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Is it really summer if you’re not grilling burgers at least once a week? Shake things up a little with these Greek-Inspired Grilled Lamb Burgers, which are packed with Mediterranean ingredients for a light and flavorful bite!
This recipe was inspired by the flavors of classic Mediterranean dishes like Lamb Kefta and beef shawarma. Each burger patty is filled with warming spices like cumin and paprika, then grilled to perfection. Instead of classic burger buns, I opted to serve these burgers in pita pockets packed full of a cooling and herby tzatziki sauce, lettuce, tomato, and onions. This results in a perfectly tender burger with fresh ingredients that taste even better on a warm summer night. They just feel lighter, brighter, and just a great twist on a classic American hamburger.
I know some folks are a little hesitant to cook with lamb, but I know you’re going to love the combination of beef and lamb in these burgers. While you can absolutely ground beef only in this recipe, I really encourage you to try the combination of lamb and beef for an elevated flavor that will really take your burgers to the next level. Serve them with my Greek-Inspired Feta Fries with Romesco Ranch for the ultimate Mediterranean meal!
ingredients:
- Ground Lamb
- Ground Beef
- Shallots
- Garlic Cloves
- Kosher Salt
- Dried Oregano
- Ground Cumin
- Paprika
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- Plain Greek Yogurt
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Mini Cucumbers
- Fresh Dill
- Freshly Squeezed Lemon Juice
- Distilled White Vinegar
- Avocado Oil
- Romaine Lettuce
- Tomato
- Red Onion
- Pita Bread
step-by-step:
step one: make the patties
In a large bowl, combine the lamb, beef, shallots, garlic, salt, oregano, cumin, paprika, and pepper and mix until just combined (be careful not to overwork the meat). Form into 4 (1/2-inch thick) patties. Set aside.
step two: make the yogurt sauce
In a small bowl, combine the yogurt, olive oil, garlic, dill, cucumbers, lemon juice, vinegar, and salt. Stir to combine, then cover and chill until ready to serve.
step three: prep the grill
Preheat the grill over medium-high heat (about 400°F). Dip a wadded paper towel in the avocado oil and, using tongs, wipe the oil evenly over the grates. Be careful not to use too much oil to avoid starting a flare-up—a little goes a long way here.
step four: grill the burgers
Place the burgers on the grill and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Flip and cook until the burgers are done to your liking, about 3 more minutes for medium. Remove from the grill and let rest for 5 minutes.
step five: stuff the pita pockets
Serve in the pita pockets filled with lettuce, tomato, onion, and tzatziki.
recipe faqs
Definitely! Use a heavy-bottomed skillet (like cast iron) or a grill pan to cook the burgers on your stovetop. No need to adjust the cook time!
Yes! It’ll keep in an airtight container in the fridge for about 5 days.
I know these Greek-Inspired Grilled Lamb Burgers are going to be a hit on your tables all summer long! Let me know what you think of this recipe in the comments below.
Looking for more burger recipes? try these!
Smashburgers with Special Truffle Sauce
Greek-Inspired Grilled Lamb Burgers
Ingredients
For the Burgers:
- 1 pound ground lamb
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/4 cup minced shallot (from about 1 large shallot)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 1½ teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil (for grilling)
For the Easy Tzatziki:
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup finely chopped mini cucumbers (from about 1 mini cucumber)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tablespoon minced dill
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
For Serving:
- 2 cups thinly sliced romaine lettuce
- 1 tomato, thinly sliced
- 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 pita breads, halved
Instructions
Form the Burgers:
- In a large bowl, combine the lamb, beef, shallots, garlic, salt, oregano, cumin, paprika, and pepper and mix until just combined (be careful not to overwork the meat). Form into 4 (1/2-inch thick) patties. Set aside.
Make the Easy Tzatziki:
- In a small bowl, combine the yogurt, cucumber, olive oil, garlic, dill, lemon juice, vinegar, and salt. Stir to combine, then cover and chill until ready to serve.
Prep the Grill:
- Preheat the grill over medium-high heat (about 400°F). Dip a wadded paper towel in the avocado oil and, using tongs, wipe the oil evenly over the grates. Be careful not to use too much oil to avoid starting a flare-up—a little goes a long way here.
Grill the Burgers:
- Place the burgers on the grill and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Flip and cook until the burgers are done to your liking, about 3 more minutes for medium. Remove from the grill and let rest for 5 minutes.
- Serve in the pita pockets filled with lettuce, tomato, onion, and tzatziki.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Food Photography and Styling by Eat Love Eats.
Delicious! Great tzatziki recipe
Thank you Becca!
delicious! Will definitely make these again!
beyond delicious! finally found a lamb burger we love.
Alex, this recipe is fire! We’ve made it twice and love it more every time. The flavors, the cooling tzatziki, fresh dill, everything!!
First time we used pita and it was kinda messy, so the next time we used sturdier naan bread and it was the perfect sandwich/burger! Thank you!
Love that swap, thanks for commenting!
These are delish and come together easily! Loved this one ❤️
Can you do these on a cast iron too?
Definitely!
Hi Alex— we are a dairy free household. Could you swap coconut yogurt for the Greek yogurt in the sauce?
These were soooo good! I couldn’t find lamb at any of my local grocery store so just did the ground beef and the flavor was incredible! Thanks for the great recipe!
These were incredible! Another fantastic recipe, thank you Alex.
So happy they were a hit!
These were excellent. This will for sure be in the summer rotation. We didn’t use the pita but we brushed the bottom of our plate with the Tzatziki and hummus and then added lettuce with the burger on top!
Love this serving option! Glad you enjoyed these burgers.