Greek Stuffed Meatballs

Kasseri (kuh-SEHR-ee) are salty, sharp cheese doused with ouzo, a Greek liqueur, and lit on fire at Greek restaurants. Find them nestled inside these Mediterranean meatballs. Opa!

Greek Stuffed Meatballs
Photo: Jason Donnelly
Prep Time:
40 mins
Bake Time:
25 mins
Slow Cook Time:
3 hrs
Total Time:
40 mins
Yield:
42 meatballs

Ingredients

  • 2 eggs

  • 1 cup seasoned fine dry bread crumbs

  • ¼ cup finely chopped pimiento-stuffed green olives

  • ¼ cup finely chopped black olives

  • ¼ cup chopped flat-leaf (Italian) parsley

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

  • 1 pound lean ground beef

  • 1 pound ground lamb

  • 6 ounce kasseri or feta cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

  • 1 recipe Greek Tomato Sauce

Greek Tomato Sauce

  • ½ cup chopped onion (1 medium)

  • 1 clove garlic, minced

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 8 ounce can tomato sauce

  • ¼ cup dry red wine or beef broth

  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed

  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl beat eggs with a fork. Stir in bread crumbs, green olives, black olives, parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper. Add ground beef and ground lamb; mix until thoroughly combined.

  2. Shape meat mixture into a ball around each cheese cube, being sure to completely enclose the cheese. Arrange meatballs in a single layer in a 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Bake, uncovered, for 25 minutes. Drain well.

  3. Place meatballs in a 4- to 5-quart slow cooker. Pour Greek Tomato Sauce over meatballs in slow cooker, gently tossing to coat.

  4. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 3 to 4 hours or on high-heat setting for 1-1/2 to 2 hours. Serve immediately or keep warm, covered, on warm setting or low-heat setting for up to 2 hours. Serve with decorative toothpicks.

Greek Tomato Sauce

  1. In a medium saucepan cook onion and garlic in hot oil until tender. Stir in tomato sauce, wine, oregano, and cinnamon. Heat through.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

104 Calories
7g Fat
5g Carbs
6g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Calories 104
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 7g 9%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Cholesterol 30mg 10%
Sodium 448mg 19%
Total Carbohydrate 5g 2%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 4.1mg 21%
Calcium 40.4mg 3%
Iron 1.1mg 6%
Potassium 222mg 5%
Folate, total 8.1mcg
Vitamin B-12 0.5mcg
Vitamin B-6 0.1mg

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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