• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
Platings and pairings logo.
Start Here
All Recipes
Perfect Pairings
Wine Travel
About
Home

Greek Lamb Bowl with Lemon Orzo & Tzatziki Sauce

Jump to Recipe

|

Posted by:

Erin Lynch

|

Updated:

October 23, 2024

|

5 from 4 votes

This site runs ads and generates income from affiliate links. Disclosure policy.

  • Facebook
  • Flipboard
  • Email
MEDITERRANEAN LAMB BOWL PINTEREST IMAGE.

Ground Lamb Bowls with Tzatziki & Lemon Orzo are a Greek-inspired healthy dinner that’s got the flavors of a gyro sandwich, all piled into one bowl.

Overhead shot of lemon orzo dressed with tzatziki, cucumber slices, lemons and lamb.

Save This Recipe!

Enter your email address to get a link to this post conveniently in your inbox!

Save Recipe

Who’s ready for Spring? 

In particular, I’m ready to create more dishes that taste light and fresh, and feature lots of color. Enter these Greek lemon orzo bowls. Just look at the prettiness…

Hand reaching for orzo bowl.

These bowls take a bit of inspiration from gyro sandwiches. 

Gyros are traditionally made with either lamb or chicken and served on pita bread with lots of tzatziki sauce (a cucumber-yogurt sauce), a bit of lettuce and a sprinkling of tomatoes. 

I’m swapping out the pita bread for a yummy Greek lemon orzo. It’s tangy, delicious and the perfect base for all the ingredients we’re piling on top. 

I love that you can make these from start to finish in just about 30 minutes too. 

Table of Contents

  • Ingredient notes
  • What does ground lamb taste like? 
  • What spices go best with lamb? 
  • Variations
  • Can you make them ahead of time?
  • Erin’s wine pairings
  • Full Recipe

Ingredient notes

  • Ground Lamb
  • Onion & Garlic
  • Dried Cumin & Oregano
  • Olive Oil
  • For the Tzatziki Sauce: Cucumber, Greek yogurt, lemon, garlic, mint, dill & salt. Or, swap in my Creamy Feta Dressing.
  • For the Orzo: Orzo, olive oil & lemon. Or, swap in this Greek Lemon Rice.

To Garnish

  • Feta Cheese
  • Fresh Herbs – I like to use dill and mint. But you can also use flat leaf parsley.
  • Cucumbers
  • Red Onions
  • Cherry Tomatoes – Or, any fresh tomatoes that you have on hand.
  • Lemon Wedges
Overhead close up of lemon orzo with ground lamb.

What does ground lamb taste like? 

Lamb has a delicious, bold, meaty flavor that is a great addition to dishes. 

I love using ground lamb in all kinds of recipes – from these Red Wine Lamb Burgers, to Baked Feta Pasta and even these Lamb Dumplings in Spicy Ginger Broth. 

The flavor of ground lamb is super versatile and affordable too. 

I like to cook with American Lamb. Here’s why:

  1. By choosing American Lamb, you’re supporting local farmers and ranchers throughout the US.
  2. Raising lamb in the US is a family affair with more than 80,000 family owned operations.
  3. Sheep improve pasture quality by recycling vital nutrients back into the soil, minimizing erosion and encouraging plant growth.
  4. The majority of sheep in the states graze pastures for most of their lives.

What spices go best with lamb? 

A classic flavor that compliments lamb is mint. I’m especially obsessed with these Lamb Chops with Mint Mustard Sauce. However, lamb is super flexible and delicious with so many spices. Here, I’m going the Mediterranean route and adding in some garlic, oregano, dill and cumin. If you’d like to add some extra heat, you can add in some red pepper flakes or smoked paprika.

Hands holding bowl of lemon orzo with toppings.
Overhead shot of greek lamb bowl.

Variations

  • Lamb – Feel free to use your favorite cut of lamb here. You can also use ground beef or ground turkey or chicken.
  • Orzo – Feel free to swap out the orzo for my Greek Lemon Rice, plain rice, quinoa or even cauliflower rice. 
  • Tzatziki – I made the tzatziki sauce from scratch. But you can also buy it pre-made in the store (look for it near the hummus). Or, swap in my Creamy Feta Dressing.
  • Toppings – Feel free to pile on your favorite toppings. Pickled onions, hummus, sliced peppers, mushrooms, arugula and spinach all make great options! 

Can you make them ahead of time?

You sure can! These bowls are great for meal prep. Since it’s just the two of us at home, I’ll normally have a couple extra servings to enjoy lunches during the week. I just store the tzatziki separately. When I’m ready to eat, I just pop the orzo and lamb into the microwave, then top with the sauce and veggies. 

Erin’s wine pairings

  • A light fruity red wine, such as Beaujolais, won’t overpower the fresh flavors in this dish
  • A dry Rosé will also pair well with these quinoa bowls.
  • MORE → my 8 favorite lamb wine pairings.
Extreme close up of lamb bowl with toppings.

More ground lamb recipes 

  • Red Wine Lamb Burgers with Goat Cheese & Caramelized Onions
  • Baked Feta Pasta with Lamb & Calabrian Chiles
  • Lamb Dumplings in Spicy Ginger Broth
  • Lamb Stir Fry with Green Beans
  • Instant Pot Pasta with Lamb & Mint
  • More → 35+ Ground Lamb Recipes

More bowl recipes

  • Spicy Tuna Rice Bowl (5-Minute Recipe!)

    new!

    Spicy Tuna Rice Bowl (5-Minute Recipe!)

  • Cafe Yumm Sauce Recipe + How to Make a Yumm Bowl

    new!

    Cafe Yumm Sauce Recipe + How to Make a Yumm Bowl

  • Sweet Potato Buddha Bowl with Chickpeas

    new!

