16 Mediterranean Beef Recipes You'll Fall in Love With (2024)

Got some beef to cook but stuck in a bit of a rut and need some inspiration?

Whether you’re looking to sear a juicy steak, make a mouthwatering burger or a simmering beef stew, these Mediterranean dishes are a different take on what you normally eat (but still just as delicious).

Pulled from all the different Mediterranean cuisines like Turkish, Greek, Middle Eastern and Italian, these recipes will take your cooking to the next level.

Our best beef recipes will mean that no matter what ingredients you have on hand, you can eat a truly hearty and filling meal every day of the week.

Mediterranean Quinoa Bowls

This Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl is such a colorful and flavorful weeknight dinner.

These gorgeous tastes and flavors come from seasoned ground beef, grilled veggies, garlicky quinoa and the extras like feta and spinach.

Best of all, it comes together in 30 minutes or less.

To make it simply involves cooking the quinoa with some butter and crushed garlic until fluffy and fragrant. Whilst that is all happening, you make a tangy red wine vinaigrette with red wine, olive oil, salt and a pinch of dried oregano.

Then just brush the veggies with olive oil, season and lightly grill, or just roast in the oven on a baking tray. Finally, brown the ground beef with oregano and red pepper flakes for a flavorful, protein-rich addition.

Aside from its amazing taste, this recipe offers many health benefits. Quinoa is a nutritious ancient grain that provides fiber, magnesium, and phosphorus. The colorful veggies offer a slew of different vitamins and minerals, while the beef adds protein and iron.

This delicious and healthy Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl is quick to prepare, packed with flavor, and offers a range of health benefits. Try it for dinner tonight and enjoy a satisfying and nutritious meal!

Get the recipe here.

Chickpea Moussaka

This chickpea moussaka uses a different cooking method to the traditional moussaka and replaces the eggplant with chickpeas, but the end result is still a comforting and satisfying dish.

It simply involves sauteeing some onions and garlic, browning the mince and then adding the canned tomatoes, tomato puree and cinnamon for a touch of sweetness and letting that simmer for a while, before adding the canned chickpeas.

Finish off with some goat’s cheese that melts into the dish and some extra mint for some extra freshness and everything is done!

If you’re looking for a hearty, high-protein meal, then this is it. I also love serving this with some crusty bread to mop up all the juices.

It isn’t quite as traditional, but when the end result is like this, sometimes its okay to cheat a little!

Get the recipe here.

Gyro Meat (Greek Meat)

This homemade Gyro meat is a flavorful blend of ground beef, ground lamb, and a variety of seasonings, cooked in the oven and thinly sliced.

It’s the quintessential way to cook like a Greek and get those Greek gyros at home. Cook it right and the resulting juicy, fragrant gyro meat rivals what you can get at your local Greek restaurant.

The cooking process involves pulsing red onions in a food processor, adding ground beef, ground lamb, garlic, herbs, and spices to the minced red onion, processing it again, and then packing the meat mixture into a loaf pan.

Then simply bake for about 50-60 minutes until the meat insides are cooked, leave cool and mission complete!

Traditional Greek flavors like oregano, marjoram, thyme, and garlic make for a fragrant gyro meat, and the combination of ground beef and lamb adds richness and depth of flavor.

If you’ve been craving a delicious gyro, this recipe is perfect for you. It’s easy to make, full of authentic Greek flavors, and a budget-friendly alternative to eating out.

Get the recipe here.

Beef Tagliata

Beef Tagliata is an Italian dish that comes right from the heart of Tuscany, where beef is king.

It is a very famous Italian second course. It is simply a quick pan-fried or grilled beef steak cut into very thin slices.

This recipe brings the rich flavors of Tuscany to your kitchen; it’s like having a little piece of the Italian countryside on your grill.

Let’s talk about the steak. Try and use a rump, ribeye, flank, or T-bone. If you can, make sure whatever cut you use is high-quality. Grass-fed beef in particular has a depth of flavor that just can’t be replicated.

