Description

Packed with fresh vegetables, lean ground beef, and vibrant Mediterranean flavors, this Easy Mediterranean Ground Beef Bowl is a quick, high-protein meal perfect for weeknights or meal prep. Customize with your favorite toppings!

Ingredients

Scale

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound lean ground beef (85% lean or higher)
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried basil
½ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste
⅛ teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
1 (15-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
½ cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
½ cup chopped fresh parsley
¼ cup chopped fresh mint (optional)
Juice of ½ lemon
For Serving (suggestions):
Cooked quinoa or rice
Crumbled feta cheese
Cucumber slices
Cherry tomatoes, halved
Bell pepper strips
Tzatziki sauce or a dollop of plain Greek yogurt

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and no pink remains. Drain off any excess grease.
2. Add the chopped yellow onion to the skillet with the browned beef. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion has softened and become translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
3. Stir in the minced garlic, dried oregano, dried basil, and ground cumin. Cook for another minute until fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent the garlic from burning.
4. Season the beef and onion mixture with salt and black pepper.
5. Pour in the undrained can of diced tomatoes and stir to combine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
6. Add the rinsed and drained chickpeas and the halved Kalamata olives to the skillet. Stir everything together.
7. Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and let it simmer for at least 15 minutes, or longer if you have the time, to allow the flavors to meld. Stir occasionally.
8. Just before serving, stir in the chopped fresh parsley, fresh mint (if using), and the lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
9. Serve over cooked quinoa or rice, or as is, and top with your favorite serving suggestions like feta cheese, cucumber, tomatoes, and tzatziki sauce.

Notes

Store the beef mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave until hot. For best results, reheat just the beef mixture and add fresh toppings before serving.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: Mediterranean-inspired

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 bowl (approx. 1/4 of recipe without serving base)
Calories: Estimated based on main ingredients, varies with toppings
Sugar: Estimated, primarily from tomatoes and vegetables
Sodium: Estimated, can be influenced by olives and added salt
Fat: Estimated, varies with ground beef lean percentage
Carbohydrates: Estimated, varies with serving base and toppings
Fiber: Estimated, primarily from chickpeas and vegetables
Protein: Estimated based on ground beef and chickpeas, varies