5 from 2 reviews

Get a load of these Burgers made from ground chicken, seasoned with za’atar and topped with cucumber mint tzatziki, lettuce and tomato! Now, go and get those grills fired up my friends! They’re a middle-eastern flavored burger mash-up you won’t want to miss.

A chicken burger on a plate with a salad alongside

Table of contents

Why We Love This Recipe For Grilled Chicken Burger

Unlike my Blueberry Lemon Quick Bread, these Za’atar Chicken Burgers were pretty much perfect from the very first time I made them. My only complaint was that there was too much tzatziki sauce.

And then I was like, is it actually bad to have to much sauce?…Like ever? Is too much sauce even a thing? No, no it isn’t.

Burgers are probably one of my favorite things to cook during the summertime. Mostly because they’re just delicious, but also because they’re incredibly versatile and customizable. There’s always something for everyone, even the picky eaters.

Another great thing about burgers is that there are endless topping options. You could top a burger with avocado, sauteed portabello mushrooms, caramelized onions, pickled onions, tzatziki (like in this recipe), and really anything else you’d like. You can eat them with a bun, or you could eat them wrapped in lettuce.

These burgers also require very little total hands-on time, with them coming together in only 35 minutes. All you have to do is shape the patties, mix the sauce, and grill. They’re perfect for summer BBQ parties, family dinners, or even for busy weeknights. If you want more burger inspo, check out my post on Healthy Burger Recipes!

Burgers made from ground chicken, seasoned with za’atar and topped with cucumber mint tzatziki

Key Ingredients For This Recipe

Ground chicken

For this recipe I used one pound of ground chicken. One pound of meat should serve 4 people–which is a smaller portion than you may think. My advice is to make sure to pat the meat wide and thin so they fill out the buns better.

Ground Chicken is pretty tacky and will stick to your hands. The trick is to keep your hands somewhat damp while forming the patties.
If you can’t find ground chicken, lean ground turkey is a great substitute.

Hamburger buns

Opt for hamburger buns that are whole-grain, if possible. If you’re gluten-free, you can buy gluten-free buns OR make my Roasted Portobellos and use those as “buns” instead. It never hurts to get some extra veggies in!

Za’atar seasoning

I used Teeny Tiny Spice Organic Za’atar Seasoning but you can use any brand you happen to find or have. Foodie alert: I recently learned that Za’atar is actually an herb similar to oregano or possibly hyssop–and that the thing I had commonly known as za’atar is a spice blend. Here in the states it’s not very common to find it with the the herb known as za’atar (or hyssop.) You can buy some here. Either way, za’atar spice blend will include sumac, sesame seeds and often thyme and/or oregano and even sometimes mint.

Mint

Mint adds a nice freshness and a zing to the tzatziki. If you can’t find any mint at your local grocery store, you can substitute with either parsley or cilantro.

Greek yogurt

I love turning Greek yogurt into sauces. It’s so much healthier and protein-packed than mayo, and is super refreshing and delicious. I used whole-milk Greek yogurt but you can use reduced fat/low fat if that’s what you prefer.

Additional Ingredients

  • 1 ½ teaspoon coarse kosher salt, divided
  • ½ teaspoon ground pepper
  • 1 small clove garlic, grated with a rasp-style grater
  • 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
  • ½ cucumber
  • 4 small leaves lettuce
  • 4 thin slices ripe tomato
  • 4 rings red onion, or to taste

Step by Step Instructions To Make These Za’atar Chicken Burgers

Step 1: Prep & grill burgers

Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Form the ground chicken into four patties, about 3-inches wide by ¾ inch thick. Sprinkle each patty with ¾ teaspoon salt and pepper. Sprinkle with za’atar seasoning. Oil the grill rack and add the chicken burgers. Grill until cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Grill the buns, if desired.

Step 2: Make tzatziki

While the burgers cook, whisk together the yogurt, garlic, vinegar and the remaining ¾ teaspoon salt. Grate the cucumber on the large holes of a box grater and place in a fine-mesh sieve. Press down on the cucumber to drain excess liquid. Mix the cucumber and mint into the yogurt mixture.

Step 3: Assemble & serve

Serve the chicken burgers on the toasted buns with lettuce, tomato, onion and the tzatziki sauce.

