Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Ready in just over an hour perfect for busy weeknights.
• High-protein and flavorful, combining traditional Greek herbs like oregano and mint.
• Easy clean-up with everything baked in one pan.
• Flexible add your own twist like chili flakes or cheese, or serve in a bun or with a salad.

Ingredients

(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)

• Ground beef
• Garlic cloves, divided
• Red onion
• Tomato
• Dried oregano, divided
• Dried mint
• Dried breadcrumbs (gluten-free if desired)
• Whole milk (or plant-based if needed)
• Flat-leaf parsley, divided
• Large egg
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Baking or waxy potatoes
• Lemon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 °F (about 200 °C). In a large bowl, place the ground beef, finely grate in one garlic clove, coarsely grate the onion and tomato (discarding the skin). Add two teaspoons of oregano, mint, breadcrumbs, and milk. Chop half the parsley finely and add to the bowl. Crack in the egg, season with salt and pepper, drizzle in olive oil, and mix thoroughly.
2. Cut potatoes into 1-inch (≈2.5 cm) wedges. In a large roasting tray, grate in remaining garlic and lemon zest, sprinkle the remaining oregano, season generously, squeeze over lemon juice, and toss with a bit of water at the base.
3. Form beef mixture into four flat patties; nestle them among the potatoes, drizzle olive oil on top. Cover tray tightly with foil and bake for 10–12 minutes until patties begin browning.
4. Remove the foil and continue baking for 30–35 minutes, until potatoes are golden and biftekia are crusted and cooked through.
5. Finish with remaining parsley sprinkled on top before serving.

Servings and timing

• Serves: 4 people
• Prep time: 20 minutes; Cook time: 50 minutes; Total: ~1 hour 10 minutes

Variations

• Add a pinch of dried red chili flakes into the meat mixture for a spicy kick.
• In the last few minutes of baking, top each biftekion with a slice of cheese (e.g., feta or gouda) and return to the oven until melty, then serve on buns if preferred.
• Add a simple green salad on the side, perhaps a Greek-style salad with olives, cucumber, and feta, for a fuller meal.

Storage/Reheating

• Storage: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
• Reheating: Reheat in a 350 °F (175 °C) oven for ~10 minutes, or microwave until heated through. To crisp potatoes, use oven or toaster oven rather than microwave.

FAQs

1. Can I use ground lamb or a mix of beef and lamb?

Yes ground lamb or a mixture of beef and lamb will work beautifully and add a richer flavor.

2. Is there a gluten-free version?

Absolutely just substitute the breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs or omit them entirely and use a little extra milk.

3. What can I use instead of whole milk?

You can use any plant-based milk like soy, oat, or almond to keep it dairy-free with minimal change to texture.

4. Can I make this in advance or freeze it?

Yes assemble and freeze before baking. When ready, bake from frozen, adding a bit more time as needed until cooked through.

5. How do I ensure potatoes stay crispy?

Toss with a touch more olive oil and finish uncovered. If reheating, use an oven or air fryer to revive crispiness.

6. Can I bake this in a convection oven?

Yes reduce oven temperature by about 25 °F (≈15 °C) and monitor closely to avoid overbrowning.

7. Any ideas for side dishes?

Pairs well with a Greek wedge salad, tzatziki yogurt dip, or simply steamed vegetables.

8. Can the potato wedges be substituted?

Yes sweet potatoes, yams, or even carrot wedges would work with adjusted cooking times.

9. How thick should beef patties be?

Make them flat about ½-inch thick so they cook evenly during baking. They will shrink slightly as they cook.

10. Is this recipe kid-friendly?

Definitely it’s listed as high-protein, beginner-friendly, and kid-friendly in PureWow’s September dinner roundup.

Conclusion

This Classic Biftekia and Chips recipe is a standout for its simplicity, flavor, and one-tray convenience. Ground beef flavored with herbs, garlic, and tomato becomes delicious patties nestled amid lemon-oregano potato wedges. With minimal hands-on time and plenty of deliciousness, it’s a weeknight winner. Feel free to adapt it with spices, cheeses, or sides to make it your own either way, dinner is done.

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