Lamb Meatballs with Buttery Lemon Orzo

Name: Lamb Meatballs with Buttery Lemon Orzo
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Greek
Ingredients: 24 oz ground Lamb; 1 cup grated parmesan cheese; 1 tbsp minced garlic; 1 large egg; 2 tsp oregano; 1 tsp sea salt; 1 tsp black pepper; 1/2 tsp onion powder; 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes; 1/4 tsp garlic powder; 1 cup orzo pasta; 2 cups chicken stock; 2 tbsp minced garlic; 1/4 cup butter, melted; 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped; lemon zest (from 1 lemon); 1 tsp lemon juice; 1 tsp sea salt; 5 oz Greek yogurt; 1 cucumber; 1 tsp fresh dill; 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice; 1 tsp minced garlic; 1 tbsp fresh parsley; 1 tsp black pepper; 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon; 1/2 tsp sea salt

ByEric Jones posted onMay 3, 2021December 24, 2023 Updated onDecember 24, 2023

Jump to Recipe·5 from 19 reviews

These Lamb Meatballs with Buttery Lemon Orzo served with homemade Tzatziki Sauce will turn you into a lamb lover — and more so if you’re already on board. Tender, oven-baked lamb meatballs loaded with fresh rosemary, Parmesan cheese, and other spices are joined with buttery and lemony orzo pasta for a complete meal idea anytime.

If you enjoy lamb, make sure to check out my other lamb recipes including my Instant Pot Curry Australian Lamb Shanks, Greek Lamb Burger with Tzatziki Sauce, Roasted Rack of Lamb, and Red Wine Braised Leg of Lamb.

Any meal you typically enjoy with ground beef can be easily swapped with ground lamb, and that was exactly my idea when I was creating this recipe.

Herbs, lemon, and Mediterranean flavors really shine in this dish, and lamb is the perfect foundation. Australian ground lamb holds moisture and flavors very well, making every bite in this tender meatball a culinary experience.

overhead shot of lamb meatballs, orzo, and tzatziki sauce

Baked lamb meatball are awesome for any occasion or day of the week. Enjoy them solo as an appetizer and serve the Tzatziki dipping sauce on the side (very popular in Greece and neighboring countries) or turn them into a full meal, as I’ve done in this recipe.

Ingredients you’ll need to make lamb meatballs with pasta:

Australian pasture-raised lamb enhances your lamb experience with robust flavors that are not “gamey” whatsoever. Not only will you be pleasantly surprised by the taste, but you will also reap the benefits of the amount of protein it packs. The ground lamb is the main attraction of this dish, boasting flavors of minced garlic, grated Parmesan cheese, onion powder, oregano, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, salt, black pepper. Plus an egg which adds to the moisture and tenderness of the meatball.
The orzo pasta looks like rice but has the texture of pasta. It’s an ingredient I am using more and more. The orzo is cooked with chicken stock then blended with melted butter, lemon zest, fresh parsley, and of course, garlic. It’s great all by itself.
The tzatziki sauce will add some freshness to the entire dish. It combines chopped cucumber, Greek yogurt, fresh dill, fresh lemon juice, garlic, fresh parsley, salt, black pepper, and ground cinnamon.

How to make lamb meatballs with pasta:

When it’s time to create this dish, you will begin by breaking down the ground lamb and placing it inside a large bowl. Season the lamb with onion powder, oregano, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, Himalayan Pink Salt, black pepper, minced garlic, Parmesan cheese, and fold in your egg.

Mix everything well with your hands, then form them into palm-sized meatballs.

Placing lamb meatballs on baking sheet before baking in oven

Place the meatballs onto a baking sheet (paid link). Bake these meatballs at 350 degrees for 15 minutes and remove them from the oven. Note: To brown them a little more, you can broil the meatballs back in the oven for an additional 1-2 minutes.

While the meatballs are cooking, add your chicken stock to a cooking pot and bring it to a boil. Add in your orzo pasta and cook as instructed.

Add 1/2 cup parsley and 1/4 cup of butter to a cooking pan. Once the butter melts, add your minced garlic and stir until combined.

When the Orzo is finished cooking, zest one lemon into the pot and add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice over the orzo. Add your chopped parsley and melted butter mixture over the cooked orzo and stir together.

For the Tzatziki sauce, remove the skin from the cucumber, then chop into small pieces. Using a paper towel, squeeze the cucumber to remove any excess moisture. Place the cucumber in a bowl. Chop 1 tsp. of fresh dill and add to the bowl. Add your Greek yogurt, lemon juice, minced garlic, chopped dill, parsley, ground cinnamon, Himalayan Pink Salt, and black pepper to the bowl and mix.

When you take these tender meatballs out of the oven and add soft buttery orzo on your plate with fresh and bright tzatziki sauce, you know you’re going to have a fantastic meal!

If you love lamb, this lamb meatball recipe is the perfect option. The combination of lemon-buttered Orzo and tender and flavorful lamb meatballs served with homemade Tzatziki sauce is a complete meal idea that everyone will enjoy.