Burgers made from ground chicken, seasoned with za’atar and topped with cucumber mint tzatziki, lettuce and tomato! Get those grills fired up my friends! They’re a middle-eastern flavored burger mash-up you won’t want to miss. Healthy Seasonal Recipes by Katie Webster | #burger #tzatziki #chicken #cucumber #mint #zaatar #grill

FAQs and Expert Tips

How to quickly and properly clean the grill before use:

After your dust your burgers with salt and the spice mix, then you’ll want to oil the grill rack. I should mention that the grill should be hot and brushed clean at this point. To do that, soak a paper towel in oil, then hold it with tongs and run the paper towel over the racks (pull it toward you- to avoid getting burnt by a flare-up.)

How to keep burgers juicy off the grill:

Grill the burgers until they’re fully cooked through, then place them on a cutting board or plate to rest for 5 minutes. That will help the meat relax so the juices don’t run out when you take your first bite.

Can these burgers be made ahead of time?

I wouldn’t grill anything ahead of time, but that doesn’t mean you can’t form the patties ahead of time. You can form and season the patties the day before/earlier in the day and store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to use. Place a square of parchment between each patty so they don’t stick. You can make the tzatziki ahead of time as well and store it in a separate airtight container.

Burgers made from ground chicken, seasoned with za’atar and topped with cucumber mint tzatziki, lettuce and tomato! Get those grills fired up my friends! They’re a middle-eastern flavored burger mash-up you won’t want to miss. Healthy Seasonal Recipes by Katie Webster | #burger #tzatziki #chicken #cucumber #mint #zaatar #grill

Additional Recipes To Try

Thanks so much for reading! If you are new here, you may want to sign up for my email newsletter to get a free weekly menu plan and the latest recipes right to your inbox. If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought!

Happy Cooking! ~Katie

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Burgers made from ground chicken, seasoned with za’atar and topped with cucumber mint tzatziki, lettuce and tomato! Get those grills fired up my friends! They’re a middle-eastern flavored burger mash-up you won’t want to miss. Healthy Seasonal Recipes by Katie Webster | #burger #tzatziki #chicken #cucumber #mint #zaatar #grill

Grilled Za’atar Chicken Burgers Recipe

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5 from 2 reviews

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Description

Burgers made from ground chicken, seasoned with za’atar and topped with cucumber mint tzatziki, lettuce and tomato! Get those grills fired up my friends! They’re a middle-eastern flavored burger mash-up you won’t want to miss.

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 pound ground chicken
  • 4 hamburger buns, whole-grain or gluten-free if desired
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon coarse kosher salt, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
  • 2 teaspoons za’atar seasoning
  • 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt, preferably whole milk
  • 1 small clove garlic, grated with a rasp-style grater
  • 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
  • 1/2 cucumber
  • 2 tablespoons chopped mint plus a few extra leaves for serving
  • 4 small leaves lettuce
  • 4 thin slices ripe tomato
  • 4 rings red onion, or to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat grill to medium high heat.
  2. Form chicken into four patties, about 3-inches wide by ¾ inch thick. Sprinkle with ¾ teaspoon salt and pepper. Sprinkle with za’atar seasoning.
  3. Oil grill rack and add the chicken burgers. Grill until cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Grill bun if desired.
  4. Meanwhile, whisk together yogurt, garlic and vinegar and the remaining ¾ teaspoon salt. Grate cucumber with a box grater and set in a fine mesh sieve. Press on cucumber to extra excess liquid. Mix the cucumber and mint into the yogurt mixture.
  5. Serve the chicken burgers on the buns with lettuce, tomato, onion and the tzatziki sauce.

Notes

Grilling Tip:

After your dust your burgers with salt and the spice mix, then you’ll want to oil the grill rack. I should mention that the grill should be hot and brushed clean at this point. To do that, soak a paper towel in oil, then hold it with tongs and run the paper towel over the racks (pull it toward you- to avoid getting burnt by a flare-up.)

  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 8 minutes
  • Category: entree
  • Method: Grilling
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 burger
  • Calories: 310 cals
  • Fat: 11g
  • Saturated Fat: 3g
  • Carbohydrates: 22g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Protein: 28g

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