mediterranean lamb meatballs meal prep bowls

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the easiest juicy & tender baked lamb meatballs, made with panko breadcrumbs, lemon, parsley, oregano & cumin, served on top of a seriously healthy meal prep bowl with lemony Greek roasted potatoes, greens, feta, olives, & homemade Romesco sauce. an easy & satisfying meal prep recipe for lunches all week long! this Recipe for Later! this post is sponsored by…
the easiest juicy & tender baked lamb meatballs, made with panko breadcrumbs, lemon, parsley, oregano & cumin, served on top of a seriously healthy meal prep bowl with lemony Greek roasted potatoes, greens, feta, olives, & homemade Romesco sauce. an easy & satisfying meal prep recipe for lunches all week long! #playswellwithbutter #lambmeatballs #bakedlambmeatballs #greeklambmeatballs #groundlamb #mealpreprecipes #mealpreprecipesfortheweek #mediterraneandiet #healthybowlsrecipe

the easiest juicy & tender baked lamb meatballs, made with panko breadcrumbs, lemon, parsley, oregano & cumin, served on top of a seriously healthy meal prep bowl with lemony Greek roasted potatoes, greens, feta, olives, & homemade Romesco sauce. an easy & satisfying meal prep recipe for lunches all week long!

this post is sponsored by the American Lamb Board. all thoughts & opinions are my own. thank you, as always, for visiting plays well with butter & supporting the brands that support this site! ?

mediterranean lamb meatballs meal prep bowlsthe easiest juicy & tender baked lamb meatballs, made with panko breadcrumbs, lemon, parsley, oregano & cumin, served on top of a seriously healthy meal prep bowl with lemony Greek roasted potatoes, greens, feta, olives, & homemade Romesco sauce. an easy & satisfying meal prep recipe for lunches all week long! #playswellwithbutter #lambmeatballs #bakedlambmeatballs #greeklambmeatballs #groundlamb #mealpreprecipes #mealpreprecipesfortheweek #mediterraneandiet #healthybowlsrecipe

pin this lamb meatballs recipe for later!!!

after the binge-a-thon also known as december, what’s currently pretty high on the list of things i need in my life (like…NEEEEED, know what i mean?) is a meal that’s…

  • easy to throw together. (like. easy.)
  • filled with super fresh flavors. the fresher the better!
  • healthy. (i mean, at least somewhat.)
  • & also…maybe not entirely made of cookies. (?)

i feel like you might be in a similar boat right now too. & that’s why i’m super excited to share my most recent meal prep obsession with you today: mediterranean lamb meatballs meal prep bowls.

they’re everything my january heart desires: easy, fresh, light & filled with super good-for-you ingredients.the easiest juicy & tender baked lamb meatballs, made with panko breadcrumbs, lemon, parsley, oregano & cumin, served on top of a seriously healthy meal prep bowl with lemony Greek roasted potatoes, greens, feta, olives, & homemade Romesco sauce. an easy & satisfying meal prep recipe for lunches all week long! #playswellwithbutter #lambmeatballs #bakedlambmeatballs #greeklambmeatballs #groundlamb #mealpreprecipes #mealpreprecipesfortheweek #mediterraneandiet #healthybowlsrecipe

pin this lamb meatballs recipe for later!!!

first of all, i’ll be the first to admit that meal prep is not my favorite activity.

in theory? of course it makes a ton of sense. weekday life is obviously a lot easier if you get some of the work done in advance, when you have an extra hour or two.

in practice, though? woof. there is nothing that makes the sunday scaries set in harder & faster than surrendering precious weekend time to do something as practical as…cooking your lunch for the week.

so when i say i get it, i really do get it. meal prep isn’t my fave either. but! when i say these mediterranean lamb meatballs meal prep bowls are worth it? i really mean it.the easiest juicy & tender baked lamb meatballs, made with panko breadcrumbs, lemon, parsley, oregano & cumin, served on top of a seriously healthy meal prep bowl with lemony Greek roasted potatoes, greens, feta, olives, & homemade Romesco sauce. an easy & satisfying meal prep recipe for lunches all week long! #playswellwithbutter #lambmeatballs #bakedlambmeatballs #greeklambmeatballs #groundlamb #mealpreprecipes #mealpreprecipesfortheweek #mediterraneandiet #healthybowlsrecipe

pin this lamb meatballs recipe for later!!!

