How to Make Lamb Burgers with Tzatziki Sauce
These juicy and flavorful lamb burgers with tzatziki sauce are a wonderful switch-up from your normal beef burgers. Filled with deep lamb flavor these tender lamb patties are topped with a homemade tzatziki sauce and sliced red onions on a toasted buttery bun. Served with crinkle fries for the ultimate summer meal!
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Love lamb? Check out these Lamb Breakfast Sausage Patties or Greek Lamb Meatballs next!
Who doesn’t love a good burger? For years burgers have been my younger sister’s restaurant go-to. The restaurant wasn’t good unless they had a juicy burger with ketchup, mustard, fries, and a pickle!
While different than your traditional burgers, these lamb burgers are just as flavorful and very impressive! Ground lamb has a deep flavor that pairs wonderfully with a creamy and zesty tzatziki sauce.
If you’ve never had ground lamb before, it has a stronger meaty/gamey flavor compared to beef or bison. Because of its natural flavor, I love to season it minimally to allow its natural flavors to shine – just salt, black pepper, dried thyme, and dried rosemary is usually all it takes.
These gourmet lamb burgers are super easy to make and delicious served on a toasted bun like this recipe or alongside your favorite side salad – Summer Kale Salad or replace the chicken in this Kale Chicken Salad with these lamb patties.
Recipe Ingredients
Ground lamb – use high-quality ground lamb for the best flavor.
Dried herbs – I love the light and subtle herby flavor dried rosemary and thyme give these lamb burgers.
Salt and black pepper – Used to enhance the meaty flavors. Use freshly ground black pepper for a more peppery flavor.
Vegetable oil – Used to fry the lamb burgers. I used avocado oil but you could use olive oil or homemade ghee.
Tzatziki sauce – shredded cucumber, greek yogurt, minced garlic, fresh or dried dill weed, and lemon juice.
For serving – Toasted hamburger buns, sliced red onions, sliced cucumbers, fresh garden salad, or crinkle fries.
How To Make Juicy Lamb Burgers with Tzatziki Sauce
All ingredients, measurements, and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Start by making the homemade tzatziki sauce.
Step one. Add grated cucumber into a small mixing bowl with salt. Allow it to sit for 5 minutes to release its juices. Then transfer the shredded cucumber to a cheesecloth or strainer set over a bowl and squeeze or press out as much of the water as you can.
Step two. Transfer the cucumbers back to the bowl with yogurt, minced garlic, lemon juice, fresh or dried dill, salt, and black pepper. Mix to combine then taste to adjust seasoning if necessary.
Step three. Allow your tzatziki sauce to chill in the refrigerator while you are preparing the lamb burgers.
Now Let’s Make the Lamb Burgers
Step one. In a large mixing bowl add ground lamb, dried rosemary and thyme, salt, and ground black pepper. Using gloved hands or a spoon mix all the ingredients together until everything is well incorporated.
Step two. Shape the meat mixture into uniform patties by first dividing the mixture into 4 even and smooth balls. Next, gently press the balls down evenly a little larger than your burger bun because they will shrink during the cooking process. I like to do this on a silicone mat or plate.
Step three. Heat a large cast iron skillet on medium-high heat with 1 – 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil or homemade ghee. Fry the burgers on both sides for 3 – 5 minutes per side or until they are cooked through have a nice sear.
Step four. Toast your hamburger buns with a little bit of butter then top with tzatziki sauce and sliced red onions.
Step five. Serve your homemade lamb burgers immediately with crinkle-cut fries and/or sliced cucumbers. Enjoy!
What to serve with lamb burgers
- Crispy Breakfast Potatoes or Crinkle Cut Fries
Variations
If you are new to lamb try mixing half it with ground beef or bison.
You can use regular yogurt or Greek yogurt for a thicker tzatziki sauce. Just make sure you are using unflavored and unsweetened yogurt.
Fresh mint leaves for a cool minty freshness or chopped parsley for a nice bright flavor.
Finely minced yellow or white onion to get an even juicer burger.
Minced jalapeno peppers or a pinch or two of cayenne pepper if you want a little kick or spice!
Ground cumin is also a wonderful spice that can enhance the natural flavors of ground lamb.
Recommended Tools
Grater, to shred the cucumbers
Cheesecloth or strainer, to strain out the cucumber juice
Large cast iron skillet, so your burgers will get extra crisp on the outside
Plastic disposable gloves, if you don’t like touching raw meat
Pro Tips
Squeeze out as much of the water from the cucumbers as possible to prevent a watery tzatziki sauce.
To make perfect burger patties, roll the meat mixture into smooth balls then press gently into a burger shape a little larger than your bun, because they will shrink as they cook.
Rub a little vegetable oil on your hands or gloves before shaping the patties, this will keep the meat from sticking to your hands as much.
How To Store/ Reheat
These lamb burgers can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 – 4 days wrapped in plastic wrap or stored in an air-tight container.
Freezer storage – wrap tightly with plastic wrap then store in a freezer bag or air-tight container for several weeks.
Reheat burgers covered in the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes or until heated through.
Frequently Asked Questions —
No, it’s an unnecessary step and makes the burgers taste more like meatloaf.
Serve these lamb burgers with a large garden salad, creamy garlic mashed potatoes, roasted veggies such as asparagus and zucchini, or with crispy fries.
Lamb burgers taste pretty similar to beef burgers but with a slightly gamey grassy flavor.
Totally, if you prefer your burgers will a little pink inside you can cook the burgers for a minute or two less per side. Many people like to do this to help cut down on the gamey flavor of ground lamb.
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How to Make Lamb Burgers with Tzatziki Sauce
Ingredients
Tzatziki Sauce
- ½ cup cucumber shredded (1/2 large cucumber)
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup Greek or regular yogurt
- 1 large garlic clove minced
- 2- 3 teaspoon freshly chopped dill or ½ teaspoon dried dill weed
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Lamb burgers
- 1 lb ground lamb
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 - 2 tablespoons ghee or vegetable oil
Serving
- 4 toasted hamburger buns
- Red onion slices
- Sliced cucumbers
Instructions
How to Make the Tzatziki Sauce:
- In a small mixing bowl, combine shredded cucumbers and salt. Allow the shredded cucumbers to sit for 5 minutes to release their juices. Squeeze as much of the juice out of the cucumbers as possible using a cheesecloth or strainer set over a bowl.
- Next, into the same bowl add the shredded cucumbers, yogurt, minced garlic, dried dill, and lemon juice. Mix and taste. Adjust the seasoning if necessary.
- Finally, allow your tzatziki sauce to chill in the refrigerator while you make the lamb burgers.
How to Make the Lamb Burgers:
- In a large mixing bowl add the ground lamb, dried rosemary, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper. Mix the meat very well until everything is combined.
- Shape the meat mixture into evenly sized patties a little larger than your hamburger buns because they will shrink during the cooking process.
- Heat a large cast iron skillet on medium-high heat with vegetable oil. Fry the patties on either side for 3 - 5 minutes, until they are cooked through and are nicely seared on both sides.
- Serve the lamb burgers with the chilled tzatziki sauce on the toasted hamburger buns. Garnish with red onions and serve with cucumber slices and fries. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
All nutrition information is automatically generated and should be only used as a rough estimate. This recipe card may contain affiliate links.
