Ugh, weeknights, right? Some days you just want something that tastes like you spent hours simmering herbs and lemon zest, but you only have, like, twenty minutes before someone starts saying they’re starving. That’s exactly why these Mediterranean Chicken Patties landed right at the top of our rotation. Seriously, they are magic! We’re talking tender ground chicken loaded with bright parsley, sharp onion, and that warm, sunny flavor of oregano—all coming together in less than half an hour.
My kids, who usually turn their noses up at anything without brightly colored sauce, gobble these down. They’re just so moist and flavorful, so you don’t need much else on the plate. This recipe has saved my sanity more times than I can count when I need a super quick, satisfying dinner that feels special but isn’t heavy at all. If you’re looking to inject some sunshine into your weekly menu without breaking a sweat, trust me, you need to try this simple ground chicken recipe right now. You can check out even more quick dinner hacks on my dedicated dinner page!
Why You Will Love These Mediterranean Chicken Patties
Honestly, the best recipes are the ones you can rely on when you’re tired, and these patties are total rockstars for reliability and flavor. They hit every mark for a busy weeknight meal. I keep coming back to them week after week because they are just so versatile!
- It’s lightning fast! Total time is only 24 minutes, so you’re staring down dinner for less time than it takes to decide what to watch on TV.
- They are incredibly simple. You literally mix everything in one bowl—no fancy equipment needed. I’ve got some more easy ground chicken ideas over here if you want more quick wins.
- That oregano, lemon, and garlic combo? It smells like a vacation. So much flavor complexity for so little effort.
- They fit perfectly into a lighter routine—we always talk about keeping things low-fat when we can, and these deliver on taste without weighing you down.
Essential Ingredients for Perfect Mediterranean Chicken Patties
The real secret here isn’t some complicated technique; it’s grabbing the right fresh ingredients and keeping the mix-ins minimal. That’s how you get that bright, authentic Mediterranean flavor without turning your patties mushy. When I first tried this, I cut back on the herbs, and wow, what a mistake! Don’t skimp on the fresh parsley or the oregano—they are the backbone of this flavor profile. You can find a few other ways I use fresh herbs in my other ground chicken recipes.
Here is exactly what you need to pull this off tonight:
- One pound of good quality ground chicken. I like mine lean, usually 93% lean.
- About 1/4 cup of a finely chopped red onion. Remember, finely chopped—we want flavor pockets, not big crunchy chunks!
- Two cloves of garlic, and you absolutely must mince them super fine.
- A good handful—that’s 1/4 cup—of fresh parsley, chopped up. It makes a world of difference over dried parsley, trust me.
- One tablespoon of bright, fresh lemon juice. You need that little zing!
- One teaspoon of dried oregano—this is where the Mediterranean vibe comes in strongest.
- Half a teaspoon of salt and just a quarter teaspoon of fresh black pepper.
- And for cooking, just one tablespoon of simple olive oil for the skillet. Keep it light!
Step-by-Step Instructions to Make Mediterranean Chicken Patties
Okay, this is where the magic really happens, and it’s so fast you might blink and miss it! The most important rule in making sure these chicken patties are tender and not tough? Gentle handling. Seriously, treat that ground chicken like delicate silk. You’ll want to mix just until everything is vaguely combined, because if you overwork it, you end up with dense little bricks instead of juicy burgers. I learned this the hard way!
I always have an extra bowl of water nearby for my hands when I’m forming meat mixtures; a little dampness keeps the sticky chicken mixture from clinging to you like glue. You want four nice, even patties when you’re done—not too thick, not too thin, so they cook uniformly. You can find some other great techniques for making awesome, foolproof chicken burgers if you’re keen to try different shapes!
Mixing and Forming the Mediterranean Chicken Patties
First things first: grab everything except the olive oil and toss it all into a medium bowl. That’s the chicken, the diced red onion, the minced garlic, the fresh parsley, the lemon juice, and all those beautiful spices. Now, use your clean hands or a wooden spoon and mix it gently. I mean gently—use a folding motion until you stop seeing white streaks of plain chicken mix everywhere. Stop right then! No more stirring.
