These spinach feta turkey burgers will transport you straight to Greece! Theyโre a classic family favorite at our house, with juicy patties and buttery burger buns. Slather the burgers generously with a refreshing, creamy tzatziki sauce made of yogurt, lemon, herbs and voila!
This recipe is a tribute to Greek cuisine which is rich with cheeses, meat, olive oil, herbs, yogurt and citrus flavors. Still, Greek recipes are quite balanced, providing the nutrients our bodies need!
These burgers are far from those at any fast food joints. I try to avoid highly processed foods when possible, so itโs important that these patties are made from scratch.
Speaking of healthโฆ.
Is this Recipe Healthier than Beef Burgers?
Beef and chicken are more common for burger patties. So why did I choose turkey for this recipe? Both beef and turkey are a great source of protein, vitamins and minerals. Having said that, turkey is lower in saturated fat than beef โ which is great for heart health! Turkey is also lower in calories, which means they are great for those on weight loss journeys. I love these burgers for a healthy week night dinner.
For many of you have been readers of the blog for a while now, know I make it a point to strike a balance in what I eat. Like Flourless Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins during the week and Homemade Margarita Pitcher with the girls on the weekend. Letโs cheers to that! Anyways back to these delicious turkey burgers.
Recipe Ingredients
Turkey Patty and Tzatziki Ingredients
Lean ground turkey
You may come across packaging that says 93% or some other number. These indicate how lean your meat is, with 99% being the leanest made of breast meat.
If a mix is preferred, ask the butcher to grind both breast and drumstick or thigh, with slightly higher fat content. Fresh ground turkey should be a light pink color. The vacuum pack that seals the meat should also wrap the ground meat nicely, but if the plastic has inflated, itโs a bad sign.
Feta cheese
Feta cheese is the MVP in this recipe for two reasons: it injects a tangy, briny taste to the patty, and being a source of fats, it is going to soften turkey and create a heavenly combination of textures. Unlike its cheddar, parmesan, or mozzarella counterparts which are yellow, good and fresh feta cheese is whitish.
Egg
Bind the patty together with feta and spinach.
Sweet onion/yellow onion and garlic
A must-have in burger patties! Not only are they great for masking any raw meat smell, they simply make the burger more palatable. Garlic will also be used in the optional tzatziki addition.
Seasoning
Salt and pepper, sea salt, basil, and dill.
Spinach
Spinach isnโt a common mix-in in burger patties, but surprisingly turkey goes quite well with spinach! Please see the next section for more information about suitable spinach choices.
Greek yogurt
The base of the tzatziki sauce is a non-flavored Greek yogurt, with a really thick and creamy consistency. You will find vanilla, strawberry, mango and a variety of other flavors, which make a good dessert, but simply wonโt work for tzatziki. I always reach for Olympic Greek yogurt!
Cucumber
Grated, squeezed and dried. This goes into the greek yogurt and enhances freshness.
Lemon juice
Tzatziki gets its citrusy flavor from freshly squeezed lemon juice or lime juice.
Extra virgin olive oil
Stirred into tzatziki for fragrant hints of Greek olive!
What Kind Of Spinach Should I Use For This Recipe?
There isnโt a specific type of spinach that I would recommend as most spinach varieties will work for this spinach feta turkey burger. The most important thing is that they are fresh! Not canned, not frozen. These leafy greens are healthy and refreshing but slightly bitter (you know what they say about bitter foods โ theyโre good for you!).
There are generally three types of spinach:
- Savoy: very crunchy, has dark green leaves, and possesses a crinkled texture
- Flat leaf: smooth, broad leaves in a bright green color
- Semi-savoy: a combination of both types, savoy and flat-leaf
No matter which type of spinach you manage to find at the market, make sure to chop them very finely before mixing it into the ground turkey. The last thing you want is to bite into a whole, bitter spinach leaf in your burger! Pro Tip: I throw my spinach into my food processor and within 10 seconds my spinach is finely chopped.
Step-by-Step Instructions
To make these spinach feta turkey burgers, you will need to make the turkey patties and tzatziki sauce from scratch. Fret not โ weโre going to do this step-by-step!
To prep:
Wash spinach and chop finely. Mince the garlic cloves and grate half of a large sweet onion. Also grate half a cup of cucumber. Drain the brine off the feta cheese and crumble the feta cheese into small bits.
To make turkey patty:
First, whisk the egg until it is smooth. In a large bowl, combine the turkey patty ingredients and the eggs. Mix well with your hands, making sure the turkey is evenly seasoned and the feta cheese has spread throughout.
Pro tip: To achieve a more tender patty, lightly oil your hands before mixing. We want to handle the turkey swiftly. Too much kneading creates meat gluten that will really toughen up the meat.
With your hands, roll the patty into a ball and press down firmly to form 4 patties. Make a small dent in the middle โ this allows the patty to stay in shape! Set aside for an hour or so to marinate the turkey.
