Turkey burgers may not be as revered as the classic, all-American beef patty, but done right, they can still pack in tons of flavor while being friendly to your diet. This hearty Greek version hits all the marks—it’s juicy and savory, and thanks to versatile ingredients like feta, spinach, olives, and sea salt, it works just as well over a bed of greens as it does sandwiched between a couple of toasted buns.
Kevin Curry, author and blogger at Fit Men Cook, created this time-saving recipe as a flexible, low-maintenance meal prep option. Whip up several burgers at once and play around with your sides the remainder of the week. “For a meat that can sometimes be viewed as dry, this Greek turkey burger is super moist and each bite is packed with flavor,” Curry says. He adds that you can easily swap the bun for cauliflower rice, lettuce, or a grilled portobello mushroom. No matter which version you choose, you’ll be ready to eat minutes.
The Cook: Kevin Curry, the man behind the blog and Instagram account FitMenCook, which routinely provides healthy meal prep ideas to more than 1.4 million followers.
The Book: FitMenCook: 100+ Meal Prep Recipes for Men and Women—Always #HealthyAF, Never Boring (available now)
The Recipe: Greek-Style Turkey Burgers
Serves: 5 | Prep time: 5 mins | Cook time: 15 mins | Total time: 20 mins
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds 93% lean ground turkey
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1/3 cup Kalamata olives, finely chopped
- 3 ounces crumbled feta cheese
- 1 cup finely chopped and packed spinach
- Pinch each of sea salt and black pepper
- Olive oil spray
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 420°F. Add all the ingredients except for the olive oil spray to a large bowl and mix together thoroughly. Scoop out a large fistful of meat, roll it into a ball, then flatten it to form a patty around 1 ½ inches thick. Repeat with the remaining meat to make 5 large patties of equal size. Once the patties are formed, use your thumb to make a shallow indentation in the middle of each patty to prevent them from forming a dome as they cook.
- Set a large oven-safe nonstick skillet over medium-high heat and spray lightly with olive oil. When the skillet is hot, add the patties.
- Cook on one side for 3 to 4 minutes, until the edges are brown and seared, then flip the patties over. Cook for an additional minute, then place the entire skillet in the oven to cook until the internal temperature is 165 degree Fahrenheit, 9 to 11 minutes. You can also bake them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Enjoy these as a burger with a toasted whole wheat bun, butter lettuce, cucumber slices, thin red onion slices (optional), sliced tomato, and a little Greek yogurt instead of mayo. Or pair a patty with salad, rice, quinoa, or even roasted vegetables.
Per serving: 264 calories, 16g fat, 3g carbs, 28g protein, 1g sugar, 1g fiber