If you are looking for a new twist on burger night, this ground lamb burger recipe has your name written all over it! Juicy burgers with flavors straight from the Mediterranean like yogurt, mint and fresh lemon.
Gather This
You only need six ingredients to make the actual ground lamb burger, plus some to make the mint sauce and toppings of course! A full list of ingredients with measurements for this recipe is available in the printable recipe card below.
- Ground lamb – If you’re having trouble finding it at your local grocery store, try the local butcher. Sometimes they will even grind it fresh for you. If all else fails, you can of course make this sauce with a traditional hamburger.
- Garlic
- Lemon zest
- Ground thyme
- Ground black pepper
- Dried oregano
- Smoked paprika
- Plain Greek yogurt
- Fresh mint
- Kosher salt
- Feta cheese
Cooking Methods
There are several ways you can cook your ground lamb burger.
- On the grill – Grilling lamb burgers on the grill is probably my most favorite way. I like the way smoke and char tastes. Heat your grill to medium and coat the grates with oil. On indirect heat, cook for 4-5 minutes on each side for medium doneness.
- On the stove- You can surely cook lamb burgers in a skillet on the stove. Heat a small amount of oil or use cooking spray in a large skillet or cast iron pan. Either work in batches or use a super large skillet so the patties don’t touch. Heat to medium and then cook for about 5-7 minutes on each side for medium doneness.
- Baked- If you need a hands-off version, try baking them! Place them on a greased baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
Perfect Pairings and Toppings
While I highly suggest taking the time to make the lemon mint sauce from scratch (it literally takes 3 minutes), it can easily be substituted with tzatziki sauce, a Greek sauce that is often found premade. It does have a totally different flavor profile with garlic, dill and cucumber.
Acidity and bite in pickled red onions is crunchy and gives the ground lamb burger an edge while lettuce provides a fresh element. Feta cheese is also optional, but a great option. Traditional biftekia burgers use a thick slab of feta, some even stuff the center with it, but I like just a nice sprinkle.
Brioche was my bun of choice because I love the sweetness it provides, but you can also use a good, old sesame bun, Kaiser roll or even go totally Greek and use pita bread.
More optional toppings:
- Thinly sliced cucumber
- Fresh tomato slices
- Olive tapenade
- Hummus
- Olive oil or avocado oil drizzle
- Fresh mint, thyme or oregano
Ground Lamb Burger
Ingredients
Lamb Burgers:
- 1 pound ground lamb
- 1 clove garlic , grated
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- ¼ teaspoon ground thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 4 burger buns
Lemon Mint Sauce:
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 teaspoon mint , finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- ¼ teaspoon coarse Kosher salt
Toppings:
- Pickled red onion
- Crunchy finishing salt
- Feta cheese
- Bibb lettuce
Instructions
Burger Patties:
- In a large mixing bowl, break apart the 1 pound ground lamb pieces as you place them into the bowl. Sprinkle the grated 1 clove garlic, ½ teaspoon lemon zest, ¼ teaspoon ground thyme, 1 teaspoon dried oregano ½ teaspoon smoked paprika and 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper over the meat. Toss to combine being careful to not overwork the mix.
- Divide the meat mixture into 4 sections and form into patties. Create a well in the center of each and place onto parchment or wax paper. Chill for 1 hour or place in the freezer for 15 minutes to let them congeal.
- Heat grill to medium. Coat grates with a neutral oil.
- Grill on each side for 4-5 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 135°F.
- Remove the patties and allow to rest for at least 5 minutes before assembling the burger.
Mint Lemon Yogurt Sauce:
- While the patties are chilling, whisk together the ½ cup plain Greek yogurt, minced 1 teaspoon mint, ½ teaspoon lemon zest and ¼ teaspoon coarse Kosher salt in a bowl. After mixing, place in the fridge to chill until ready to assemble. This can be made up to 24 hours in advance.
Assembly:
- Decide what delicious toppings you want on your burger, assemble and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Storage and Freezing
Lamb burgers can be made up to 24 hours in advance and just kept in the fridge until ready to cook. Cover with plastic wrap or in an airtight container.
Burgers are a hard thing to reheat after being assembled, so I highly encourage you to finish the meal, but should you have leftovers, store the burgers separately and off the bun.
Raw lamb burgers can also be frozen for up to 6 months. To cook, place on the grill while still frozen and add another 4-5 minutes grilling time.
More Delicious Lamb Recipes
While lamb is especially popular around Easter time, my family likes to enjoy it all year round! Here are some of my favorite ways to do so.
What a perfect recipe. The flavor was incredible and it was simple to prepare and follow.
These lamb burgers have all the flavors I remember as a child when my mom made lamb but in a modern recipe! I love the flavors and all of your tips made them perfect!
These burgers look and sound fantastic. I like lamb in Gyros. So I’m sure I’d enjoy a lamb burger.
My husband has been asking for some Greek food soon. And we love making burgers so this will be perfect to add to our menu this week!