There is nothing like a good burger to satisfy a craving. Meaty, juicy, and full of flavor, they are one of my favorite foods when done right. Greek food is also one of my favorite cuisines and when you combine the two together, it brings me to a happy place. And that’s what this greek lamb burger does!
This recipe is a spin-off of my greek lamb meatballs, but in burger form. They are loaded with fresh herbs, spices, onion, and garlic and grilled to juicy perfection! Once done, they are topped with homemade tzatziki, tomato, and onion to balance it out and bring the recipe together.
This greek burger recipe is ready in 25 minutes and perfect for a weeknight dinner or BBQ. I love serving them in a lettuce wrap or bun and some french fries for the perfect summer meal!
Why we love these greek burgers
- a fun spin on greek food
- packed with flavor!
- ready in 25 minutes for an easy meal or BBQ
Are lamb burgers healthy?
Not only is lamb delicious, but it is also a healthy option. It is packed with protein, iron, zinc, vitamin B12, and selenium. Since lamb is usually grass-fed, it has heart-healthy and anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids. Lamb also contains CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) which can help aid fat loss and improve lean muscle mass.
Ground lamb is easy to use (treat it like ground beef!) and adds great flavor to these burgers – you will love it! You can find it in most grocery stores in the butcher section or nearby.
Lamb burger ingredients
- ground lamb
- red onion
- garlic
- fresh parsley
- fresh mint
- dried oregano
- salt and pepper
- buns or lettuce wraps
- toppings of your choice – we love lettuce, tomato, red onion, and tzatziki sauce!
How to make lamb burgers
- Heat the grill to medium-high heat.
- While the grill heats up, make the burgers. Add the ground lamb, onion, garlic, parsley, mint, oregano, and salt and pepper in a large bowl. Mix well to combine, but try not to overmix too much. If desired, you can let the meat mixture marinate for an hour or more. It gives the burgers even more flavor but is unnecessary (I did not do it).
- Then form the meat into 4 equal-sized patties. Use your hands to form a burger shape, with about one inch of thickness, and a small thumb-sized indent in the middle. This will help them cook evenly and not puff up.
- Grill burgers. Place lamb burger patties on grill grates over direct heat and grill for 3-4 minutes per side, flipping once. While the burgers grill, prepare your toppings.
- Enjoy! Top burgers with tzatziki sauce and serve in lettuce wraps or buns with additional toppings.
Can you make lamb burgers on the stove?
Yes, lamb burgers can be made on the stove if you don’t have a grill. Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium heat, adding oil if needed. Cook burgers for 5-7 minutes per side, or until cooked to your liking.
What to put on a lamb burger
What is a good burger without any toppings?! While I love a classic burger, you definitely need a few toppings to bring it all together. Here a few suggestions:
- tzatziki – I highly recommend whipping up a batch of homemade tzatziki in advance or while the burgersgrill. All you need is greek yogurt, cucumber, dill, lemon juice, olive oil, and garlic. You can also use your favorite store bought as well.
- feta cheese – adds a nice tanginess to the recipe.
- lettuce
- sliced tomato
- sliced cucumber
- thinly sliced red onion
For serving, you can either use hamburger buns, lettuce wraps, or even pita bread. Since lamb is a rich cut of meat, I like using lettuce wraps to balance it out, but anything will work. You can even serve them on top of a greek salad!
What to serve with greek burgers
- classic french fries or sweet potato fries
- greek salad – with cucumbers, tomato, red onion, and kalamata olives.
- hummus and veggies
- greek chickpea salad
Storage
- fridge – burgers will last 4 days in a tightly sealed dish in the fridge.
- freezer – these burger patties can be frozen raw. Make them according to the directions and freeze them on a baking sheet. Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let defrost in the fridge overnight and then cook according to directions.
Substitutions
Here are a few substitutions for these lamb burgers. I highly suggest using fresh herbs as it gives them so much flavor, but you can use dried ones if needed.
- ground lamb – if you don’t have lamb or want something not as fatty, you can use whatever ground meat you like. Chicken, beef, or turkey will all work well, but the flavor profile will change some. Ground chicken and ground turkey can be wet, so you might need to add a binder.
- red onion – white onion will work the same.
- garlic – use 1 teaspoon of garlic powder instead.
- fresh parsley – you can substitute 2 tablespoons of dried parsley for fresh.
- mint – you can substitute 1 teaspoon of dried mint for fresh.
More healthy burger recipes
- buffalo chicken burgers
- burger salad
- mahi-mahi burgers
- jalapeño ranch turkey burgers
- harissa salmon burgers
- sun-dried tomato chicken burgers
And if you love quick and easy meals and want to learn how to build a balanced plate, check out our FREE How to Build a Balanced Plate Guide!
Greek Lamb Burger
ingredients
Greek Lamb Burgers
- 1 pound ground lamb
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion (60 grams)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup parsley, chopped
- 1 packed tablespoon mint leaves, chopped (8-10 large leaves)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- salt and pepper, to taste
For serving
- 1/2 cup tzatziki sauce
- burger buns of choice
- toppings of choice: lettuce, tomato, red onion, feta, fresh dill…
instructions
- Heat the grill to medium-high heat.
- If making tzatziki sauce, do so and let it chill in the fridge until ready to assemble.
- While the grill heats up, make the burgers. Add the ground lamb, onion, garlic, parsley, mint, oregano, and salt and pepper in a large bowl. Mix well to combine, but try not to overmix too much. If desired, let the meat mixture marinate for an hour or more. It gives the burgers even more flavor but is unnecessary.
- Form the meat into 4 equal-sized patties. Use your hands to form a burger shape, with about one inch of thickness, and a small thumb-sized indent in the middle. This will help them cook evenly and not puff up.
- Grill burgers. Place lamb burger patties on grill grates over direct heat and grill for 4-5 minutes per side, flipping once. While the burgers grill, prepare your toppings.
- Enjoy! Top each burger with 2 tablespoons of tzatziki sauce and serve in lettuce wraps or buns with additional toppings of choice.
Susan says
Have you or anyone BAKED THESE BURGERS?
I cannot grill.
Kelly Nardo says
Hey, Susan! I haven’t tried it, but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. I would suggest 20-25 minutes at 350 Fahrenheit. You can also pan-fry them!
Karen Lehoux says
Excellent, cooked in seasoned black iron skillet 5 minutes per side. Made changes due to ing on hand (dried herbs vs. fresh)
Kelly says
Happy to hear you liked then Karen – thanks for trying them!
Sue says
My family loved these burgers!
Kelly says
So glad they enjoyed them! Thanks for trying them Sue!
Dad says
Looks great
Kelly says
New favorite burger!