The Absolute Best Juicy Mediterranean Chicken Kofta with Creamy Garlic Yogurt Sauce
The absolute best juicy Mediterranean Chicken Kofta with creamy garlic yogurt sauce is here! Tired of bland chicken dishes? I’ve made this recipe dozens of times, and the trick I discovered is using ground chicken instead of turkey for a juicier kofta. The creamy garlic yogurt sauce is the perfect complement, making this dish irresistible. Try it with my Easy Keto Beef Enchiladas for a complete meal. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Keto Beef Enchiladas and THE BEST N°1 Mediterranean One-Pot Pasta with Feta & Roasted Veggies for Meal Prep.
Why This The Absolute Best Juicy Mediterranean Chicken Kofta with Creamy Garlic Yogurt Sauce Is Pure Comfort
- Perfectly seasoned and juicy chicken kofta
- Creamy, tangy garlic yogurt sauce
- Quick and easy weeknight dinner
- Better than takeout taste
What You'll Need for The Absolute Best Juicy Mediterranean Chicken Kofta with Creamy Garlic Yogurt Sauce
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh mint
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- Optional: Chopped fresh parsley
- Optional: Crumbled feta cheese
- Optional: Lemon wedges
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Ground chicken: Using ground chicken instead of turkey makes the kofta juicier.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Meat Thermometer — Ensures perfectly cooked, juicy kofta every time. → See on Amazon
- Food Processor — Makes quick work of chopping onions, garlic, and herbs. → See on Amazon
How to Make The Absolute Best Juicy Mediterranean Chicken Kofta with Creamy Garlic Yogurt Sauce
- Prepare the kofta mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, onion, garlic, parsley, mint, breadcrumbs, egg, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Mix well, ensuring all ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Form the kofta: Using your hands, form the mixture into small, evenly sized kofta. You should have about 15-18 kofta.
- Cook the kofta: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add kofta and cook, turning occasionally, until browned and cooked through, about 8-10 minutes. Alternatively, you can grill the kofta for 8-10 minutes, turning once.
- Prepare the yogurt sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, minced garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
- Serve: Serve kofta with creamy garlic yogurt sauce, garnished with chopped fresh parsley, crumbled feta cheese, and lemon wedges.
Cook's Tips for Perfect The Absolute Best Juicy Mediterranean Chicken Kofta with Creamy Garlic Yogurt Sauce
- Common mistake and fix: Overworking the kofta mixture can make it tough. Be gentle when mixing and forming the kofta.
- Substitution tip: No fresh herbs? Substitute with 1 tbsp dried parsley and 1 tsp dried mint.
- Make-ahead tip: You can form the kofta mixture ahead of time and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Cook as directed when ready.
- Serving tip: Serve with THE BEST N°1 Mediterranean One-Pot Pasta with Feta & Roasted Veggies for Meal Prep for a complete meal.
Storing & Reheating The Absolute Best Juicy Mediterranean Chicken Kofta with Creamy Garlic Yogurt Sauce
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: You can form the kofta mixture ahead of time and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Cook as directed when ready.
Freezing The Absolute Best Juicy Mediterranean Chicken Kofta with Creamy Garlic Yogurt Sauce
Freeze cooked kofta for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C), place kofta on a baking sheet, and reheat for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat kofta in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: Using ground chicken instead of turkey makes the kofta juicier.
- Best substitution: No fresh herbs? Substitute with 1 tbsp dried parsley and 1 tsp dried mint.
- Make-ahead: You can form the kofta mixture ahead of time and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Cook as directed when ready.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your kofta are falling apart, add more breadcrumbs to the mixture. If they're too dry, add a little water or milk.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-quality non-stick skillet — Ensures perfectly cooked, evenly browned kofta without sticking. → Check price on Amazon
The Absolute Best Juicy Mediterranean Chicken Kofta with Creamy Garlic Yogurt Sauce
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh mint
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Seasonings
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
Optional Toppings
- Chopped fresh parsley
- Crumbled feta cheese
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Prepare the kofta mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, onion, garlic, parsley, mint, breadcrumbs, egg, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Mix well, ensuring all ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Form the kofta: Using your hands, form the mixture into small, evenly sized kofta. You should have about 15-18 kofta.
- Cook the kofta: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add kofta and cook, turning occasionally, until browned and cooked through, about 8-10 minutes. Alternatively, you can grill the kofta for 8-10 minutes, turning once.
- Prepare the yogurt sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, minced garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
- Serve: Serve kofta with creamy garlic yogurt sauce, garnished with chopped fresh parsley, crumbled feta cheese, and lemon wedges.
Notes
- Chef tip: Using ground chicken instead of turkey makes the kofta juicier.
- Best substitution: No fresh herbs? Substitute with 1 tbsp dried parsley and 1 tsp dried mint.
- Make-ahead: You can form the kofta mixture ahead of time and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Cook as directed when ready.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your kofta are falling apart, add more breadcrumbs to the mixture. If they're too dry, add a little water or milk.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked kofta for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C), place kofta on a baking sheet, and reheat for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat kofta in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through.
- Make ahead: You can form the kofta mixture ahead of time and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Cook as directed when ready.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 220
- Protein: 20g
- Fat: 12g
- Carbs: 8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Cholesterol: 80mg
- Sat. Fat: 3g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
The Absolute Best Juicy Mediterranean Chicken Kofta with Creamy Garlic Yogurt Sauce FAQs
Yes, you can form the kofta mixture ahead of time and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Cook as directed when ready.
If your kofta are falling apart, add more breadcrumbs to the mixture. If they're too dry, add a little water or milk.
Yes, you can freeze cooked kofta for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Yes, you can cook the kofta in the air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for 8-10 minutes, turning once.
The best way to reheat kofta is in the oven at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes, or in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try The Absolute Best Juicy Mediterranean Chicken Kofta with Creamy Garlic Yogurt Sauce and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
