftovers ?. Plated up beautifully and all the flavors married well. Definitely making this again! Thanks Tieghan!!
Thank you so much Sam! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
OK WOW IS ALL I CAN SAY! This is the first HBH dinner recipe I have made and WOW WOW WOW.
The details of the taste were incredible and each piece was so important. Chicken was good, sundried tomato sauce was good, feta-yogurt base was good, and pasta was good: TOGETHER IT WAS THE BEST MEAL EVER! (Especially because I love Greek/Mediterranean Food)
Wow that is so amazing! I am so glad this recipe turned out so well for you! Thank you! xTieghan
This whipped feta is EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!! I haven’t even made the rest of the dinner yet… LOL
Sooo good! Where has whipped feta been all my life?
Um right?! Game changer! I am so glad you loved this Becca! Also, hope you love the rest of the dinner haha! xTieghan
So good! The whipped feta and sun dried tomato vinaigrette made the meal!!!
Thank you so much Bex! xTieghan
One of the best recipes I have ever made! I didn’t have all the ingredients so I used the meatball spices on chicken thighs and left out the olives. Everything was so flavourful and delicious! I will definitely make again.
Thank you so much Ashton! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Loved this. Made this tonight for my family. Thank you! Quick note, I think recipe above doesn’t include EVOO for whipped feta but I believe you want that included.
Thank you!!
Michaela:-)
Hi Michaela! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! Thank you! xTieghan
Made this recipe for first time tonight, first recipe ever from your sight….was amazing! Husband and Father loved it too! Thank you for providing us all with interesting and flavorful new recipes with every day ingredients!
Hi Pamela! I am so glad this recipe turned out so well for you! Thank you so much for trying it! xTieghan
My whole family (including my super picky eaters) love this meal so much! Make sure you make the whipped feta. I like adding a squeeze of lemon to the feta while it’s in the food processor. So fresh, so good and so easy to make!
I am so glad this turned out so well for you Jaime! Thank you! xTieghan
This was sooooo good!!!!
Thank you Brittany! So happy to hear that! xTieghan
I loved this, especially with the whipped feta and sun dried tomato sauce which was sweet and zippy at the same time! This
Thank you so much Tasha! xTieghan
This was really good! I made the recipe exactly as is, but I did have to add much more than the .25 cup of yogurt to the feta to get the whipped/smooth consistency. I think that this is because I was using a really dry feta. I probably used close to a cup of yogurt. My 1 year old enjoyed this as well! He was a big fan of the meatballs!
Thank you Erin! I am so glad you all enjoyed this so much! xTieghan
Made this yesterday, with some substitutions since I didn’t have all the ingredients. Made turkey meatballs instead of chicken. I didn’t have Feta or greek yogurt, so I made a sauce with goat cheese and half & half. Whipped it in the food processor then refrigerated it to thicken it up. It all turned out amazing. This is an easy one to switch out an ingredient or two and still have a beautiful flavorful dish. I will also say, I was anxious about doing the dishes after this meal, but when it came down to it, there was barely anything to clean! The one skillet really helps.
Hi Sarah! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! Thank you so much for trying this one! xTieghan
I’m definitely going to try this…. looks so delicious…. I’ve just started following you and love everything I’m seeing…..
Thank you Asmita! I am so glad you like this! xTieghan
My picky hubby absolutely loved. So did I! The orzo was soo creamy and perfect. What consistency is the whipped feta supposed to be? Mine was very thick.
Hi Mallory! Yes, mine is about the same! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Absolutely loved this recipe!!! I told everyone I know about it ? can’t wait to make it again. My grocery store is out of ground chicken (thanks to coronavirus craze) do you think this would be as yummy if prepared with ground beef?!
Hi Amanda! It is so wild how many things are gone! But yes, I think this would still be amazing! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Whipped feta. Who knew? Certainly not me. But now I’m a convert. It was perfect underneath everything. This was divine. I live by myself so I shall enjoy the leftovers very much.
Isn’t it great?! I am so glad you tried it! Thank you Lynne! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan!
I am a long time follower and I make so many of your meals. Right now, i am trying to double batch a lot and freeze the second portion. Could these meatballs be made and then frozen? any tips for how to cook once thawed if so?
Thank you!
Hi! Yes, you can make and freeze! I would thaw, then warm in a 375 degree oven until warmed throughout. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you!! xTieghan
Hi this looks amazing! I want to make tonight but don’t have sundried tomatoes. Do you have any suggestions for a substitute? Thank you!
Hi Danielle,
A great substitute for sun-dried tomatoes would be fresh cherry tomatoes!
This was absolutely delicious! The flavor and texture of the whipped feta were incredible – will definitely be making this again soon!! So glad I stumbled upon your recipes a few months ago!
Thank you so much Allison! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
One of my favorite recipes yet! So simple and so light
Thank you so much Danielle! xTieghan
Do you think I could make this with Israeli couscous and do it the same way (in the pan)? I don’t have any Orzo! Thanks!
Hi Gianna,
Yes I think couscous would work here. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Stores are running low on ground chicken in my experience. Would turkey suffice or can we do lean ground beef/bison?
Hi Fara! Yes, they are super low lately! Turkey should work great for you! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This was amazing!!!
@lustforadventuremom
Thank you Dar! xTieghan
Love these meatballs! So tender, will make again
Amazing! I am happy to hear that Marybeth! xTieghan
Your site is my favorite! I wonder if using Impossible “meat” would work for my vegetarian friends? Thank you!
Hi Laura! I have not tried that meat, but I am sure it will work fine! Please let me know if you do end up trying it! Thank you! xTieghan
Can I add cream cheese instead of feta? Is there anything I can add to the cream cheese to get the right flavour profile? Thanks!
Hi Dee,
I would recommend using a cheese like goat cheese or ricotta in place of the feta. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This looks delicious! I’ve loved every one of your recipes that I’ve made, and I’ve made a lot! Any suggestions if I don’t have sun dried tomatoes on hand for the dressing?
Hi Samantha,
You can leave the sun-dried tomatoes out and just use olive oil. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan!
Trying this tonight! I have all the ingredients EXCEPT the oil packed sun-dried tomatoes. I only have dried. Any suggestions?
Thanks for getting us through this quarantine with your amazing recipes!
Kathy
Hi Kathy,
You could use the sun-dried tomatoes in the recipe and then for the dressing use regular olive oil. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Wow! This was an amazing dish. My husband said, just from smelling it, it was the highlight of his day and then after we ate proclaimed that it was his favorite thing I’ve made (and that is after he said the same thing last week when I made your One Skillet Chicken Enchilada Bake!) and I couldn’t agree more. I have only just discovered your site and am sorry it has taken me this long. I cannot wait for the next thing I make. Thanks for such flavorful and fresh recipes!
Haha that is so amazing!! Thank you so much for trying this and the enchilada bake, Stephanie! I hope you both continue to enjoy my recipes! xTieghan
Made this tonight and it was SO good – highly, highly recommend.
