Grilled Spinach Feta Burgers — The First Spring Without Marc

March. Year seven ends. The worst year. The year that took Marc and left a family that is smaller and quieter and still here. The grill awakens for the ninth spring. The smoke rises. The food continues. And somewhere in the food — in the smothered pork chops that were Marc's favorite, in the ribs he called stupid good, in the banana pudding he would have eaten with a spoon directly from the pan — Marc continues too. He is in the food. He will always be in the food. And the food is Carter's Kitchen. And Carter's Kitchen carries him forward. Every meal. Every plate. Every Sunday.

When I opened that grill for the first time this March, I stood there a long minute before I lit it. Marc would have already had the charcoal going and a plate of something ready to season. I needed something new — something that was mine alone on that grate, not his smothered chops or his ribs, but still worthy of the smoke and the spring air. These Grilled Spinach Feta Burgers felt right: fresh, green, built for the season, and honest enough to sit on a Carter’s Kitchen table without apology.

Grilled Spinach Feta Burgers

Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 12 minutes | Total Time: 27 minutes | Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef (80/20)
• 2 cups fresh spinach, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup finely diced red onion
• 1 large egg
• 1/3 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 4 hamburger buns
• Lettuce, tomato slices, and red onion rings for serving

Instructions

1. Prep the spinach. Wash and finely chop the fresh spinach. Squeeze out any excess moisture with a clean towel or paper towels.
2. Mix the patties. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, chopped spinach, crumbled feta, garlic, diced red onion, egg, breadcrumbs, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix gently with your hands until just combined — do not overwork the meat.
3. Form the burgers. Divide the mixture into 4 equal portions and shape into patties about 3/4 inch thick. Press a shallow indent into the center of each patty to prevent puffing on the grill.
4. Preheat the grill. Heat your grill to medium-high heat, about 400–450°F. Lightly oil the grates.
5. Grill the burgers. Place patties on the grill and cook for 5–6 minutes per side, flipping once, until the internal temperature reaches 160°F. Avoid pressing down on the patties while cooking.
6. Toast the buns. During the last 1–2 minutes of cooking, place the buns cut-side down on the grill until lightly toasted.
7. Assemble and serve. Place each burger on a toasted bun and top with lettuce, tomato, and red onion rings. Serve immediately.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 420 | Protein: 28g | Fat: 22g | Carbs: 28g | Fiber: 2g | Sodium: 680mg