Greek Lamb Burger

Spice up burger night with this Greek-style Lamb Burger recipe! All-star Greek flavors bring this easy dinner to the next level, with Mediterranean-style seasonings like fresh parsley, mint, cumin, and oregano. Serve with creamy Tzatziki Sauce, tangy feta cheese, briny olives, and fresh bell peppers!

Ground meat is generally underrated in the gourmet dinner category, but ask any Greek yiayia and you’ll get a list of tasty dinners, from Soutzokakia (saucy baked meatballs) to beautiful baked Gemista Stuffed Tomatoes. This Greek lamb burger recipe follows suit, turning humble ground lamb into a five-star meal with bold Greek flavor-makers.

The secret is in the meat mixture, which combines fresh garlic and herbs with aromatic spices like oregano, earthy cumin, and paprika. The spices lend a deeply savory flavor, while the fresh aromatics lighten things perfectly. It’s unexpected yet super comforting and familiar! You’ll love every bite! 

Plus, this recipe is very versatile to suit your tastes. Don’t do dairy? Swap the Tzatziki Sauce for Tahini Sauce and skip the feta cheese. Prefer ground beef? The patty seasoning is delicious with ground beef too. Avoiding gluten? Serve wrapped in lettuce! Everyone is welcome at this next-level burger night! 

Table of Contents

1. Lamb Burger Ingredients and Substitutions
1. For the Lamb Patties
2. The Fixings
2. Ingredient Spotlight
3. How to Make Greek-Style Lamb Burgers
4. What to Serve with Lamb Burgers
5. More Mediterranean-Style Burger Recipes
6. Greek Lamb Burgers Recipe

Lamb Burger Ingredients and Substitutions

This lamb burger recipe brings a strong, decidedly Greek flavor but uses all easy-to-find ingredients, many of which you may already have on hand. You’ll need:

For the Lamb Patties

• Ground lamb: I love the robust flavor of an all-lamb burger, but you can use a 50/50 mixture of ground lamb and beef (or all beef) if you prefer.
• Red onion adds a sweet and savory note without overpowering, but you can substitute with 1/2 grated white or yellow onion or minced shallot. 
• Garlic: It wouldn’t be a Greek-style lamb burger without garlic! Grate or mince fresh garlic cloves for an assertive flavor. 
• Fresh herbs: Parsley and mint lift the savory flavor, adding a refreshing note. Any tender green herbs would work in their place like cilantro or dill. If you prefer to use dried herbs, substitute with just a pinch as they are significantly stronger.  
• Seasonings: Dried oregano, ground cumin, paprika, and cayenne pepper (optional) dial the classic Greek flavors up a notch: aromatic, slightly warming, and subtly spicy. If your spice drawer needs a refresh you can stock up at our spice shop. 
• Kosher salt and black pepper enhance the flavor. 
• Olive oil: Holds the lamb patty together and lends a fruity, peppery note. Any high-quality extra virgin variety works for this recipe, but I like to keep it Greek with our peppery Private Reserve Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil. 

The Fixings

• Burger buns or pita bread: Use quality store-bought buns or pita bread. Or make your own pita for a special treat! You could also make this lamb burger protein-style by wrapping it in iceberg lettuce. 
• Tzatziki sauce: This garlicky, creamy, herbaceous sauce is the perfect match for the richness of the lamb. Make your own tzatziki, use quality store-bought, or substitute with Tahini Sauce for a dairy-free option.
• Fresh toppings: I like sliced tomatoes, cucumber, red onions, and green bell pepper, but you can get creative with what you have on hand.
• Kalamata olives add a briney kick to balance the richness. Find my favorite Kalamata olives we sourced straight from Greece at our shop, or swap in any pickle or olive of your choice.
• Crumbled feta: I never say no to crumbled feta–use a block feta preserved in brine (rather than the pre-crumbled kind) for the best flavor. If you’d like to keep things dairy-free, you can absolutely make this burger without the feta. 

Ingredient Spotlight

When you go to Greece, there’s often a third spice on the table next to the salt and pepper: Oregano! That’s because oregano is a workhorse of any Greek kitchen—as essential as salt. A high-quality oregano makes all the difference, bringing an aromatic, deeply comforting quality to everything from Pork Souvlaki to Traditional Horiatiki (Greek Salad).

Look for dried oregano with a strong aroma and green (not brown) leaves, which are both indicators of freshness.

• TRY IT: Try our favorite Greek Oregano and whole Greek Oregano Bunch at our shop.

How to Make Greek-Style Lamb Burgers

You can make this lamb burger recipe on both an outdoor griddle or your stove. Refrigerating the lamb patties for a few minutes while you heat your grill helps them hold together better, but if you’re in a hurry you can get your grill heating while you make the patties and throw them right on. Here are the steps:

• Make the lamb burger mixture. To a large mixing bowl, add 2 pounds ground lamb, 1 grated red onion, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 cup chopped parsley, and 10 chopped mint leaves. Season with 2 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano, 2 teaspoons cumin, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne (optional), and a good pinch or two of salt and pepper. Add a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and mix until everything is well combined.
• Make the lamb patties. Divide the meat mixture into 8 equal portions. Using both hands, work meat into smooth spheres, then lightly press to form into patties. Arrange the patties on a large tray or dish, and with the tip of your thumb, press lightly to form a shallow, somewhat wide, depression into the center of each patty (this will keep the patty flat as it cooks). Cover and refrigerate as you heat your grill.
• Get ready to grill. Preheat an outdoor gas grill or an indoor griddle to medium. Get all your fixings ready to go–buns/pita, Tzatziki sauce, sliced tomatoes, bell pepper, red onion, Kalamata olives, and crumbled feta. 
• Grill the lamb burgers. When your grill/griddle is hot, lightly oil and arrange the lamb patties on top. Cover and grill over medium heat for 3 to 5 minutes on each side. The internal temperature for a medium burger should register 160°F–adjust the cooking time according to your desired doneness.
• Rest and serve. Allow the lamb burgers to rest for 5 to 10 minutes so it stays juicy. Serve in buns or pita pockets with your fixings of choice.

What to Serve with Lamb Burgers

I like to go both classic and fresh when I’m planning a burger night. Keep it classic with these Greek-Style Oven Fries, then go for a refreshing salad on the side, like this Bell Pepper Salad, which has a lot of complementary flavor without feeling like a carbon copy. For a special night, make this easy Baklava Ice Cream Sundae recipe.

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*This post has recently been updated with new information for readers’ benefit.