Skip to content

Meat

Greek bifteki with feta and fries

Bifteki with feta is a Greek beef patty stuffed with a melting core of feta, served with homemade fries and fresh tzatziki. This recipe for 4 people takes 40 minutes, rated easy, at a cost of €3.30 per serving. The key to success is shaping the patties so the feta stays sealed inside.

Craving a Greek getaway? Here's bifteki with feta, juicy beef patties with a melting center, served with fries and a good tzatziki.

Greek bifteki with feta and fries
Total time
40 min
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€3.30
Calories per person
700 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Bifteki is Greek ground beef on vacation. Under a golden seared crust, the meat seasoned with oregano and mint hides a core of feta that softens gently as it cooks. Grated onion and raw garlic keep it juicy, while breadcrumbs keep the patties tender even when cooked through.

This is a dish the whole table enjoys, kids love the meat patty and homemade fries, adults appreciate the fresh cucumber and garlic tzatziki. Make it on a weeknight when you have 40 minutes to spare, or on a Sunday when you want a change from classic burgers without complicating the cooking.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Ground beef 600 g

Dairy

  • Feta 150 g
  • Greek yogurt 250 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Onion 1
  • Garlic 2 cloves
  • Fresh mint 1 sprigs
  • Potatoes 1 kg
  • Cucumber 1

Pantry

  • Dried oreganooften in the pantry 2 tsp
  • Breadcrumbsoften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Oiloften in the pantry 4 tbsp
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Allergens Lactose, Gluten

The step by step recipe

  1. Peel the potatoes, cut them into sticks, dry them well, coat them with oil and spread them on a baking sheet, then bake at 220°C. 30 min

    Rinse the sticks in cold water then dry them thoroughly, they get much crispier.

  2. Make the tzatziki by mixing the yogurt, grated and squeezed cucumber, a bit of crushed garlic, olive oil and salt. 5 min

    Press the cucumber in a kitchen towel, otherwise the sauce turns watery.

  3. Mix the beef with the grated onion, garlic, oregano, chopped mint, breadcrumbs, salt and pepper.

    Work the meat quickly with your fingertips, overworking it makes it tough.

  4. Shape eight patties, place a cube of feta in the center of each, close the meat around it and flatten slightly.

    Wet your hands before shaping, the meat won't stick.

  5. Cook the bifteki in a very hot pan, then serve with the fries and the tzatziki. 10 min

    Flip them only once, they keep their juices and their golden crust.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick a block of feta rather than crumbled, it holds its shape and melts without scattering through the meat.
  • Don't pack the patties too tightly when shaping them, they stay juicier once cooked.
  • Let the bifteki rest off the heat for two minutes before serving, the juices settle back into the meat.

The variations

  • Swap the beef for ground lamb for a stronger flavor, closer to some traditional Greek versions.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the meat with mashed chickpea patties using the same spices and feta tucked inside.
  • For a quicker version, shape smaller patties and cook them for 6 minutes, with frozen oven fries baking alongside.

What to serve it with

  • A Greek salad with tomato, cucumber, olives
  • Warm pita bread
  • Cold lemon water

Storage

Cooked bifteki keep for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. They freeze well raw, separated with plastic wrap, for up to 2 months. Reheat gently in a pan over low heat so the meat doesn't dry out.

Questions about this dish

Can you make bifteki ahead of time?

Yes, you can shape the patties the day before and keep them covered in the fridge. Take them out 15 minutes before cooking so they cook more evenly.

How do you keep the feta from leaking out while cooking?

Use feta in big cubes rather than crumbled and seal the meat completely around it with no gaps. Also avoid flipping the patties more than once.

Can you replace the fresh mint?

You can use flat leaf parsley if you don't have mint on hand, the flavor will be less distinctive but the dish still works. Use the same amount, finely chopped.

Are bifteki good for kids?

Yes, this is a recipe kids tend to enjoy since it looks like a burger patty with a melty surprise inside. Just check the feta isn't too hot before serving to little ones.

How long does it take to make Greek bifteki with feta and fries?

Count 40 min in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in Greek bifteki with feta and fries?

About 700 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does Greek bifteki with feta and fries cost?

About €3.30 per serving, or €13.20 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains lactose, gluten. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

Recipes with raw garlic

See all

Meat dishes

See all