This Greek-Inspired Sheet Pan Dinner Is So Comforting

Bifteki, or biftekia (plural), was my go-to dish as a kid whenever my parents took me to a Greek restaurant. I loved the juicy, highly-seasoned beef patties and would always get them with lemony potatoes on the side.

Biftekia is a solid, comforting meal that comes together pretty quickly at home—which adult me really appreciates. And to sweeten the deal, in my version of the recipe, the patties bake in the oven with the potatoes to make it an easy one-pan dinner.

Making My Sheet Pan Biftekia and Potatoes

Potato wedges are seasoned with oregano and get a bath in a bit of broth and lemon juice before heading to the oven. The patties are added to the sheet pan toward the end of cooking so everything finishes at the same time. The minimal cleanup and the added bonus of the potatoes soaking up the extra juices from the biftekia is what I call a win-win. 

Tips for Making My Biftekia With Lemony Potato Wedges

• Grate the onion: Adding grated onion to the beef mixture yields a tender, juicy patty with an even distribution of onion flavor. I use the large holes of a box grater and grate the onion directly into the bowl to catch all the juices. Since the grater is already out, I use the small holes to grate the garlic, too. If you don’t have a box grater or don’t want to grate by hand, a food processor works, too—just pulse until the onion is pulpy.
• Go for whole-block feta: If you're adding feta, skip the crumbled kind. It’s dry, overly salty, and lacks flavor. It's not worth it just to save a few minutes of prep. Whole-block feta, ideally made from sheep’s milk or a blend of sheep’s and goat’s milk and packed in brine, gives you much better flavor and texture.

Serving Suggestions

While everything’s in the oven, I like to throw together a quick salad. Mine usually includes halved cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, and thinly sliced onion, all tossed with lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper. I love the bright, crisp contrast to the richness of the biftekia and lemon potatoes. A dollop of tzatziki or even just some plain Greek yogurt wouldn’t hurt either.