Next, grill the patties on a cast iron skillet (a barbecue grill or pan is also fine!) over medium heat. Stop when the temperature of the turkey hits 160F, making sure itโs fully cooked through. The patty should start to brown and sizzle!
While waiting, spread some butter on burger buns and grill, allowing the butter to fully ooze into the bun as it melts.
To make tzatziki:
With your cheese grater, grate half a cup of cucumber. Cucumbers have high water content, so be sure to squeeze all the water out. Mix together the cucumber, greek yogurt, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, olive oil, salt, and dill. This can be put in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Assemble the burger:
Now that you have your separate parts, itโs time to put it all together to make magic.
Start off with half of a burger bun at the bottom, followed by any fresh vegetables of your choice (Iโve chosen the classic lettuce and tomato).
Next, put on the ground turkey patty. Spoon a generous helping of tzatziki sauce over the patty before placing the other bun over it.
Enjoy!
Storage Instructions
With these burgers tasting so darn good, I highly doubt there will be any leftovers! In any case, store grilled patties in the fridge. They will last up to three days. Uncooked patties should be wrapped tightly in cling wrap and stored in the fridge with minimal exposure to air โ these can be kept for up to two days only.
This spinach feta turkey burger is just one of my favorite Greek-inspired recipes! Have you checked out my Greek chicken kabobs with tzatziki? Itโs another one that should not be missed!
Frequently Asked Questions
Maintaining the shape of turkey burgers can be challenging, but hereโs a trick that works like a charm. After forming the patties, simply place them on a parchment paper-lined plate and chill them in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour or in the freezer for 15 minutes before cooking. This simple step helps the ingredients bind together, ensuring your burgers hold their form during cooking.
Mastering the flip of a turkey burger requires patience and precision. Wait until the bottom has formed a sear and holds its shape well. This usually takes around 8-10 minutes over medium-high heat. Flip the burger just once and then continue grilling for another 6-8 minutes until it reaches an internal temperature of 160ยบF. Constantly flipping or pressing down on the patty can cause it to lose moisture and become dry. So, resist the urge to play around with it while itโs on the grill for a perfectly juicy and flavorful burger!
Yes, lightly oil the BBQ grates before grilling turkey spinach feta burgers. This helps prevent sticking and ensures a beautiful sear on the patties while cooking. Simply brush the grates with oil using a grill brush or a folded paper towel dipped in oil. This little step will make flipping your burgers a breeze and keep them intact .
The best way to check is to insert a meat thermometer in the center of a patty. Theyโll continue cooking for a few minutes after being taken off the heat. Aim for an internal temperature of 160ยฐF while cooking, allowing them to rest for a few minutes until they reach 165ยฐF. This ensures theyโre cooked through without becoming dry.
Spinach Feta Turkey Burgers Recipe
Ingredients
SPINACH FETA BURGERS
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1 1/4 cup fresh spinach finely chopped
- 3/4 cup feta cheese crumbled
- 1 large sweet onion grated
- 1 egg whisked
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon basil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
TZATZIKI
- 1 1/2 cups cucumber grated & peeled (from about 1 medium cucumber)
- 2 cups thick whole milk Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 5 garlic cloves minced
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 3 tablespoons fresh dill chopped finely
Instructions
How To Make Spinach Feta Turkey Burgers
- In a small bowl crack egg and whisk egg until smooth.
- In a large bowl combine all of the Turkey Spinach Feta burger ingredients plus the whisked egg and mix well.
- Shape the mixture into 4 patties. Press your thumb gently into the center of each patty to create a small indentation; this will help them keep their shape as they cook.
- Grill for 10 minutes on one side, flip and grill for another 6-8 min or until cooked through (160ยบF internal temp).
How To Make Tzatziki
- Start by grating the cucumber. Using your cheese grater!
- Next, squeeze the water out of the grated cucumber. This step is essential for making a creamy tzatziki โ if you skip it, the water from the cucumber will cause your sauce to separate. Place the cucumber on a towel (or paper towel) and gently squeeze out the excess water directly over the sink.
- In a medium bowl, mix the squeezed cucumber with the yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, salt, and dill. Refrigerate until you're ready to use.
I just made these tonight. Delicious and moist! My husband was so impressed and they were great on the brioche buns I had. I used bottled tzatkiki because it was on hand and saved some time. I had thawed 1 1/2 lbs ground turkey and adjusted to get 6 burgers. I grilled all 6 and will enjoy the heated leftovers for lunches. Will definitely be using this recipe again.
Hi Anna! Thank you so much for trying this recipe and taking time to leave a comment here. I am so happy you and your husband enjoyed them. Truly makes my day hearing feedback like this. I hope you are able to try more of the recipes on the site and love them as much as we do ๐ Cheers, from my Kitchen to yours!
-Cassandra
My youngest child is a Chef at a high end Restaurant. He took one bite and said these were one of the best things he has ever tasted!! I have to agree! Made them for the second time and absolutely love them!! Thank you for this great recipe!!