the perfect juicy & tender baked lamb meatballs get piled on top of a seriously healthy meal prep bowl with lemony Greek roasted potatoes, greens, feta, olives, & homemade Romesco sauce. they’re full of bright flavors, feel totally satisfying, & will stay fresh to pack in lunches all week long.

plus! i’ve designed this recipe to be a super efficient one to prep. the meatballs roast up at the same time as some lemony greek potatoes (or cauliflower!), which creates some downtime that’s perfect for prepping as many or as few other bowl components as you’d like (quinoa! feta! olives! homemade lightened-up romesco sauce!).

you can prep a whole week’s worth of lunches in less than 40 minutes…& they’ll be seriously delicious & healthy too.the easiest juicy & tender baked lamb meatballs, made with panko breadcrumbs, lemon, parsley, oregano & cumin, served on top of a seriously healthy meal prep bowl with lemony Greek roasted potatoes, greens, feta, olives, & homemade Romesco sauce. an easy & satisfying meal prep recipe for lunches all week long! #playswellwithbutter #lambmeatballs #bakedlambmeatballs #greeklambmeatballs #groundlamb #mealpreprecipes #mealpreprecipesfortheweek #mediterraneandiet #healthybowlsrecipe

no sunday scaries here, guys.

an easy lamb meatballs recipe:the easiest juicy & tender baked lamb meatballs, made with panko breadcrumbs, lemon, parsley, oregano & cumin, served on top of a seriously healthy meal prep bowl with lemony Greek roasted potatoes, greens, feta, olives, & homemade Romesco sauce. an easy & satisfying meal prep recipe for lunches all week long! #playswellwithbutter #lambmeatballs #bakedlambmeatballs #greeklambmeatballs #groundlamb #mealpreprecipes #mealpreprecipesfortheweek #mediterraneandiet #healthybowlsrecipe

pin this lamb meatballs recipe for later!!!

the star of these mediterranean lamb meatballs meal prep bowls is obviously the easy lamb meatballs. these easy meatballs are packed with greek-inspired flavors & get baked to tender & juicy perfection, without making a total mess on your stove. the easiest juicy & tender baked lamb meatballs, made with panko breadcrumbs, lemon, parsley, oregano & cumin, served on top of a seriously healthy meal prep bowl with lemony Greek roasted potatoes, greens, feta, olives, & homemade Romesco sauce. an easy & satisfying meal prep recipe for lunches all week long! #playswellwithbutter #lambmeatballs #bakedlambmeatballs #greeklambmeatballs #groundlamb #mealpreprecipes #mealpreprecipesfortheweek #mediterraneandiet #healthybowlsrecipe

pin this lamb meatballs recipe for later!!!

to give them a bit of greek-inspired mediterranean flair, i fill my lamb meatballs with:

  • panko breadcrumbs & an egg for binding (go-tos for any of my meatball recipes!)
  • lemon zest & tons of minced garlic for flavor in every bite
  • some herbs & spices: fresh parsley, dried oregano & ground cumin
  • kosher salt & pepper, obviously
  • & a (totally optional) pinch of crushed red pepper flakes for some extra heat!

straight-forward, but so good. the easiest juicy & tender baked lamb meatballs, made with panko breadcrumbs, lemon, parsley, oregano & cumin, served on top of a seriously healthy meal prep bowl with lemony Greek roasted potatoes, greens, feta, olives, & homemade Romesco sauce. an easy & satisfying meal prep recipe for lunches all week long! #playswellwithbutter #lambmeatballs #bakedlambmeatballs #greeklambmeatballs #groundlamb #mealpreprecipes #mealpreprecipesfortheweek #mediterraneandiet #healthybowlsrecipe

a few tips for making great lamb meatballs!

first of all, since lamb is obviously the most important component in lamb meatballs, you want to buy the best quality you can find. i suggest always looking for American lamb, which is a) almost always going to be a fresher option than imported lamb, & b) has the added benefit of supporting ranchers & family farmers raising lamb across the country. you can ensure the lamb you purchase is American lamb by simply asking the folks behind the butcher counter at your grocery store or butcher shop. or! check out the American Lamb Board website – they have a full list of American lamb farmers & distributors across the country. take a peek here!

