This is a variation of our beef and bean burgers base recipe. Chickpeas reduce the amount of meat in each burger, making this recipe rich in both animal and plant based protein. Plus, it’s full of fiber and other nutritional benefits that only plants can offer. If you are looking for a Mediterranean twist on traditional burgers, this Mediterranean turkey burger hits the spot!
Learn How to Make the Base Recipe
Three Must-Know Cooking Skills
For recipe success, learn how to:
Learn how to slice and dice like a pro in our knife skills 101 course!
Culinary Tips for the Best Mediterranean Chickpea Burger Recipe
If you have picky eaters, dice the onion finely so that they don’t notice them.
When mixing the ingredients or forming the patties, don’t overwork the meat. Otherwise, the burgers will turn out tough.
Match the patty size to your bun, noting that they will slightly shrink.
Use a food thermometer to check for doneness. For food safety, the thickest part of the patty should reach 165ºF.
You can cook these burgers on the stovetop instead of the oven, but note they don’t stay together quite as well. Heat a skillet over medium. Add oil to the pan. Once the oil is shimmering, add the patties. Cook 4-5 minutes per side.
If cooking burgers on the stovetop, remember the 3 F’s of flavor: fire, fat, and food! Heat your pan, heat your oil, then add the burgers. Once the burgers are on the skillet, don’t move them around. Keeping them in place helps ensure maximum flavor development and browning.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Garbanzo Beans: substitute any low-sodium white bean of your choice. Cannellini, great northern, or navy will all work. You can also use 1 ½ cups of leftover beans from our stovetop or Instant Pot beans base recipes.
- Ground Turkey: substitute ground 93% lean turkey, grass-fed beef, bison, lamb, venison, or chicken. A Mediterranean chicken burger will taste the most similar to turkey.
- Panko Bread Crumbs: substitute plain, whole wheat, or seasoned bread crumbs, but cut back on the added salt if you do. Panko is typically very low in sodium. If you want burgers without breadcrumbs, leave them out! Just note that they might not hold together quite as well.
- Red Onion: use white, yellow, or green onions. You can also substitute 1 teaspoon onion powder.
- Feta Cheese: substitute goat cheese, shredded parmesan, or your favorite cheese.
- Italian Parsley: substitute curly parsley, basil, oregano, dill, or chives.
- Kalamata Olives: substitute pitted black olives, green olives, or another favorite.
- Egg: substitute 3 Tablespoons of the liquid from the beans, also known as aquafaba. You can also substitute a flax egg. To make one flax egg, combine 1 Tablespoon ground flax meal with 3 Tablespoons water. Stir to combine and let sit ~10 minutes, or until thickened.
- Garlic: substitute ½ teaspoon garlic flakes, ¼ teaspoon granulated garlic, or ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Check out the oils from Enzo’s Table for great flavor and quality or substitute avocado or canola oil.
Recipe Variations
Turn these turkey burgers into sliders by reducing the patty size to ~2 inches in diameter.
We have only cooked turkey burgers with beans in the oven or on the stovetop, but you are welcome to try grilling them. We’d love to hear how they turn out for you!
Create Greek turkey burgers with tzatziki sauce by topping the burgers with cucumbers, tomatoes, and this classic Greek spread.
Want some more burger inspiration?
Use our beef and bean burger base recipe as a guide to make it your own, or try out these favorite variations!
Equipment Recommendations
Use these kitchen tools for recipe success:
- Mixing Bowl
- Masher
- Measuring Spoons & Cups
- Cutting Board
- Chef’s Knife
- Pastry brush
- Baking Sheet or Griddle
- Thermometer
Check out our essential equipment guide to stock your kitchen with ALL the tools you need to prepare anything!
Is this Mediterranean burger recipe healthy?
This Mediterranean turkey burger recipe is a much healthier choice than their greasy counterparts. By adding beans and replacing beef with turkey, you increase fiber while decreasing saturated fat. The featured ingredients in this recipe are garbanzo beans, turkey, parsley, and olives.
Garbanzo Beans
Beans contain plant-based protein, complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. These nutrients promote gut health, decrease risk of developing heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, and promote a healthy weight. Beans are a key component of longevity diets around the world.
Turkey
Turkey is a lean source of protein. It is also rich in B vitamins and minerals, such as iron.
Parsley
Not only do fresh herbs add a pop of freshness and flavor to a dish, but they add nutrition too! Parsley is rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients that promote health.
Olives
Olives are rich in anti-inflammatory antioxidants and phytonutrients that help protect against heart disease and certain types of cancer. The healthy fats in olives also help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol. Olives are also a good source of fiber, and provide the gut microbiome with beneficial prebiotics.
Learn more about health benefits of different foods and ingredients or in our book, To Your Taste!
Serving Suggestions
Pair this Mediterranean turkey burger with roasted vegetables and a side salad to make a beautiful Whole Life Plate.
Serve leftover patties crumbled into tacos or quesadillas, or on top of a salad drizzled with vinaigrette.
Learn how to build a healthy balanced meal with our Whole Life Plate, meal plan, and book!
How to Store and Reheat Mediterranean Turkey Burgers
Cool leftover burgers completely, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
Leftover burgers can also be frozen for up to 3 months. To freeze, place on a baking sheet and freeze for 1-4 hours. Once the burgers are partially frozen, transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before heating.
To reheat, place burgers on a pan and place in a cold oven. Turn the oven to heat to 350°F. Once the oven hits 350°F, your burgers should be warmed and ready!
Want more nutritious dinner recipes?
Try out these delicious recipes!
Healthy Beef Tacos with Mushrooms
Salmon with Yogurt Sauce Base Recipe
Mediterranean Turkey Burger with Chickpeas
Ingredients
- ½ Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil or cooking spray
- 1, 15-ounce can low-sodium chickpeas, drained (~1 ½ cups)
- 1 pound 99% lean ground turkey
- ½ cup Panko bread crumbs (whole grain suggested)
- ¼ small red onion (~¼ cup diced)
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese
- ¼ cup chopped Italian parsley
- 2 Tablespoons chopped kalamata olives
- 1 large egg
- 2 small garlic cloves, minced (~1 teaspoon)
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- Dash pepper
- 8 whole grain hamburger buns, lightly toasted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425ºF. Lightly brush a baking sheet with oil.
- Place beans in a large mixing bowl and lightly mash.
- Add turkey, bread crumbs, onion, feta, parsley, olives, egg, garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined.
- Create 8 patties with your hands and place on the pan, spaced at least 1” apart.
- Cook 10-12 minutes or until cooked through to 165ºF. Serve on toasted buns with toppings to YOUR taste. Enjoy!
Notes
- Thinly sliced cucumber
- Hummus
- Lettuce or leafy greens
- Sliced or smashed avocado
- Sliced tomato
- Healthy tzatziki
