Greek Chicken Burgers with Tzatziki Recipe
These Greek Chicken Burgers with Tzatziki are a flavorful and healthy twist on the classic burger. Made with ground chicken, fresh herbs, spinach, and creamy feta cheese, these patties are sautéed or grilled to juicy perfection and served with a refreshing homemade tzatziki sauce. Perfect for a light dinner or a satisfying lunch, these burgers bring Mediterranean flair to your table with wholesome ingredients and vibrant flavors.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Greek
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Greek Chicken Burgers
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 green onions, chopped
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 1/2 cups frozen spinach, drained and minced
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Tzatziki Sauce
- 1 large English cucumber, peeled and grated
- Coarse sea salt, to taste
- 3 cloves garlic, mashed to a paste
- 1 green onion, minced (for garnish)
- 2 cups strained yogurt
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped
Instructions
- Prepare aromatics: Mince the garlic and chop the green onions. Heat a sauté pan over medium heat, add coconut oil, then the garlic and green onions. Sauté gently for about 2 minutes, stirring frequently to release their flavors without browning the garlic. Then remove from heat.
- Prepare spinach: Thoroughly ring out any excess liquid from the frozen spinach and mince finely to distribute evenly in the burger mixture.
- Mix burger ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the sautéed garlic and green onions, minced spinach, ground chicken, dried oregano, dried basil, crumbled feta cheese, sea salt, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly until evenly incorporated, then form the mixture into burger patties of your desired size.
- Cook burgers: Grill or sauté the chicken patties over medium heat, cooking each side until the internal temperature reaches at least 160°F (71°C), ensuring they are cooked through and juicy.
- Prepare tzatziki: Peel and grate the cucumber using a box grater. Sprinkle the grated cucumber with generous coarse sea salt and let sit for 5 minutes. Then, gently squeeze out as much liquid as possible to avoid a watery sauce.
- Combine tzatziki ingredients: Mash the garlic cloves into a paste and mince the green onions. In a bowl, whisk together strained yogurt, extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, and fresh dill until smooth and creamy. Fold in the shredded, drained cucumber and add sea salt to taste. Garnish with the minced green onion.
- Chill tzatziki: Refrigerate the tzatziki sauce for at least 2-3 hours to allow the flavors to meld and intensify.
- Serve: Serve the hot Greek chicken burgers topped with chilled tzatziki sauce either on a pita bread or on a bed of fresh greens for a nutritious and flavorful meal.
Notes
- Ensure to squeeze out excess moisture from the spinach and cucumber to prevent soggy burgers and watery tzatziki.
- Do not brown the garlic when sautéing; cook just until fragrant to avoid bitterness.
- Use a food thermometer to guarantee the chicken burgers reach a safe internal temperature.
- The tzatziki sauce improves in flavor after refrigeration, so prepare it in advance for best taste.
- For a gluten-free option, serve the burgers without pita or with gluten-free bread.
Keywords: Greek chicken burgers, tzatziki sauce, healthy chicken burgers, Mediterranean burger recipe, low fat chicken burger, homemade tzatziki
