How to Make the Best Juicy Grilled Turkey Burgers

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These grilled turkey burgers studded with feta cheese and red onion and dressed with tzatziki sauce are extremely flavorful and juicy! Not only are Greek turkey burgers delicious, this recipe is so easy to prep and cook it deserves a regular spot in your weekly meal plans!

a greek turkey burger with red onion on a wooden board on a table.

Mixing lean ground turkey with crumbled feta cheese, finely diced red onion, dried oregano, and lemon zest infuses these burgers with distinct Greek flavor. To round it all out, serve the burgers on a grilled bun slathered with a homemade cucumber yogurt sauce and the condiments of your choice.

Why you’ll love this easy Turkey Burger recipe!

  • Juicy and flavorful. Feta cheese in the meat is the trick!
  • Easy prep. Only 10 minutes and you’re ready to cook.
  • Fresh ingredients. Lemon zest and fresh mint give the burgers and sauce extra zing!
Ingredients for Greek Turkey Burgers on a table.

Ingredient notes

  • Lean ground turkey — Be sure the package indicates “lean” ground turkey, otherwise it may include darker thigh and leg meat that adds calories and fat to the meat
  • Crumbled feta cheese — You may need to break up some of the bigger pieces with your fingers as you work it into the meat
  • Red onion — Red onion can be overpowering sometimes, but not so much when they are finely diced and cooked in the burgers. If you’re not a fan, substitute chopped kalamata olives instead.
  • Lemon — Fresh lemon zest really boosts up the flavor of the burgers
  • Plain Greek yogurt — For the healthiest option, go for the fat-free version
  • English cucumber — You may also use a regular cucumber, but I think the English cucumber has better flavor for this recipe.
  • Fresh mint — Leave it out of the tzatziki sauce in a crunch, but you’ll miss the freshness it adds.

How to make Greek turkey burgers with tzatziki sauce

Once grilling season arrives, we cook outdoors at least two to three times a week — and not just on the weekends. These healthy turkey burgers can be ready in less than 30 minutes, so it’s a perfect weeknight grilling option for us.

STEP 1 | Season the meat

In a large bowl, mix together the ground turkey, feta cheese, red onion, a teaspoon dried oregano, lemon zest, and salt. Add a grind or two of freshly ground black pepper, if you like.

Divide the mixture into 4 equal sized balls and shape into 1/2-inch think patties.

mixing ingredients into ground turkey in a glass bowl for Greek Turkey Burgers.

STEP 2 | Grill the burgers & buns

Preheat the grill to medium high heat and lightly oil the grill grates.

Place the burgers on the grate over direct heat and cook for 5 minutes on each side, or until done.

Lightly brush olive oil on the split side of the buns, then place them on the grill cut side down and toast for 1 to 2 minutes.

uncooked Greek turkey burgers on a white plate on a table.

STEP 3 | Prepare tzatziki sauce

Grate the cucumber with a box grater (I love using my OXO grate and slice set for this task).

Wrap the grated cucumber in cheesecloth, then gently squeeze to remove excess moisture from the grated cucumber.

In a small bowl, stir the cucumber together with Greek yogurt, freshly chopped mint, and salt.

process steps for making cucumber sauce for Greek Turkey Burgers.

Step 4 | Assemble the burgers

Spread tzatziki sauce on the top and bottom bun.

Add a turkey burger and top it with lettuce, thin slices of cucumber, and red onion, if desired. 

Do you love to grill? You may enjoy these other go-to weeknight recipes like my Easy Grilled Pork Chop Marinade or my most popular Grilled Salmon in Foil with a slightly sweet and smoky flavor that comes out perfect every time!

condiments for greek turkey burgers on a white plate.

tips

  • Don’t skip squeezing out the moisture from the grated cucumber or the sauce will get watery.
  • If you don’t have cheesecloth, layer a couple of paper towels together and use that instead.