    Sweet Potato Buddha Bowl with Chickpeas

  • Harissa Chicken Bowls

    new!

    Harissa Chicken Bowls

  • Power Bowl Recipe

    new!

    Power Bowl Recipe

  • Spicy Shrimp Sushi Bowl

    new!

    Spicy Shrimp Sushi Bowl

Browse More Recipes

Did you try this lamb bowl recipe?

If you loved this mediterranean lamb bowl I would appreciate it so much if you would give this recipe a star review! Also, be sure to snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #platingsandpairings and tagging me @platingsandpairings.

For more great Platings and Pairings recipes, be sure to follow me on  Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and Facebook.

Be sure to check out these 30+ sides for gyros too! Plus, here’s 39+ Greek appetizers to pair with your meal.

Save This Recipe!

Enter your email address to get a link to this post conveniently in your inbox!

Save Recipe – Before Recipe Card

Overhead shot of lemon orzo dressed with tzatziki, cucumber slices, lemons and lamb.

Full Recipe

Greek Lamb Bowls Recipe

Lemon Orzo Bowls with ground lamb & tzatziki are a Greek-inspired healthy dinner that’s got the flavors of a gyro sandwich, all piled into one bowl.
5 from 4 votes
Print Pin
Serves 4 people
Created by Platings and Pairings
Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
Cook Time: 15 minutes mins
Total Time: 30 minutes mins

Equipment

  • Box Grater
  • Large Pot
  • Medium Bowl
  • Large Skillet

Ingredients

Tzatziki Sauce:

  • ½ cup cucumber (grated )
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup Greek yogurt (full-fat )
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced or grated)
  • ¼ cup fresh mint and dill leaves (chopped)
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice

Orzo:

  • 1/2 pound orzo (uncooked)
  • 1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 lemon (zested)

Lamb:

  • 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ medium onion (diced)
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced or grated)
  • 1 pound ground lamb
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

To Garnish:

  • 8 ounces feta cheese (cubed or crumbled)
  • Fresh dill
  • Fresh mint
  • Cucumbers (sliced)
  • Red onions (minced)
  • Cherry tomatoes (halved)
  • Lemon wedges

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
  • Meanwhile, make the tzatziki sauce.
  • Place cucumber in a strainer and salt it with 1 tsp kosher salt. Let it drain for 20 minutes, then press out all of the excess liquids with the back of a spoon. Combine the cucumber with the yogurt, garlic, mint, dill and lemon juice, and refrigerate until ready to serve.
  • Add the orzo to the boiling water and cook for about 10 minutes, until al dente. Drain and drizzle with olive oil. Add lemon zest and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  • While the orzo is cooking, heat 1 TBSP olive oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook until translucent, 2-3 minutes. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds longer, until fragrant.
  • Add lamb, cumin and oregano and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up with a spoon until fully cooked, about 8-10 minutes.
  • Serve over the orzo. Garnish with tzatziki, feta, fresh mint & dill, cucumbers, red onions, and tomatoes, as desired. Serve with lemon wedges on the side. Enjoy!

Notes

Make Ahead: Store the tzatziki separately. When ready to eat, just pop the orzo and lamb into the microwave, then top with the sauce and veggies.
Variations
  • Lamb – Feel free to use your favorite cut of lamb here. You can also use ground beef or ground turkey or chicken.
  • Orzo – Feel free to swap out the orzo for my Greek Lemon Rice, plain rice, quinoa or even cauliflower rice. 
  • Tzatziki – I made the tzatziki sauce from scratch. But you can also buy it pre-made in the store (look for it near the hummus). Or, swap in my Creamy Feta Dressing.
  • Toppings – Feel free to pile on your favorite toppings. Pickled onions, hummus, sliced peppers, mushrooms, arugula and spinach all make great options!

Nutrition

Calories: 787kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 47g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 19g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 136mg | Sodium: 1319mg | Potassium: 554mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 267IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 383mg | Iron: 4mg
Did you make this recipe?Mention @platingsandpairings or tag #platingsandpairings!

This lamb rice bowl post was originally published in 2022. It was updated in 2023 to add new information. The recipe remains the same. Enjoy!

  • Facebook
  • Flipboard
  • Email
5 from 4 votes (4 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Hi, I’m Erin!

Can I pour you a glass of wine? Let’s have some fun in the kitchen! Maybe some pasta? A juicy steak? I’ve got loads of yummy, easy recipes for you! Because cooking should feel as comfy as your favorite yoga pants. ♥

Know More

Follow Me on Social!

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • X
  • YouTube

Recent Recipes

  • Avocado Hot Sauce
  • Caramelized Cabbage Pasta with Pecans
  • Marry Me Beans
  • Cauliflower Potato Salad
  • Thai Quinoa Salad with Peanut Sauce
  • Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad
  • Roasted Honey Balsamic Brussel Sprouts
  • Smashed Cucumber Salad with Fresh Herbs + Chili Crisp

Dish Type

30 Minute Meals
Appetizer Recipes
Cocktail Recipes
Dessert Recipes
Healthy Recipes

Cooking Method

Air Fryer Recipes
Grilling Recipes
Instant Pot Recipes
Slow Cooker Recipes
Sous Vide Recipes

Ingredient

Beef Recipes
Chicken Recipes
Lamb Recipes
Pork Recipes
Seafood Recipes

Cocktails

Classic
Gin
Margarita
Moscow Mule
Vodka

Sides

Bread
Potatoes
Rice
Salad
Vegetables

Travel

Australia
California
Europe
Hawaii
Italy
About Me
Contact
Privacy Policy

© All Rights Reserved.

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.