Greek Burgers with Tzatziki Sauce

These burgers are part of my casual Greek dinner party menu, but they’re also great for summer entertaining around the grill! This is a simplified version inspired by the gyro, using ground lamb instead of strips of meat.

Greek burgers make a delicious main dish for the family too, when you want something more than a basic burger. In my opinion, the tzatziki sauce MAKES the dish!

In college there was a local Greek restaurant called Marathon. It wasn’t fancy but it opened my eyes to the flavors of the Mediterranean, mainly gyros, souvlaki, and the amazing cucumber sauce known as tzatziki. I’ve been a fan of Greek dishes ever since, and love to recreate them at home.

Why You’ll Love It

• Easy. This recipe is simple and easy to make and prep ahead.
• Delicious. These patties are juicy, tender, and flavorful.
• Serve for a party. It is easy to double or triple this Greek burger if you need to feed many.
• You can choose your meat preference. Ground lamb is used here but ground beef is good too!

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Ground lamb. Lamb makes these traditional but they are just as good using ground beef instead.
• All-purpose Greek Seasoning. This adds Mediterranean flavors to the burger in a single source.
• Pita bread pockets .These burgers are served in pita bread pockets but you can also serve them in burger buns.
• Lettuce. Use any fresh lettuce you choose for this Greek-style burger.
• Tomato slices. Roma tomatoes or vine-ripened tomatoes are my favorite choices, but you can also use a large beefsteak tomato too.
• Crumbled Feta cheese. Use good quality feta to add a delicious tangy flavor to the burger.

Tzatziki Sauce

• Light sour cream. I prefer light sour cream but feel free to use full-fat instead. You can also use plain Greek yogurt for a more traditional tangy sauce.
• Cucumber. Use seedless cucumbers, which typically are sold individually wrapped in plastic wrap.
• Garlic clove. Mince a small garlic clove for flavor. If you don’t have cloves you can use 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder instead.
• Dill. Use fresh dill for the best flavor, although you can substitute with dried.

How to Make It

1. Mix the lamb and Greek seasoning until well combined and shape the mixture into four oval patties.
2. Cook the patties in a skillet over medium heat, flipping once, until they’re cooked through and no longer pink inside, about 10 to 12 minutes total.
3. To make the tzatziki sauce, peel and grate the cucumber using a box grater. Sprinkle a little salt over the grated cucumber and let sit for about 30 minutes to leach out excess moisture.
4. Squeeze out the excess water and add the cucumber to a small bowl with the sour cream. Stir in the garlic, dill, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Cover and refrigerate the sauce for at least two hours to let the flavors marry.
5. To assemble the burgers, cut open the pita pockets and stuff them with lettuce and tomato slices. Add a lamb patty to each pocket and spoon some tzatziki sauce. Sprinkle some feta cheese on top and enjoy!

Expert Tips

Gently mix the lamb with your hands, but don’t overwork it or it will make the patties tough and chewy.

Make a small dent in the middle of each patty with your thumb. This will help them cook evenly and prevent them from bulging.

Make Ahead

You can prepare the patties in advance and keep them covered in an airtight container. Store them in the fridge for no more than 24 hours, then cook the patties when you’re ready to serve them to your guests.

You can keep the tzatziki sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

What to Serve with Greek Burgers

Add these recipe to round out a Mediterranean dinner party menu. And if you want something more formal, try my marinated lamb chops with goat cheese polenta as the main course instead.

• My spanakopita appetizer cups are the perfect starter and so easy to make.
• Add some homemade hummus to the table so guests can help themselves.
• This beet & goat cheese salad is a great first course.
• This Greek style couscous is the perfect side dish to serve with dinner.
• Finish the meal with bite size easy baklava cups for dessert.

More Burger Recipes

If you like these Greek burgers I hope you’ll try these other recipes.

• Sundried tomato burgers are unique and tasty, with an Italian twist.
• Asian Style Burgers are seriously delicious and you can make with ground chicken, turkey or beef.
• The best juicy burgers are my go-to recipe for a crowd. They’re moist and delicious and make the perfect cheeseburgers.

These Greek burgers with tzatziki sauce are a great main dish to serve for casual entertaining or cookouts. Serve them in pita pockets instead of an entire pita wrap to make them lighter and easier to eat. Lettuce, tomato, and cucumber add freshness, while feta cheese gives it a salty finish.