Greek Turkey Burgers

Easy, healthy, and packed with flavor, these Greek Turkey Burgers are served on butter lettuce and topped with homemade Tzatziki sauce! My husband tells me this is THE BEST turkey burger recipe he has ever had – but you’ll have to try them for yourself and decide.

Today, I’m sharing a nutritious turkey burger recipe that can be ready to enjoy in under 30 minutes. It’s very simple and straightforward, but packed with flavor thanks to the roasted red bell peppers, Kalamata olives, feta cheese and spices. With all of the add-in ingredients, these burgers have the best texture and are fresh, light and filled with deliciousness!

You can enjoy them with a bun for a traditional burger, add some sweet potato fries or a side salad for a complete meal. Or serve them on a salad or butter lettuce for a lighter, low carb meal.

Ingredients needed

Along with ground turkey (or chicken), you’ll just need a few other extras to make the burgers, plus my healthy Tzatziki sauce and any other toppings your heart desires. Here’s everything you’ll need:

• Ground turkey – I like to use a 93% lean ground turkey or chicken so that it still has a bit of fat content to stay nice and juicy. Feel free to use extra lean, though, if you prefer.
• Seasonings – A blend of garlic powder, oregano, salt and pepper is added to the ground meat for delicious flavor.
• Yogurt – The addition of plain yogurt makes these burger super moist and gives them a wonderful texture. You can sub with Greek yogurt and use full fat or nonfat.
• Extras – Jarred roasted peppers, Kalamata olives and feta cheese are mixed in to give this recipe that classic Greek flavor.

How to make this recipe

Making Greek turkey burgers is super quick and easy! You can use a grill pan or skillet inside or make these on an outside grill. Here’s the simple process:

For the printable recipe, scroll down to the recipe card below.

1. Make the burger patties – In a large bowl, mix the ground turkey with the spices and yogurt. Once everything is combined, add the peppers, olives and feta to the mixture and gently work into the meat until the ingredients are evenly distributed. Form into four patties.
2. Cook the patties – Heat a grill or grill pan over medium heat and place burger on the pan. Grill for about 4 to 6 minutes per side and until internal temperature of the burgers reaches 165ºF.
3. Serve & enjoy – Place burgers inside a few leaves of butter lettuce (or on buns) and top with a couple of tablespoons of Tzatziki sauce and enjoy.

Tips for recipe success

Here are my top tips for the best ground turkey burgers:

• Do not over mix – When combining the ground meat with the other ingredients, be careful not to over mix. This can lead to tough burgers.
• Making patties – The turkey mixture can be a bit sticky. To prevent the meat from sticking to your hands when forming the patties, dampen your hands with a bit of water before touching the meat.
• Don’t press the patties – Try to avoid pressing down on the burger patties while they are cooking, it presses out the natural juices and could make them dry.
• Meat thermometer. It’s a good idea to use a food thermometer, so you know exactly when your burger is fully cooked. Temperature of the inside center should reach 165ºF.

Customize your burger

One of the best things about serving burgers is that they are so easy to customize to different taste preferences and what’s available. Here’s some options:

• Meat – This recipe works best with a mild flavored meat, like chicken or turkey.
• Toppings – These are great with the addition of fresh produce like tomato, lettuce, red onion or avocado, or keep them simple with the sauce.
• Serving ideas – Pick your favorite buns, use lettuce wraps or stuff these in a pita. You can even serve these Greek turkey burgers on top of salad greens with other veggies. Another option is to make a grain bowl with quinoa, greens, maybe some sautéed bell peppers, olives and artichokes.

Make ahead

These turkey burgers make the best meal prep dinner that you can freeze for later!

You can freeze the patties before or after cooking. I like to put wax or parchment paper in between the layers of patties, if stacking them. Freeze them for up to 3 months. To reheat, let them thaw in the fridge before reheating in the microwave or on the grill pan for a couple minutes on each side. To reheat directly from frozen, rewarm on the stovetop.

Storing tips

Store any leftover turkey burgers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat them in the microwave, on the grill pan or in a skillet.

More healthy burger recipes to try

• Lentil Sloppy Joes
• Salmon Burgers
• Homemade Veggie Burgers
• Sweet & Smoky Turkey Burgers

If you make this turkey burger recipe, be sure to leave a comment and ★ rating below letting me know how it turned out. Your feedback is so helpful for me and our Clean & Delicious community (thank you!).