Better Than Takeout: Chicken Meatballs with Tahini Yogurt Sauce
Publish Date: March 18, 2026
Last Update: March 18, 2026
Our Better Than Takeout recipe series is meant to inspire cooking at home—rather than falling victim to the expensive, unhealthy, and often time-consuming process of ordering in from a food delivery app. As an alternative, we’ve assembled a few recipes that we think are more nutritious (and certainly more affordable!) than takeout, and they take just a few minutes to prep and cook. From savory stir-fries to protein-packed meatballs and warming grain bowls loaded with veggies, these are the meals we hope you’ll return to again and again on busy weeknights.
These chicken meatballs are one of the easiest ways to get your protein for lunch or dinner — and yes, we think they may be even easier than takeout! Surprise spinach and walnuts add a bit of texture, color, and extra nutrients to the meatballs, and serving them over couscous with a tangy yogurt tahini sauce gives you restaurant-worthy plating in minutes.
Chicken Meatballs with Tahini Yogurt Sauce Recipe
Active Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 4 servings (3 meatballs each)
Ingredients
⅓ cup Schar’s Gluten Free Bread Crumbs
½ teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 egg
¼ cup milk of choice
1 pound Thrive Market Organic Ground Chicken
2 cups spinach, chopped
½ cup walnuts, chopped
1 cup greek yogurt
1 tablespoon Thrive Market Organic Creamy Tahini
1 package Thrive Market Organic Couscous, prepared
Cooked asparagus or green beans, for serving
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 425º F or air fryer to 400º F. Line a baking sheet with foil and grease with cooking spray.
Add the bread crumbs, dried oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to a mixing bowl. Add egg and milk and mix to combine. Let sit for 5 minutes to soak.
Add the ground chicken, spinach, and walnuts and mix with your hands until combined.
Shape into 12 meatballs and place them on the baking sheet.
Bake for 9 to 11 minutes, until the meatballs have reached 165º F.
Make the sauce by mixing the Greek yogurt and tahini.
Serve the meatballs over couscous with the yogurt sauce drizzled on top.