Restaurant-Style, Feta & Herb Lamb Burger Recipe for Next-Level Flavor

If you’re looking to seriously upgrade your burger game, it’s time to move beyond beef and discover the incredible flavor of a lamb burger.

Lamb has a wonderfully rich, earthy taste that is the perfect foundation for bold, fresh ingredients. Today, we’re making a juicy, flavorful lamb burger that’s packed with Mediterranean-inspired goodness.

This isn’t just a plain patty on a bun. We’re going to gently mix savory ground lamb with a fantastic combination of salty feta cheese, fresh mint, and a hint of garlic and spice.

When grilled or pan-seared, the outside of the burger gets a beautiful crust while the inside stays incredibly moist and juicy. Topped with a cool, creamy tzatziki sauce, it’s a burger experience that is truly a cut above the rest.

This is a simple recipe that delivers a surprisingly sophisticated and delicious result. Let’s get mixing and build a better burger.

Quick Recipe Snapshot

Here’s a quick look at the timeline for this incredibly flavorful and easy meal.

Ingredients

This recipe uses fresh, powerful ingredients to complement the rich flavor of the lamb.

For the Lamb Burgers:

• Ground Lamb: 1.5 lbs.
  • 2 burgers: ¾ lb
  • 4 burgers: 1.5 lbs
• Feta Cheese: 4 oz (about 1 cup), crumbled.
• Fresh Mint: ¼ cup, finely chopped.
• Red Onion: ¼ cup, very finely minced.
• Garlic: 2-3 cloves, minced.
• Spices:
  • Cumin: 1 tsp.
  • Coriander: ½ tsp.
  • Salt and Black Pepper: ½ tsp each.
• Burger Buns: 4, such as brioche or ciabatta rolls.

For the Tzatziki Sauce (Optional, but highly recommended):

• Plain Greek Yogurt: 1 cup.
• Cucumber: ½, grated and squeezed of excess water.
• Lemon Juice: 1 tbsp.
• Fresh Dill: 1 tbsp, chopped.
• Garlic: 1 clove, minced.

The Flavor Architects A Look at the Ingredients

• Ground Lamb: The star of the show. It has a richer, earthier, and slightly more gamey flavor than ground beef, providing a wonderfully robust base for the other ingredients.
• Feta Cheese: Mixed directly into the patty, the feta provides little pockets of salty, briny flavor that melt slightly and help keep the lean lamb moist.
• Fresh Mint: This is the classic herb pairing for lamb. Its bright, cool, and slightly sweet flavor cuts through the richness of the meat beautifully.
• Cumin & Coriander: This pair of warm spices adds an earthy, savory, and slightly citrusy depth to the burgers that complements the Mediterranean flavor profile.
• Tzatziki Sauce: This is the perfect condiment. The cool, tangy Greek yogurt and the fresh flavor of cucumber and dill provide a necessary and delicious contrast to the warm, rich burger.

Essential Tools

You don’t need much for this recipe, just some standard kitchen equipment for grilling or pan-searing.

• Large mixing bowl
• Grill or a large, heavy-bottomed skillet (cast-iron is perfect)
• Spatula
• Box grater (for the cucumber)

Cooking Instructions

This impressive burger comes together in minutes once your ingredients are prepped. The key is a gentle hand when forming the patties.

Step 1: Make the Tzatziki Sauce

First, prepare your cooling sauce so the flavors have time to meld. Grate half a cucumber on the large holes of a box grater.

Squeeze the grated cucumber firmly in your hands or in a clean kitchen towel to remove as much excess water as possible.

This is a very important step for a thick, not watery, sauce. In a small bowl, combine the strained cucumber with the Greek yogurt, lemon juice, chopped dill, and minced garlic.

Stir it all together and season with a pinch of salt. Cover and refrigerate until you’re ready to serve.

Step 2: Gently Form the Lamb Patties

Now, prepare the burgers. In a large bowl, place the ground lamb, crumbled feta, chopped fresh mint, minced red onion, minced garlic, cumin, coriander, salt, and pepper.

Use your hands to gently combine all the ingredients. It is very important not to overmix or compact the meat, as this can lead to tough, dense burgers. Mix just until the ingredients are evenly distributed.

Gently form the mixture into four equal-sized patties, about ¾ to 1-inch thick. Press a small dimple into the center of each patty with your thumb; this will help them cook evenly and prevent them from puffing up in the middle.

Step 3: Cook the Burgers

You can cook these burgers on the grill or in a skillet. For the grill, preheat it to medium-high.

For a skillet, heat a little oil in a cast-iron or other heavy pan over medium-high heat. Place the patties on the hot grill or in the skillet.

Cook for about 5-7 minutes on the first side, until a deep-brown crust has formed. Flip the burgers carefully and cook for another 4-6 minutes on the second side for a perfect medium. Lamb is best enjoyed slightly pink in the middle.

Step 4: Rest and Assemble

Immediately remove the cooked lamb burgers from the heat and transfer them to a plate. Let them rest for at least 5 minutes.

This is a very important step that allows the juices to redistribute throughout the patty, ensuring a moist and tender burger. While the burgers rest, you can toast your buns on the grill or in the pan for a minute.

To assemble, place a rested lamb patty on a toasted bun and top it with a generous dollop of your homemade tzatziki sauce, along with any other desired toppings.

Recipe Variations

This flavorful burger is a great base for your own creative twists.

• Make it Spicy: Add ½ to 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes or a tablespoon of harissa paste to the lamb mixture for a fiery kick.
• Different Herbs: If you’re not a fan of mint, fresh parsley or oregano would also be delicious in the patties.
• Cheese Swap: Crumbled goat cheese is another fantastic option that provides a tangy, creamy flavor that pairs wonderfully with lamb.

Serving Suggestions

A great burger deserves great toppings and sides.

• Classic Toppings: Slices of ripe tomato, crisp lettuce, and thin slices of red onion are all fantastic on this burger.
• Mediterranean Toppings: Consider adding toppings like sliced Kalamata olives, roasted red peppers, or a handful of fresh arugula.
• Perfect Sides: Serve with a side of crispy sweet potato fries, a Greek salad with a lemon vinaigrette, or some simple herbed couscous.

Storage & Reheating Tips

It’s best to cook these burgers fresh, but you can prep ahead.

• Storage: Store any leftover cooked patties in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Store the tzatziki sauce separately.
• Reheating: Reheat the patties gently in a skillet over medium-low heat or in an air fryer for a few minutes until just warmed through. Be careful not to overcook them.
• Prep Ahead: You can form the uncooked patties and keep them in the refrigerator, separated by parchment paper, for up to 24 hours before you plan to cook them.

Common Mistakes & Fixes

FAQs

Can I use a different kind of ground meat?

Yes, you can. This recipe of feta, mint, and other seasonings is also delicious with ground beef or even ground chicken or turkey.

Just be aware that leaner meats like turkey will be more prone to drying out, so be extra careful not to overcook them.

Can I make the patties ahead of time?

Yes, this is a great way to prep for a party or an easy weeknight meal.

You can form the patties, stack them with sheets of parchment paper in between, and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before cooking.

What is the ideal internal temperature for a lamb burger?

Unlike ground beef, ground lamb can be safely cooked to medium. For the best flavor and juiciness, aim for an internal temperature of 140-145°F for a perfect medium.

Cooking it to well-done (160°F and above) can result in a drier, tougher burger.

Enjoy Your Burger Upgrade!

You are now ready to make a lamb burger that is juicy, flavorful, and a fantastic change of pace from the usual.

The combination of the rich lamb, salty feta, and cool mint is truly special, and the creamy tzatziki takes it over the top.

I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe