Greek Turkey Burgers
A savory turkey burger packed with Kalamata olives, feta, spinach, garlic, and oregano. These can be served as traditional burgers or plated with grains and vegetables for a lighter meal.
Print
Pin
Servings: 5
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds 93% lean ground turkey
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/3 cup Kalamata olives, finely chopped
- 3 ounces crumbled feta cheese
- 1 cup finely chopped and packed fresh spinach
- Pinch each of sea salt and black pepper
- Olive oil spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 420°F.
- Put all of the ingredients into a large bowl. Mix thoroughly until everything is evenly distributed throughout the turkey.
- Take a large fistful of the mixture and roll it into a ball. Flatten it into a patty approximately 1 ½ inches thick. Continue with the remaining mixture until you have 5 evenly sized patties.
- Press a shallow indentation into the center of each patty with your thumb. This helps keep the burgers from puffing up into a dome during cooking.
- Heat a large oven-safe nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Lightly coat the skillet with olive oil spray, then place the patties in the hot skillet.
- Cook the burgers for 3 to 4 minutes on the first side, until the edges are browned and seared. Turn the patties over.
- Cook for 1 additional minute, then transfer the skillet to the oven. Continue cooking for 9 to 11 minutes, until the burgers reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Alternatively, place the patties on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil and bake for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Serve the burgers on toasted whole wheat buns with butter lettuce, cucumber slices, thin red onion slices (optional), sliced tomato, and a little Greek yogurt instead of mayo. They can also be served with salad, rice, quinoa, or roasted vegetables.
.
Recipe Notes
- Don't skip the center indentation: The shallow thumbprint helps the patties maintain a flatter shape as they cook.
- Use an oven-safe skillet: Since the skillet goes directly from the stovetop into the oven, make sure yours is suitable for oven use.
- Check the temperature: Turkey burgers should reach an internal temperature of 165°F. A meat thermometer is the easiest way to verify doneness.
- Chop the mix-ins finely: Finely chopped olives and spinach distribute more evenly through the turkey, making the patties easier to shape.
- Avoid overmixing: Mix until the ingredients are incorporated, then stop. Excessive mixing can make the burgers dense.
- Keep the patties evenly sized: Uniform patties cook at a similar rate and make serving easier.