Mediterranean Salad Bowls w/ Lebanese Meatballs

Mediterranean Salad Bowls Lebanese Meatballs

Juicy, spiced Lebanese-inspired meatballs paired with a refreshing cucumber-tomato salad, fluffy pearl couscous, feta cheese, red onions, and a creamy tahini sauce for a delicious, flavorful meal. Healthy dinners do not get better than this! And it all comes together in just 30 minutes. Amazing.

I love this Mediterranean Meatball Salad recipe for easy weeknight meals or even as meal-prep lunches for the week ahead. But it’s actually also a great recipe if you’re having people over or want to gift a meal! It’s super easy to make a double or triple batch, and it’s one of those meals that looks and tastes impressive but is actually effortless to create. It’s SO good!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• 30-Minute Dinner – Quick and easy for busy weeknights. 30 minutes from start to finish, that’s it!
• 37 g Protein – I love that this meal is filling, hearty, and made with healthy ingredients.
• Flavorful – Warm spiced meatballs, crisp veggies, and a creamy, nutty sauce. Yeah, it’s goooooood.
• Gluten-Free Option – Swap the couscous for quinoa or cauliflower rice to easily make it gluten-free!
• Meal-Prep Friendly – Stores well for prepped lunches throughout the week.

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Ingredients

Lebanese Meatballs

• Grass-Fed Ground Beef – Lean ground beef is my preference, but any type of ground beef works great.
• Red Onion – Finely chopped for a hint of sweetness.
• Egg – Helps bind the meatballs together.
• Fresh Herbs – Fresh mint and parsley are an absolute must for that fresh Lebanese taste.
• Spices – Allspice, cinnamon, cumin, coriander, crushed red pepper, salt, and pepper. The perfect balance of warm, aromatic, and slightly spicy flavors.
• Garlic – Use a freshly minced garlic clove or store-bought minced garlic.

Garlic Coucous

• Pearl Couscous – Has a chewy texture and absorbs all the flavors beautifully. Swap with quinoa or brown rice for a gluten-free version!
• Garlic
• Lemon Juice – Freshly squeezed is best!
• Olive Oil
• Salt/Pepper – Simple but essential seasonings for flavorful couscous.

Mediterranean Salad

• Cucumber & Grape Tomatoes – Crisp and refreshing. I love these in Mediterranean salads!
• Red Onion – Adds a little sharpness that’s SO good.
• Fresh Herbs (Parsley or Mint) – Brings out the Mediterranean flavors. Freshly chopped or garnish on top!
• Feta Cheese – Salty, tangy, and creamy. I love feta cheese. This can be omitted for a dairy-free version!
• Toasted Pine Nuts – Optional, but totally worth it! I like to toast the pans in just a few minutes and add them over the salad bowls.

Tahini Sauce

• Greek Yogurt – Creamy and tangy. This is the perfect base for the sauce! Substitute with a plain dairy-free yogurt if needed.
• Tahini – I love the flavor that tahini adds to the sauce. It’s so good!
• Lemon Juice, Garlic, Salt & Water – Brings everything together into a smooth, delicious sauce. That fresh lemon juice with minced garlic is the perfect combo!

How to Make Lebanese Meatballs

These Lebanese Meatballs are actually super easy to make! You can add them to skewers and bake them on a baking sheet with a roasting rack, or you can always just bake them directly on the sheet pan. Either way, they’re so good!

1. Prep the Meatballs – Mix all the ingredients together, roll into 1-inch balls, and thread onto skewers.
2. Bake – Place on a lightly oiled baking sheet and bake at 375°F for about 17-20 minutes, or until cooked through.

How to Make Mediterranean Salad Bowls

1. Cook the Couscous – Simmer pearl couscous in water with garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Cover and cook for 10 minutes.
2. Make the Salad – Toss together the cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, fresh herbs, and feta.
3. Whisk the Tahini Sauce – Stir together Greek yogurt, tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and salt. Add water as needed for desired consistency.
4. Assemble the Bowls – Divide the couscous and salad into bowls, top with meatballs, drizzle with tahini sauce, and sprinkle with toasted pine nuts if using.

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Tips

• Soak bamboo skewers before starting, this keeps them from burning on the ends!
• The skewers are optional, but a fun way to present to bowls! Bake them on a baking sheet with a metal rack or you can always just bake them directly on the sheet pan.
• Fresh mint and parsley make a HUGE difference in flavor!
• If you’re meal prepping these bowls, the meatballs, salad, and tahini sauce can be prepped and stored in separate containers.
• Feel free to swap couscous for quinoa, brown rice, or cauliflower rice.
• After baking the meatballs, be sure to let them rest for a few minutes.

Variations

• Meatball Quinoa Bowls – Swap the couscous for quinoa, cooking the quinoa according to package directions. Then just mix it with the lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper for extra flavor!
• Spicy Lebanese Meatballs – Add extra crushed red pepper or a pinch of cayenne.
• Dairy-Free Option – Skip the feta (or use a diary-free feta cheese) and use plain dairy-free yogurt for the tahini sauce.
• Low-Carb Version – Serve over cauliflower rice or fresh greens instead of couscous.

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How to Store Mediterranean Meatball Salad

I love how this Mediterranean Salad Bowls w/ Lebanese Meatballs recipe can be easily stored for later or even made ahead of time! Here’s how to store these bowls:

Refrigerator – Store leftover meatballs, couscous, salad, and sauce all in separate airtight containers for up to 4 days.

Freezer – The meatballs and couscous can be frozen for up to 3 months!

Reheat – Warm the meatballs and couscous in the microwave, air fryer, or oven. Serve over a fresh salad with freshly made sauce!

More Healthy Salads

• Italian Chopped Salad
• Tandoori Paneer Salad
• Cherry Plum & Goat Cheese Summer Salad
• Sweet Potato Fennel Salad
• Peach Mozzarella Salad

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