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    Home » Main Course Recipes

    Grilled Greek Turkey Burgers with Tzatziki

    Published: Aug 12, 2021 · Modified: Mar 9, 2023 by Philip + Mystique · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Inspired by Greek flavors, our Grilled Greek Turkey Burgers with tzatziki feature ground turkey patties that are flavored with garlic, oregano, and Kalamata olives and then topped with red onion, feta cheese, tomato slices, and cucumbers – it's basically the Greek salad version of a turkey burger.

    Turkey Burger on a bun with tzatziki sauce, feta cheese, red onion, tomato and cucumbers

    Most people I know have a love-hate relationship with turkey. Of course, no Thanksgiving or Christmas is complete without this beautiful bird on the table, but aside from these two occasions, let’s just say turkey isn’t winning the most popular meat vote. That is until now. 

    Moist, juicy, and filled with Greek flavors, our Grilled Turkey Burgers with tzatziki, red onion, feta cheese, tomato slices, and cucumbers, take modest ground turkey and turns it up a notch with all the ingredients found in a Greek salad.

    These turkey burgers contain no egg or breadcrumbs. The meat mixture uses just lean ground turkey mixed with garlic, Kalamata olives, red onion, and oregano, and is paired with a creamy tzatziki sauce made from Greek yogurt, grated cucumber, and fresh garlic.

    But what makes this Greek burger divine is the overlapping layers of texture and flavor that hit the palate with every bite. Serve on its own or with a side of Oven Baked French Fries, our Mediterranean-inspired Street Corn, or Hummus and Grilled Vegetables.

    Ingredient List

    Flat lay style image of ingredients to make a greek burger
    • Ground Turkey
    • Kalamata Olives
    • Red Onion
    • Oregano
    • Garlic
    • Salt and Pepper
    • Buns
    • Tomato
    • Geta Cheese
    • Cucumber
    • Tzatziki Sauce 

    Greek Turkey Burgers Recipe Steps

    Make a quick tzatziki sauce: Grate about half a cucumber, season with salt and squeeze out all the liquid. 

    Grated cucumbers in a sieve

    Mix the cucumber, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, dill, and salt in a small mixing bowl. Set aside for assembly.

    Tzatziki in a glass bowl

    For the turkey burger patties, combine ground turkey, Kalamata olives, garlic, minced red onion, oregano, salt, and pepper.

    Ground turkey, oregano, minced garlic, minced red onion in a glass bowl

    To form the burger patties, divide the meat mixture into 4 portions. Roll into balls, then use your hands or the bottom of a plate to flatten them to about a half-inch thickness. Place the burgers in the fridge until they are ready to hit the grill.

    Hands holding a ball of turkey burger meat with burgers formed on a silver pan

    Grill the burgers for 5 minutes per side, until cooked through, then set aside to rest for three minutes. 

    If you're toasting your buns then arrange them on the bbq for one minute while the turkey burgers are resting. 

    Hint: let the grill run for 4-5 minutes to burn off any remnants, then clean it.

    Toasted bun on a plate surrounded by bbq turkey burgers, tzatziki, tomatoes, red onion and feta cheese

    To assemble, load the bottom bun with tzatziki and place a turkey burger on top. Lay a slice of tomato, red onion, a few cucumber slices and couple thick slices of feta cheese. Dollop with a little more tzatiki and enjoy.

    Greek burger with feta cheese, tzatziki, red onion, tomatoes and cucumbers

    FAQ's

    What is tzatziki sauce? Tzatziki is a Greek yogurt sauce made with cucumber, strained yogurt, olive oil, fresh garlic, lemon juice, salt, and herbs, such as dill or mint (or both). It’s traditionally made with sheep or goat yogurt, however, we use Greek yogurt because it’s thick and reduces straining time.

    How do you know when turkey burgers are cooked? Turkey should always be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). If you don’t have a meat thermometer to measure the temperature, cut into the patty to ensure the turkey is not pink in the center, as well any juices should run clear. 

    Why do my turkey burgers fall apart? Turkey burgers can definitely fall apart when being grilled on the barbecue. Here are a few tips we suggest: oil the grates before grilling, fully preheat the barbeque, and chill the burger patties before you grill.

    Do I have to use a bbq to grill the burgers? No, if you don't have a barbecue or prefer an alternative cooking method, you can cook the burgers on a grill pan, cast-iron skillet, or frying pan set to medium-high heat.

    Substitutions

    • Turkey - Ground beef, ground chicken, ground pork and even plant-based meats will all work great in our Greek turkey burgers. 
    • Garlic - if you don’t have fresh garlic on hand, use ½ teaspoon of garlic salt for every garlic clove. 
    • Burger Bun - Brioche bread is our choice for any gourmet burger, but use any favourite hamburger bun of yours for the recipe. A good strong lettuce leaf, such as iceberg lettuce, can be used as lettuce wraps.

