Greek burgers (patties) and potatoes baked in the oven. The ultimate Greek comfort food a.k.a. bifteki. It's a one pan recipe everyone loves!
This is a classic Greek recipe like this Greek chicken risotto and this super delicious and super healthy Greek potato salad without mayo and no eggs.
When I first tried it, it came out okay, but the texture was off. The patties were a bit dry and dense.
I tried adding some grated vegetables for extra moisture, vinegar to tenderize the meat – as some suggest – and not overworking the mixture since it’s believed it toughens the burgers.
Oddly enough, some other recipes suggest to work the ground beef mixture very well, in order to break the tissue of the meat and make the patties more tender. Nothing worked well.
I eventually concluded that the meat mixture needed more bread, to come in between the tissues of the meat and prevent them from sticking to each other, thus making the patties dense.
For homemade bread crumbs, I process slices of bread in my food processor. Another option is to buy panko.
Ingredients
To make these Greek burgers and potatoes in the oven you'll need:
- Ground beef
- Bread crumbs or panko
- Onion
- Tomato
- Baking soda
- Fresh parsley
- Dried oregano
- Ground cumin
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Salt
- Egg
- Olive oil
- Water
- Potatoes
- Tomato paste
- Dried garlic powder
Instructions
Follow this easy steps for how to make Greek bifteki baked in the oven.
Step 1: Preheat your oven to 375℉ (190℃).
Step 2: Mix all of the ingredients for the patties and form the burgers. Transfer them to a large pan or casserole.
Step 3: Wash and peel the potatoes and cut them into small wedges. Then, place them inside the pan in between the patties.
Step 4: Make the tomato sauce and pour it over the burgers and the potatoes.
Step 5: Bake for 50 to 60 minutes until the potatoes are cooked through and are easily pierced with a fork.
Variations - Substitutions
For a gluten-free option, use almond flour instead of bread crumbs.
Sometimes the ground meat can be 50% beef and 50% pork.
Instead of oregano, you can use thyme.
Substitute the cumin with sweet or spicy Paprika.
Storage
Transfer any leftovers to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Note:
The quantity of the crumbs may seem a lot, but consider that their weight is only 5 oz (150 grams).
Searching for another one pan, easy recipe? Try this healthy baked fish with vegetables!
Please share this post if you liked it and give it a star rating once you've made it!
📖 Recipe
Oven baked Greek burgers (patties) and potatoes
Ingredients
For the burgers
- 1 pound (450 grams) ground beef
- 2 ½ cups homemade bread crumbs or panko (150-175 grams)
- 1 onion, finely chopped or grated
- ½ cup grated tomato
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ cup chopped parsley
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- ¼ cup water
For the potatoes
- 1.7 pounds (800 grams) starchy potatoes
- 1 teaspoon salt
For the tomato sauce
- ½ cup tomato paste
- ½ cup olive oil
- ¾ cup water
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried garlic powder
- A pinch of salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375℉ (190℃).
- In a large bowl mix by hand all of the ingredients for the burgers except the water.Work the mixture well with your hands and start adding the water until a soft but pliable mixture is formed. You may not need all of the water.
- Grease your hands with some olive oil, separate the mixture into 8 equal portions and form egg-shaped patties. Place them in pan large enough to fit them and the potatoes.
- Wash and peel the potatoes and cut them into small wedges (not to big, because they will not have been cooked through by the time the loaves are ready) and place them in the pan in between the patties. Sprinkle them with the salt.
- Mix all of the ingredients for the tomato sauce in a small bowl. Pour the sauce over the patties and the potatoes. Gently shake the pan for even distribution.
- Bake for 50 to 60 minutes until the potatoes are cooked through and are easily pierced with a fork. If the juices in the pan are evaporated you may need to add a splash of water during baking.
George
I have tried many Greek burger recipes and many of them were tough. These patties came out very tender and moist and the tomato sauce gave a lot of flavor to the potatoes. This recipe is a keeper!
Makos
Thank you very much, I'm so happy you liked this recipe 🙂