With its rich flavors, this is the perfect meal to impress your guests. Serve alongside a summery vegetable dish or a hearty grain for a delicious complete meal.

Get ready to give your taste buds and health the gift of good food.

Get the recipe here.

Turkish Meatballs (Beef Kofta Recipe)

You can never go wrong with meatballs, particularly when they are these scrumptious Turkish Beef Kofta meatballs. If you have friends over, you need to make these!

Although these are for Turkish-style meatballs, similar recipes come from all around Western Asia and Eastern Europe.

They use a mix of ingredients like ground beef, onions, eggs, white bread, and parsley and spices like garlic, cumin, coriander, and Turkish red pepper flakes.

You just need to form the meat mixture into little balls and either fry or bake them. They are traditionally fried, but since we’re always pushing a healthy Mediterranean-style diet, you can cut down the fat by baking – and it’s just as juicy and tender.

The garlic and Turkish red pepper flakes give these meatballs a mild, aromatic kick, while fresh parsley adds herbaceous depth. If you desire, you can add other kinds of ground meat, such as lamb or chicken, for a varied and delicious flavor.

If you’re stumped on a new dinner recipe, these Turkish Meatballs are calling your name. With minimal effort, you’ll bring a taste of the Mediterranean right into your kitchen.

Get the recipe here.

Mediterranean Beef Kebabs

These beef kebabs are like summer on a stick with their rainbow of veggies and succulent steak bits. Whenever I bring out the BBQ and want the occasional piece of beef, these are often in the rotation!

The marinade gives the rich steak a hit of zesty lemon and earthy herbs, and the veggies are tender, with a hint of sweetness and smokiness from the grill.

Beyond its flavor value, this recipe is loaded with healthy goodness! Bell peppers are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, while zucchini offers vitamin A and potassium. If you want to add more veggies, you can easily adjust the quantities and simply use a little less meat.

If you want to bring the Mediterranean flavors to your BBQ or summer dinner, then this is the recipe to try.

Get the recipe here.

Bamia (Mediterranean Okra Stew)

Okra is a thoroughly underrated vegetable. Some despise its slimy texture, but this is exactly what makes it a perfect thickener for soups and stews.

This okra and beef stew is comforting and rich, perfect for any season.

To make this is really easy. First, grab a large pot and sauté onions in some olive oil. Then add the garlic, carrots, beef and ground lamb and get the meat nice and brown.

Then add in the spices, tomatoes, and water, then let it simmer till the meat is tender. Finally, add the okra and lemon juice to the mix and cook until the okra is just right, which is about ten minutes.

This soup is a divine and savory blend with a hint of sweetness from the allspice. The earthiness from the okra is balanced beautifully by the zesty lemon juice.

This stew is easy to pull together on a weeknight or the perfect dish for a big gathering. Its comforting flavor profiles make both your belly and your heart content.

Get the recipe here.

Greek-Style Beef And Cheese Tortellini Skillet

I can’t get enough of this Greek-Style Beef and Cheese Tortellini Skillet. Luckily it comes together in less than 30 minutes and requires barely more than pantry staples.

Whip this up by cooking cheese tortellini according to package instructions and, at the same time in a separate pan, browning ground beef with some onion and garlic.

Toss the zucchini and beef in with your drained tortellini, then add marinara sauce, a splash of white wine, and seasonings (if you’d rather skip the wine, water works fine here too).

Let it simmer for a few minutes (though be careful not to overcook your pasta), and finish it off with fresh tomatoes, feta cheese, olives, and basil.

The saltiness of feta and olives, the earthiness of herbs, and the rich, comforting taste of beef and pasta make this skillet a crowd-pleaser.

One-skillet recipes are always a favorite – who wants all the dishes afterward? But if you can get a flavor-packed, healthy and quick meal all in one, that’s just about perfect, right?

