Greek ground turkey is a perfect alternative to beef for dishes like burgers, spaghetti and more! It’s moist, tender and delicious.
These recipes are also easy to make and ready in 15 minutes or less! They’re bursting with tons of Greek flavor and are perfect for healthy weeknight dinners!
Slow Cooker Gyro Pitas with Tzatziki Sauce
Tender, heart-healthy gyro meat seasoned just right and combined with veggies and a light yogurt tzatziki sauce wrapped in a warm soft flatbread is a Mediterranean meal that is healthy, delicious and so simple to make. A slow cooker is the perfect way to enjoy this recipe at home or on the go.
Start by finely chopping the onion and garlic. This will give the meat a great flavor. Then add in ground turkey, egg, breadcrumbs, oregano, salt and pepper, and bake it in a loaf pan. Once it’s baked, cut it into slices and place it in the pita for a tasty Greek meal!
You can use any ground meat that you like, including beef or lamb. If you do, just be sure to add some fresh minced garlic, which will really make the flavor pop!
To make the tzatziki sauce, simply mix together some Greek yogurt, cucumber and lemon juice. Then add in dried dill weed, and a touch of water and white wine vinegar to balance out the flavors.
Once you have the ingredients ready, combine them in a large bowl and mix to combine well. You can use a food processor to get the ingredients blended evenly, but this is not necessary.
Then you can assemble your gyro sandwiches. Top each one with a bit of the tzatziki sauce, some sliced red onions and tomatoes, and a few thinly sliced cucumbers. You can also add some feta to the plates, but be sure not to overdo it.
Serve your gyros sandwiches on pita bread and garnish with extra fresh dill, if you like! This is a great dish to bring to a pot luck, or simply enjoy for dinner with family.
The best part about this recipe is that it only takes three and a half hours to cook in your slow cooker! You can also make the tzatziki sauce ahead of time, which makes this meal even more easy.
Greek Turkey Burgers
Greek turkey burgers are a great option for anyone who loves burgers but wants to make them healthier. These burgers are made with lean ground turkey that’s seasoned with Mediterranean flavors such as garlic, oregano, and red onion. Kalamata olives and feta cheese are also added for flavor.
These burgers can be eaten hot or cold and are perfect for lunch, dinner, and backyard gatherings. The best part about them is they don’t require any special equipment or a lot of time to prepare.
Rather than using breadcrumbs, these burgers use a mixture of ground turkey, garlic, parsley, onion, and feta cheese. You can also add an egg and a little flour to help bind the meat together. This will also help keep the patties from crumbling and sticking to the pan.
This recipe is a family favorite! They’re quick and easy to make and are a delicious addition to any meal.
If you don’t want to add the extra fat, this recipe can be made without feta cheese. You can also use a variety of different vegetables to make this recipe vegetarian friendly, such as cauliflower or zucchini.
The burgers themselves are not particularly filling, but you can top them with a low-calorie cucumber-and-Greek yogurt tzatziki sauce for a healthy and low-carb snack that’s sure to satisfy your taste buds!
To serve, place a burger on a bun and then top with arugula, tomato slices, cucumber slices, and tzatziki. You can even replace the burger bun with a lettuce wrap for a low-carb option!
When ready to eat, grill your burgers over medium-high heat until cooked through. You can also cook them on a skillet or in the oven, but you’ll need to check the temperature so they don’t burn.
These burgers can be served with any number of toppings, including feta cheese and onions. You can also slather them with a tzatziki sauce or hummus to make them more hearty.
These burgers can be stored in the fridge or freezer for up to 3 days, and can be reheated in a frying pan with a bit of water or oil. If you plan to freeze them, thaw them first in the fridge before reheating.
Greek Turkey Bowls with Lemon Rice
Greek cuisine has a way of combining comforting flavors with bright fresh elements. These Greek Turkey Bowls with Lemon Rice are a great example of that! The zesty rice is made with a combination of herbs and lemons, which gives it an intensely flavorful kick. This recipe is quick and easy to make, and it’s also perfect for meal prep, as the leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
Start with long grain white rice that’s been rinsed and soaked in water for about 10 minutes, then add it to a saucepan with the onion and garlic, along with vegetable broth and lemon juice. Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, until the rice is tender, about 20 minutes.
Drain the liquid, then stir in the dill and parsley. Season with salt and pepper, then cover the pan. Remove from the heat, and let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
You can also add more lemon zest or use other fresh herbs to add more flavor, but I really like the combination of the herby lemon rice with the tangy Greek meatballs and feta cheese crumbles. It’s an excellent pairing that can be enjoyed as a meal or as a side dish.
This Greek Turkey and Rice Skillet is a simple one-skillet dinner that comes together quickly with fresh vegetables, ground turkey, and tzatziki sauce. It’s an excellent meal to pack for lunches, and it can be served with a side of pita bread or pita chips for a complete meal.
Another option is to serve the lemon rice with cucumber tomato salad and grilled pita bread for a delicious, Mediterranean-inspired meal. You could also add additional toppings to these bowls, including red onions or kalamata olives, as well as some feta cheese, for an extra punch of flavor.
This lemon rice is so flavorful, you won’t want to go back to plain white rice after trying it! It’s a flavorful and healthy alternative to regular rice, which makes it a great meal or side dish. You can serve it as a base for bowls, mix into salads, or stir into soups. You can even use it as a topping for dips and spreads.
Greek Turkey Gyros
A classic Greek sandwich, a gyro features a mixture of thinly sliced meat, fresh vegetables, and cool tzatziki sauce. A gyro is often served in both sit-down restaurants and street food stands.
There are three gyro options on Arby’s permanent menu, all of which include a pita bread filled to the brim with meat. The Roast Beef Gyro is crafted with thinly sliced roast beef, the Turkey Gyro features a blend of ground turkey and ground lamb, and the Traditional Greek Gyro has seared lamb that’s been cooked on a gyro spit (a rotating metal rod stuck through a piece of meat to cook it slowly over low heat).
While each sandwich is different, all feature a combination of shredded lettuce, crispy red onion slices, fresh tomato slices, and creamy tzatziki sauce. The meat is seasoned with a blend of Mediterranean spices, and all are served with a side of fresh cucumber tomato salsa and feta cheese.
The gyro meat itself is very filling and can easily serve as an entire meal, though it may be more satisfying to accompany it with curly fries or iced tea. The Arby’s gyro also has less grease and oil than other fast food sandwiches, so it’s a healthy choice for those who are trying to maintain a weight loss or diet plan.
This quick recipe can be made with all lean ground turkey, so it’s a great choice for anyone watching their weight or attempting to maintain a healthy eating plan. The recipe can be made in less than 30 minutes and is low in calories.
To make this recipe, chop up the onions and garlic in a food processor and then add the meat, seasonings, and a little salt and pepper to the mix. Once it’s all mixed together, let it rest for a few hours before serving.
It’s a simple recipe that can be made in about 30 minutes, and the ingredients only require a few staples that you probably already have at home. You can even make this dish using frozen turkey meatballs, if you’re in a hurry to whip up something delicious for dinner.