Next, divide that seasoned goodness into four equal piles. Roll each pile lightly in your palms and then flatten them into patties about three-quarters of an inch thick. If you are worried about sticking, like I mentioned, just dip your hands in a little water before you pat them down. Set them on a clean plate while you get the pan ready.
Cooking Your Mediterranean Chicken Patties
Time for the heat! Put a good tablespoon of olive oil in a sturdy skillet and set the burner to medium heat. You don’t want it smoking hot, just medium. Let the oil warm up a minute or two—it should shimmer slightly. Carefully place your four patties into the hot oil, making sure not to crowd them; we need them to brown nicely!
Cook them for about five to seven minutes on the first side until they look beautifully golden brown. Then, flip them over just once. Keep cooking for another five to seven minutes. The absolute key here, for safety and perfection, is to make sure they reach 165°F (74°C) internally. If you don’t have a meat thermometer, you can check by cutting into the thickest one—the juices have to run clear! If pan-frying just isn’t working for you this time, remember you can always pop them on a baking sheet and roast them at 400°F (200°C) for about 15 to 20 minutes instead. Either way, they come out spectacular!
Tips for Making the Best Mediterranean Chicken Patties
I’ve definitely made my share of less-than-perfect chicken patties over the years—mostly the ones that crumble when you try to flip them! But I figured out a few little tricks that really ramp up the success factor for these Mediterranean beauties. Trust me, a couple of small adjustments make a huge difference in texture.
First, and this might sound backward, but use cold ground chicken. If your chicken starts to warm up while you’re mixing, the proteins get mushy too fast. Keep it chilled right up until the second you toss it with the onion and herbs. It binds together much more nicely when it’s cold, which means less mixing time overall. You can look at some other tips for firm chicken burger construction here.
When it comes to the pan, don’t skimp on the oil, even though they are low-fat. That tablespoon of olive oil is crucial for getting that perfect golden crust we love. Once the oil is warm, slide those patties in gently. If you don’t hear a nice sizzle right away, your pan isn’t hot enough, and they’ll just steam instead of sear. Wait for the sizzle—that’s your cue for success!
Serving Suggestions for Your Mediterranean Chicken Patties
Okay, now you have these perfect, flavorful little patties, but what do you serve them with? This is where you can really lean into that fresh Mediterranean vibe! Honestly, they are so good they can just sit alone, but I love dressing them up a bit.
The number one hit at our house is serving them tucked inside a warmed pita pocket. Load it up with crisp romaine lettuce, sliced tomatoes, maybe some thinly sliced cucumber, and definitely a drizzle of creamy tzatziki sauce. That cool yogurt sauce contrasts so beautifully with the warm, herby chicken. If you want something even lighter, just serve the patties over a big, bright Greek salad. Speaking of bright flavors, if you enjoy vibrant salads, check out my recipe for Mediterranean-inspired grape salad—it’s weirdly perfect!
For a really fast, low-carb meal, wrapping one patty in a big piece of butter lettuce is heavenly. No bread, just pure flavor! Sometimes I’ll even crumble one over some quinoa with olives and feta cheese. See? They go with everything!
Storage and Reheating Mediterranean Chicken Patties
I always try to make an extra batch of these chicken patties because leftovers are the best kind of lunch! If you have any left, you need to treat them right so they don’t dry out. Once completely cooled, pop them into an airtight container. Stored properly in the fridge, they are perfectly good for three to maybe four days. Don’t push it past that, since we’re using fresh chicken here.
Reheating is important! I really advise against the microwave if you can avoid it, because that little machine tends to steam the crust right off them, making them a bit rubbery. My favorite way is to gently warm them back up in a skillet with a tiny splash of water or just a brush of oil over medium-low heat for a few minutes on each side. If you’re doing a bigger batch, pop them on a baking sheet in the oven at about 350°F (175°C) until they are heated through completely. That keeps the outside structure nice and firm!
