Spicy Garlicky Bison Meatball & Rice Bowl

Spicy, aromatic meatballs.

2-3 servings
45 minutes
Ethan Chlebowski

Ingredients

Meatballs

  • Ground bison
    450 g1 lb
  • Salt
    4 g1%
  • Garlic, minced
    3 cloves
  • Harissa paste
    50 g3 spoonfuls

Yogurt sauce

  • Yogurt
    170 g
  • Garlic Powder
    5 ga spoonful
  • Dried oregano
    2 ga spoonful
  • Lime juice
    to taste

Bowl components

  • Cooked rice
  • Tomatoes, rough chopped
  • Lettuce, thinly sliced
  • Pickled onions
  • Pickled beets

Method

Step 1: Mix & shape the meatballs

Add the ground meat, minced garlic, salt, and harissa paste to a bowl. Use your hands to mix the meat thoroughly. Stop when the meat begins to get tacky.

Shape the meatballs to your desired size. I did golf ball-size meatballs.

Preheat a pan or skillet over medium-high heat.

Step 2: Sear the meatballs

Once the cooking surface is hot, add the meatballs to the pan to .

  • Rotate the meatballs every few minutes so that you get and light on all sides. Adjust the heat as needed.

Once the meatballs have a crust on all sides, use a thermometer to check their internal temperature. Pull the meatballs off the heat when they read 140°F/60°C.

  • Meatballs take different amounts of time to cook through depending on their size and your pan.

  • Because these meatballs don’t have breadcrumbs or binders, it’s important that you don’t overcook the meatballs to keep them juicy.

If you have the time, you can prep the remaining components while the meatballs cook.

Step 3: Prep the yogurt sauce & serving components

Mix together all the yogurt sauce ingredients until smooth. If desired, you can thin the sauce with a splash of water. Taste and adjust with more lime juice or spices. Gather or chop any fresh toppings you want for the bowl.

Step 4: Plate & serve

In a bowl, warm up a serving of rice. Top with the fresh vegetables, a serving of the warm meatballs, some yogurt sauce, and pickled beets or onions as a garnish.

“This recipe is all about prepping fast, weeknight meatballs that still taste amazing and can be added to a variety of meals. Here I serve them over rice with fresh toppings, but these can be served on sandwiches, salads, pastas, rice bowls, or with flatbreads.”

Ethan Chlebowski
Creator

Watch & Cook

Nutritional Information

MEATBALLS & YOGURT
Calories1009
12g
53g
114g

Show macros split into…

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Recommended: 3 servings

FAQ

What yogurt works best for the sauce?

Any unsweetened yogurt like Greek or Icelandic yogurt. In the video, I used Whole Milk Siggi’s Yogurt. For a lower-calorie option, a non-fat yogurt works great. You could also use mayo or sour cream as substitutes.

Do I have to use bison? Can I use other kinds of ground meat?

Any ground meat can work in this recipe. Bison is a bit leaner, so something like 90/10 ground beef or ground turkey or chicken would have comparable calories & protein.