& secondly, whenever you make meatballs, you’ll want to mix everything together as lightly & carefully as you can. overworking the meatball mixture is what most commonly leads to meatballs getting dry & tough. work everything together enough to get it all mixed, but no more, & your lamb meatballs should stay perfectly light & tender. the easiest juicy & tender baked lamb meatballs, made with panko breadcrumbs, lemon, parsley, oregano & cumin, served on top of a seriously healthy meal prep bowl with lemony Greek roasted potatoes, greens, feta, olives, & homemade Romesco sauce. an easy & satisfying meal prep recipe for lunches all week long! #playswellwithbutter #lambmeatballs #bakedlambmeatballs #greeklambmeatballs #groundlamb #mealpreprecipes #mealpreprecipesfortheweek #mediterraneandiet #healthybowlsrecipe

pin this lamb meatballs recipe for later!!!

i’m obsessed these lamb meatballs for a couple of reasons.

first, they get baked, not pan-fried, which keeps them healthier & doesn’t make a huge splattery mess in your kitchen. easy clean up = major win.

& second, they’re totally meal prep friendly. between mixing them up & rolling them out & baking them, you can whip up a batch in 30 minutes or less. they keep great in the fridge for packing mediterranean lamb meatballs meal prep bowls for lunch all week long. they also freeze really, really well. you could make a double batch of lamb meatballs while you’re at it & freeze half to make easy pitas & gyros down the road.

(& i have a feeling these lamb meatballs will totally be a freezer staple in your house from here on out…)

what to serve with greek lamb meatballs:the easiest juicy & tender baked lamb meatballs, made with panko breadcrumbs, lemon, parsley, oregano & cumin, served on top of a seriously healthy meal prep bowl with lemony Greek roasted potatoes, greens, feta, olives, & homemade Romesco sauce. an easy & satisfying meal prep recipe for lunches all week long! #playswellwithbutter #lambmeatballs #bakedlambmeatballs #greeklambmeatballs #groundlamb #mealpreprecipes #mealpreprecipesfortheweek #mediterraneandiet #healthybowlsrecipe

pin this lamb meatballs recipe for later!!!

what makes these mediterranean lamb meatballs meal prep bowls so freaking craveable is how perfectly all of the components work together. they’re piled high with…

  • lemony greek roasted potatoes (more on these babies in a sec! ?)
  • peppery arugula
  • quinoa (or brown rice!)
  • 2 of my mediterranean faves: cubed feta & castelvetrano olives
  • & a generous drizzle of my lightened-up romesco sauce (aka the easiest flavor bomb you’ll ever meet)

every single bite is filled with lemony, peppery mediterranean flavor. the easiest juicy & tender baked lamb meatballs, made with panko breadcrumbs, lemon, parsley, oregano & cumin, served on top of a seriously healthy meal prep bowl with lemony Greek roasted potatoes, greens, feta, olives, & homemade Romesco sauce. an easy & satisfying meal prep recipe for lunches all week long! #playswellwithbutter #lambmeatballs #bakedlambmeatballs #greeklambmeatballs #groundlamb #mealpreprecipes #mealpreprecipesfortheweek #mediterraneandiet #healthybowlsrecipe

another one of my favorite parts of these bowls are these lemony greek roasted potatoes. lamb + potatoes is always a sure win, & these lemony greek roasted potatoes are no exception.

they’re made with almost all of the same ingredients that are in the lamb meatballs, which means you can easily whip them up when you prep the lamb meatballs. as a total bonus, they actually roast at the same temperature as the meatballs, meaning your oven can do double duty & you can roast the lamb meatballs and the lemony greek roasted potatoes at the same time.

if you’re trying to lighten things up even more, you could easily swap out the potatoes with cauliflower florets. the flavors will lend themselves nicely to cauliflower, too, & cauliflower will easily roast to the perfect tender-crisp texture at the same temp & for the same amount of time as the potatoes do. the easiest juicy & tender baked lamb meatballs, made with panko breadcrumbs, lemon, parsley, oregano & cumin, served on top of a seriously healthy meal prep bowl with lemony Greek roasted potatoes, greens, feta, olives, & homemade Romesco sauce. an easy & satisfying meal prep recipe for lunches all week long! #playswellwithbutter #lambmeatballs #bakedlambmeatballs #greeklambmeatballs #groundlamb #mealpreprecipes #mealpreprecipesfortheweek #mediterraneandiet #healthybowlsrecipe

pin this lamb meatballs recipe for later!!!

