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Authentic Greek Biftekia: Flavorful Beef Patties Recipe

Much easier and less time-consuming than Greek meatballs, these Greek beef patties (biftekia) are flavorful and perfect for a quick weeknight dinner. The uncooked patties freeze well, so you can prepare a large batch and keep extras on hand for busy evenings. There’s nothing simpler than taking a few frozen biftekia straight from the freezer to the oven — they don’t need to be thawed first.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • A pinch or two of dried oregano, crumbled
  • 2–3 slices bread, soaked in milk and squeezed dry

Preparation

Place the bread slices in a shallow dish and pour enough milk over them to soak. Allow them to soften while you prepare the other ingredients.

Soak bread in milk for greek beef patties, biftekia recipe.

Combine the ground beef, egg, salt, minced garlic, finely chopped onion, black pepper, and dried oregano in a mixing bowl.

Ingredients for greek beef patty recipe, biftekia.

Squeeze the soaked bread to remove excess milk, then tear it into small pieces and add it to the bowl with the meat mixture.

Squeeze excess milk out of bread for greek beef patties recipe, biftekia.

Mix everything together thoroughly using your hands until well combined. The soaked bread helps keep the patties moist and tender.

Mix the ingredients for greek beef patties recipe, biftekia.

Shape the mixture into patties of your preferred size. Thinner patties cook faster and are easier to brown evenly. Lightly coat each patty with a bit of oil as you form them to help prevent sticking and encourage a nice crust.

Form the patties for the greek beef patty recipe, biftekia.

If you plan to freeze some patties, wrap them individually in plastic wrap or foil and place them in the freezer. Arrange the remaining patties in a baking pan; brush or lightly oil the pan if needed depending on how much oil is on the patties.

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the patties for about 10 minutes, then flip and bake another 10 minutes. For extra browning, switch on the broiler and broil each side for a few minutes, watching carefully so they don’t burn. Remove them once they reach your desired level of browning.

Greek beef patty, biftekia recipe, finished.

Serve the biftekia warm, traditionally topped with a pat of butter and a generous squeeze of lemon juice for brightness. These patties pair well with a simple salad, roasted vegetables, or crusty bread.

This is a family-friendly recipe I often bring on vacations because it’s easy to make and appeals to kids. Feel free to adjust the seasoning to taste or experiment by adding fresh herbs like parsley or mint for a different flavor profile.

Kalo Kalokairi!