Homemade Greek Lamb Burgers [Video]

Homemade Greek Lamb Burgers are juicy and made with ground lamb, aromatics, red onion, and topped with a fresh Greek yogurt sauce. It is grilled to perfection and served on toasted buns. Do you want a taste of Greek flavors, then learn how to easily make these!

This is one of the healthiest burgers you can have! To make your meal even more guilt-free, have them with a side of Creamy Cucumber Salad, Chickpea Salad, or the easiest Greek Salad.

These Greek burgers, are also know as Bifrekia are made with lamb meat, various spices, fresh herbs, and served with the most delicious homemade yogurt sauce. They are flavorful, easy to make, and just perfect to enjoy during summer times. 

Homemade Greek-Style Lamb Burgers take just a few more steps to make than your usual cheeseburger. However, I promise you they’re WORTH IT and will result in some of the best burgers you ever had. Every bite is literally an explosion in your mouth of bright flavors and textures.

It begins with the most amazing lamb patty flavored with lots of herbs, spices, and Dijon. We’re topping that with tabbouleh made of bulgur and chopped veggies with a splash of lemon. The toasted buns are spread with a mint yogurt sauce that makes everything taste so light and fresh.

Also, they taste absolutely gourmet. For full Mediterranean flavors, I love serving them on hamburger buns along with a Greek salad on the side. 

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Lamb burger ingredients:

• For the patties:

We’re using ground, fresh lamb seasoned with Dijon, Worcestershire, fresh parsley plus dried herbs, spices like cumin,  cayenne pepper, along salt and pepper. 

• The tabbouleh:

Prepare some bulgur wheat, finely chopped veggies like red onion and cucumber, plus olive oil and fresh lemon juice, and zest.

• The Yogurt based sauce:

This bright and fresh sauce is made of Greek yogurt (full fat), mint and dill, fresh garlic, and lemon juice.

• For the burgers:

Prepare some sesame seed buns, plus slices of tomatoes and bell peppers for grilling.

How to make a Greek Lamb Burger?

1. Begin with the tabbouleh. First, prep the bulgur by softening it with boiling water. Meanwhile, chop the vegetables along with fresh mint for the tabbouleh. In a large bowl, mix the veggies with the softened bulgur, then season with salt and black pepper. Toss with olive and lemon. 
2. Mix the sauce. Stir the yogurt with the rest of the components for the sauce. Then, chill.
3. Make the patties. Next, in a medium bowl, mix the ground meat mixture with the dried herbs and spices, cayenne, Worcestershire, and Dijon. Shape into patties. 
4. Grill. Cook the lamb patties on your hot grill, about 3-4 mins per side. Grill the tomato rounds and bell peppers as well. You may also toast the buns if you wish.
5. Assemble. Spread sauce on the bottom bun, then top with bell peppers. Add the patty, followed by grilled tomato, then more mint yogurt sauce. Carefully spoon tabbouleh to finish and top with bun. Enjoy hot!

Topping suggestions:

Some of our favorite toppings for these are:

• Crumbled feta cheese
• Very thinly sliced onions
• Chopped olives
• Kalamata olives
• Chopped green or red bell peppers
• Greens like baby spinach, arugula, rocket, and lettuce
• Cucumber slices
• Sauces like mint yogurt, Homemade Tzatziki Sauce, and Horseradish sauce

Of course, you can also add anything you like to your burgers! Try other cheeses like cheddar and mozzarella, your favorite vegetables, and other burger toppings you love.

Can lamb burgers be pink?

You can have it medium-rare or medium, but for safety, don’t go by color to tell when the patties are done. If you want absolute perfect results and an extra juicy burger, start cooking the patties over the cooler side until they get up to around 100 degrees F. 

Then, finish them off on the hot side of the grill until they reach about 130 degrees F for a medium-rare burger. 

Also, if you want them fully cooked, then grill them until they reach 145 degrees F. Always use a meat thermometer to check their internal temperature. At 145 degrees F, it will still be a little pink, but it can be safely consumed. 

Are Grek lamb burgers healthy?

The patties themselves are incredibly healthy! They’re packed with protein but are lighter and less fatty than beef and pork. They also contain all 9 essential amino acids. These are essential for recovery and growth, which is why so many athletes and bodybuilders love this meat.

Aside from protein, it’s also a fantastic source of vitamins and minerals like B12, Zinc, Niacin, Iron, and more. 

Now, for the dish itself, it’s a very healthy one! Aside from the meat patties, we’re piling on the vegetables from both the tabbouleh and the toppings. There’s also yogurt in there, which is very good for digestion. 

So, in all, yes, lamb burgers are very good for you!

What to serve with them?

My family loves making these DIY! We make a mini buffet of toppings like grilled tomatoes and onions, a small bowl of feta, cucumbers, greens like arugula, and shredded lettuce, olives, and sauces like Tzatziki and mint yogurt. This way, everyone can make their own!

If you want something more classic, you can assemble the burgers according to the recipe. Then, enjoy them with pita bread, or with healthy sides like Hummus and toasted pita chips, Roasted Sweet Potato Fries, or Baked Parmesan Zucchini Fries.

More lamb recipes to try:

How to store leftovers?

For any leftovers, store them separately in plastic wrap. Cool the meat patties first, then place them in a container with parchment in between to prevent them from sticking to each other. As for the tabbouleh and mint yogurt sauce, store them in separate air-tight containers.

Keep all of them in the fridge for up to 3 days, but try to consume them as early as you can.

Cooking Tips:

• For juicy burgers, always keep the lamb mixture chilled while the grill is heating. 
• Make the patties a bit bigger than your buns. Also, using your thumb push the center of each patty to make a little dent. This will prevent the meat from contracting too much during grilling.
• Feel free to use your favorite seasoning. Some great alternatives would be onion powder, chili powder, etc. 
• Chill your patties while you’re heating up the grill! This helps them stay intact. 
• Avoid overhandling the meat. Once they’re on the grill, don’t touch them too much. Flip once, and that’s it. First, this prevents them from falling apart. It also ensures they get a nice, brown crust and cook evenly.
• Alternatively, make these with ground beef and turn them into beef burgers. The cookings steps will be the same. 
• Although I like grilling them on a charcoal grill, you can easily cook the ground lamb burgers on a grill pan, a gas grill. Also, cook them on a stove top in a cast iron skillet, over medium-high heat.