Greek Turkey Burgers

Loaded with lemon, garlic and feta cheese, these Greek turkey burgers are juicy and delicious! Slather with tzatziki and top with red onion slices and cucumber for a lighter but delicious burger.

As a kid I would always pick hot dogs over hamburgers, but as a grown up? I'm all about the burgers! We love a good (classic) juicy turkey burger, or a Southwestern turkey burger, but sometimes we are in the mood for Greek flavors!

These Greek turkey burgers are juicy and loaded with flavor! With garlic, oregano, lemon zest and feta cheese, there is a ton of flavor in the burger patties, and they are perfect topped with tzatziki, cucumbers and red onion slices.

Not only are they delicious, but super simple to prepare as well. Easy peasy for weeknight dinners!

Recipe video

Wondering how these Greek turkey burgers come together? Watch this 1-minute video to see how easy it is to prep! You can find more recipe videos on my YouTube channel.

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Choosing the best turkey meat

The key to perfectly juicy turkey burgers is to choose meat that has some fat content in it, but it can be confusing to know what to pick at the grocery store. Most ground turkey is simply labeled as 'ground turkey', and this is a blend of both dark and light meat. This type of blend will work perfectly for burgers.

Stay away from anything labelled 'lean ground turkey', or 'ground turkey breast' as this is extremely lean and will result in dryer turkey burger patties.

Simple ingredients

To make Greek turkey burgers, I've adapted my classic turkey burger recipe with a few flavorful Greek upgrades:

• ground turkey– make sure you pick a blend of dark and light ground turkey
• egg– adds moisture and binds the burgers together
• breadcrumbs– adds structure to the burgers so they don't fall apart
• worcestershire sauce– enhances the natural flavors of the turkey meat
• salt–brings all the flavors together
• garlic– adds dimension and umami
• lemon- adds a subtle citrussy flavor
• feta- brings a salty, briny punch of flavor to the patties
• oregano- pairs with the garlic, lemon and feta to give the patties a distinctively Greek flavor

Forming turkey burger patties

1. Add all ingredients to a bowl.
2. Mix together with a fork or your hands. Avoid over-mixing which results in dense patties.
3. Divide the mixture into 4, and take ¼ of the batch into the palm of your hand.
4. Work it into a round patty around 3-4 inches across.
5. Try to get it as even in thickness as possible, and do not exceed 1 inch in thickness.
6. Place a small indent in the middle of the burger- this helps them cook evenly and avoids them puffing up in the middle while cooking.

Cooking the burgers

There are a number of ways to cook turkey burgers including on the grill, but my favorite way is in the frying pan. Why the frying pan? Because the continuous surface of the pan sears across the surface of the burgers, creating the Maillard reaction (aka: building that delicious layer of flavor). The added fat from oil in the pan helps keep the burgers nice and juicy!

How to pan fry

1. Add 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil to the bottom of a 12-inch frying pan (enough so that it coats the surface). Heat until a drop of water sizzles when dropped into the pan. Gently add the burgers into the pan and cook for 4 minutes.
2. Carefully flip the burgers, and cook for another 4 minutes.
3. Check to ensure the burgers reach an internal temperature of 165°F. If burgers need longer, flip them again to help them cook evenly.

How to grill

Be extra careful when grilling these burgers as they are delicate when raw. You may wish to add an extra ¼ cup of breadcrumbs to add more structure to the patty if you plan on grilling.

1. Heat grill to 450°F. Grease the grill well with oil.
2. Carefully place the burgers on the grill, and cook for 4 minutes per side. Work carefully as the patties are delicate when raw, but firm up when cooked.
3. Check with to ensure burgers have reached an internal temperature of 155°F.
4. Remove from grill and place on a clean plate. Cover with a bowl to rest for 5 minutes. Carry over cooking should help the burgers reach an internal temp of 165°F.

Prep ahead and storage directions

Fridge

• Patties may be formed up to 24 hours before cooking; store in the fridge in an air tight container
• After cooking, store in an air tight container for up to 4 days
• Reheat in a covered frying pan for 3-4 minutes per side, until warmed through

Freezer

• Freeze raw patties on a baking sheet for 2-3 hours before transferring to a freezer bag or meal prep container. Separate frozen patties with strips of wax or parchment paper.
• You may grill these from frozen: heat grill to medium-high, oil well, then grill for 20 minutes, flipping every 5 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Serve these burgers with:

• Super Speedy Tzatziki
• Greek Salad dressed in this Classic Greek Salad Dressing
• Kale Caesar Salad
• Summer Couscous Salad
• Orzo Pasta Salad with Feta + Mint