to meal prep the bowls, you’ll grab your favorite meal prep containers. (pictured here are 4-cup pyrex prep bowls.) add a handful of greens to the bowls, then top them off with a spoonful of grains and some lemony greek roasted potatoes. pop some lamb meatballs over top, then finish with feta, olives, diced red onion, & whatever else you’d like – like a lemon wedge & some romesco sauce (just pack it separately in a single serve container).

the assembled mediterranean lamb meatballs meal prep bowls with keep in the fridge for up to 5 days, making them the perfect healthy grab-&-go lunch for the entire week. the easiest juicy & tender baked lamb meatballs, made with panko breadcrumbs, lemon, parsley, oregano & cumin, served on top of a seriously healthy meal prep bowl with lemony Greek roasted potatoes, greens, feta, olives, & homemade Romesco sauce. an easy & satisfying meal prep recipe for lunches all week long! #playswellwithbutter #lambmeatballs #bakedlambmeatballs #greeklambmeatballs #groundlamb #mealpreprecipes #mealpreprecipesfortheweek #mediterraneandiet #healthybowlsrecipe

& really…does a january lunch sitch get better than that?

if you love this mediterranean lamb meatballs recipe, here are a few other lightened-up recipes you’ll love too!

be sure to follow along with me on instagram, facebook, & pinterest for more easy, modern recipes & fun!

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the easiest juicy & tender baked lamb meatballs, made with panko breadcrumbs, lemon, parsley, oregano & cumin, served on top of a seriously healthy meal prep bowl with lemony Greek roasted potatoes, greens, feta, olives, & homemade Romesco sauce. an easy & satisfying meal prep recipe for lunches all week long! #playswellwithbutter #lambmeatballs #bakedlambmeatballs #greeklambmeatballs #groundlamb #mealpreprecipes #mealpreprecipesfortheweek #mediterraneandiet #healthybowlsrecipe

mediterranean lamb meatballs meal prep bowls

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  • Author: jess larson | plays well with butter
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: serves 4
  • Category: breakfast, lunch, meal prep
  • Method: roasting
  • Cuisine: mediterranean, Greek

Description

The easiest juicy & tender baked lamb meatballs, made with panko breadcrumbs, lemon, parsley, oregano & cumin, served on top of a seriously healthy meal prep bowl with lemony Greek roasted potatoes, greens, feta, olives, & homemade Romesco sauce. An easy & satisfying meal prep recipe for lunches all week long!


Ingredients

Scale

for the lamb meatballs:

  • 1 pound ground American lamb (see Recipe Notes)
  • ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ lemon, zested
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • optional: ½ teaspoon crushed red chili flakes

for the lemony Greek roasted potatoes:

  • 1 pound baby potatoes, halved as needed (see Recipe Notes)
  • ½ lemon, zested & juiced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • optional: ½ teaspoon crushed red chili flakes

for the meal prep bowls:

  • arugula or salad greens of choice
  • quinoa or brown rice
  • feta
  • olives (castelvetrano olives!)
  • diced red onion
  • lemon wedges
  • lightened-up Romesco sauce

