These lamb meatballs with yogurt sauce served over egg noodles are my preferred version of a “meatballs and noodles” recipe. The dish is super flavorful, and all the ingredients combine perfectly to make a dinner the whole family will love!
Why You’ll Love These Lamb Meatballs
Incredibly flavorful. The lamb is rich and savory, perfectly balanced with cool, garlicky yogurt sauce. I find it at ALDI for $6.99/lb!
Flexible protein options. Not a lamb fan? You can easily substitute ground beef or turkey with delicious results.
Three different cooking methods. Choose the one that works best for your schedule -stovetop, slow cooker, or freezer-to-slow cooker.
Perfect for busy days. Whether you’re headed to soccer practice or need a make-ahead dinner, this recipe fits real life.
Family friendly but elevated. They feel special enough for guests, but easy enough for a weeknight.
These are the kinds of easy recipes that make dinner feel doable – and still exciting.
This lamb meatballs with yogurt garlic sauce was originally posted in 2017 when my first born (now I have 4!!) was only a few months old and we took him to visit my husbands grandparents. I’ve made this recipe so so so many times I wanted to update the photos, but I didn’t want to lose that when updating this post, so here are a few photos from the Up North Wisconsin weekend:
This recipe is from my mother-in-law. My in-laws are all really great cooks (we have Sunday dinner at their house on Sundays and it’s always amazing). These meatballs with yogurt sauce are my absolute favorite thing she makes – and that’s saying a lot because there are so many amazing dishes she makes.
Click here to see the step-by-step web story instructions for this recipe!
How do you make Lamb Meatballs?
- First you preheat the oven. Then you mix lamb, breadcrumbs, eggs, onion, garlic and salt until well combined, then form into meatballs and put onto a prepared baking sheet.
- Don’t overwork the mixture with your hands.
- Keep the meat cold; firm ground meat is easier to work with, thus preventing you from over-handling it.
- Don’t overbake them, which will dry them out.
- Once they’re baked you’ll simmer them in diced tomatoes, this ensures tender meatballs!
It’s SO GOOD, and she always said how easy it was to make, so I asked her for the recipe to make it, and sure enough, these meatballs with yogurt sauce are an amazing easy recipe.
Cooking Methods: Choose Your Own Adventure
One of the best parts about this recipe is how adaptable it is. You can truly cook it the way your day demands.
Option 1: Stovetop Finish (Same-Day Dinner)
Bake the meatballs.
Transfer them to a skillet with diced tomatoes.
Simmer until tender and cooked through.
This is perfect when you’re home and want dinner ready in about 30–40 minutes.
Option 2: Slow Cooker Finish
Bake or brown the meatballs.
Add them to the slow cooker with diced tomatoes.
Cook on low for 4-6 hours.
Ideal for busy afternoons – head out to extracurriculars and come home to dinner ready and waiting.
Option 3: Freezer to Slow Cooker
Bake the meatballs and let them cool completely.
Freeze in an airtight container or bag.
When ready to use, place frozen meatballs in the slow cooker with diced tomatoes.
Cook on low until heated through and tender.
This is a lifesaver for those extra-full weeks.
One thing about my mother-in-law and cooking is that she always uses precise measurements, ingredients and cook times. It just so happened that when I was making this recipe for the first time she was at our house, watching me. I was going initially going to improvise the recipe, but under her watchful eye, that was not a possibility lol. And you know what? I’m glad I kept the recipe as is, because it’s just perfect! She said this is a Weight Watchers recipe, but I scoured the web and couldn’t find it, just know it’s a healthy and flavorful dinner recipe that needs to go on the rotation.
The lamb meatballs are baked, then simmered in diced tomatoes which makes them super tender and gives them an almost fluffy texture. The meatballs are served with a Greek yogurt and garlic sauce and over egg noodles. This is one of my favorite dinner recipes, it’s also perfect for making for meal prep/planning! I’d love to know: what is your favorite version of meatballs and noodles?
