Greek Burgers with Tzatziki Sauce
These Greek burgers with tzatziki sauce are packed with Mediterranean flavors and are easy to eat in pita pockets. They are terrific for summer grilling parties or a Mediterranean themed supper.
These burgers are part of my casual Greek themed dinner party, but they’re also great for cookouts and summer entertaining around the grill! This is a simplified version inspired by the gyro, using ground lamb instead of strips of meat, and in my opinion the tzatziki sauce MAKES the dish!
Quick Notes
This recipe is simple and easy to make and prep ahead when you’re hosting. Just mix and form the burgers, make the sauce, and refrigerate until ready to cook. For the burgers you can prep the night before. The sauce can be made up to two days ahead.
- When you’re ready to cook, I do recommend taking the formed burgers out of the fridge to warm up at room temperature for at least 30 minutes so it cooks evenly.
If you’re serving a crowd for a party, it’s easy to double or triple the recipe, and you can use ground beef instead of lamb.
When making the tzatziki sauce, it’s preferable to use the long English (or Hothouse) cucumbers that you get individually wrapped. You can grated them skin and all since they’re seedless and thin-skinned.
Use pita pockets in keeping with the Greek theme. I use one pocket per burger, but instead of cutting it through the middle (to open up the pocket), I cut about ⅓ to ¼ off the top. That should be enough to hold the burger and fillings.
What To Serve With It
To round out your Mediterranean dinner menu, start with an appetizer of spanakopita phyllo cups and homemade hummus with fresh cut vegetables.
Add a first course of beet & goat cheese salad. Then serve Greek style couscous as a side dish with the Greek burgers. Finish the meal with bite size baklava cups for dessert.
More Burger Recipes
Burgers are a much loved staple, and you can use this recipe to make sliders for an appetizer, or a burger tasting menu. Just make smaller versions of these along with sundried tomato burgers, Asian-style burgers (made with ground chicken or turkey), and the best juicy burgers recipe which is moist and delicious, and makes the perfect cheeseburgers.
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Greek Burgers with Tzatziki Sauce
Turn burger night into a Greek theme with these lamb burgers and tzatziki sauce. These are terrific for summer grilling parties or weeknight supper for the family. Make the sauce ahead so the flavors have time to fully develop.
Ingredients
Lamb Burgers
- 1 pound ground lamb or beef
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose Greek Seasoning (I use Cavender's)
Tzatziki Sauce
- 4 ounces full fat Greek yogurt
- ½ cucumber (English or Hothouse which is seedless and thin skinned)
- 1 small garlic clove, minced (or about ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder)
- Splash of red wine vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon dried dill (or ¼ tablespoon fresh, chopped)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For Serving
- 4 small Pita bread pockets
- Lettuce
- Tomato, sliced
- Crumbled Feta
Instructions
- Combine ground lamb and Greek seasoning until well seasoned; careful not to overwork the meat or it can become tough. Divide into 4 patties, shaping into ovals instead of rounds. Cook over medium heat until no longer pink inside, about 5-6 minutes each side.
- For tzatziki: Grate the cucumber using the small holes on a box grater. Place the grated cucumber in a fine mesh strainer and squeeze out as much liquid as possible. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt, then allow to stand for at least 10 minutes. Then use your hands to squeeze out as much water as possible from the cucumber before adding it to the dip. Add to yogurt and combine in a small bowl.
- Add the cucumber to the yogurt in a medium size bowl and stir. Mix in remaining ingredients, cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours so flavors can blend.
- Fill pita pocket with lamb patty and add lettuce, tomato, and cucumber sauce. Sprinkle feta cheese on top and enjoy.
Notes
If using a standard cucumber instead of English, peel and remove seeds first.
