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My Greek inspired Feta Burger with Tzatziki is a great recipe for anyone who enjoys burgers as much as I do. The beef patties are flavored with tangy feta cheese, red onion, roasted red peppers, and a combination of Greek inspired herbs and seasonings.
These Feta Burgers with Tzatziki take about 35 minutes start to finish and use feta mixed right into the patty, not just piled on top, so every bite gets that salty, tangy flavor. Ground beef is combined with roasted red peppers, red onion, parsley, oregano, and feta, then grilled until juicy and topped with a cool, creamy tzatziki. The feta keeps the patties moist while they cook, and the Mediterranean herb blend gives them real depth without a long ingredient list. This is the burger I make when I want a weeknight dinner that still feels special, or when I’m grilling for a crowd that wants something more interesting than a plain cheeseburger.
I grew up with Lebanese and Mediterranean cooking in my house, where yogurt-based sauces and salty cheeses showing up in unexpected places, like inside a burger patty, is just how we eat. That’s the inspiration behind this recipe. For ease, I like to serve this burger with a quick Greek salad on the side like this Village Greek Salad or this Greek Chickpea Salad. My other favorite burger recipes include my Tex Mex Burger, Mediterranean Burger, Easy Greek Burger and Greek Chicken Burger.
Why This Recipe Works
• Feta mixed into the patty, not just on top, keeps the beef moist. As the burger cooks, the feta softens and bastes the meat from the inside, which is why these patties stay juicy even with lean 80/20 beef.
• Finely mincing the onion and roasted red pepper prevents the patties from falling apart. Large pieces create weak points that break apart on the grill, while finely minced pieces bind into the meat.
• Tzatziki added after cooking, not before, keeps the burger from getting soggy. The yogurt sauce stays cool and distinct against the hot, juicy patty instead of melting into it.
Recipe Ingredients You’ll Need
Please see the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts and instructions.
- Beef: I have used 2 pounds of ground beef, 80/20 which will give you 4 good sized burgers. You could also make these burgers using ground lamb.
- Bell Peppers: I add 1/4 cup of roasted red peppers from a jar for convenience in the burger itself. I then like to add some finely chopped red bell peppers on top.
- Onion: I add red onion to the burger mix as it has a great mild flavor. You could substitute with a yellow onion or shallots. I also like to add fresh red onion to top the burger.
- Herbs: I use a combination of dried oregano and fresh parley to flavor the meat.
- Seasoning: I season my burgers with paprika, garlic powder, salt and black pepper.
- Feta: A 1/4 cup of feta cheese adds a great salty tang to the burger mix. I also like to add some extra feta as a topping to the cooked burger.
- Tzatziki: A drizzle of tzatziki sauce adds great flavor to this Greek flavored feta burger.
Ways to Modify these Burgers
- Vegetables: Try adding finely diced vegetables to the beef mixture. You could add diced bell peppers, zucchini, diced onion or shallots or diced roasted red peppers.
- Greens: Top your burgers with greens like kale, arugula or romaine lettuce.
- Pickled Vegetables: Pickled vegetables would be great as a topping on these burgers. I suggest trying my Pickled Red Onion or these Pickled Vegetables.
- Cheese: I love the feta cheese in these burgers but you could sub in goat cheese or blue cheese.
- Other ingredients: I love adding chopped olives to the beef mixture. You could add in kalamata olives or chopped green olives.
How to Make Feta Burgers
Step 1: Make Beef Patties: To make the burgers combine the ground beef, with roasted red peppers, red onion, parsley, oregano, paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper and feta cheese in a large mixing bowl and mix well with your hands.
Step 1: Make Beef Patties: To make the burgers combine the ground beef, with roasted red peppers, red onion, parsley, oregano, paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper and feta cheese in a large mixing bowl and mix well with your hands.
Step 2: Create Burgers: Portion the beef mixture into four even sized patties and set aside.
Step 3: Cook Burgers: Heat the broiler to medium high and grill the burgers until cooked through, roughly 8-10 minutes each side. Flip the burgers over mid way through the cook to ensure a nice crisp outside. The burgers are cooked when they reach an internal temperature of 160°F.