Other recipes you might enjoy:
- Lentil Cauliflower Burgers with Yogurt Sauce
- Garlic Roasted Leg of Lamb Recipe
- Lamb Chop Pitas {with spinach, feta, and yogurt}
Lamb meatballs with yogurt sauce recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs ground lamb
- 1/2 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs or plain breadcrumbs mixed with Italian 1 teaspoon dried or 1 tablespoon fresh herbs like parsley, oregano and thyme
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 medium onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic finely chopped or pressed
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 cans diced tomatoes 14.5 oz each can
Garlic yogurt sauce
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 2 cloves garlic pressed or very finely chopped
- 1 lb package wide egg noodles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly spray with cooking spray and set aside.
- Mix lamb, breadcrumbs, eggs, onion, garlic and salt until well combined, then form into meatballs and put onto the prepared baking sheet. I like to make bigger size meatballs by using a 2 tablespoon cookie scoop, but they are also great as smaller tablespoon size meatballs.
- Bake meatballs for 20 minutes.
- In a pot or pan with 2 inch sides pour diced tomatoes and place baked meatballs in the pot and allow to simmer for an hour, stirring a few times (about every 20 minutes).
- Combine Greek yogurt and 2 garlic cloves and stir, then refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Cook egg noodles according to package instructions.
- To serve: divide egg noodles into bowls, place meatballs in tomatoes on top of noodles and then a spoonful of yogurt sauce on top and enjoy!
Video
Notes
Cooking Methods: Choose Your Own Adventure
One of the best parts about this recipe is how adaptable it is. You can truly cook it the way your day demands.Option 1: Stovetop Finish (Same-Day Dinner)
- Bake the meatballs.
- Transfer them to a skillet with diced tomatoes.
- Simmer until tender and cooked through.
Option 2: Slow Cooker Finish
- Bake or brown the meatballs.
- Add them to the slow cooker with diced tomatoes.
- Cook on low for 4-6 hours.
Anne says
When you put the meatballs in the pan to simmer do you cover the pan?
Sweetphi says
Hi Anne, I just made these meatballs yesterday for dinner, such a great dish! I’ve done it both ways. So it really depends on the height of the sides of your pot. If you’re using a more shallow pot, I would put a lid on it just so it doesn’t splatter, but if you’re using a bigger pot, then no need to cover it 🙂 Either way these meatballs are amazing!
Little Cooking Tips says
If you’d add a bit cumin in these they would so resemble soutzoukakia(Smyrna meatballs)! And since we love them, we know we’re gonna LOVE this one as well! The yogurt must be PERFECT with this recipe Phi.
Thank you and you in-laws for this!
Btw you guys are SO SWEET in the photos!!!
Huge hugs!
Sweetphi says
Oh yum, I’m going to have to look up Smyrna meatballs, because these I could eat every day lol! And thank you for your photos compliment 🙂
Susan P. says
My favorite meatballs and pasta dish is Swedish meatballs over egg noodles because it reminds me of my mom. Of course, spaghetti and meatballs with homemade sauce is a family favorite.
Sweetphi says
Swedish meatballs are so yummy, totally want some now 🙂
Susie says
I used to hate “porcupine” meatballs as a kid (the kind with rice baked inside them), but I found myself craving them recently and made them – delicious! I guess my taste buds have changed over the years! But if I’m eating meatballs with noodles, I like to use the Aidell’s Italian-style meatballs – quick and easy, and I usually have a pack in the freezer! 🙂
Sweetphi says
“Porcupine” meatballs – so cute with the story behind them! Totally need to try those too, because I love meatballs!!
Sues says
I love lamb meatballs over any other kind, but never think to serve them over egg noodles! This dish looks like the perfect comfort food! Glad you had such a nice vacation 🙂
Sweetphi says
It’s truly a game changer – lamb meatballs over egg noodles are SO GOOD 🙂