Easy Lamb Burgers (Broiled in Oven) with Feta and Tzatziki Slaw

Super easy lamb burgers warmly spiced and broiled in your oven for only 6 minutes per side! These sizzling hot lamb patties are loaded with briny feta cheese crumbles, slathered with tangy Dijon mustard, and topped with a cool and crunchy tzatziki slaw. The flavors and textures here are SERIOUSLY hard to walk away from. I hope you love them as much as we do in our house. 😊 Oh, and they go great with my Simple Couscous Salad.

Ok, let me just start by saying that I am VERY excited to share this recipe with you today. It has only been on my to-do list for about 6 months. I feel like I say that a lot? Anyway, things have been BUSY at our house. We just welcomed a brand new baby girl into our home, and she is the sweetest little thing (more on that in another post). And yes, I did work on this recipe attached to a breast pump. Because that is real life.

With a newborn in the house, I know I will be looking for super easy recipes for the next few months (or years). These flavorful lamb burgers are exactly that. I use a couple of store bought ingredients (pre-packaged coleslaw and tzatziki) with a few homemade touches for a fast and delicious weeknight meal. You don’t even have to fire up the grill because these burgers are broiled right in the oven. Wait, what?

Broiled Burgers?

Admittedly I had never done this before working on this recipe, but I was so happy with the results. I wanted to make these burgers in the oven because we only have a charcoal grill at our house. To me it feels like a bit of an ordeal to set up. That, and the last time I tried I burnt a hole in our back deck. Whoops. 😬 Anyway, I felt like broiling the burgers under high heat would be the next best thing. The broiler gives you that classic charred crust on the outside of your burger, and using only one pan and your oven makes for easy clean up.

I chose to put a thumb print in my burger to help with shrinkage, but check out this fun article on shaping burger patties from the Kitchen. I am excited to play around with these different techniques. Also, you can see in the photo below that these were not even close to perfect patties. The idea here was quick and easy no fuss burgers. After shaping, place them on a sheet pan 6 inches below the broiler and let them go for 6 minutes per side. You’ll have to pull the pan out of the oven to flip the burgers. DO NOT try to flip them under the broiler. Let’s keep those arm hairs.

What Temperature Should I Cook Lamb Burgers To?

According to the USDA, ground or minced lamb patties should be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 160℉ (or 71.1℃). Although other cuts of lamb, like chops, steaks, and roasts can be cooked to a lower temperature and eaten pink, ground or minced lamb should be cooked through. Use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature of your meat to ensure it is fully cooked and safe to eat.

Every oven is going to vary slightly which means cooking times can also vary by several minutes. I like to remove these from the oven when the internal temperature has reached 150℉ (65.6℃). From there you can transfer the burgers to a plate to let them rest for 5 minutes loosely covered with aluminum foil. They will continue to cook and should reach 160℉ after the resting period.

Can These Burgers be Grilled?

But of course! Grill over high heat for about 6 minutes per side. Cooking on the grill gives that delicious, smoky flavor that we all know and love, plus you can easily toast the buns right on the grill grate. Again, cooking time will vary so make sure you are using that instant-read thermometer to check for doneness. Another great option is to make these in a cast iron skillet or on a grill pan right on the stove top. Cook for about 6 minutes per side over medium high heat.

Best Toppings?

Whatever you do, do not skip the Dijon mustard!! I mean, unless you really don’t like Dijon mustard, but it goes so well with the lamb and really makes all those flavors pop. Below is the combination I landed on, but I included another list of possible alternatives you might like!

• Dijon mustard (the tang is just perfect)
• Crumbled feta cheese
• Thick slice of tomato
• Tzatziki slaw. I just love the combination of cold, crunchy coleslaw on a hot, juicy burger. So tasty!

Here are some other options you could try:

• Sliced red onion
• Olive tapenade or chopped, pitted olives (Sorry, folks. I hate olives. I know, I know…I’m a child.)
• Sliced cucumber
• Plain tzatziki/no slaw (if you are really looking to save time)

Are Lamb Burgers Healthier Than Beef Burgers?

I have seen this question a lot so I wanted to address it. The short answer is no. Ground lamb is not significantly more healthy than ground beef. They are both considered red meats which most dieticians recommend consuming in moderation. In general, red meats are a great source of vitamins and minerals (like iron, zinc and vitamin B12), but also tend to be high in calories and saturated fat. Don’t choose a lamb burger because you are looking for a healthier substitute for ground beef. Do choose a lamb burger because they are off the charts delicious and a fun twist from your typical grilled hamburger.

So, Can I Substitute Beef?

Absolutely! Whatever your reason for opting for beef over lamb, these burgers will still taste amazing. I have used both meats for this recipe, and although they differ slightly in flavor (obviously), each option yields a truly delicious burger. If you do substitute ground beef, I would go for the the 80% lean/20% fat ratio, which makes for an extra juicy burger. In fact, I often double the recipe and use 1 pound of ground beef and 1 pound of ground lamb. I love the combination of the two, but whatever works for you!

What to Serve on The Side

• My Simple Couscous Salad is light, fresh, and the perfect complement for this dish. Just substitute mint for the basil that my original recipe calls for!
• A Greek side salad
• French fries or roasted potatoes
• Fresh steamed or sautéed green beans or your favorite roasted veggies

Thank you so much for reading! If you give this recipe a try, please leave me a rating and review. This helps me get my recipes in front of a larger crowd 🙂 Happy cooking!

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