Greek Hamburger Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (2024)

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5 stars (4 reviews)

40 minutes mins

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Today I’ve got a juicy Greek-style hamburger recipe to share that we make year after year. These Greek burgers are a great way to offer something a little different on burger night.

Greek Hamburger Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (1)

This hamburger recipe is a long time coming.

I’m not sure exactly why… We’ve been making these Greek burgers for years. This recipe is actually one of the first recipes I taught in my cooking class that spurred on ASP. Nevertheless, here they are, and I apologize for waiting so long.

There’s nothing quite like a good hamburger recipe on a summer evening. We make burgers 3-4 times a month from May through September. Sometimesthey are classic burgers with lettuce and tomato, but we also like to throw in some variation, like Szechuan Beef Burgers, Frito Chili Cheeseburgers, Hawaiian Tuna Burgers, or today’s Greek Burgers.

Made with ground lamb, yogurt, lemon zest, and spices, the patties are tender and zesty. Right before grilling, I mix in feta cheese for a salty burst of flavor in each bite. I shape the patties into ovals instead of circles so they better fit into pita bread.

Greek Hamburger Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (2)

Then I mixed up a batch of my favorite thick and creamy tzatziki sauceto top the burgers.

Once the greek burgers come off the grill, I place them in the pita bread then stuff in cool crisp cucumbers, sweet tomato slices, and fresh mint leaves.

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Making the burgers with lamb instead of beef, along with the cool greek yogurt sauce oozing out, makes me think of eating gyros at an authentic mediterranean kebab shop.

The hot-cold combination and blend of herbs and spicesis always welcomed change on burger night.If your family loves a good hamburger recipe, try this out on them.Maybe it will go in your repituare of summer recipes!

Greek Hamburger Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (4)

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5 stars (4 reviews)

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Greek Hamburger Recipe

Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

Juicy Greek-style hamburgers are a great way to offer something a little different on burger night.

Servings: 6 burgers

Ingredients

For the Hamburger Recipe:

  • 2 pounds ground lamb
  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1/3 cup finely chopped onion
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • Zest of one lemon
  • 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 7 ounces feta crumbled into large pieces
  • Olive oil for brushing
  • 1 cup sliced cucumbers
  • 2 tomatoes sliced
  • Mint leaves for garnish
  • 6 small pita pockets or 3 large halved

For the Yogurt Sauce:

  • 1 cups plain Greek yogurt
  • 1/2 cucumber peeled
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 clove garlic smashed
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Zest of one lemon + 1 tsp. lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon fresh choppedmint

Instructions

For the Yogurt Sauce:

  • Pour the excess moisture off the top of the yogurt and place it in a bowl. Grate the cucumber, then place the strips in a colander and toss with salt. Set aside for 20 minutes to drain, then squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Mix all ingredients in a bowl and salt and pepper to taste.

For the Hamburger Recipe:

  • Preheat grill to mediumheat. Use your hands to mix the first 8ingredients in a bowl. Gently fold in the feta cheese.

  • Divide the meat mixture into 6 equal portions, then shape it into 1-inch thick ovals. Brush patties with olive oil and salt and pepper.

  • Grill the patties for 10 minutes, carefully flipping once. Place the patties inside pitas and stuff with cucumbers, tomatoes, and mint leaves. Top with yogurt sauce.

Nutrition

Serving: 1burger, Calories: 740kcal, Carbohydrates: 39g, Protein: 41g, Fat: 46g, Saturated Fat: 21g, Cholesterol: 142mg, Sodium: 1560mg, Potassium: 685mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 605IU, Vitamin C: 8.4mg, Calcium: 319mg, Iron: 3.9mg

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Greek

Author: Sommer Collier

Making this recipe?Follow us on Instagram and tag @ASpicyPerspective so we can share what you’re cooking!

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Main Dish Sandwiches World Flavorslamb yogurt

posted by Sommer Collier on Aug 1, 2014 (last updated Jun 13, 2019)

23 comments Leave a comment »

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23 comments on “Greek Burgers”

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  1. Pingback: Salsa Verde Burgers with Fontina Watermelon and Basil - A Spicy Perspective

  2. Joan Reply

    My family loves these flavors! I think we could eat ti everyday.

  3. Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie Reply

    Greek burgers have been on my list of things to make. Love that you served them in pita pockets too.

  4. Christine at Cook the Story Reply

    The flavors running through these burgers sound so good!

  5. Jeff @ Cheese-burger.net Reply

    I like the salty flavor. It’s refreshing and unique for me. This would be perfect with the mango smoothie you posted a while back.

  6. Marla Meridith Reply

    Love the Greek twist! Must try :)

  7. Rebecca @ Hello Creative Blog Reply

    This looks amazing! I love greek food, so this is a must try for me!

  8. Kate Reply

    This is a great idea! We grill all summer long ….these will be a twist to the usual burger! Thanks.

  9. Meredith Reply

    Deliciously amazing!

  10. Gaby Reply

    This is my kind of burger! So glad you shared this!

  11. Laura (Tutti Dolci) Reply

    I love Greek flavors, perfect burger!

  12. Jessica @ A Kitchen Addiction Reply

    Perfect flavors for a burger!

  13. Aimee @ Simple Bites Reply

    We love lamb burgers, but it’s been way too long. Great recipe, Sommer!

  14. Serena | Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch Reply

    These look fabulous! I always love the tried and true, long time favorites! My kids love pita pockets so these probably would make their day!

