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Healthy Greek Turkey Burgers - Fresh, Flavorful, and Easy

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • For the patties:
  • 1.5 pounds lean ground turkey (93% lean works best)
  • 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
  • 1/4 cup grated yellow onion (with juices)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill (or 1 teaspoon dried)
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • Optional: 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • For the yogurt sauce:
  • 3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt (2% or whole for best texture)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped dill or mint
  • 1 small garlic clove, grated
  • Pinch of salt and pepper
  • For serving:
  • Whole-wheat buns or toasted pita
  • Cucumber slices or quick cucumber-tomato salad
  • Red onion, thinly sliced
  • Lettuce or arugula
  • Tomato slices

Method
 

  1. Make the sauce. In a small bowl, stir together Greek yogurt, lemon juice and zest, dill or mint, grated garlic, salt, and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning. Refrigerate while you prepare the burgers.
  2. Grate the onion. Use the large holes of a box grater to grate the onion. Don’t drain the juices; they help keep the burgers moist.
  3. Mix the patties. In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, feta, grated onion, garlic, parsley, dill, oregano, lemon zest and juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Gently mix until just combined. Do not overwork or the burgers can turn tough.
  4. Form the burgers. Divide the mixture into 4 large or 5 medium patties, about 1/2 inch thick. Press a small indent in the center of each patty to prevent doming as they cook.
  5. Chill briefly (optional but helpful). Place patties on a plate, cover, and refrigerate for 15–20 minutes. This helps them hold together better on the grill or in the pan.
  6. Cook on the stovetop. Heat a large nonstick skillet or cast-iron pan over medium heat. Lightly oil the pan. Cook patties 4–5 minutes per side, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
  7. Or grill them. Preheat the grill to medium-high and oil the grates. Grill 4–5 minutes per side, flipping once, until cooked through.
  8. Rest and assemble. Let the burgers rest for 3 minutes. Serve on buns or in warm pita with yogurt sauce, cucumber, tomato, red onion, and greens.