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Chicken Shawarma Meatballs

Updated August 3, 2025 / By Holly Erickson & Natalie Mortimer

Well, friends. It’s been at least 15 minutes since we last shared a meatball recipe, and so it’s time for yet another incredibly delicious meatball recipe! Meet chicken shawarma meatballs!

chicken shawarma meatballs on a blue plate shown with roasted red peppers, onions, cucumbers, tahini and tzatziki sauce.

Ode To Meatballs

There are so many reasons to love meatballs, and we’ve probably covered them all more than a few times here on TMP because we’ve shared so many meatball recipes. Because we love meatballs! But forgive us, OK, because we’re going to go over a few of the reasons we love meatballs again. We love them because:

  1. They’re the ideal way to pile tons of flavor into a single bite. Cross referencing our Meatball Shakshuka recipe as proof.
  2. Meatballs are so easy to make ahead and freeze (and we’ll walk you through how to freeze these ground chicken meatballs later).
  3. Meatballs are fun to eat! That means that the kids in our lives and yours will be (sometimes) more willing to eat them!
  4. Meatballs—especially chicken meatballs like these—are pretty darn healthy. Paired with a couple of veggie side dishes, they make for a simple, flavorful, healthy dinner that is easy to love. For more meatball recipe ideas, check out our favorite Meatball Recipes!
ingredients for chicken meatballs including ground chicken, red onions, bread crumbs, eggs, bell peppers, onions and spices.

What’s In Chicken Shawarma Meatballs?

These tender, generously-spiced chicken meatballs are seasoned within an inch of their life. That means they’re not even close to being in danger of being the dreaded ground chicken thing: bland. Nope. Fragrant and savory, they’re anything but bland. Serve with Falafel and you’re in for a real treat. Here’s what’s in our baked chicken meatball recipe:

  • Ground chicken
  • Bread crumbs
  • Milk
  • Eggs
  • Garlic
  • Onion
  • Cumin
  • Turmeric
  • Cinnamon
  • Paprika
  • Garlic powder
  • Onion powder
ground meat, bread crumbs, eggs and spices in a bowl for chicken shawarma meatballs
ground meat with spices in a glass bowl for chicken shawarma meatballs
raw chicken shawarma meatballs shown on a baking sheet
raw chicken shawarma meatballs with red onions and bell peppers on a baking sheet

How To Make Chicken Meatballs

The best chicken meatballs start with good quality ground chicken, and from there your main job is to add lots of flavor (see: all the spices) and a few other ingredients to help them stay moist and tender. Here’s how to work some chicken meatball magic:

  1. Start with what we affectionately refer to as “the onion trick”. Grate an onion to a pulp using a cheese grater (laborious) or food processor (much easier), then plop the onion pulp in a kitchen towel and squeeze out all the liquid.
  2. Use your hands to gently mix the ground chicken, eggs, bread crumbs, milk, spices and squeezed-out onion pulp. Mix until it’s just combined, and try to have a light touch. Overmixing is the path to tough meatballs.
  3. Time for the “water trick”! Place a little bowl full of water next to you, and wet your hands as you roll the meatballs. It’ll help keep the meat from sticking to your palms.
  4. Pop the chicken meatballs in the oven to bake—400°F for 25 minutes and....
  5. Dinner is done! We love to make a Middle Eastern feast of it and serve these chicken shawarma meatballs with hummus, falafel, tzatziki sauce, Mediterranean meatballs, muhammara and / or tahini sauce.
Baked chicken shawarma meatballs shown on a baking sheet with bell peppers and red onions.

Tools You’ll Need:

chicken shawarma meatballs shown on a blue plate with herbs and vegetables
chicken shawarma meatballs shown on a plate drizzled with tahini sauce

More Chicken Meatball Recipes to Try

We’re chicken meatball fanatics, and you should be one, too! Here are a few more of the very best chicken meatball recipes, ever:

chicken shawarma meatballs on a blue plate with small bowls of tzatziki, tahini and cucumbers.

Don’t Chicken Out!

If you try these chicken shawarma meatballs, let us know how it goes, OK? Share a photo and tag us on Instagram using @themodernproper and #themodernproper so that we can see your stuff! Happy eating!

