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.
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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 turn 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
- Ground Turkey
- Kalamata Olives
- Red Onion
- Oregano
- Garlic
- Salt and Pepper
- Buns
- Tomato
- Geta Cheese
- Cucumber
- Tzatziki Sauce
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
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 favorite hamburger bun of yours for the recipe. A good strong lettuce leaf, such as iceberg lettuce, can be used as lettuce wraps.
Recipe Steps: How to Make Greek Turkey Burgers
1. Grate a drain cucumber.
Grate half a cucumber into a sieve, season with salt, and after a few minutes, squeeze out all the liquid.
2. Make a quick tzatziki sauce.
Mix the cucumber, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, dill, and salt in a small mixing bowl. Set aside for assembly.
3. Make the turkey mix.
Combine ground turkey, Kalamata olives, garlic, minced red onion, oregano, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl.
4. Form the turkey 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.
5. Grill the burgers.
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.
6. Assemble the burgers.
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.
Hint: let the grill run for 4-5 minutes to burn off any remnants, then clean it.
Chef's Tips
Use cold meat: Turkey can sometimes fall apart when barbecuing. To avoid this, ensure the meat is cold and work quickly when making and forming the patties. For best results, place the patties in the fridge for 10-15 minutes before grilling.
Grilling the perfect burger: Preheat the barbecue on medium-high for at least 15 minutes before cooking. The grill will be hot enough to sear the outside of the burger without cooking it too quickly.
Internal temperature: Cook the turkey burgers to a minimum internal temperature of 165°F. To get an accurate temperature, insert a meat thermometer into the center of the turkey burger.
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.
Recipe FAQs
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.
Turkey should always be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165°F. 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.
Turkey burgers can 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.
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.
Yes, the turkey patties can be made 1 day in advance and refrigerated. They also are great for freezing: form the patties and place pieces of parchment between the parties. Freeze up to 3 months.
If you tried this Greek Turkey Burger Recipe or any other recipe on our website, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Recipe Card
Grilled Greek Turkey Burgers with Tzatziki
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
Recipe 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.
Amanda says
We made this recipe tonight and here are our thoughts… these burgers came together so quickly and they were delicious!! It was too cold out to go and bbq so we pan fried them for 5-6 mins per side 👌🏼 even our kids (5 & 3) enjoyed our fancy burgers tonight! Don’t wait on making this recipe. 5 stars from our whole family!
Philip Lago + Mystique Mattai says
Hi Amanda!
Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. So thrilled your whole family loved the burgers. It's always our goal to make food that is beautiful and unique, but approachable for everyone to cook and eat. Thanks again!
Layla L says
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!
Philip + Mystique says
So happy you and your friends enjoyed the burgers as much as we do. We're suckers for feta!