Thank you so much Jaelyn! xTieghan
Absolutely delicious! I made it with rice and it turned out great! Thank you for another wonderful recipe:)
I am so happy to hear that this turned out so well for you! Thank you! xTieghan
So good!! My boyfriends favorite recipe I have made him so far. I added button mushrooms to the orzo and it was delicious.
Hi Isabel! I am so glad you loved this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan
I made this recipe last night. It was so easy to follow and even more delicious. The meatballs were so juicy and the orzo was so buttery and lemony – it was a perfect dinner! My boyfriend already ate the leftovers for lunch today. Was not able to make the whipped feta due to machine malfunction but will definitely have to next time I make it.
Hi Julie! I am so glad this recipe turned out so well for you! Thank you for trying it! I hope you love it even more with the whipped feta! Stay well! xTieghan
Another winner! Had to sub roasted red peppers for the tomatoes and skipped on the olives – peppers definitely help bulk up the orzo and still have the necessary sweetness. The feta and vinaigrette combo could be put on just about anything you want for an instant treat. Thank you for an easy, satisfying, and unique meal!
Hi Megan! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! I hope you are staying safe and healthy! xTieghan
Absolutely fantastic!
Easy to make. The flavors are all outstanding- Mediterranean but hearty comfort food. New favorite recipe.
Thank you so much Bridget! xTieghan
This is truly worth every ingredient and every second prepping the ingredients! A total delicious triumph. My only criticism is that this is no way would feed six people. 16oz of chicken means less than 4oz per person, less than three meatballs each; a cup of orzo is too little for six people. This recipe only feeds four so if you’re cooking for more, scale you at least 50%. Otherwise it’s wonderful!!!
Hi Meaghan! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! Thank you for trying it!! I hope you are staying healthy and safe! xTieghan
Hi Tiegan ! I’ve been making so many of your recipes during lockdown it’s really getting me through! Thank you so much. Gives me something to look forward to all day!!!
I would love to make this recipe but cannot get orzo anywhere. Could I substitute anything else other than arborio rice ? X
Hi Olivia,
So glad you have been enjoying the recipe! I would recommend using a rice that you enjoy. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Another great recipe! I loved the meatballs, and the whipped feta…oh my! That completed the meal! What would you recommend the leftover whipped feta be used for?
Hi Jenny! I am so glad this turned out so well for you! I would suggest trying this recipe (linked below)! I hope you are staying well! xTieghan
https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/sesame-roasted-asparagus-with-whipped-feta/
was super excited to try this- looks beautiful in the photos and i love greek food! the meatballs were delicious and super easy to make – and were perfect as you mentioned without egg or bread crumbs. however, i wish i could say the same about the rest of the dish. i had to substitute ditalini for the orzo because my grocery store did not have any, shelves bare due to covid-19. i followed the recipe and found the pasta, sun-dried tomato vinaigrette and the whipped feta also super tart/sour. i think it was way too much lemon juice. i even subbed chicken broth for the water for the pasta but still it was really off putting with the amount of acidity. bummer for sure but i guess if i do make it again, i’ll omit the lemon juice and also dill, not a fan of dill unless it’s pickles. otherwise, easy recipe and took about an hour from start to table.
Hi Leah! I am sorry this did not turn out too well for you! I hope you like it better if you try it again! I would love to help you out if you have any questions! xTieghan
NEW FAVORITE!!! I love anything Greek and super lemony. I personally don’t like sun-dried tomatoes, so I used canned pickled roasted red peppers, so good! I also added the dill to everything 😁 Definitely will be sharing this!
Ooo creative! I am really glad this one turned out so well for you, Breanne! Thank you for trying it!! xTieghan
Made this tonight . Love one pan recipes . Whole family enjoyed !! Loved the light and refreshing flavor, a mood booster during quarantine 🙂
Thank you so much B! I am so glad your family enjoyed this one!! xTieghan
This was very delicious! Love the two sauces, I mixed the sun dried tomato one right into the orzo! I just need to perfect cooking meatballs on the stovetop, find it hard to ensure an even cook and to make sure they’re 100% cooked through. Next time I’ll probably sear on stovetop and finish in the oven! Also – I halved the feta sauce and used the other half to make as appetizer pan fried feta with the black pepper honey – YUM! Perfect pairing, highly recommend.
Thank you so much Ashley!! I am so glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
It tasted nice, but it took nearly three horus to make. I sometimes wonder if food bloggers (or cookbook recipe creators) ever take cleaning into effect. In any case, unless most of the folks in the comments section who have never made this meal but are raving about it based on the pics, I did cook it. if you make this, and have a small kitchen and have to clean as you go, it will NOT take 45 minutes. It’s one pot, but it’s a ton of mise en place, it requires either multiple cutting boards, or cleaning a single one several times throughout the prep, and a number of measuring cups and spoons, as well as a frickin’ food processor. Yes, you only clean one dutch oven, but you clean a dozen or more other things alsong the way and afterwards. Also, if you cook this in a standard Le Creuset dutch oven, you will have to cook the meatballs in two batches, and that alone will take about thirty minutes. The result is a pretty dark frond, so the orzo will likely be far more brown than golden. Also, the lemons don’t really turn golden since there’s too much liquid in the pan by then. In short, this meal WILL will take a long time to cook. It’s a perfectly tasty meal, but it’s not worth three hours in the kitchen.
Hi Alex! I am sorry this recipe took so long to make, but I am glad it turned out well for you. Please let me know if there is anything I can help you with! xTieghan
All of the flavors in this recipe were exceptional. That whipped feta is worth making this numerous times! Since there are a couple of pieces to this, it’s fun to make as a family or a couple. Was so delicious that I immediately had to share this recipe with my friends/family since I can’t make it for them right now!
Thank you so much Stephanie! I hope they get a chance to try this recipe as well! xTieghan
Made this tasty dish on Saturday during SIP. Was fairly easy, great healthy ingredients and so flavorful. I could have cooked the meatballs a little less, but still good. I made a plate for a neighbor and she LOVED it too! After the quarantine is over, I will be having my gal pals over for wine and this dish.
Aw that sounds like an amazing time! I hope you and your friends love it just as much! xTieghan
This looks amazing! Currently waiting for it to finish cooking,however my orzo did not turn out even after following directions. It was too crunchy. This is probably my 4th dish (not all yours!) of one pot dishes with rice or pasta and they have never ever turned out for me. Any tips? I think for me it may be easier to make the rice/pasta separately, then maybe mix in the lemon juice after?
Hi Melanie,
So sorry you are having issues with the orzo, my guess is that you need more liquid, but you could certainly make it separately if you are more comfortable doing so. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Yum- only thing I did differently was to increase the orzo to cup& 1/2 for our family of 6. Delicious!!!
Amazing! Thank you so much Jill! xTieghan
A five star entree! It was like a taste explosion in my mouth. This is definitely a keeper.
