This Greek Bowl Recipe is a fun way to use ground beef and explore a new flavor palate! It’s built with simple staples like Lemon Rice, Easy Greek Salad, Mediterranean flavored meat and topped with a dollop of Greek Tzatziki Sauce. It’s healthy and a great way to use up summer cucumbers and tomatoes.
A couple of my kids turned their noses up at the Easy Greek Salad I made and used as a layer in this Greek Bowl Recipe. It can be omitted entirely or another option is to just have plain chopped cucumbers and tomatoes as sides they can add if they want. Another shortcut with this recipe is to buy a store-bought tzatziki sauce instead of making your own.
I love Mediterranean flavors, and if you love them too, you’ve gotta make this Greek Bowl Recipe. The lemon, feta, and garlic really make every bite sing! Instead of a bowl, you could also serve this in a wrap or pita. YUM!
More Simple and Flavorful Dinners You Will Love
- Sheet Pan Fajitas
- Ground Beef Stroganoff
- Pesto Parmesan Chicken
- Classic Meatloaf
- Korean Beef Bowls
- The Best Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese
Step-by-step pictures for how to make and build this Greek Bowl Recipe
Frequently Asked Questions about making this Greek Bowl Recipe
Can I use ground turkey or pork in place of ground beef?
Yes, you can use any ground meat you prefer. I typically use beef because I like the flavor of it best, but I have used pork and a pork-beef mixture before too.
I don’t have RED WINE VINEGAR. what is a substitute I can use?
If you don’t have red wine vinegar, I would suggest using white vinegar, rice wine vinegar, or apple cider vinegar.
Is it okay to use bottled lemon juice or does it need to be fresh?
I don’t recommend it. The fresh lemon zing really adds to this dish. If you don’t have fresh, the only substitute I recommend is True Lemon, if you have it. You can use True Lemon and still get a fresh taste. The bottled imitation type won’t brighten the flavor the same way.
If I don’t have dried oregano is there another dried herb that would make a good substitution?
If you don’t have dried oregano, I would suggest using an Italian Seasoning Blend. Dried basil would be my next pick if you don’t have Italian seasoning.
Can I use dehydrated onions in place of the red onion?
Since this recipe has so few ingredients, the fresher you make it, the better. Dehydrated onions will work, but I would add extra because the flavor won’t be as strong. You could add some onion powder to help get the onion flavor too.
Can I use garlic powder in place of fresh garlic?
The fresh garlic really adds to the flavor. If at all possible use fresh garlic, but the bottled stuff or powder could do in a pinch. Just remember, the flavor isn’t as pronounced, so you will need to add a little extra.
Chef’s Tools:
More Ground Beef Recipes
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup diced red onion
- 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
- 1½ tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
- 1½ tbsp red wine vinegar
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp salt, scant
- ¼ tsp pepper
- Serve with:
- Lemon Rice
- Easy Greek Salad
- Tzatziki Sauce
- In a large frying pan over medium heat, brown the ground beef and diced red onion together until the meat is no longer pink.
- Add the garlic, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, oregano, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking over medium heat until juices are absorbed and meat browns. The browning gives great flavor.
- When the meat is done, build the bowls by starting with a layer of Lemon Rice, and then the meat. Next, add the Easy Greek Salad or you can just do diced cucumber and tomatoes. Finish it with a dollop of Tzatziki Sauce.
Time for Dessert
Looks and sounds really good. But where is the lemon rice. Do you have a recipe. Is this to be cooked separately or in the meat mixture
Sorry about that, I didn’t think things through with scheduling all the parts of the greek bowls. The rice recipe is scheduled for next week. Here it is for you until then.
2 cups long-grain white rice
1 cup [url:1]chicken broth[/url] (I use 1 cup water and 1 tsp chicken bullion.)
2 cups water
3 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 1/4 tsp salt
3/4 tsp garlic powder
3 tbsp butter
1/2 tsp lemon zest
Put all ingredients in a 2-quart saucepan that has a tight-fitting lid.
Bring to a boil, turn down to a simmer, place lid on pan and cook for 18-20 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed and rice is easily fluffed with a fork.
(Refrain from lifting the lid off while rice is simmering.)
Enjoy!
Going to try this on Sunday! I’m not seeing a recipe for lemon rice, though. I tried searching your blog but I don’t see anything. Am I crazy?
oops! So sorry, just realized I didn’t think the scheduling of things out all the way. That recipe is scheduled for next week. I will copy and paste it here for you.
2 cups long-grain white rice
1 cup [url:1]chicken broth[/url] (I use 1 cup water and 1 tsp chicken bullion.)
2 cups water
3 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 1/4 tsp salt
3/4 tsp garlic powder
3 tbsp butter
1/2 tsp lemon zest
Put all ingredients in a 2-quart saucepan that has a tight-fitting lid.
Bring to a boil, turn down to a simmer, place lid on pan and cook for 18-20 minutes or until all liquid is absorbed and rice is easily fluffed with a fork.
(Refrain from lifting the lid off while rice is simmering.)
Enjoy!
Yummmmmm. That is all.
Thanks Jennifer. 🙂
This sounds so good! Putting this on our dinner calendar for this week!
#novembergiveaway
😍😍😍😍😍 Thank you so so soooooo very much for the kind, generous, awesome, amazing and incredible opportunity ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽😍😍😍😍 Keeping my fingers, toes, and eyes crossed!!!!! Thank you again!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️ ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Oh Man! We can’t get enough of these Greek bowls, my husband and I just had a fight over who could take the last serving to work! Definitely making these again! YUM!
I am so happy you like them! I love the fresh flavors and that hit of citrus with the lemon! SOOO good!
This recipe is absolutely delicious! I made the lemon rice, Greek salad, and Tzatziki sauce to go with it. Tomorrow at lunch, I’ll be dipping pita chips in the leftover Tzatziki sauce. 🙂
We had these last week too and I forgot how dang good they are. So glad you like the recipe!
This was great, I used a plant based ground and served with your lemon rice. Thanks for the recipes!
Yum! I’m so glad you liked it!
These were excellent! I made all four today for my family; as expected, the kids didn’t care for the Greek salad, but they liked the meat and rice; the tzatziki was delicious! They didn’t take long to make, and my oldest son (12) was able to help me. I highly recommend!
Also, I learned that Kalamata olives have varying qualities if you get them at the grocery store. I experienced this for lack of planning. I recommend finding fresh olives as much as possible!
Thank you so much for sharing these recipes!
You are welcome! I am so glad you found the recipes and tried them. And yes, the fresher the olives the better!