Hi Marge! You just made my day! Thank you so so much for the kind review I am so happy you and your son loved these Turkey Burgers as much as we do! Really appreciate your message. Hope you are able to try more of the recipes as well! Cheers ๐
My son is a Chef at a high end restaurant. I made these for dinner the other night and he took one bite and said these were one of the best things he has ever tasted. They are my new favorite dish. Thank you for sharing this amazing recipe.
I made these for the first time tonight and my husband and I thought it was one of the best burgers we have had! We had them with zucchini and brown rice. My only difficulty was keeping the burgers together before putting them on the grill.. any suggestions?
Hi Amanda! Thank you for trying out the turkey burgers and for sharing your experience hereโit truly means a lot! I’m so happy to hear that both you and your husband enjoyed them as much as we do.
Keeping the patties intact can be a bit tricky, but I’ve found a little trick that might help. Line a plate with parchment paper, place the patties on it, and pop them in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or in the freezer for 15 minutes before cooking. This step works wonders in helping the ingredients bind together, making it much easier for the burgers to hold their shape. I appreciate your feedback so much I am adding this tip to my blog post above for other readers as well.
I’ve tried this method a couple of times now and it’s been a game-changer! Let me know if you try this as well. Thank you again – Cheers! ๐๐
My daughter likes to try different/new recipes!! I had catering business for almost 20 years so she loved helping me prepare dishes for weddings, business meetings etc! She has amazing talent for combining herbs/spices for improving taste of her recipes! Living in the South makes finding some of them difficult!!
At what temperature would you cool these in the oven and how long. Looking forward to trying these.
Hi Pat! I’m so happy you’re looking forward to trying these! To cook these burgers in the oven, preheat the oven to 375ยฐF. Place the burgers on a lightly oiled or sprayed baking sheet and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 165ยฐF using an instant-read thermometer. For an extra crispy finish, you can sear them in a hot skillet for about 2 minutes per side after baking. Enjoy, and let me know how they turn out! Really appreciate your comment, cheers! ๐
I commented earlier about the tzazkiki sauce and said how good it is well I made the burgers and they were delicious. They were perfect with sauce. Will definitely make them again
Made the Tzaztiki sauce it was awesome but added a drizzle of honey to cut a little tartness. Didn’t make the Greek burgers yet but I’m sure they’ll be delicious
Hi Lynn! Thank you so much for taking time to leave a comment – I truly appreciate it! Iโm so happy you enjoyed the tzatziki sauce, and adding a drizzle of honey is such a great idea! If you make the turkey burgers I hope you enjoy them as much as we do! Cheers – Cassandra ๐
Made the Tzaztiki sauce it was awesome but added a drizzle of honey to cut a little tartness. Didn’t make the Greek burgers yet but I’m sure they’ll be delicious
First time making turkey burgers and was a little sceptical on them being dry. I was shocked how juicy they were. I’m not a tzatziki person but my husband said it was amazing with a little taste of tartness added to the burger.
Hi Brenda! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment โ I really appreciate it! Iโm so happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe and that the turkey burgers turned out juicyโthatโs always the goal! I hope you get a chance to try more recipes from the blog. Cheers! – Cassandra ๐
So amazing and easy! Kids loved it too. I sent the recipe to friends and family it was so good!!!! I doubled the recipe, grilled and then wrapped and froze the leftovers for easy meals. I’m going to triple the recipe this time. Definitely added to the weekly meal rotation. Thank you!
Hi Abby! Thank you SO much for your kind words! It truly made my day, and I really appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment here! Iโm so happy to hear your kids loved it and that itโs made its way into your weekly rotation. Thatโs the best compliment. Doubling it and freezing leftovers is what we do in our home too. And thank you for sharing the recipe with friends and familyโthat means the world! Iโm so grateful youโre here and canโt wait for you to try more recipes! Cheers, Cassandra ๐
I made the Greek turkey burgers before and they were delicious. I love the sauce but didn’t have any honey so I added some maple syrup to cut the tartness. It was yummy, I’m going to put some of the sauce on top of baked potatoes. I think that will be good
Hi Lynn! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a commentโit truly makes my day! Love that you added a touch of maple syrup to the sauce, and now I need to try it on baked potatoes tooโthat sounds delicious. Iโm so happy you enjoyed the turkey burgers and really appreciate you being here. Canโt wait for you to try more recipes! Cheers, Cassandra ๐
If you want a change from beef burgers this is a great alternative. These are the best turkey burgers I have tried and who needs a bun when you have that delicious tzatziki sauce. I top the burgers with the sauce, no bun required. Ty for the yummy recipes!
Hi #1 Fan (you made me smile with that name!) Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a commentโit truly makes my day! Iโm so happy to hear you loved the turkey burgers, and I totally agreeโthat tzatziki sauce is such a yummy addition. So grateful youโre here and canโt wait for you to try more recipes! Cheers, Cassandra ๐