Thank you so much Nancy! That is amazing to hear! xTieghan
I substituted cauliflower rice for the orzo. Incredible as always. Thank you for sharing ❤️
Thank you for trying this Kellie! xTieghan
This is delicious! My only comment is that this definitely doesn’t feed six people… we followed the recipe for 5 and we all were still a bit hungry. I would recommend doubling for 6 people. Everything about the flavors together is amazing though and this is a super easy recipe!
Hi CLaire! I am so happy to hear that this turned out so well for you! Thank you so much for trying this recipe! xTieghan
I made this tonight and it was over the top delicious!! Thanks for making it so easy to make a healthy flavorful dinner. Can’t wait to make it again.
Thank you so much Sarah!! xTieghan
For some reason I cannot find Orzo anywhere so I will be using Arborio Rice. Any suggestion on how to substitute this into the recipe?
Hi Morgan,
You will be totally fine using arborio rice as a substitute! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hi there! I recently stumbled upon your instagram and am so impressed with the recipes I’ve made so far! I recently bought ground lamb…would that be an acceptable substitution for the ground chicken in this recipe or would the flavor possibly be too strong? Thank you!
Hi April,
Thanks so much fro your kind message! Ground lamb would be great in this dish! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This may be a silly question, but do you need to drain after the orzo cooks? Or will the liquid cook off as it becomes al dente? Thanks!! Cannot wait to try!!!
Hi Emily,
No need to drain! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Made this for dinner tonight. It was fantastic! Whipped feta will definitely always trump crumbled for me now…
Haha it is a game changer!! So glad you enjoyed this one, Alexandra! xTieghan
I don’t love meatballs so i just seasoned chicken breast with the above mix and then did everything else according to directions. My family licked their plates clean! Another #HBH hit in my household.
Thank you so much Karima! I am really glad this turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Loved this recipe! I made it exactly as written (except olives) and it was so delicious!
Thank you Katy! xTieghan
We made this tonight and it was so yummy! Instead of the feta spread, we made homemade tzatziki using dairy free yogurt. It was simply outstanding! We will be making this again very soon. Thank you!
Thank you so much Karen!! I am so glad you enjoyed this! xTieghan
I just made this one, and it is one of the best meals I’ve ever cooked, hands down! I subbed the olives for some peppers and zucchini I had sauteed with olive oil and tossed in balsalmic since we’re not olive people, but otherwise followed to a T and it was amazing! My boyfriend went back for 2nds and 3rds! I have a ton of the feta sauce left though, any one have any tips on how to use that up?
I have been wanting to make this since you first posted it and finally made it tonight. It is beyond delicious! Both my son and I loved it (his favorite is your 30 minute butter Chicken)but he would definitely eat this again. I made both the feta and vinaigrette ahead of time. Next time I think I’ll bake the meatballs – it’s easier for me to not over cook them in the oven. But, I may also sauté some shallots before cooking the lemons just to get some flavor in the pan.
Yes!! So glad you got a chance to make this one, Carol! Thank you for trying it! xTieghan
Hi. My family loves this recipe especially the whipped feta. Your whipped feta looks smoother and creamier than how mine turns out. Wondering what kind of feta and greek yogurt you use? I also think it would make a delicious dip for veggies and crackers with the sun dried tomatoes added in too. Thanks!
Hi Cindy,
I would recommend using a high quality feta and Greek yogurt, I also find that I get the best results when using my food processor to do this. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Made this last night and it was phenomenal exactly as written. One of my all-time favorites that I will still be making years from now. I will warn you though–unless you have lots of side-dishes, this might only feed about 3 people. It was so good that the three of us ate it all up! haha! Thanks for the awesome recipe!
Thank you so much Melanie!! I am really glad this turned out so great for you! xTieghan
Another delicious recipe. Loved it all. Whipped feta not to be leftout!!
Thank you so much Deborah!! xTieghan
This recipe is constantly in rotation now. Everyone I’ve made it for loves it, it’s so easy, and it’s really light but still hearty.
Thank you so much Alaina! xTieghan
AMAZING!!!!!! This recipe was incredible and I have made it twice already in the last 2 weeks. A few things I changed: added honey to the whipped feta to make it more sweet which was SO addicting (had leftover feta when the rest of the meal had been eaten but my boyfriend demanded we save it so he could add it to another meal later in the week). Direct quote “don’t throw out the extra feta I will make room for it in another meal!!”
Also, I’m not sure if I did something wrong but this recipe directions were slightly confusing/ NOT 6 servings. Tried to feed my family and halfway through cooking, realized that this was plenty for 3 people but no more than that. Had to panic add another meal to dinner to make sure and feed everyone. Other than the portion size mishap, this recipe is incredible and I will be making it 1000 more times. Thanks for this!!!!
Hi Tieghan! This looks amazing and I can’t wait to try it. Do you have any recommendations for making the feta without a food processor?
Thanks much
Hi Natalia,
You can mix using a hand mixer or whisk by hand. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Mindblowingly delicious. My husband asked how hard this way because he wants it once a week.
Wow! That is so great! Thank you Hannah! xTieghan
I just made this and it was amazing!!! Thank you for this recipe 🙂
Thank you for trying this Selvia! xTieghan
My parents and I loved this recipe! I can’t wait to make it again.
Thank you so much Natalie! xTieghan
I wouldn’t quite say “full of vegetables” , since I don’t think sun-dried tomatoes count lol but still delicious !
Thank you so much Courtney! xTieghan
Delicious!! I did have a difficult time whipping the feta-next time I need to use a feta with softer consistency rather than crumbling a firm block of feta (which is what I had on hand). I needed to add extra yogurt and olive oil and use a food processor to whip it.
Thank you so much Gail! I am so happy this turned out so well for you!! xTieghan
This is seriously one of my favourite dishes ever. My boyfriend and I have it all the time, thank you so much for this!
Thank you Roberta!! I am so glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
Would ground beef work in place of the ground chicken?
Hey Lora,
Yes that would work! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I have made a lot (a lot, a lot, a lot) of your recipes over the years and this one is my new favorite!! The flavors are incredible. I rarely make recipes twice but my husband specifically requested that this be a recurring recipe. Can’t wait to use the extra whipped feta in some other inspired dishes.
Thank you so much Tracy!! I am really glad this turned out so amazing for you! xTieghan
Made this!! The whole family loved we will be putting it in rotation for sure!
That is so great to hear! Thank you so much Amber! xTieghan
I really want to make this for my significant other after reading all the wonderful comments! Do you think it will taste as great if I made everything the night before and heated it up again before dinner? We are sometimes crunched for time in the evenings.
Hey Staci,
You could make the meatballs ahead of time, but I would cook everything else when you are ready to eat:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I made this two days ago and it was is amazing that I made it again tonight! Such a great dish that will be in our regular rotation.
Love to hear that! Thank you Kathleen! xTieghan
Wow this was crazy good! I added some chard sauteed with garlic which was a nice textural balance to the meatballs and orzo. I forgot to put olives in the orzo, but I didn’t miss them as there’s plenty of acid from the sundried tomato vinaigrette and whipped feta. I didn’t really notice the butter/lemon flavor in the orzo but it was great nonetheless. Definitely moving into my favorites list. Thank you for sharing!!
