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Easy Turkish Meatball Recipe

These flavorful Turkish meatballs, known as köfte, are made with ground beef, onions, garlic, and warm spices like cumin and paprika. They're quick to prepare, baked to perfection, and perfect for serving with rice, pita, or a fresh salad.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4
Cuisine: Chinese
Calories: 120
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20)
  • 0.5 cup finely chopped onion
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 0.25 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • 0.5 cup breadcrumbs
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper

Method
 

Steps
  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, chopped onion, minced garlic, parsley, breadcrumbs, egg, cumin, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
  3. Mix gently with your hands until just combined. Do not overmix to keep the meatballs tender.
  4. Roll the mixture into 16 equal-sized balls, about 1.5 inches in diameter.
  5. Place the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each.
  6. Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and reach an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).
  7. Let rest for 2–3 minutes before serving. Enjoy warm with rice, yogurt sauce, or in pita bread.

Notes

For a spicier version, add 0.25 tsp of red pepper flakes. These meatballs can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 2 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat in the oven at 350°F until warmed through.