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A browned turkey burger patty with a bite taken out, served with orzo salad and tzatziki sauce in a bowl.

Mediterranean Turkey Burgers Recipe

3.82 from 11 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chilling Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Yield 4 burgers + 1 ½ cups sauce
Category Main Dish
Cuisine Mediterranean

Description

Shredded zucchini, Greek yogurt and breadcrumbs keep these turkey burgers moist and delicious. Serve on a bun or over a bed of orzo pasta salad.

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Ingredients

  • 2 small zucchini
  • 1 pound 93% lean ground turkey
  • 1 ½ cups plain 2% or whole milk greek yogurt, divided
  • ½ cup (2 ounces) whole-wheat bread crumbs
  • ¼ cup minced parsley
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh oregano, or 1 ½ teaspoons dried
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons grated garlic, divided
  • kosher salt and black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes or cracked black pepper
  • Vegetable oil
  • 2 tablespoons fresh dill, or 1 tablespoon dried
  • 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar

Instructions

  • Using a large hole box grater, shred zucchini; transfer to a clean kitchen towel.
  • Gather corners of towel and squeeze tightly to release excess liquid. (When you think you’re done, squeeze a bit more.) Shredded zucchini should measure about 2 cups (8 ounces in weight).
  • Combine 1 cup shredded and squeezed zucchini, turkey, ½ cup yogurt, bread crumbs, parsley, oil, oregano, Worcestershire, 1 ½ teaspoons garlic, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes. 
  • Divide meat into 4 equal portions.
  • Gently form each into a ball, then lightly flatten into 1-inch-thick burger patties. Press finger through center of patties (this helps keep the patties flat during cooking) and transfer to a plate; chill patties at least 15 minutes or up to 4 hours.
  • For the sauce, combine remaining 1 cup shredded and squeezed zucchini, remaining 1 cup yogurt, remaining ½ teaspoon garlic, dill, vinegar, ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper; season with additional salt and pepper to taste.

Stove Top Cooking

  • Heat a large cast-iron skillet over medium for 5 minutes. Brush with a teaspoon or so of oil to coat.
  • Transfer burger patties to pan and cook, without moving, until bottom sides are dark brown and crusted, 3–4 minutes. Flip burgers and cook until charred and crusted, 4–5 minutes more and an instant-read thermometer register 160ºF.

Gas Grilling

  • Preheat a grill over high for 10 minutes. Turn burgers to medium and place patties on grill, divot side up, and cook, covered, until well browned on first side and meat easily releases from grill, about 5 minutes. Flip ­patties and continue to cook ­until browned on second side and meat registers 160ºF, about 6 minutes. 
  • Transfer burgers to a plate and let rest 5–10 minutes.  
  • Serve burgers with tzatziki and orzo salad or on a bun with tzatziki, lettuce, tomato and crumbled feta.

Notes

CAST-IRON: If you have a small cast-iron, cook these in two batches. 
STORAGE: Store cooked turkey burgers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Store tzatziki in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Give it a quick stir before serving.
Freeze cooked turkey burgers for up to 4 months. Thaw overnight in fridge before reheating.
Reheat in the microwave in 30-second increments, or in a hot skillet until warmed through.
MAKE AHEAD:you can prep, shape and chill the raw burger mixture up to 8 hours in advance. Just cover and stash them in the fridge until you're ready to cook.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 burger + ⅓ cup sauceCalories: 292kcalCarbohydrates: 8gProtein: 31gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 433mgFiber: 1gSugar: 5g
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