Thank you Ana! I am so happy this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
This was, like all the other HBH recipes I’ve tried, truly and utterly delicious!! My husband kept exclaiming ‘Oh my god!’ with every single bite. Every flavor was perfect and we couldn’t get enough! Whatever you do, make the whipped feta!!! Insanely good!
Wow yes! I am so happy this turned out so well for you, Sarah! Thank you! xTieghan
Delicious!
Thank you Elise! xTieghan
This was so amazing!! Made this tonight and thought it might be too heavy but it wasn’t!!
Amazing! Thank you so much Lisa! xTieghan
I wish I could rate this higher because I love so many half baked harvest recipes. Took about 30 minutes longer than the estimate (mainly because the meatballs took 45 minutes to cook through) and I found the recipe really hard to follow. Flavors are nice, but I felt like it need some veggies to be a complete meal so I added spinach and cherry tomatoes for the last minute in the flying pan (highly recommend this addition). Overall pretty tasty but left feeling more tired then I normally am after cooking other quick n easy dishes and just not blown away by the results.
Hi Christina! I am really sorry you had trouble with this recipe. If there is anything I can help with, please let me know! Otherwise, I hope you enjoy other recipes of mine! xTieghan
This.
Was.
Fab.
And I only did the meatballs and orzo.
I can’t imagine the punch that vinaigrette would add!!
5 of 5 gave 2 thumbs up
Can I make the whipped feta in my ninja blender? I don’t have a food processor 🙁
Hey Bari,
I would just whip with a whisk, I think the Ninja will be too powerful. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I was a little nervous because each component individually was a little strong, but all together – oh my, so delicious! We all went back for seconds! Thanks for ANOTHER winner!!
Thank you so much Kristin! I am really glad this recipe turned out so well for you! xTieghan
I’m looking forward to making this tonight but I’m slightly confused about one step. After browning the orzo and then boiling it, the instructions don’t say whether to drain the cooking liquid before adding the dill and meatballs back in. And I seem to be the only one confused about this because I scoured the comments and no one asked this question. Maybe I’m confused because I’ve never cooked orzo before? Does it absorb the liquid? Please help 🙂
Hey Janelle,
All of the liquid will absorb into the orzo. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
This was soooo good! And that whipped feta was incredible. Will 100% be making this again in the future
Thank you so much Colleen! I am really glad this one turned out so well! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan! Love all your recipes snd going to try this one tonight. What do you think of using chicken broth for the orzo to cook in instead of water? We are flavorphiles. Thanks!
Hey Nisha,
I think chicken broth would be a great idea! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
I’ve made this 3 times in two weeks – it’s so quick & easy, and SO full of flavor!
Hey Renee,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thanks for giving it a try! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
I made this and it’s very good. I thought the whipped feta needed something extra so I added a little dillI . I was a little confused if the orzo should have absorbed all the liquid before I added my meatballs back of it it should look like it did in the photo. Overall I would make again, but I do think the time estimate is incorrect, this takes longer than one thinks, but is worth the result.
Hey Jessica,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad it worked out for you! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Hello! This looks fabulous. Two quick questions. I have some goat cheese already, do you think I can sub that for the feta or will it change the flavor too much? Also this may sound silly, but does the orzo need to be drained after it is done cooking? Thank you!
Hey Ally,
Sure, goat cheese would be great! The orzo does not need to be drained, it will soak up the liquid! I hope you love the recipe:) Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Outstanding! My husband and I loved it. I had forgotten the goat cheese I had was flavored slightly with honey but it was so lovely with the other flavors, I think I’ll use it every time we make this and there will definitely be a next time. Thank you!
Hey Ally,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am thrilled that it worked out for you! Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Hi!!!! This recipe looks amazing!!! Quick question.. could you substitute ground beef instead of ground chicken? Would it taste just as good? Thanks
Hey Kristy,
Ground beef would work well here. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! Happy New Year! xTieghan
I made this last weekend but I used lamb for the meatballs instead of chicken. Everybody absolutely loved it. First time I tried whipped feta.. changed my life.
Hey Sarah,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe, I am thrilled that it worked out for you! Happy New Year! xTieghan
Loved this recipe! We found the whipped feta to be quite grainy… any recommendations on how to fix that?
Hey Becca,
Thank you so very much for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad it worked out for you! I would try a different blender or food processor to really whip the feta. Happy New Year! xTieghan
Another super recipe! Made it last night and we all loved it. Great flavors that melded together.. I didn’t have green olives but used kalamatas which worked well. Thank you Tieghan once again for such inspiring recipes!
Hey Molly,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am thrilled you enjoyed! Happy New Year! xTieghan
This recipe is incredibly delicious! With each bite I take I feel so happy and healthy. I already can’t wait to make it again!
Hey Lauren,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe. I am so glad you enjoyed! xTieghan
This was pretty tasty. Even my picky eater loved it. Wish I could plate as nicely as you 🙂
Hey Anne,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe. I am so glad you enjoyed! xTieghan
SO GOOD. This is staying around forever and ever in our house. I used kalamata olives vs green and just bought tziki. And a tomato cucumber salad with naan. 😍😍
Hey Emily,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe. I am so glad you enjoyed! xTieghan
Made this last night! The family thought it was so gourmet – and loved the whipped feta especially. (we are greek so a new way to eat feta was fun!) I doubled the meatballs to feed our family of 6, and added pan roasted vegis to complete the meal. This was the recipe last year to lead me to your IG page, so I was glad to have finally made it.
Hey Nicole,
I am so thrilled that you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for making it! Happy Friday! xTieghan
This was so good! I made it with a chicken breast instead of meatballs. It was full of bright and fun flavors. The whipped feta is a must! Going to add that element to more recipes.
Hey Erin,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for giving it a try! Have a great week:) xTieghan
Can these meatballs be baked instead of fried? I was hoping to meal prep a bunch of them for lunches! If so, how long and what temp please!
Hey Julie,
Yes, that would work well. I would bake at 425 for 10-15 minutes. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Any ideas for substituting the sun dried tomatoes? I hate the flavor! Everything else sounds delish!
Hey Nancy,
I would just add a little extra olive oil to the vinaigrette! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hey there! Going to make this Keto friendly by subbing orzo with cauliflower rice and making orzo for the rest of the fam. Thank you so much! So excited to make 🙂
Hey Erin,
I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Really tasty and super easy meal! This meal is best for 2…thought we’d have leftovers but we didn’t because it was so good! Next time I’ll use 1/3 or 1/4 cup of olives instead of the 1/2 cup in the orzo.
Hey Jessica,
Thank you so much for making the recipe. I am thrilled that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
These meatballs were so so amazing! I would agree with some of the other comments on a few things, I don’t think this could serve 6 people at all, just four max. I am a lover of lemon in my food and for some reason the lemon in the orzo was very overpowering, I’d probably half the amount of lemon or just squeeze a little lemon towards the end. But still – incredible recipe!!!