Variations: Customizing Your Mediterranean Chicken Patties
While I love this recipe exactly as written, sometimes you just need to switch things up, right? These Mediterranean chicken patties are so flexible, you can easily tailor them to whatever you have in the fridge or whatever flavor mood you’re in. It’s one of the reasons I love using ground chicken so much—it’s a perfect blank slate!
If you’re not a huge parsley fan, try swapping it out for fresh cilantro. It gives the patties a slightly different, almost zestier edge that works great if you’re serving them taco-style instead of Greek-style. Or, for a deeper savory punch, mix in about 2 tablespoons of finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes with the onion. Wow, the flavor boost is incredible!
And hey, if you’re out of chicken or just want to mix things up protein-wise, this blend of spices works beautifully with ground turkey, too. You might need to add a few extra drops of lemon juice because turkey can sometimes be a little drier than chicken. It’s all about experimenting in the kitchen!
Frequently Asked Questions About Mediterranean Chicken Patties
I always get so many questions about these because everyone loves how easy they are! It’s natural to wonder about freezer space or oven times when you’re trying out a new recipe, especially when you’re working with ground chicken. I’ve gathered up the most common things folks ask me when they’re planning to make a batch of these amazing, easy chicken burgers.
Can I make these Mediterranean Chicken Patties ahead of time?
Oh yes, absolutely! Making these ahead of time is such a great strategy. You have two great options. You can mix up the entire meat mixture, cover it tightly, and keep it in the fridge for up to 24 hours before you form the patties. Or, even better, form all four patties and place them on a parchment-lined plate or tray. Cover them well and chill them for up to a full day. When it’s dinner time, just cook them straight from cold—you might need an extra minute on each side when pan-frying!
What is the best way to cook these if I want to avoid oil?
If you’re trying to skip the skillet altogether, I always point people back to the baking instructions. You can easily bake these! Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and lay the patties on a parchment-lined baking sheet. They usually bake up perfectly in about 15 to 20 minutes, depending on how thick you make them. Honestly, an air fryer is another winner here if you have one! It gives you great browning without added oil—just spray them lightly before air frying at around 370°F (188°C) for about 10 to 12 minutes.
If you want more quick and easy burger ideas, check out my tips on making other foolproof chicken burgers!
Nutritional Estimate for Mediterranean Chicken Patties
I know a lot of you are tracking macros or just trying to keep things light, so I wanted to give you a general idea of what’s in one of these wonderful patties. Since we’re using lean ground chicken and keeping the added fats low, these are a really solid, high-protein meal choice! Remember, these numbers are just estimates, because if you use a fattier grind of chicken or add a big dollop of mayo to your serving, things will change up, naturally.
For one patty, you’re looking at roughly:
- Calories: 220
- Protein: 28g
- Total Fat: 10g (with 3g saturated)
- Carbs: 3g
So, high on the protein, low on everything else! Great news for a healthy dinner!
Print
Mediterranean Chicken Patties
- Total Time: 24 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Low Fat
Description
Simple recipe for flavorful chicken patties with Mediterranean spices.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil for cooking
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine ground chicken, red onion, garlic, parsley, lemon juice, oregano, salt, and pepper.
- Mix gently until just combined; do not overmix.
- Form the mixture into 4 equal-sized patties.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
- Cook patties for 5 to 7 minutes per side, until browned and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F or 74°C).
- Remove from heat and serve immediately.
Notes
- Serve these patties on lettuce wraps or with a side of tzatziki sauce.
- You can bake these patties at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes if preferred over pan-frying.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 14 min
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-Frying
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 patty
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 10
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Unsaturated Fat: 7
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 3
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 28
- Cholesterol: 85
Keywords: Mediterranean chicken patties, ground chicken recipe, easy chicken burgers, oregano chicken, quick dinner