39 Greek Recipes That Celebrate Mediterranean Cooking

Chicken Souvlaki Pitas

Tzatziki

Tzatziki is a refreshing and creamy Greek staple that goes well with everything, from pita chips to grilled meats and vegetables. Try it in a sandwich as a flavorful spread.

Moussaka

Traditional moussaka often uses lamb as the meat filling, but this twist uses ground beef. Like the Greek version of lasagna, layers of eggplant, potato and tomato make it hearty and delicious.

Spanakopita

A cheat code to add more spinach to your diet, Spanakopita features a seasoned mix of the leafy green and feta cheese stuffed between layers of crispy and flaky phyllo pastry.

Lamb Pitas with Yogurt Sauce

A slow cooker helps create this delicious lamb sandwich. If you end up with extra meat, you can freeze it. Allow the lamb mixture to cool, then place it into a freezer-safe container. When you’re ready to eat, thaw it partially in the refrigerator overnight, then heat it in a saucepan.

Baklava

This quintessential Greek dessert is a bit time-intensive, but it’s so worth it. The recipe makes four dozen triangles, so be ready to share with your friends and family.

Greek Sheet-Pan Chicken

If you love cooking dinner but hate doing dishes, this is the meal for you. The chicken thighs, peppers, artichokes and other veggies all cook in the same pan, so you’ll spend less time cooking and more time eating. This Greek salad dressing is our favorite vinaigrette to use with Greek sheet-pan chicken.

Whipped Feta Dip

Now this is a dip for when you’re really looking to impress your guests. You don’t have to tell them that it only takes 10 minutes to make.

Kourabiedes (Greek Butter Cookies)

These buttery crescent cookies dusted with confectioners’ sugar are the greatest way to end a meal. Best of all, they’ll keep for a couple of weeks in an airtight container—if they’re not gone by then.

Pastitsio

This easier version of a classic Greek recipe still requires a homemade bechamel sauce, so it’s best for intermediate cooks. To save time, don’t drain the beef or onions after you cook them. The sauce will be slightly richer, but because sirloin is lean, there shouldn’t be much fat in the pan.

Best Hummus

Sure, you could buy store-bought hummus. But when you see how easy it is to make, you’ll always want to make it from scratch. Note that most of the ingredients are pantry staples, but you will need to track down some tahini in the international aisle of your grocery store or a specialty market.

Avgolemono Soup

Whether you’re sick with a cold or just want a warm hug in a bowl, this traditional Greek soup will hit the spot. The recipe requires you to make your own chicken broth, so it’s best for a lazy afternoon. We promise it’s worth it if you have the time.

Gyros

Yes, you can make gyros without a rotisserie! Look for ground beef with 15% fat or more when you’re buying the ingredients for this recipe. The higher the fat content, the more moist the inside of the meat will be while maintaining a nice crispy outside.

White Bean Hummus

Whirl white kidney beans, lemon juice, garlic and spices in a food processor, then try not to eat the whole thing while you’re waiting for your guests to arrive. Serve with veggies, pita bread or chips.

Greek Chicken and Potatoes

Believe it or not, this showstopper requires only 10 minutes of prep time. Serve it when you really want to impress for a special occasion or Sunday night dinner.

Greek Salad

This quick and easy salad is great for lunch or dinner and goes with pretty much anything. Add croutons, chicken, avocado or chickpeas to make it even more filling.

Loukoumades

Greek recipes aren’t all savory! Also known as loukoumades, these irresistible donuts are made with honey and chopped walnuts. Mix up the dough the night before you fry them to make the process a little easier.

Greek Lentil Soup

Most Greek recipes are packed with vegetables, and this hearty lentil soup is no different. You’ll also find a surprise ingredient we don’t usually see in soup: olives! Check out our taste test to find the best olive brands.

Nana's Dolmades with Avgolemono Sauce

Dolmades aren’t the type of dish you can rush through right before dinner. They take time, but your hard work will pay delicious dividends.

Greek Beef Pitas

Our readers say the pita sandwiches are just as good if you substitute ground turkey or vegetarian crumbles. And because Greek recipes wouldn’t feel complete without them, add some olives to the mix.

Koulourakia

Of all the Greek Easter recipes, these swirly cookies might be the most fun (and simple) to make. Butter, eggs, orange juice, flour and vanilla extract join forces to create a festive, flavorful cookie you’ll want to bake year after year.

Greek Spaghetti

Imagine slurping up this summery dish al fresco on a warm night. You can even make the recipe a night or two ahead of time, then reheat it when you’re ready to serve.