Hey Bryn,
Thank you so much for making the recipe. I am thrilled that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
I made this for dinner tonight. Yum! I didn’t have any green olives so I substituted chopped marinated artichoke hearts in the orzo. And added ground lamb with the chicken. Turned out great. Thank you! Love your recipes.
Hey Amelia,
Thank you so much for making the recipe. I am thrilled that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Great recipe! It came together quickly — I sped it up by starting the meatballs in one skillet with orzo going in another. Dumped the leftover liquid from the meatball skilled into the orzo once they were done cooking! Dubbed “Greek burrito bowls” by my five year old. Left off the feta for the kids, and they gobbled it up with orzo, fresh tomato, and meatballs. The adult bowls were fully composed and wonderful. One star off because I think the recipe is closer to 3-4 adult servings. We had enough for 2 adult portions, and 2 child portions. LOVED the feta!!
Hey Anna,
Thank you so much for making the recipe. I am thrilled that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
SO GOOD! The feta whip\sun-dried tomato vinaigrette MAKES this dish amazing!
Hey David,
Thank you so much for making the recipe. I am thrilled that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
hi tieghan! I want to make this for a friend who is allergic to onions, shallots, garlic, etc. do you think the meatballs would be okay without the shallots? should I add something else in its place? thank you!
Hey Katy,
Yes, I think that would be okay to do! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This looks wonderful – making tonight since I have ground chicken on hand to use up!
I saw that this serves 6 – are there adjustments you’d make to serve 4? How many meatballs per serving do you recommend? Thanks !
Hey Jenna,
I would just follow the recipe as is for 4 people:) I hope you love the dish. Let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This was great! And I got everything for the recipe at Trader Joe’s! If I even forgot to toast the orzo and nothing terrible happened. If I was is a real hurry I might just serve chunks of feta on the side. I used my steel skillet (not the cast iron). Yum! So easy/fancy!
Hey Mal,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for making it! xTieghan
Really good recipe! I didn’t use the lemons and it was still really tasty. The only thing I didn’t love is that the meatballs are straight chicken breast; they’re a little too firm/dry. I will make this again but with some milk/panko to soften them up. But overall delicious flavors!
Hey Christa,
I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for making it! xTieghan
Hate to say this wasn’t a winner for me 1)The chicken meatballs came out dry & had mild flavor. 2)The vinaigrette was actually kind of gross, I think using the oil from the sun-dried tomatoes is what ruined it. 3)The whipped feta just tasted like salty, bitter Greek yogurt…& I love feta and any kind of Tzatziki sauce. I’ve been making HBH recipes once a week but this one wasn’t my favorite, that’s for sure!
Hey McKaela,
I am so sorry to hear you did not enjoy the recipe. Please let me know if I can help in anyway! xTieghan
What type of vodka of tequila based cocktail would you suggest making with this?
Hey Ashley,
I think a Paloma would be great here:
https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/watermelon-rose-paloma/
https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/pomegranate-ginger-paloma/
I hope you love the recipes:) xTieghan
Hi!! This looks delicious. Would this also work with Arborio rice in place of the orzo? Thank you!
Hey Tori,
Yes, that will work well! I hope you love the recipe!! xTieghan
Looking forward to making this tonight! Could I substitute linguini for the orzo?
Hey Natalie,
I’ve never tried this with linguini, I would recommend using a short cut pasta. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Excellent recipe. The pan I cooked the meatballs in got a little burnt so I just used another dish for the orzo and it worked out great. Excellent meal — so flavorful and relatively easy!
Hey Colleen,
Thanks so much for making the recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed! xTieghan
This recipe is great! It was a big hit with my family. I cooked the orzo in chicken broth instead of water bc I love pasta/rice cooked in broth, and I had extra that I needed to use. My kitchen smelled so good as I was making the meatballs. I will definitely make this again!!
Hey Annie,
Thanks so much for making the recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Very good, easy to make. I love dill so I added extra to everything! Used black olives too.
Would make it again!
Hey Alyssa,
Thanks so much for making the recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Made this for dinner tonight and it was sooooooo good. I didnt have orzo so I just cooked some bucatini and finished in the pan with garlic, lemon and dill. So delicious!!!!
Hey Cece,
I am so glad the recipe worked out for you! Thanks for making it:) Happy Friday! xTieghan
Delicious! My family loved it
Hey Nicole,
I am so glad the recipe worked out for you! Thanks for making it:) Happy Friday! xTieghan
So delicious! Mine served 3 so I guess we were hungry lol! I’m using the leftover feta whip on everything!
Hey Carol,
I am so glad the recipe worked out for you! Thanks for making it:) Happy Friday! xTieghan
This was so delicious! Love all these flavours together. That whipped feta may have changed my life…thanks for the recipe. Love every recipe I try of yours! Keep posting please:)
Hey Kara,
I am thrilled that you enjoyed the recipe, thanks for making it! I hope you have an awesome weekend:) xTieghan
Would you change anything if you were using ground turkey instead of ground chicken?
Hey Reba,
Nope, I would follow the recipe as is! xTieghan
I’m going to try this recipe soon!
But what about your comment from 2018:
“Whenever I make meatballs, I always, always roast them in the oven as opposed to pan frying them. I’m pretty sure none of us wants to stand at the stove and tend to meatballs for thirty minutes. No, that is just not fun. I’ve also found that roasted meatballs just taste better. They hold their shape and never turn out dry.“
Should I be worried these chicken meatballs will be dry? 😉
Hey Amy,
Nope, you can follow the recipe as is:) I hope you love them! xTieghan
This dish was amazing! I made it along side with the no knead bread from your book and it was perfect! Even my two year old loved it. Can’t wait to make more dishes that you post and from your books.
Hey Emma,
I am so glad you liked the recipe, thanks for giving it a go! Happy Sunday! xTieghan
Made this during our current COVID lockdown over Zoom with my daughter and my sister. So fun. Flavours incredible. Awesome
Hey Christine,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Happy Sunday! xTieghan
Excited to try the recipe! How many meatballs, orzo, and whipped feta is considered a serving size?
Hey Alli,
I would say a cup of orzo and 4-5 meatballs plus some feta for serving! I hope you love the recipe:) xTieghan
Hi there, I was wondering if you had any recommendations for any substitutes for the ground chicken, just not a big fan of ground chicken but this recipe sounds amazing! Thanks!
Hey Kelsey,
Ground pork would also work well here. I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
I’ll begin by saying that I loved this dish. The flavors are off the charts. My issue is with the directions regarding orzo cooking method. Two and a half cups of water wasn’t nearly absorbed in the few minutes the pasta cooked. I suspect it would be better to cover the pot and simmer it until the water is absorbed. Like rice. But I followed the directions as written, and I had to pour off a bunch of water (and flavor) in order not to have a soup on my hands.
Hey Janet,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try! I am so glad it was enjoyed, sorry about the orzo cooking instructions, this is what works best for me! xTieghan
Could you sub ground chicken with ground turkey or lamb? Any changes you would make with seasonings if you did sub the meat?