  15. Heather Christo Reply

    I am so into this! love everything about it!

  16. Melanie @ Carmel Moments Reply

    I definitely need to switch up my boring burger routine. Look delicious!
    Pinning.

  17. Julie @ Table for Two Reply

    Such a great burger! Love the Greek flavor!

  18. Maria Reply

    Greek flavors are always a good idea!

  19. Jenny Flake Reply

    Some of my favorite flavors!! Great burger!!

  20. dc Reply

    Looks yummy! I think I’d mix lamb and beef, because the price of a pound of ground lamb here is ridiculous.

  21. Tieghan Reply

    I love any and all greek food! Plus, I just mad lamb burgers the other day and fell in love, so these look and sound perfect!

  22. Jennie @themessybakerblog Reply

    Better late than never. I love this jazzed up burger!

  23. Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness Reply

    Isn’t it funny how we can go years eating something awesome, and then get too side tracked trying to make “new things” to share with our readers, that we forget about such things? I do that all the time.
    We are Greek FANATICS….and this lamb burger looks fab! Love the pita “bun!” Pinned!

Greek Hamburger Recipe - A Spicy Perspective (2024)

FAQs

What is a Greek burger made of? ›

This burger is a delicious combination of a hearty 80/20 meat patty, sheep's milk feta, and terrific vegetables like kalamata olives, cucumbers, and Marinated Red Onions. Pepperoncini mayo adds a spicy kick, while melt-in-your-mouth Kasseri Greek cheese (or the cheese of your choice) brings a creamy touch.

How can I make my burgers more flavorful? ›

Blue cheese, grilled pineapple, or avocado will add a lot of flavor to a classic hamburger. Many, if not all, of these ingredients can already be found in your kitchen and pantry.

What is the best ground beef for burgers? ›

What is the best meat to grind for hamburgers?
  • Chuck steak. Chuck is the most commonly used cut of beef in burger blends. ...
  • Sirloin or Tri-Tip. Sirloin is a relatively lean cut of steak, but has a good amount of flavor. ...
  • Round. ...
  • Brisket. ...
  • Boneless Short Rib. ...
  • Plate (Skirt and Hanger Steak).

What is traditional Greek meat? ›

We, the Greeks, love our meat and the most common traditional dishes will include pork, lamb, beef, goat, chicken, veal and rabbit not necessarily in that order.

What is the main meat used by Greeks? ›

Traditionally, local Greek cuisine utilizes a mixture of pork, poultry, veal and beef, lamb, rabbit, and goat. Kleftiko is one of the top meat dishes in Greece. Lamb is the popular meat of choice and you will quickly see why. Kleftiko involves slow-cooked lamb marinated in olive oil, lemon juice, and garlic.

What to season burgers with? ›

Herbs: Parsley, basil, thyme, rosemary and oregano are favorites with beef, while mint, dill and cilantro are also popular with other proteins. Fresh herbs are excellent mixed into ground meat while dried herbs are the best choice for sprinkling on top.

How do you spice up burgers? ›

7 Tasty Ways to Liven Up Your Burger
  1. Avocado. Fresh avocado is probably one of the best and healthiest things you can add to a burger. ...
  2. Fried egg. ...
  3. Sweet pepper. ...
  4. Onions and peppers. ...
  5. Grilled mushrooms. ...
  6. Spice rubs. ...
  7. Hot sauce.
Oct 26, 2022

Should you mix seasoning into burgers? ›

Yes. To ensure the seasoning flavors are well established and distributed throughout, it's a good idea to season both sides of the burger patty. This is especially true if it's a premade burger since you won't be able to mix the seasoning directly into the meat.

Do you mix egg with ground beef for burgers? ›

Instructions for How to Make Ground Beef Patties for burgers: In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, 1 egg, and a generous amount of salt and pepper to season (half tsp each). Egg is a burger binding agent for the ground beef patty. Divide the well mixed beef into four equal round balls and form into patties.

What is Gordon Ramsay's best burger meat blend? ›

Gordon Ramsay hamburger recipe blend of brisket, chuck sirloin, and short rib ground beef with our exclusive chef's secret recipe, featuring a perfect meat blend and expert grill techniques.

What is the meat in McDonald's hamburgers? ›

Here are the facts: All of our burger patties in the U.S. are always made with 100% USDA-inspected beef. That's the only ingredient: 100% real beef.

Is Greek gyro meat? ›

The Greek version is normally made with pork and served with tzatziki, and became known as gyros. Chicken Gyros is also very popular however. By 1970, gyros wraps were already a popular fast food in Athens, as well as in Chicago and New York City.

Is gyro a Greek sandwich? ›

The gyro (pronounced GEE-row) is a classic Greek dish, with the meat traditionally cooked on a vertical spit and shaved off in individual servings. While this delicious method for preparing meat is often used in Greek restaurants, it's not easy to accomplish at home.

Is gyro a Greek taco? ›

Not really. It's more like a Greek shawarma. The definition of a taco seems to center on the corn or wheat tortilla used to hold whatever fillings you put in it. Gyro, on the other hand, is defined by the vertical rotisserie that the meat is cooked on.

What are Greek fries made of? ›

The authentic Greek-style French fries that you'd get at a restaurant are called Patates Tiganites (here's an authentic recipe from a Greek recipe writer). These are thick-cut potatoes, usually a waxy potato like Yukon gold, fried and topped with dried oregano.

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