Variations and substitutions

  • Make Chicken Burgers. Substitute ground chicken for the turkey for a delicious twist.
  • Not a fan of tzatziki? Try this delicious spread Roasted Red Pepper and Artichoke Tapenade instead.
  • Try other condiments. Dress your turkey burgers with other condiments like sliced tomato, pickled banana peppers, or fresh spinach leaves.

Storage and reheating tips

  • Store leftover turkey burgers refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days. To reheat, wrap in aluminum foil and heat in a 350-degree oven until warm.
  • Uncooked turkey burgers may be frozen for up to 3 months.

Frequently asked questions

Can you cook these turkey burgers on the stove?

If you don’t want to fire up the grill, heat a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add a tablespoon canola oil and cook the burgers for 5 minutes on each side, until done.

How do you know when turkey burgers are done?

To be completely sure your turkey burger is done, use a quick read digital thermometer to confirm the internal temperature has reached 165 degrees.

Should I grill turkey burgers with the lid open or closed?

Leave the grill lid open when cooking burgers so the grill’s heat doesn’t build up and intensify too much.

a greek turkey burger on a wooden board on a table.

Looking for more gourmet burger recipes?

Next time, fire up the grill and try these Blueberry Blue Cheese Bacon Burgers or these Italian Garlic Butter Burgers — YUM!

a greek turkey burger on a wooden board on a table.

First Published: October 3, 2016. Last Updated: April 8, 2021.

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a greek turkey burger with red onion on a wooden board on a table.

Greek Turkey Burgers with Tzatziki Sauce

These grilled Greek Turkey Burgers are so flavorful and juicy you'll forget that they are actually healthy, too! Seasoned with Feta cheese and Greek spices.
4.88 from 8 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course Grilling & Smoking
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 434 kcal

Ingredients
  

Turkey Burgers

  • 1 lb. lean ground turkey
  • 1 4-oz. pkg. crumbled feta cheese
  • ¼ cup finely chopped red onion
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 4 hamburger buns split and toasted
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Tzatziki Sauce

  • ½ cup grated English cucumber
  • 1 6 ounce fat-free Greek yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions
 

Turkey Burgers

  • Preheat the grill to medium high heat, about 400 degrees.
  • In a large bowl, mix together the ground turkey, feta cheese, red onion, oregano, lemon zest, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Divide into 4 equal balls and shape into 1/2-inch think patties.
  • Lightly oil the grill grates and cook burgers over direct heat for 5 minutes on each side, or until done.
  • Brush the split side of the buns with olive oil. Grill cut side down for 1 to 2 minutes, until toasted.
  • Serve the turkey burgers on grilled buns with tzatziki sauce and desired toppings.

Tzatiziki Sauce

  • Grate the cucumber (do not peel). Wrap the grated cucumber in cheesecloth and squeeze gently to remove the moisture.
  • Add the cucumber to a small bowl with the yogurt, mint, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir to combine, then refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

Original recipe by Southern Living, 2010
  • Don’t skip squeezing out the moisture from the grated cucumber or the sauce will get watery. If you don’t have cheesecloth, layer a couple of paper towels together and use that instead.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 434kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 37gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 125mgSodium: 926mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5g

Life Love and Good Food does not claim to be a registered dietician or nutritionist. Nutritional information shared on this site is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.

Keyword 30 minute recipe, Greek, grilled, red onion, turkey burger, tzatziki sauce
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was.

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6 Comments

  1. This turkey burger is AMAZING and bursting with flavors! My kids, who normally want cheeseburgers, were enthralled with these flavors, too.

  2. These burgers were amazing! Made them for dinner last night and they were a hit! LOVE the tzatziki sauce!

  3. The hubs and I LOVE Greek food and these burgers were such a treat! Thanks for another great recipe!

  4. These are so delicious Sheila, made them last night for supper and they are so flavorful, love too how thick the tzatziki sauce is!

  5. Now THIS looks like a real turkey burger! Thick, juicy and full of bold greek flavors. I need to make these soon!

  6. Pingback: Greek Chicken Kabobs
4.88 from 8 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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