Why this fits a family on a budget
Ground beef and pita bread are budget staples that bring this meal in at roughly $2.35 per serving, comfortably within the weekly budget. Using the air fryer cuts cook time significantly and produces juicy, well-browned patties with almost zero cleanup.
• 1 lb 80/20 ground beef
• 4 pieces pita bread rounds
• 0.5 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 0.5 whole cucumber
• 2 whole Roma tomato
• 2 cups romaine lettuce
• 0.25 whole red onion
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 0.5 tsp ground coriander
• 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
• 0.5 tsp dried parsley
• 1 tsp salt
• 0.25 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
1. Preheat the air fryer to 375°F for 3 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, combine ground beef with garlic powder, cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, dried parsley, salt, and pepper. Mix with your hands until the spices are evenly distributed — do not overmix.
3. Divide the mixture into 8 small oval patties, each about 1/2 inch thick.
4. Lightly brush the air fryer basket with olive oil. Place patties in a single layer — work in two batches if needed so they don't overlap.
5. Air fry at 375°F for 8–9 minutes, flipping once at the 5-minute mark, until patties are browned on the outside and no longer pink in the center (internal temp 160°F).
6. While the patties cook, make the quick tzatziki: finely dice the cucumber and squeeze out excess moisture with a paper towel. Stir cucumber into the Greek yogurt along with lemon juice and a pinch of salt.
7. Dice the Roma tomatoes and thinly slice the red onion. Shred or roughly chop the romaine lettuce.
8. Warm the pita rounds in the microwave for 20–30 seconds each, wrapped in a damp paper towel, until soft and pliable.
9. To assemble, lay each pita flat, spoon a generous drizzle of tzatziki down the center, add 2 beef patties, then top with lettuce, tomato, and red onion.
10. Fold the pita around the filling and serve immediately.
Contains: gluten, dairy. Always double-check labels for your household's allergies.
Cost is a national-average estimate and varies by store and region.
This recipe was generated by Plento Pasto's AI from a library of family-friendly dishes and reviewed for a real photo before publishing. Cooking times, costs, and nutrition are estimates — use your judgment in the kitchen.