Hey Court,
Yes, either of those would work just fine! I hope you love the recipe:) xTieghan
This was absolutely DELICIOUS!!! The whipped feta and sun-dried tomato vinaigrette are incredible. This is probably one of my favorite recipes I’ve ever made. Thank you!!!
Hey Katie,
I am thrilled that you liked the recipe, thanks so much for giving it a go! Have an awesome week:) xTieghan
I had a hard time getting the meatballs to stay together! A lot of them fell apart in the pan. But delicious nonetheless! Will definitely try again!
Hey Samantha,
So sorry you had issues with the meatballs, next time try popping the meat in the fridge so it is super cold. I hope this helps! xTieghan
So I’m usually wild about your stuff and this was good but I had to make some adjustments. The orzo came out way too flavored – I think the lemon rind is what did it. Also, the orzo took more like 20 minutes to actually cook and I had to keep adding water. I ended up just making more pasta on the side and adding it to the orzo to cut the intense lemon rind flavor. Also I think half the amount of shallots would be advised. The shallot ratio was pretty high. Otherwise super yummy – especially the feta with the dressing!
Hey Kristen,
Thanks so much for trying the recipe and sharing your adjustments, I am glad it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Sorry, not a fan of this dish. Very labor intense with so many ingredients. A one pot meal sounds like it’s going to be easy but there are several bowl and a food processor to clean. I doubled the meatball recipe to freeze some. They are unbelievably dry and don’t have much flavor. I was really excited to make something unlike I’ve ever made before but this wasn’t the recipe for me. I’m not giving up though. I’ve also bought all the ingredients for Buffalo Chicken Crunch Wraps. Maybe something with less ingredients will work out better for me.
Hey Julia,
So sorry you did not enjoy the recipe, let me know if I can help! xTieghan
This was awesome! Made the whipped feta and vinegrette ahead of time, the rest was easy. Loved it.
Hey Dave,
I am so glad that the recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! Have a great week:) xTieghan
Delicious. Market didn’t have sun dried tomatoes so used marinated artichoke hearts. It was so good!
Definitely company good. Can’t wait till we can have people over!
Hey Carol,
I am so glad that the recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! Have a great week:) xTieghan
This recipe was absolutely delicious. Made it tonight with my husband. The whipped feta is a must to enhance dish. Thanks for such great instructions.
Hey Kathryn,
I am so glad that the recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! Have a great week:) xTieghan
So yummy!! Made everything according to the recipe and not only was it super easy, it was amazing! Your recipes never disappoint! Im quickly becoming a HBH junkie lol!
Hey Erin,
Thanks so much for making the recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed. xTieghan
This was sooo delicious!! Will make again for sure!
Hey Lidia,
Thanks so much for making the recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan! I love checking out your IG and food videos:) Presentation is SO beautiful! This recipe caught my eye (the one skillet draw) and it is the first HBH recipe I attempted. I made it last night and it turned out great!!! A lot of time went into preparation but I think the next time will be easier. I did add an egg as I read how other people had a challenge keeping the meatballs together…but I’m curious to try without because it only made the mixture even more tricky to form the meatballs(even w/ olive oil hands). For the whipped feta, I added more olive oil, but the feta(Organic Mt Vikos—firm block) in a Vitamix was barely moving… also used whole milk yogurt on hand which might have been too thick? Next time hand whisk 🙂 Even so, still DELICIOUS!!! My partner even reminded me this morning:) I would say the portions are perfect for 2 or 3 people( 4 meatballs each along with orzo and vinaigrette—LOVE sundried tomatoes) Plan on having some leftovers sans orzo but definitely not leaving out that tomato vinaigrette and feta for a nice lunch! One last note, I was testing out a new much larger/deeper frying pan in hopes everything could cook nicely together but because the meatballs cooked up so fast I ended up switching to my usual size frying pan for the orzo, olives and lemon ( just warming up half the meatballs). Plus there was some char covering the pan and I was concerned it would mask the flavorful orzo? It worked out because my partner used that pan to make our naan toasty! Some type of bread is so worth it to soak up all that goodness!
Thank you for sharing and the inspiration to try something new! Looking forward to another HBH recipe soon.
Best,
Jennifer
Hey Jennifer,
Thanks so much for making the recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Okay, I’ve tried a lot of HBH recipes but THIS….wow. 5/5 stars. So good. If you’re trying to impress someone, this is your meal to make!
Hey Rachel,
Thanks so much for making the recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed! xTieghan
YUM! This reminded me of my fav Mediterranean lunch spot in NYC. That whipped feta is the best flavor along with the orzo and meatballs. I wasn’t sure I’d like dill but it was delicious! Worth al of the different steps for sure!
Hey Julie,
Thanks so much for making the recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed! xTieghan
This recipe was FANTASTIC!!! Perfect blend of flavors and the fresh dill really elevated the whole plate. Thanks for all your amazing recipes!
Hey Dana,
Thanks so much for making the recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Can I bake the meatballs instead?
Hey Jen,
Absolutely! I would bake at 425 for 10-15 minutes. I hope you enjoy the recipe, let me know if I can help in any other way! xTieghan
The whipped Feta and sun-dried tomato vinaigrette makes this dish! Delicious!
Hey Melissa,
Thanks so much for trying out this recipe, I am thrilled that you liked it! I hope you have a great week:) xTieghan
This was AMAZING! I was out of shallots so I substituted pearl onions and that’s the beauty of all these recipes, substitutes work so easily. The vinaigrette was so delicious and cut through nicely
Hey Sarah,
Thanks so much for trying out this recipe, I am thrilled that you liked it! I hope you have a great week:) xTieghan
This was SOOO good and so easy!! Will definitely make this often. Love your recipes!
Hey Maygen,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try. I am so glad that it was enjoyed!! xTieghan
Have you tried this recipe using ground lamb? And if you did would you make any adjustments?
Hey Bethany,
I haven’t tried lamb, but I think it would work well in this recipe! I hope you love the dish, let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Tried this tonight with my boyfriend and we could not stop talking about how amazing it was whilst we were eating it. The flavours of everything together worked so incredibly well together, I will definitely make this again!!!
Hey Holly,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try. I am so glad that it was enjoyed!! xTieghan
Tieghan, what is the trick to making the meatballs moist on the inside but charred on the outside? I can’t seem to do it right. Help! I love this recipe, but need some advice.
Thanks!
Hey Kara,
I find my cast iron skillet helps with this! Let me know if this helps:) xTieghan
This was AMAZING!!! Thank you for sharing!
Thank so much for trying the recipe Robin!! xTieghan
Making this for Sunday dinner. Your dishes have become a weekend staple in our home. We love them all. What is a serving size for this?
Thank you!
Hey Kim,
I hope you love this recipe! I would say a serving size is 4-5 meatballs and some orzo. Let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Made the Greek meatballs with lemon butter orzo last night and it was amazing! I can’t wait to make it again and try more of your recipes. Yum❤️ 😋
Hey Joan,
I am thrilled that you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for trying it out. Have a great weekend! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan! Do you have any more macro information beyond calories? We had this for dinner last night and it was delicious!