Get the recipe here.

Soutzoukakia Me Patates (Greek Meatballs with Potatoes)

Once you try this for the first time, you’ll always be craving these aromatic Greek meatballs paired. They are paired with some roasted potatoes in a divine tomato sauce.

It’s simply a comforting and wholesome Greek dinner that will satisfy everyone – you won’t be hearing any complaints after everyone gobbles up what’s left!

To make, you start by seasoning some potato wedges with olive oil, oregano, salt and pepper. Pour over a herby tomato sauce (something like a basil tomato sauce works perfectly) and bake for about 30 minutes.

Whilst they are cooking away, mix some ground beef with breadcrumbs, milk, egg, onion, garlic, parsley, mint, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to form the soutzoukakia (meatballs). Place these on top of the potatoes and continue baking for another 50-60 minutes.

The meatballs will come out of the oven warm, fragrant, and juicy with the herbaceous tomato sauce. The tender potatoes act like a sponge and absorb all the flavors of the meatballs and sauce.

So if you’re ready for a Greek Mediterranean flavor bonanza that brings the family together, this is the recipe. Enjoy! Or as they say in Greece, Kali orexi!

Get the recipe here.

Sicilian Beef Braciole Recipe (No Sauce)

Braciole is traditionally a thin cut of meat like beef wrapped around bread, raisins, pine nuts and cheese and cooked in tomato sauce. That sounds delightful, but we’re going for something a little different here.

This Sicilian Beef Braciole is a refreshing, healthy twist on the usual beef braciola which swaps the heavy tomato sauce for a light, crispy, sauceless version.

Start by slicing and tenderizing the beef until it is very thin. Then, coat the beef in a salty breadcrumb mixture of Parmesan, garlic, and basil.

If you want, you can add a slice of cheese (like provola or mozzarella) to the roll of beef. Pop the rolled beef onto skewers, and bake them to crispy perfection.

The flavors here are showstoppers. The exterior is crispy with hints of garlic and basil, while the interior is succulent, melt-in-your-mouth beef with gooey cheese.

If you’re looking to wow at your next get-together, these Sicilian Beef Braciole bites are like a joyride for your palate.

Get the recipe here.

Easy Kafta (Beef Kafta Sandwich or Bowl)

This Kafta recipe is a twist on the classic Lebanese dish that’s simple and versatile.

This kafta uses ground beef mixed with garlic, onion, and fragrant spices to create a tantalizing weeknight protein option served either in a bun like a hotdog or in a bowl with rice.

The kafta is made of beef, garlic, onion and spices like dried parsley, ground coriander, ground cumin and allspice and is formed into log-like shapes.

The yogurt sauce it comes with is made up of lemon, Greek yogurt, oregano, salt, and pepper. Together, tangy This tangy sauce will provide the perfect counterpart for the rich kafta.

It’s super versatile and has so many options. You can serve it in a bun like a hotdog or serve it on a plate of rice if you want to add some extra carbs and a full meal. Or even on a plate of salad for a really healthy main dish.

No matter what you pair them with, the end result is still the same – deliciousness personified.

Get the recipe here.

Italian Creamy Beef Ragu Recipe

I adore this Italian Creamy Beef Ragu recipe, known in Italy as pasta alla Montecarlo. The rich flavors are just the thing to warm me up on a cold winter night, and it comes together in less than an hour!

Start by sautéing finely chopped onion, carrots, and celery in olive oil. Toss in the ground beef. When the beef is nice and brown, pour in a splash of white wine, let it sizzle, then stir in tomato passata.

Let this goodness simmer for 30-40 minutes. Finally, stir in fresh cream and basil pesto, and toss it with your favorite pasta; shorter pasta shapes like penne work best here.

This pasta dish is creamy, herby, and has just the right amount of umami tomato and beef richness to keep you and your family coming back for more.

The basil pesto adds a vibrant kick to the sauce to balance out the heaviness of the cream and meat.