Step 4: Assemble Burgers: To assemble the burger, layer the bottom of the bun onto a plate. Next layer on the sliced red onion, sliced tomato and lettuce on the bun. Add the freshly cooked burger and top with the tzatziki, feta cheese, finely minced red onion and red bell pepper.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using pre-crumbled feta instead of a block. Pre-crumbled feta is drier and has less flavor. A block of feta in brine, crumbled by hand, gives a creamier texture and stronger tang.
- Overmixing the beef mixture. Mixing past the point of “just combined” makes the patties dense and tough instead of tender.
- Skipping the indentation in the center of the patty. Burgers puff up in the middle as they cook. A thumbprint indentation in the center keeps the patty flat.
- Not using a meat thermometer. Guessing doneness leads to either undercooked or dried-out burgers. Pull the patties at 160°F.
- Adding tzatziki too early. Topping the burger with tzatziki before it rests can make the bun soggy. Add it just before serving.
What to Serve with Feta Burgers?
- I almost always serve some form of potato with my burgers. Try making these Spicy Lebanese Potatoes, Lemon Cilantro Potatoes, Gouda Smashed Potatoes or Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes.
- Salads are always a great addition and I usually serve two different options. We love making this Easy Mexican Coleslaw, Mediterranean Bean Salad, Summer Orzo Pasta Salad or this Lemon Arugula Salad.
- When I make burgers I often like to serve a vegetable with it, if I’m not serving salad. I especially like these Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables, Simple Garlic Parmesan Green Beans or Turmeric Cauliflower.
Storage and Reheating
- Refrigerator: Store cooked, cooled patties in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Keep the tzatziki separate in its own container.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked patties for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Reheating: Warm patties in a skillet over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or in the microwave in 30-second intervals, until heated through. Add fresh tzatziki after reheating rather than storing it on the burger.
Recipe FAQ
Once cooked, allow the burgers to cool down and place in an airtight container. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, remove from the freezer and defrost in the refrigerator. Then once defrosted place the burgers into a hot oven to warm through.
I like to divide my burger mixture into 4 portions of equal weight. I then try and ensure that they are all shaped similar in both size and thickness. This ensures that the burgers all cook evenly when under the grill.
Yes. Mix and form the patties up to a day in advance, cover, and refrigerate until ready to grill. The tzatziki can also be made up to 2 days ahead and stored in the refrigerator.
Yes. Cook the patties in a skillet over medium-high heat for about 4 to 5 minutes per side, until they reach an internal temperature of 160°F.
Ground lamb works well in place of beef for a richer, more traditional Mediterranean flavor. Ground turkey is a leaner option, though you may want to add a tablespoon of olive oil to the mixture to keep it moist.
More Burger Recipes
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Feta Burger with Tzatziki
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef, 80/20
- 1/4 cup roasted red peppers or red bell peppers, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons red onion, finely minced
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- Hamburger buns
- 1 cup of Tzatziki Sauce, divided
- Red Bell Peppers, finely chopped for garnish
- Red onion, finely chopped for garnish
- Sliced red onion, tomato and lettuce for garnish
Instructions
- Combine ground beef, roasted red peppers, red onion, parsley, oregano, paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper and feta cheese in a large mixing bowl and mix well with your hands.
- Portion the beef mixture into four patties, about 3/4 inch thick, pressing a shallow indentation into the center of each one. Grill over medium-high heat for 8 to 10 minutes per side, flipping once, until the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
- Lay the bottom of the bun on the plate. Layer sliced red onion, sliced tomato and lettuce on the bun. Add the burger.
- Top the burger with tzatziki, feta cheese, finely minced red onion and red bell pepper. Enjoy!
Notes
- Use a block of feta in brine and crumble it yourself for the best texture and flavor.
- Don’t overmix the beef, mix just until the ingredients are combined to keep the patties tender.
- Add tzatziki just before serving to keep the bun from getting soggy.
- Refrigerator: Store cooked, cooled patties in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Keep the tzatziki separate in its own container.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked patties for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Reheating: Warm patties in a skillet over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or in the microwave in 30-second intervals, until heated through. Add fresh tzatziki after reheating rather than storing it on the burger.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Easy and a great burger!