    Storage

    Uncooked turkey patties can be frozen for up to 3 months. Cut parchment paper squares slightly larger than the turkey patties. Place the burgers on the parchment paper in single layers and stack them to fit into a freezer-safe container.

    Cooked turkey burgers can be stored in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

    Top tip

    Don't overcook the burgers! Sear the outside and cook to a minimum internal temperature, but they should still be juicy for best results.

    Hands holding a Turkey Burger over a white dish

    Related Recipes

    If you like this recipe, then you will probably also enjoy our BBQ Jerk Chicken Sandwich, Parmigiana Pork Burgers, Homemade Big Mac, or our Curry Fried Chicken Sandwich.

    Recommended Tools and Ingredients to Make this Recipe

    Below are affiliate links to our favorite products that will assist you in making our Greek Burger recipe.

    • Global Chef's Knife
    • Nordic Ware Baking Sheet Set
    • Duralex Glass Bowls
    • Meat Thermometer
    • Maldon Sea Salt
    Greek Turkey Burger with Tzatziki, Feta Cheese, Red Onion, and Cucumbers on a marble board

    Grilled Greek Turkey Burgers with Tzatziki

    Inspired by the ingredients in a Greek salad, these grilled turkey burgers are light, juicy and fresh, and are topped with a quick tzatziki, feta cheese, cucumber, tomatoes and red onion.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Course Al Fresco, Main Course, Sandwiches
    Cuisine American, Canadian, Greek, Mediterranean
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 390

    Ingredients
      

    Quick Tzatziki

    • 1 cup grated cucumber
    • ½ cup Greek yogurt
    • 1 tablespoon dill
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • 1 clove garlic minced
    • ¼ teaspoon salt

    Greek Burgers

    • 1 ⅓ lb ground turkey
    • ¼ cup chopped Kalamata olives
    • 2 tablespoon chopped red onion
    • 1 tablespoon oregano
    • 2 cloves garlic minced
    • Salt and pepper
    • 4 burger buns
    • 8 slices tomato
    • 8 slices red onion
    • 8 slices feta
    • 15 slices cucumber

    Instructions
     

    • (If using store-bought tzatziki - skip to step 3) Place grated cucumber in a sieve placed over a bowl and season with a pinch of salt. Let sit for about 5 minutes then squeeze as much liquid from the cucumbers as you can.
    • Mix together the strained cucumber, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, dill, and salt in a small mixing bowl. Set aside for assembly.
    • In a medium bowl combine ground turkey, Kalamata olives, garlic, minced red onion, oregano, salt, and pepper.
    • Divide the meat mixture into 4 equal portions and roll into balls. Use your hands or the bottom of a plate to flatten to about a half-inch. Place on a plate and chill in the fridge until grilling.
    • Preheat your barbecue on high heat. Remove the burgers from the fridge and season each with a pinch of salt. Oil your barbecue grates and grill the burgers for 5 minutes per side, until cooked through, then set aside to rest for three minutes. 
    • If you're toasting your buns then arrange them on the bbq for one minute while the turkey burgers are resting. 
    • To assemble, load the bottom bun with tzatziki and place a turkey burger on top. Lay a slice of tomato, red onion, a few cucumber slices, and couple thick slices of feta cheese. Dollop with a little more tzatziki and enjoy.

    Video

    Notes

    • For safety, use a meat thermometer to ensure an internal temperature of at least 165°F (74°c).
    • Uncooked turkey patties can be frozen for up to 3 months. Cut parchment paper squares slightly larger than the turkey patties. Place the burgers on the parchment paper in single layers and stack them to fit into a freezer-safe container.
    • Cooked turkey burger leftovers can be stored in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 390kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 44gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 86mgSodium: 616mgPotassium: 827mgFiber: 3gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 604IUVitamin C: 15mgCalcium: 167mgIron: 4mg
    Keyword 30 Minute Meals, BBQ, bbq recipes, Burgers, grilling recipes
    Have you tried this recipe?Tag us on Instagram @chef.souschef or use the hashtag #chefsouschef and let us know how it was!

    Food safety

    • Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
    • Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
    • Wash hands after touching raw meat
    • Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
    • Never leave cooking food unattended
    • Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
    • Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

    See more guidelines at USDA.gov.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Layla L says

      August 19, 2021 at 11:21 pm

      These burgers are so flavourful. I love the addition of the olives in the patties and the thick layer of feta. I made them for friends and they all were such a hit. Great recipe!5 stars

      Reply
      • Philip + Mystique says

        September 22, 2021 at 12:12 am

        So happy you and your friends enjoyed the burgers as much as we do. We're suckers for feta!

        Reply

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