Lamb Burger Recipe
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These Greek-style lamb burgers are juicy and bursting with bold flavors. Using ground lamb, kalamata olives, feta cheese, mint, hummus, and tzatziki, they're a delicious way to mix up your standard burger fare. They're easy to make and ready in about 15 minutes!
These lamb burgers pair especially well with our Greek salad and dill french fries.
While some people steer clear of lamb, worried about its gaminess, it's easy to acquire a taste for it when it's well prepared. Lamb's robust, distinct flavor, with grassy and pastoral notes is actually a direct result of how the animals are raised.
These bold flavors make it perfect for standing up to bold spices like curry, and it pairs well with rosemary, mint, or lemon. It's also great meat for grilling, especially when it takes on a good char ā like these lamb burgers!
If you're new to lamb and like Greek food, try out these Greek-style lamb burgers. They're simple to make and bursting with bold Mediterranean flavors. They're delicious any time of year with all sorts of sides and salads so be sure to check out our ideas at the bottom of this post!
Ingredients notes
Here's everything you need to make these juicy lamb burgers:
- Ground lamb ā this will form the base of the lamb burger patties.
- Feta ā for its tangy, rich, salty flavor.
- Almond flour ā this gluten-free flour helps hold everything together. We like it better than breadcrumbs as it makes a juicier burger.
- Mint ā for its fresh taste, and it's a classic pairing with lamb.
- Kalamata olives ā for their salty, bold taste.
- Salt + pepper ā for seasoning, and enhancing all the other flavors.
- Brioche buns ā soft brioche or burger buns for serving.
- Hummus + tzatziki ā used in place of traditional condiments to spread even more delicious flavor on the buns.
- Sliced tomato, cucumber, and red onion ā for topping the burgers.
How to make lamb burgers
Whether you're grilling or pan-frying, it's easy to make this lamb burger recipe in a few simple steps:
- Start by mixing together the lamb, feta cheese, almond flour, mint, olives, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Careful not to over-mix the meat or the burgers can become tough.
- Now, divide the meat into four portions and form into patties slightly bigger than your buns ā burger patties shrink as they cook!
- Here's how to cook them depending on whether you're grilling or pan-frying:
- To grill: grill the burgers over medium-high heat for a few minutes per side until desired doneness (3 minutes for medium.) If you'd like, warm the buns on the BBQ, too
- To pan-fry: cook the burgers in an oiled pan over medium-high heat for a few minutes per side.
- Now it's time to assemble your lamb burger! Spread some hummus and tzatziki on a bun then top with a burger patty, tomato slices, cucumber slices, and red onion. VoilĆ !
Recipe tips
Don't overwork the meat! Mix it gently as the more you handle the meat, the tougher it will become.
Don't overcook the burgers. Nothing will dry out lamb burgers more than cooking the heck out of them. We like our lamb burgers cooked to medium, which is 3 minutes per side. Make sure not to cook the burgers past 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Play with the toppings. To make these burgers truly your own, experiment with different toppings. Try our mint tzatziki or homemade hummus. Or make (or buy) an olive tapenade. Or try a dollop of easy pesto!
Can I make these lamb burgers ahead of time?
The patties can be prepared up to 24 hours ahead of time. Store them in the fridge in a container with a lid until you're ready to cook them. If you're storing them shaped, layer a piece of parchment paper between each patty to prevent them from sticking together.
Leftovers
If you have any leftover lamb patties, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat them in a pan on low heat until they are hot.
Recipe FAQs
Where can I buy ground lamb?
Purchase ground lamb from your local farm or butcher. Depending on where you live, you may even be able to find it at your local grocery store.
Can I substitute the almond flour?
Yes, you can. We use almond flour because it gives the burgers a nice texture and keeps them extra moist. It's the same trick we use in our chicken burgers. But you can also use breadcrumbs or oats instead.
How do you know when lamb burgers are done?
To be fully cooked and considered safe to eat, lamb burgers need to be cooked to 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The easiest way to tell if they're cooked is to use an instant-read meat thermometer. If you don't have one, make sure that the meat is no longer pink.
But just like beef burgers, many people prefer their lamb burgers done medium. If you're not fully cooking your burgers, make sure to start with good-quality ground meat that is preferably ground the same day you cook it.
Why are my lamb burgers falling apart?
Make sure not to flip your burgers too soon or they may fall apart!
Do you put eggs in lamb burgers?
We don't! Eggs are sometimes added to burgers as binders, but it's not necessary for this recipe.
Can I add ground beef?
Sure! For a more mild lamb taste, make the meat mixture with half ground lamb and half ground beef.
What to serve with lamb burgers
Enjoy these lamb burgers on their own, or make it a full Mediterranean meal with any of these tasty sides and salads:
Mediterranean-inspired sides
- Greek Lemon Potatoes
- Roasted Mini Potatoes with Herbs and Garlic
- Grilled Mini Peppers with Minty Tzatziki
- Mediterranean Tomatoes Stuffed with Rice
- Pesto Stuffed Roasted Tomatoes
Salads
More lamb recipes
Lamb Burgers Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground lamb
- Ā½ cup feta cheese
- Ā¼ cup almond flour
- Ā¼ cup chopped fresh mint
- Ā¼ cup chopped kalamata olives
- 1 teaspoon EACH: sea salt and pepper
To serve
- 4 brioche buns
- Hummus and tzatziki (for the buns)
- Sliced tomato, cucumber, and red onion
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix the lamb, feta cheese, almond flour, mint, olives, salt, and pepper. Don't overmix the meat or the burgers can become tough.1 lb ground lamb, Ā½ cup feta cheese, Ā¼ cup almond flour, Ā¼ cup chopped fresh mint, Ā¼ cup chopped kalamata olives, 1 teaspoon EACH: sea salt and pepper
- Divide the lamb mixture into 4 equal portions and flatten each piece into a circle slightly bigger than your buns.
- To grill: grill the burgers over medium-high heat for 2-4 minutes per side until they are as done as you like them. 3 minutes for medium. If you'd like, warm the buns on the BBQ for 1 minute. To pan-fry: cook the burgers in a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat for 2-4 minutes per side.4 brioche buns
- To assemble the burgers, spread some hummus and tzatziki on a bun then top with a burger patty, tomato slices, cucumber slices, and red onions.Hummus and tzatziki, Sliced tomato, cucumber, and red onion
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
For more inspiration, check out all of our burger recipes and our lamb recipes!