This comforting dish will have everyone begging for seconds!

Get the recipe here.

Et Sote (Turkish Beef Saute In Tomatoes)

While sometimes translated as “beef sauté,” Et Sote owes more of its flavor to the long simmer of beef in sauce. It is a very popular dish in Turkish cuisine and is essentially a beef stew in tomatoes.

It makes for a proper comfort meal, meaning it is usually served during the winter months in Turkey, but it’s so delicious you may find yourself making it all year round!

Serve the Et Sote with a crusty loaf of bread, rice, or bulgar. Or if you want to skip the grains, you could accompany this rich stew with a bright salad of garden-fresh vegetables and a tangy vinaigrette.

It is full of veggies like bell peppers and tomatoes already, making it a great dish to get some more veggies into your diet, but you can reduce the amount of butter to make it even healthier.

However you serve it, this is a delicious meal that will leave your guests begging for the recipe.

Get the recipe here.

Greek Burgers

These Greek burgers will steal your heart with a combination of Mediterranean flairs and the classic burger flavors.

The Mediterranean flair comes from the homemade tzatziki sauce and fresh Greek salad topping. The tzatziki is made of Greek yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, fresh dill, fresh mint, salt and pepper with some grated cucumber.

I’ve thrown in some garlic powder in our own Mediterranean-style burger recipe before, and that works great too.

For the salad, simply mix together your vegetables and add lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss until thoroughly coated.

The tzatziki is creamy with a hint of cucumber and dill, and the salad is full of sweet tomatoes, briny olives, bell peppers, and feta cheese. Pile that goodness on your burger and you’ve got yourself an explosion of flavors. The feta cheese adds that creamy, salty punch.

Bursting with fresh flavors, these Greek burgers are perfect for when you’re craving something a little off the beaten trail.

Get the recipe here.

Kousa Mahshi (Stuffed Zucchini)

Stuffed zucchini (or courgettes) are one of the most popular dishes in the Middle East, particularly when you have a feast happening and want to make some effort.

Each country varies things a little differently, so you may run into a bunch of different recipes, but that makes it all the more interesting when you try kousa mahshi in different places.

To prepare, you start by coring small zucchini while your rice soaks. Be careful not to puncture the side of the zucchini; they can be quite delicate.

Mix the rice with the ground beef and tomatoes, onions, herbs, and spices, then stuff the zucchini with the ground beef mixture. Once stuffed, simmer them in a pot filled with tomato sauce and water and then everything is ready to go!

The unique combination of beef, rice, and spices lends a hearty, full-bodied taste to the tender zucchini. Topped with a dollop of Greek yogurt, a squeeze of lemon, and some fresh herbs, these zucchini become irresistibly flavorful.

Zucchini are the stars of the show and they are incredibly nutritious too. They are particularly high in vitamin A, but they also contain lots of manganese, vitamin C and potassium too.

If you want to make something that will seriously impress your guests and brings those Middle Eastern tastes to the table, give this a try!

Get the recipe here.

Fasulye (Turkish Green Bean Beef Stew)

Many Turkish families have their own recipe for Fasulye, a Turkish green bean stew with beef, that gets passed down from generation to generation. This Fasulye recipe is full of flavor and perfect over rice.

This stew is a perfect example of how Mediterranean flavors harmonize. The tomato paste creates a deep flavor that pairs beautifully with the freshness of the green beans, and the succulent beef brings a savory depth that’s simply irresistible.

It’s a great recipe to have in your rotation. This Fasulye stew is flavorful, simple and nutritious and also flexible – you can use easily use lamb instead, or make it vegetarian when you want a meat-free day.

Get the recipe here.

To Sum Up

There are so many different cuisines in the Mediterranean that prepare beef in different ways and with different spices.

Whether you’re looking for the tender cut of beef in a Braciole or the hearty beef soups like Fasulye, this recipe roundup has everything you could want!

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