Hey Hailey,
So sorry I do not have that information available. I hope you love the recipe, let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
One of the best meals we’ve ever made at home! Thank you for bringing so much joy to our cooking at home, especially during these COVID days!
Hey Becca,
I am thrilled you liked the recipe, thanks so much for giving it a go! Happy Sunday:) xTieghan
This was fan-freaking-tastic! Simply delicious. This will definitely be a staple moving forward. Thank you, Tiegan!
Hey Chelsea,
I am thrilled you liked the recipe, thanks so much for giving it a go! Happy Sunday:) xTieghan
This is easily the best recipe I have ever tried! The charred lemon is a phenomenal touch.
Hey Angie,
I am so thrilled that you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for trying it out!! xTieghan
I made this tonight My son looks at the plate and goes that looks so good as he was talking to my oldest son on the phone He goes I have to go He takes one bite snd goes mom this is so good My oldest son calls back wants to know what it was I always send your pics since they really capture it so perfectly He goes that looks so good mom And it was so so good Another win
Hey Marie,
I am so thrilled that you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for trying it out!! xTieghan
Absolutely delicious meal. My family loved it. Thank you!
Hey Tyra,
Thanks for making the recipe, I am so delighted that it was enjoyed! Have a great week:) xTieghan
This recipe is ahhhmazing. I bought a cast iron skillet because of this recipe and thank goodness I did . It was perfect. Kids and husband loved it . Kids were sad the next day because there were no leftovers .
Hey Leena,
I am so so glad that you liked the recipe, thanks a lot for making it! Happy Friday:) xTieghan
A lot of sidesteps to this one. Could’ve done without the balsamic dressing. Meatballs turned out really good with the feta!
Hey Nicole,
Thanks for giving the recipe a try! xTieghan
How much of this recipe can be done ahead of time?
Perhaps searing the meatballs and doing the whipped feta then cooking the orzo and finishing up when its time to eat?
I am having my family pod over for dinner and I want to have it mostly done and cleaned up ..
Hey Jennifer,
Yes, that would be totally fine to do ahead of time! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I was so looking forward to making this but I can’t find orzo anywhere – crazy, I know!
Any recommendations for an alternative?
Hey Edina,
Arborio rice would be great with this dish. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Excellent! Tastes very authentic Greek and very healthy.
Hey Lulu,
Thanks a lot for giving the recipe a go, I am so delighted that it was enjoyed! Have a great week:) xTieghan
Love this recipe. I made it with grassfed ground beef. Made lemon coconut rice instead of orzo. Added crispy kale for a vegetable. Otherwise I followed the recipe, and will be adding it into our regular rotation!
Hey Addie,
I am thrilled this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
Great recipe! Wish I could rate it higher! My Dad HATES ground chicken and he loved this!! He even took a picture of the recipe for himself 😅 #win. Good job halfbaked harvest you made my dad finally enjoy ground chicken 🙂
Hey Daisy,
I am so glad the recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
A hit with the family! Really unique flavors. Will keep this recipe in the rotation of favorites!
Hey Molly,
I am so glad the recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
I tried. I really did. I have all of your cookbooks, have been following for years, successfully tried so many recipes, but this one I just couldn’t get. I tried TWICE. I got the meatballs the second time around, but everything else was a disaster. The cheese dip tasted too much like Greek yogurt, so for the second time I didn’t add nearly as much and it still was yogurt-y. The orzo burnt the first time, and wasn’t cooked enough, and then had too much water the second time I tried. The meatballs worked for the first time, so I saved them to reheat when I tried the second night. Didn’t even try the vinaigrette. I feel like if I don’t have all the same exact tools and ingredients as you, the recipe doesn’t work for me like it does for you. Sorry girl, but I tried.
Hey Hallie,
So sorry you did not enjoy the recipe, let me know if I can help in anyway! xTieghan
Wow this dish is genius!! All the flavors are so good together. Thank you for all of your recipes!
Hey Jenna,
I am so glad the recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
Made this last night—so delicious! This was such a satisfying dish without being too heavy. We will definitely be having this again soon!
Hey Ali,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan!!!
I love this meal, I’ve made it often, but I wanted to make a vegetarian version for some of my friends. Do you have any suggestions of what a good “meat” substitute would be?
Thanks!!!!
Hey Celia,
I am so thrilled the recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a go! You could skip the meatballs and just use some veggies:) Happy Friday! xTieghan
I made this recipe a couple of weeks ago and can’t stop thinking about making it again! I had ground pork on hand, so I used that instead. I love the orzo technique. I wouldn’t recommend skipping the whipped feta!! Mine was a bit looser because I used regular natural yogurt (3% fat, no additives) but the flavour was spot-on. It’s the orzo that really clinched it for me though.
Hey Louise,
I am so thrilled the recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a go! Happy Friday! xTieghan
Love this recipe and have done it a few times, it’s a household favorite. Making it this weekend, but need to prepare it gluten free to accomodate a gluten intolerance in a friend. Thinking of swapping the orzo for rice. Anyone done this? Orzo cooks much faster than rice, but I would like to still cook it in the pan so it gets all that great flavor. Any other thoughts or suggestions?
Hey Ginger,
Rice will work well here, but you will need to add some time for the rice to fully cook. I hope you enjoy the recipe, let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I just made this tonight and it was fantastic! All of the flavors were perfect together. I have some leftovers too which I’m excited about! What is the best way to reheat this without it drying out?
Hey Stephanie,
I am delighted you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for giving it a try! I would reheat in a covered skillet:) xTieghan
I LOVE these one skillet orzo recipes. My one suggestion is to put a quantity of salt for the meatballs. I obviously can’t salt “to taste” because I can’t just take a spoonful of raw meat and say it needs salt. This recipe is great, but the meatballs were bland just because they didn’t have enough salt 🙁
Hey Kallan,
I am delighted you enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
Do you think the whipped feta will work with an immersion blender stick okay? I don’t have a food processor.
Hey Hannah,
That should work for you. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Amazing
Thanks Allison! xTieghan
This has been my favorite recipe to re-create so far! I’m typically not a fan of sun-dried tomatoes, but I thought the vinaigrette was a nice touch. I love one pan dishes, especially during the week after a long day at work. This is definitely going in the dinner cycle. Thank you!!!
Hey Valerie,
Thanks so much for making the recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Thanks! xTieghan
This was amazing!!! What an easy dish to whip up and has all of my favorite flavors! This was great as leftovers for lunch as well! 10/10
Hey Shelby,
Thanks so much for making the recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Thanks! xTieghan
yum yum yum`, the whipped feta is everything, don’t skip!
Hey Nathalie,
Thanks so much for making the recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed! Thanks! xTieghan
This was truly delicious. The depth of flavor was complex and so very good. The sundried tomato dressing was key. I used homemade chicken stock in place of water with the orzo and ended up having to add about an additional half-cup to get the orzo cooked enough. I’d recommend prepping all your ingredients ahead of time, because once you get cooking, the pacing of this recipe moves fast.