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with foil or parchment paper for easy clean up and set aside.
  2. Prep the lemony Greek roasted potatoes: Halve the potatoes as needed – you will want the potatoes to be roughly 1-inch in diameter. Add the potatoes to a medium bowl with the lemon zest, garlic, olive oil, oregano, salt, ground black pepper & crushed red chili flakes. Toss to combine. Transfer to one of the prepared baking sheets, arranging the potatoes in a single, uniform layer. Set aside.
  3. Prep the lamb meatballs: Add the lamb to a medium bowl, with the panko, egg, lemon zest, garlic, parsley, oregano, cumin, salt, ground black pepper & crushed red chili flakes. Use your hands to bring the mixture together, being careful not to overwork the mixture. Roll the mixture into tablespoon-sized balls. You’ll get about 20-22 meatballs. Arrange on the second prepared baking sheet.
  4. Roast the potatoes and meatballs for 20 minutes. Remove the lamb meatballs from the oven after 20 minutes, or once they’re golden brown & cooked through. At this point, give the potatoes a shake, squeeze some lemon juice over top and return to the oven for 5 more minutes. Once the potatoes are crusty, golden brown & fork-tender, remove from the oven & set aside.
  5. Prep the meal prep bowl add-ons: Meanwhile, as the potatoes & meatballs roast, prep the rest of the components for your lamb meatballs meal prep bowls. Make a batch of romesco. Cook some grains. Slice olives. Dice an onion. & so on…
  6. Assemble the bowls: Grab your favorite meal prep containers. I use 4-cup Pyrex bowls. Add a handful of greens to the bowls. Top with a spoonful of grains and a spoonful of roasted potatoes. Add 5-6 meatballs over top. Finish with feta, olives, diced red onion, & whatever else you’d like. Add a lemon wedge & pack some romesco sauce to a single serve container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Serve warm or cold. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Lamb: When it comes to buying lamb, it’s so important to choose American lamb, vs imported. It’s not only fresher, but buying American also supports the local ranchers & family farms across the country who are committed to the quality & welfare of their animals. Be sure to ask your butcher where they source their lamb, or check out the American Lamb Board’s website for more details.
  • Potatoes: If you’d like, you can easily swap out the potatoes with cauliflower. Still super delish!
don’t forget to pin this lamb meatballs recipe for later!!!the easiest juicy & tender baked lamb meatballs, made with panko breadcrumbs, lemon, parsley, oregano & cumin, served on top of a seriously healthy meal prep bowl with lemony Greek roasted potatoes, greens, feta, olives, & homemade Romesco sauce. an easy & satisfying meal prep recipe for lunches all week long! #playswellwithbutter #lambmeatballs #bakedlambmeatballs #greeklambmeatballs #groundlamb #mealpreprecipes #mealpreprecipesfortheweek #mediterraneandiet #healthybowlsrecipe

Hi there, I'm Jess!

If there’s 1 thing to know about me, it’s this: I am head-over-heels in love with food. I’m on a mission to make weeknight cooking flavorful, fast, & fun for other foodies, & PWWB is where I share foolproof recipes that deliver major flavor with minimal effort. Other true loves: pretty shoes, puppies, Grey’s Anatomy, & my cozy kitchen in Minneapolis, MN.

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Comments

  1. 6.23.20
    Rachel said:

    Made these at meatballs and loved them. Can I make them as a burger too?






    • 3.8.21
      Erin @ Plays Well With Butter said:

      Hi Rachel! So glad you loved these meatballs. We’ve never tried making these as burgers but please report back if you try! We’d just recommend using a meat thermometer & checking the internal temperature for doneness based on food safety guidelines as a burger patty will be larger. Again, if you do give it a try let us know how it goes!!

  2. 4.6.20
    Laura said:

    I love the idea of this recipe! I love lamb. I love Greek food. I love feta and olives. It’s right up my alley. Until I found out u didn’t include the recipe for the sauce! No link either. That’s ok though! I love the sauce that goes on gyros so I will include that instead. I want this recipe!

    • 4.7.20
      jess said:

      Sorry for the oversight, Laura! The Romesco sauce is seriously easy to make:

      You’ll need:
      1 12-ounce jar roasted red bell peppers, drained
      1 14-ounce can diced fire-roasted tomatoes, drained
      2 cloves garlic, smashed
      ½ cup roasted, unsalted almonds
      2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
      1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
      1 teaspoon smoked paprika
      ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
      ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

      Combine all listed ingredients in a high-speed blender. Blend until smooth & creamy. Transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Serve on errthang. Enjoy! =)

  3. 1.20.20
    R Post said:

    Hello, what is the calorie count for the meatballs?






  4. 1.16.19
    Jessica said:

    Made this last weekend and they were amazing! Do you have a recipe for the sauce? Thank you!

  5. 1.15.19
    Ashley said:

    Hi! I don’t see a link to the romesco sauce — can you include it? This looks amazing — can’t wait to make it!

  6. 1.10.19
    Jessica said:

    This looks so delish! Forgive me if I am missing it, but I don’t see the recipe for your sauce?