Traditional Pita Bread

If your pita bread isn’t puffing up as much as you’d like, you probably aren’t heating it quickly enough. Use an oven thermometer to make sure it’s the right temperature (sometimes the oven’s sensors aren’t accurate).

Melomakarona

Bake these traditional Greek Christmas cookies during the holidays or anytime you want something sweet. The secret ingredient, cognac, is optional.

Kofta Meatballs

Serve these meatballs over rice, with pita bread or even on top of a salad. And because they take only 25 minutes to make, you can make them any night of the week. Here are more fresh mint recipes to use up any of the leftover herb.

Shrimp Saganaki

Shrimp are nestled into an aromatic, spicy tomato sauce, topped with olives and feta cheese and broiled until perfectly cooked for a great standalone appetizer or a wonderful addition to any mezze platter. Serve it with crusty bread to sop up all the delicious sauce!

Tomato Feta Salad

This simple and flavorful salad will be the hit of the barbecue thanks to its salty sweetness. You can serve it alongside pretty much anything, from tzatziki potato salad to grilled fish recipes.

Rosemary Lamb Chops

This warm and cozy winter dish gets its flavor from fresh herbs, not pounds of butter. For this recipe, ask for loin lamb chops at the meat counter.

Greek Tomato Soup with Orzo

Often, homemade soup takes hours to prepare. Luckily, this delicious soup is ready in just 25 minutes from start to finish.

Stuffed-Olive Cod

If you tend to shy away from cooking fish at home because it seems too complicated, dip your toes in with this easy, seven-ingredient fish dish. The fillets cook quickly in a skillet with the other ingredients, so it’s one of those Greek recipes that’s practically foolproof.

Greek Pita Spread

Whether they’re scooping it up with veggies, spreading it on pita bread or eating it on a bagel for brunch, your guests won’t be able to stop raving about this creamy spread. If you don’t have a large serving plate, use two pie plates.

Tzatziki Potato Salad

A jar of store-bought tzatziki sauce makes this shortcut recipe extra quick and easy. Prep it in 25 minutes, then pop it in the fridge until you’re ready to dig in.

Herb-Roasted Olives & Tomatoes

This eight-ingredient wonder is a great Greek-inspired side dish, but you could use it as a flavorful topping for pasta or chicken. Make crispy baguettes if you want to serve the recipe as an appetizer.

Tzatziki Chicken

Make this chicken in the air fryer to save some time. Just follow our directions for how to cook a chicken cutlet in the air fryer, then make the tzatziki sauce as directed.

Lima Beans

Serve these beans as a warm salad, or pulse them in a food processor and eat them as a hummus-style bean dip. With 16 grams of protein per half cup serving, you can’t go wrong.

Pork Souvlaki

A bold marinade made from olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, herbs and spices turns lean pork tenderloin into a flavorful main dish. Serve it with pita, fresh salad and cool tzatziki for a classic Mediterranean favorite.

Roasted Greek Potatoes with Feta Cheese

Feta makes everything better, and buttery roasted potatoes are no exception. If you can’t find dried oregano, a dried Italian seasoning works great too.

Greek Isle Pizza

It might not be authentic, but this is a comfort food mashup we don’t want to pass up. This delicious homemade pizza can be on the table in just 30 minutes.

Lemon and Coriander Greek Yogurt

If you’ve never made your own yogurt, now is the time to try. You’ll only need five ingredients and a little bit of patience to seriously impress your friends.

Greek Recipes FAQ

What are some popular Greek dishes?

Some popular Greek dishes include meat-heavy meals, like gyros, souvlaki and moussaka as well as mezze platters and seafood mains. Phyllo dough is used in several traditional dishes, like spanakopita and sweet baklava, to create thin buttery layers around various fillings. There are many versions of saganaki, all of which highlight Greek cheese. Dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) and fasolada (bean soup) are also delicious and common Greek dishes.

What are traditional ingredients in Greek cooking?

Real olive oil is the foundation of most Greek recipes, used with fresh fish, lamb, tomatoes, cucumber, garlic, lemon and herbs like dill, oregano and mint. Yogurt, feta cheese and olives are also some of the most traditional ingredients used in a wide range of Greek recipes.

What is a traditional Greek meal?

A traditional Greek meal has a few courses and usually starts with a mezze platter of fresh or marinated vegetables, olives, dolmades, pita bread and various dips. The main course could feature grilled meat, fish or a hearty casserole, such as moussaka, with a fresh Greek salad, rice or lemony roasted potatoes. Finish the meal with fruit like figs, grapes and apricots or a buttery pastry, like baklava.