Mediterranean Ground Beef Pita Pockets Recipe
Delicious and hearty Mediterranean Ground Beef Pita Pockets filled with spiced ground beef, fresh vegetables, and creamy tzatziki sauce. This easy and flavorful recipe brings a taste of the Mediterranean to your table, perfect for a satisfying lunch or dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients
Scale
For the Meat Filling
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
For the Pita and Toppings
- 4 pita pockets
- 1 cup diced cucumber
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup diced red onion
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/2 cup tzatziki sauce
Instructions
- Sauté Onion and Garlic: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and minced garlic, sautéing until softened and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
- Cook Ground Beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet, using a spoon to break it apart. Cook thoroughly until browned and no longer pink, about 7-8 minutes.
- Season Meat: Stir in the ground cumin, ground paprika, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking for another 2 minutes to allow the spices to meld with the beef. Remove skillet from heat.
- Warm Pita Pockets: Warm the pita pockets using a toaster or oven to make them pliable and soft for stuffing, about 2-3 minutes.
- Prepare Pita Pockets: Carefully cut each pita in half to form pocket openings.
- Assemble Pita Pockets: Fill each pita half with the cooked spiced ground beef mixture.
- Add Fresh Vegetables: Top the beef-filled pitas with diced cucumber, diced tomatoes, diced red onion, and chopped fresh parsley for added freshness and crunch.
- Drizzle with Tzatziki: Finish by drizzling each stuffed pita with creamy tzatziki sauce just before serving for a tangy and cooling contrast.
Notes
- You can substitute ground lamb or turkey for the beef to vary the flavor.
- For extra heat, add a pinch of red chili flakes when seasoning the beef.
- If tzatziki sauce is unavailable, plain Greek yogurt mixed with cucumber and garlic makes a great alternative.
- To make this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free pita or flatbread.
- Leftover beef mixture can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Keywords: Mediterranean, ground beef, pita pockets, tzatziki, easy dinner, healthy lunch, quick recipe
