We love to BBQ! Even in the dead of winter, my husband or I will get out there in the snow and cook something up. We don’t do it everyday lol, but maybe once a week. Living in Quebec, Canada, we get 4-5 months of snow. So as soon as the weather warms up, we BBQ way more often. Specially in the summer! If you’re coming over for dinner, I can guarantee that we’re cooking outside. One of everyone’s favorites are these Greek burgers. Perfect to make for a family dinner or a large crowd.
Greek burgers, called biftekia, are not necessarily meant to be eaten with a bun as a hamburger. (although you’re more than welcome to) They are more to be eaten on their own with tzatziki and a bunch of sides. Our favorites are Greek salad, grilled veggies, and naan, along with lemony rice pilaf. If we are having a large gathering, I will make these along with pork souvlaki and Greek chicken.
The Ingredients
These Greek burgers are loaded with flavor! Filled with mint, parsley, oregano, and onion, these little patties are a party in your mouth. I will usually make these with a mix of ground beef and pork. But, if I don’t have pork on hand I will just use beef.
It’s important that you grate the onion and squeeze out all the liquid for this recipe. I don’t know about you, but my kids do not enjoy chopped-up onion pieces in their meatballs. Likewise, make sure you chop up your fresh parsley and mint as small as you can, so every bite is packed with flavor. The eggs and breadcrumbs in this recipe act as a binder. I use panko bread crumbs because that’s what a buy lol. I use it for so many other recipes, so I don’t bother getting regular bread crumbs anymore.
To make the Greek burgers I always start by mixing the grated onion, herbs, spices, bread crumbs, eggs, olive oil, and red wine vinegar into a paste before I add the meat. Then, I add the meat and combine everything well before shaping the patties. I like to make them on the smallish side if we’re entertaining and cooking different meats. That way, our guests can have a little bit of everything. I make them a little bit bigger and then a golf ball. Pushing your thumb into the middle and making kind of a dip will help them keep their shape while they’re grilling. I usually make them in advance and pop them in the fridge until they’re ready to hit the barbecue.
Greek Burgers-Biftekia
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 Pounds Ground Beef and Pork Or All Beef
- 1 Large Onion
- 2 Eggs
- 3/4 c. Panko Bread Crumbs
- 1/4 c. Chopped Fresh Parsley
- 1 Tbsp. Chopped Fresh Mint
- 2 tsp. Salt
- 1/4 tsp. Black Pepper
- 1/2 tsp. Dried Oregano
- 1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder
- 1/2 tsp. Onion Powder
- 1/4 c. Olive Oil
- 1 tbsp. Red Wine Vinegar
Instructions
- Start by grating the onion and squeezing all the liquid out.
- In a large bowl, combine onions, eggs, bread crumbs, parsley, mint, salt, pepper, dried oregano, garlic & onion powder, olive oil, and red wine vinegar. Mix well.
- Add ground meat, and mix well.
- Shape patties to the desired size. Refrigerate until ready to barbecue.
- Cook evenly on both sides, till internal temperature reaches 150*F
- Enjoy!
If you’re entertaining a large crowd, you could easily double the recipe. We’re a family of 6 and had leftovers! Granted, we’re only 2 adults. No-fuss entertaining is a must for us in the summer. We often have get-togethers super last minute! Ground beef and pork are always things I always make sure I have in the freezer. So tossing a pack in cold water at lunchtime, I know I’ve got dinner covered.
I hope you enjoy this recipe and have a wonderful summer!!! Thank you for stopping by today! If you’re looking for a summer dessert to go with this, make sure to check out my delicious Key Lime Pie or Summer Berry Tarts.
Elisa
