Mediterranean Ground Beef Pita Pockets Recipe
A flavorful Mediterranean-inspired recipe featuring spiced ground beef stuffed into warm pita pockets, topped with fresh vegetables and creamy tzatziki sauce. Perfect for a quick and satisfying lunch or dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients
Scale
Beef 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
Pita Pocket Fillings
- 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 Aromatics: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add finely chopped onion and minced garlic, sautéing until they become soft and fragrant.
- Cook Ground Beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet, breaking it apart with a spoon. Cook until browned and fully cooked through, ensuring no pink remains.
- Season Meat: Stir in ground cumin, ground paprika, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking for another 2 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. Remove from heat.
- Warm Pitas: Warm the pita pockets in a toaster or preheated oven until soft and pliable for easy stuffing.
- Prepare Pita Pockets: Carefully cut each pita in half to form pockets that can be filled.
- Assemble Pita Pockets: Fill each pita pocket generously with the cooked ground beef mixture. Top with diced cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, and chopped fresh parsley for a fresh crunch.
- Add Tzatziki: Drizzle 1/2 cup of tzatziki sauce over the fillings inside each pita pocket just before serving to add creamy, tangy flavor.
Notes
- For a leaner option, use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef.
- You can add a squeeze of lemon juice to the vegetables for extra freshness.
- Serve with a side of Greek salad or roasted vegetables to make a complete Mediterranean meal.
- Leftover beef mixture can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated for easy lunches.
Keywords: Mediterranean ground beef, pita pockets, tzatziki, easy lunch, healthy dinner, Middle Eastern flavors
