Traditional Greek Keftedes (Authentic Greek Meatballs)
Juicy, Flavorful Greek Meatballs Made with Baba’s Sunday Blend
Nothing says Sunday dinner in a Greek home quite like a platter of homemade keftedes. Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and seasoned with the warm, savory spices that have been passed down through generations, these traditional Greek meatballs are Greek comfort food at its finest.
Baba’s Sunday Blend makes it easier to bring those familiar Greek flavors to your table without measuring a cabinet full of individual spices.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
✔ Authentic Greek family-inspired flavor
✔ Ready in under 45 minutes
✔ Perfect for weeknight dinners or Sunday family meals
✔ Crispy outside and juicy inside
✔ Great for meal prep and leftovers
✔ Made easy with Baba’s Sunday Blend
✔ Delicious served with our easy 20-minute Greek tomato sauce
Ingredients
For the Keftedes
- 2 lbs ground beef (80/20)
- 1 small yellow onion, finely grated
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup plain breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup whole milk
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, finely chopped (optional)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
For Frying or Baking
- Fry in Olive oil or vegetable oil until golden brown or;
- Bake at 375degrees for 20 minutes.
Instructions
Step 1 – Prepare the Meat Mixture
In a large mixing bowl, combine:
- Ground beef
- Baba’s Sunday Blend
- Onion
- Garlic
- Eggs
- Breadcrumbs
- Milk
- Parsley
- Olive oil
Season lightly with salt and pepper.
Mix gently until everything is just combined.
Do not overmix. Overworking the meat can make your keftedes dense instead of tender and juicy.
Step 2 – Let the Mixture Rest
Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
This allows the breadcrumbs to absorb the moisture while giving the flavors of Baba’s Sunday Blend time to work their way throughout the meat.
Step 3 – Form the Keftedes
Using damp hands, roll the mixture into meatballs approximately 1½ inches in diameter, or roughly golf-ball sized.
Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet until ready to cook.
Step 4 – Cook
Traditional Method
Heat about ½ inch of oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Cook the keftedes in batches for approximately 4–5 minutes per side, turning as necessary until evenly browned and cooked through.
The internal temperature should reach 160°F (71°C).
Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
Oven Method
For an easy alternative, arrange the keftedes on a parchment-lined sheet pan.
Bake at 400°F (205°C) for 18–20 minutes, or until browned and the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
The Baba’s Shortcut: Easy Greek Tomato Sauce
Here’s where Baba’s Sunday Blend can make Greek cooking incredibly simple.
We recently discovered that you can take a good-quality jar of tomato sauce and give it the warm, savory-sweet flavor of a traditional Greek-style sauce in about 20 minutes.
You’ll Need
- 1 jar (approximately 25 oz) good-quality tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon Baba’s Sunday Blend
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Simply combine and simmer.
Add the tomato sauce, Sunday Blend and olive oil to a saucepan.
Stir together and cook over medium to medium-low heat for approximately 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
That's it.
The Sunday Blend brings the warm spices and savory flavors associated with traditional Greek cooking into an everyday tomato sauce without requiring you to measure multiple individual seasonings or spend hours developing the flavor.
Add your cooked keftedes to the sauce and allow them to simmer together for a few minutes before serving.
Traditional Greek flavor. Made simple.
Serving Suggestions
Serve your keftedes with:
- Greek lemon potatoes
- Homemade tzatziki
- Horiatiki (Greek village salad)
- Warm pita bread
- Rice pilaf
- Crumbled feta cheese
- Baba’s easy Greek tomato sauce
Serve them as an appetizer, make them the centerpiece of Sunday dinner, or simmer them in tomato sauce for a hearty Greek family meal.
Baba’s Tip
For even deeper flavor, prepare the meat mixture the night before and refrigerate it overnight. This gives Baba’s Sunday Blend plenty of time to season the meat throughout.
And don't forget the sauce: 1 tablespoon Sunday Blend + 1 tablespoon olive oil + a 25-ounce jar of tomato sauce is one of the easiest ways we've found to bring the flavors of the Greek kitchen to the table.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use ground lamb?
Absolutely. Ground lamb or a combination of beef and lamb works beautifully with Baba’s Sunday Blend and gives the keftedes a richer flavor.
Can I bake instead of fry?
Yes. Baking produces a lighter version and makes preparing a large batch especially easy.
Can I freeze keftedes?
Yes. Cooked keftedes freeze beautifully for up to three months. Thaw and reheat them in the oven or gently simmer them in tomato sauce.
What makes Greek meatballs different?
Greek keftedes get their distinctive character from a combination of fresh herbs, onion, garlic, olive oil and seasonings. Depending on the family and region, recipes can vary considerably.
Baba’s Sunday Blend was created to make achieving that familiar Greek flavor easier and more consistent.
What else can I make with Baba’s Sunday Blend?
Sunday Blend was created for the warm, comforting dishes of the Greek family table. Try it in moussaka, pastitsio, kapama, keftedes, Greek meat sauces, tomato sauces, stewed beef and roasted meats.
Shop the Recipe
Baba’s Sunday Blend
The flavors of the Greek Sunday table — made simple.
Baba’s Sunday Blend brings together the warm, savory seasonings associated with some of our favorite Greek comfort foods in one easy-to-use blend.
Instead of pulling multiple spices from the cabinet and trying to recreate the right balance every time, we’ve done the seasoning work for you.
Perfect for:
- Keftedes
- Moussaka
- Pastitsio
- Kapama
- Greek tomato sauce
- Greek meat sauce
- Stewed beef
- Roasted meats
🇬🇷 Traditional Greek flavor. Made simple.