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Chicken Shawarma Meatballs Recipe

  • Serves:  6
  • Prep Time:  20 min
  • Cook Time:  20 min
  • Calories:  375
Print Recipe

Description

Well, friends. It’s been at least 15 minutes since we last shared a meatball recipe, and so it’s time for yet another incredibly delicious meatball recipe! Meet chicken shawarma meatballs!

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds ground chicken
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs
  • ¼ cup whole milk
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ medium yellow onion, grated
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground tumeric
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ red onion, cut into ½-inch-thick slices
  • 1 red bell pepper, cut into ½-inch-thick strips
  • Extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing
  • Fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves, minced

For serving

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F with a rack in the center position.

  2. Add the grated onion to a thin kitchen towel or nutbag. Gather the towel around the onion and squeeze out as much liquid as possible over the sink. 

  3. In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, eggs, breadcrumbs, milk, garlic, grated onion, salt, turmeric, cinnamon, cumin, paprika, garlic powder and onion powder. 

  4. Mix well, then with wet hands, form meatballs (about 2 tablespoons each) and arrange on an oiled, rimmed baking sheet pan. You should have about 24 meatballs.

  5. Arrange the red onion and bell peppers on the sheet pan between the meatballs. Brush the meatballs and vegetables with olive oil.

  6. Bake until the internal temperature of the meatballs reaches 165°F on an instant-read thermometer, about 20 minutes. 

  7. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve with hummus, tzatziki, tahini sauce, pita, and cucumbers alongside.

Nutrition Info

  • Per Serving
  • Amount
  • Calories 375
  • Protein 35 g
  • Carbohydrates 22 g
  • Total Fat 16 g
  • Dietary Fiber 2 g
  • Cholesterol 182 mg
  • Sodium 668 mg
  • Total Sugars 4 g

Chicken Shawarma Meatballs

Questions & Reviews

Rated 4.9 stars by 10 readers

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  • Sera

    I see that the milk is optional. What does it do to the consistency of the meatball using it versus not? Thank you!

    The milk adds more moisture so you will end up with moister meatballs but for those with milk allergies or lactose intolerant the meatballs will cook up just fine without the milk. Hope you enjoy Sera!

  • Rachel

    5-star rating

    Holy cow!! These were amazing!! Filing these for a often repeatable weeknight dinner.

    Thanks Rachel, we are so glad you loved it!

  • Nick

    5-star rating

    Delicious and easy to make. Didn’t use milk and they were still moist and tender. Thanks for another great recipe!

    Thanks Nick, so happy you loved them!

  • Ashley

    5-star rating

    AMAZING. We were pleasantly surprised with how yummy these meatballs were! The sauces were great and the meatballs were light and filling!

    Thanks Ashley, we are so happy you loved them!

  • L

    5-star rating

    SO delicious and easy!! I left the milk out for a friend’s diet and they were still very moist. I used ground turkey which was on sale and would do that again. I’m going to stock these in the freezer for a quick meal. This summer I’ve been cooking most of our dinner from your website and your cookbook, and they’ve ALL been great! Thank you!

    Thank you L! That is so wonderful to hear, we are so happy you are enjoying our recipes!

  • Mark

    4-star rating

    I liked them, however, I think the next time I will use less cumin. It definitely needed the milk. I did them on the grill

    Thanks Mark, we are glad you enjoyed them!

  • Shay

    5-star rating

    Delicious and low fuss

    Thanks Shay, so glad you enjoyed this one!

  • Mary

    5-star rating

    Made as written, served in pitas. Easy, loved them. Maybe cutting back on cumin next time.

    Thanks Mary, we are so happy you enjoyed them!

  • Laura

    5-star rating

    Great meal! I needed two cookie sheets - would recommend doubling the veggies. Paired it with cucumbers, tzatziki & naan. Everyone was happy.

    Thanks Laura, so happy it was a hit!

  • bane

    5-star rating

    these have become a staple i make at least once a month

    This is so great to hear, thank you Bane! Glad you love them!

  • Mallory

    5-star rating

    So good! I can't wait to make these again!!

    Yay!

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