Mediterranean Ground Beef Pita (Printable)

Soft pita pockets stuffed with spiced beef, crisp vegetables, and creamy yogurt sauce for a quick, flavorful meal.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Ground Beef

01 - 1 lb lean ground beef

→ Spices & Seasonings

02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
04 - 2 tsp ground cumin
05 - 1 tsp ground coriander
06 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
07 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
08 - 1/2 tsp chili flakes (optional)
09 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
10 - 2 tbsp olive oil

→ Fresh Vegetables

11 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
12 - 1/2 cucumber, diced
13 - 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
14 - 1/4 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped
15 - 1 head romaine lettuce, shredded

→ Yogurt Sauce

16 - 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
17 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
18 - 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
19 - 1 garlic clove, minced
20 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Bread

21 - 4 pita pockets, warmed

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook for 2–3 minutes until softened.
02 - Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Stir in ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned, about 6–8 minutes.
03 - Sprinkle cumin, coriander, paprika, cinnamon, chili flakes (if using), salt, and pepper over the beef. Stir well and cook for another 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
04 - Whisk together Greek yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
05 - In a medium bowl, toss cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and parsley. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
06 - Cut the tops off warm pita breads to create pockets. Fill each pita with shredded lettuce, a generous spoonful of seasoned beef, some vegetable salad, and drizzle with yogurt sauce.
07 - Serve immediately while warm.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The warm spices make a weeknight dinner feel like a special occasion
  • It brings the bright flavors of the Mediterranean to your table in under forty minutes
02 -
  • Dry the beef mixture slightly with a paper towel if it seems too greasy before filling the pitas
  • Do not skip warming the pita bread or it will crack when you try to fill it
03 -
  • Use a spoon to spread the yogurt sauce along the inside wall of the pita for flavor in every bite
  • Let the beef rest for a few minutes off the heat to let the spices meld fully

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