Served this with warm pita. Oh and I know the notes say you can sprinkle feta on top rather than do the whipped feta base, but I did both, because why not?! This is a keeper of a recipe.
Hey Joelle,
I so appreciate you giving the recipe a try, I am thrilled it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Made this for dinner tonight! Always a huge fan of one pot meals. Took less than an hour start to finish which is also a win. Really delicious and will be a make-against recipe for sure!
Hey Erika,
I am so glad you have enjoyed the recipe, thanks so much for making it! Have a great week! xTieghan
Can you bake the meatballs instead?
Hey Jenna,
Sure, that would work well too! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Brilliant, great and easy
Thanks so much Bernadette! xTieghan
Absolutely delicious. I omitted the dill and put extra oregano, will definitely make again!
Hey Ari,
I am thrilled to hear this recipe was enjoyed. Thanks so much for giving it a try. Have a great week! xTieghan
Trying to make sense of the directions. How much dill goes with the meatballs? Is it the 2tbs and then the “plus more for serving” is what goes in the vinaigrette? Or does 1tbs go in each?
Hey there,
You are adding the 2 tablespoons of dill in step 3 and one tablespoon in step 4 with the vinaigrette. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
My family and I loved this! The whipped feta just puts the dish over the top. Yum!
Hey there,
Thanks a bunch for making this recipe, I am so glad it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Delicious and actually quite light. It is a little bit of work but worth it.
Hey Chris,
Awesome, I love to hear that the recipe was enjoyed and thanks so much for giving it a try! xTieghan
Excellent dinner..my 18 month old loves this as well..so freaking delicious
Hey Lauren,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try, I am thrilled it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Just made this tonight and it was absolutely perfect! It was light and flavourful. That whipped Feta is 100% a game changer! Will definitely be making this again in the future!
Hey Andra,
I am absolutely delighted that you enjoyed the recipe, thanks for making it! Have the best week☀️ xTieghan
This is a regular in our house! Highly recommend. We don’t always make the whipped feta. If we don’t, we serve this with crumbled feta as suggested, or with tzatziki or a Greek yogurt dressing depending on what we have in the fridge. We’ve also made this with and without the sundried tomato vinaigrette, and it’s good either way. I will say that the orzo takes longer than the recipe states. 7-8 minutes is never long enough, and we always need to add more water.
Hey Leah,
Thanks for making this recipe! I am so glad it was a hit! xTieghan
I made the recipe as written but it was too bitter for my taste! I’d recommend cutting back on the lemon juice and balsamic vinegar. The meatballs were tasty though!
So sorry you did not enjoy the recipe Beth! xTieghan
I’ve made this twice now and its INCREDIBLE each time! I double the orzo so I can use a whole box, and because of that I double the water and the lemon juice as well. Next time I’m just doubling the whole thing for our family of five. SO SO SO GOOD!!!!
Hey Ashley,
I really appreciate you giving this recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed.🌷 xTieghan
This was SO GOOOOOD. I was a bit hesitant because of some of the mixed reviews, but must say it did not disappoint. It took a bit longer than was indicated, but many of the components can be made ahead of time (like the whipped feta and the sun-dried tomato vinaigrette). I used capers instead of olives (not an olive fan). Also, based on other reviews, I added an egg and breadcrumbs to the meatballs. Highly recommend this meal!
Hey Kaiti,
I really appreciate you giving this recipe a try, I am so glad it was enjoyed.🌷 xTieghan
Cooked this tonight and it was amazing!!! Thank you. We literally licked the bowl clean! Will be a go to recipe!!! 😊
Hey Emma,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad that it was enjoyed! Have a great week:) xTieghan
It’s the whipped feta and sun dried tomato combo for me!! Delicious!
Hey Katie,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad that it was enjoyed! Have a great week:) xTieghan
I feel like I say this about all of your recipes but this might be my new favorite! The flavors were so so so good and worked together so well. I’m making this again for the weekend with extra to pack for my lunches because the leftovers were equally delicious the next day!
Hey Amanda,
Thanks a bunch for giving this recipe a try, I am so excited that it was enjoyed! Happy Friday! xTieghan
I’ve made this so many times in the last year! I add a half of a fresh jalapeño- seeds optional, to the feta It gives the dish a nice kick without being too overpowering.
Hey Liv,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am delighted that it was enjoyed! Have a great weekend! xTieghan
Absolutely incredible!!! I used turkey meat instead of chicken for the meatballs, turned out great!! Prep time is definitely a lot more than suggested, it’s a lot to do by yourself. I’d recommend cooking the meatballs a little longer than suggested, and not quite so much pitted green olive. Found the feta sauce needs at least twice the amount of yogurt and lots and lots of olive oil, but man! This was the best greek dish I think I’ve ever had. Just phenomenal!
Hey Justin,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a go! xxTieghan
Is it too over the top to say that “This is the best dish I have ever eaten?” Well, its the truth. The flavors are incredible and everyone agreed that we need to make this at least every other week, if not every week! Wow!! Thank you again for a delicious dinner!
Hey Laura,
Awesome! I am so glad this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xTieghan
Hey lovely girl. I’m planning to make this but need to put it into the oven instead. Do you have any tips and/or times and temps for me? Thank you. It looks like another winner to me! Can’t wait to make these and share them with my family!
Hey Amy,
I would bake at 450 for 15 minutes. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Can I do this with ground beef? I’ve a ton of it and am trying to find ways to use it!
Hey Lynn,
Sure ground beef will work just fine! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Okay so I just made this for dinner, super quick and super easy but the flavours were immaculate! This might be one of my halfbaked faves!! love love love!
Hey there,
Awesome!! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! Have a great weekend:) xxTieghan
I made this and it was delicious. Will definitely do again.
Hey Kelly,
Fantastic!! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! Have a great Sunday:) xxTieghan
Amazing! Can’t recommend this highly enough!
Hey Jack,
Thanks a lot for giving this recipe a go, I am thrilled that it was enjoyed!! xTieghan
This was soooo delicious! I substitute basmati rice for the orzo to make it gluten free (1 cup of uncooked rice, water and lemon juice). I also used basil instead of dill because that’s what I had…. it came out so good – even my picky eater ate the meatballs and rice (no sauces or vinaigrette’s for him!)
Hey Dara,
Thanks a lot for giving this recipe a go, I am thrilled that it was enjoyed!! xTieghan
Made this last night and literally couldn’t take a photo before the plate was empty! I only did 1/2 a teaspoon of the smoked paprika, and had a few other little tweaks to make it my own 🙂 I used tzatziki instead of the whipped feta base, and then crumbled feta cheese on top. Today going to use the leftovers in a pita wrap. YUM!
Hey Sarah,
Thanks a lot for giving this recipe a go, I am thrilled that it was enjoyed!! xTieghan
I wanted to love this recipe, but these were the driest meatballs I’ve ever had.
Hey Kristin,
So sorry to hear this, please let me know if I can help in anyway! xTieghan