Turkey Burgers

By Maria Lichty

Published on May 17, 2024

View RecipePin Recipe4.831

Burger nights are the best nights, according to my boys. They LOVE a good burger. They love our ultimate burger, but these Turkey Burgers are another favorite. They request them often, especially with fries on the side.

If you aren’t that excited about turkey burgers, I get it. It’s true that some turkey burgers are dry and don’t have a lot of flavor. If you’ve had a bad experience, I am sorry, BUT don’t let that stop you from making this recipe.

This is the BEST turkey burger recipe because the burgers are JUICY, tender, full of flavor, and delicious. Plus, they are kid approved:)

And now let me tell you the secret to making juicy turkey burgers. One word, zucchini. YES! Adding shredded zucchini to the ground turkey makes the burgers super moist. I promise you can’t taste it. Just trust me on this one.

We also add in onion, garlic, spices, that give the burgers lots of flavor. Grill to perfection and top with cheese. Serve on a toasted bun with the most incredible cilantro-jalapeño slaw. The slaw is sweet, tangy, and fresh! It is the perfect addition to the burgers, don’t skip it.

Turkey burgers are great for an easy weeknight meal or you can grill them up at your next family BBQ. I guarantee they will be a crowd pleaser.

Ingredients

• Ground turkey– dark meat preferred or 80-90% lean. If you get too lean, the burgers will not be as juicy.
• Zucchini– use a box grater to shred the zucchini and wring out all of the moisture in a paper towel. I promise you won’t taste it and it’s the secret to a JUICY turkey burger. Plus, you get an extra veggie in!
• Onion– chopped onion adds great flavor!
• Garlic– use fresh garlic!
• Paprika– you can use regular sweet paprika, but if you want a slightly smoky flavor, feel free to use smoked paprika.
• Crushed red pepper flakes– for a little kick!

Slaw Ingredients

The slaw isn’t mandatory but it really makes the burgers extra special. I highly recommend you make it to top off the burgers!

• Cabbage– shredded green and purple cabbage. I like to mix the two for color variation! Everyone loves a pretty slaw:)
• Cilantro– so fresh!
• Green onions-sliced!
• Jalapeño– remove the seeds and finely chop up the jalapeño. The slaw isn’t super spicy, the jalapeño gives it just a little kick. If you don’t like spicy at all, you can leave it out.
• Apple cider vinegar– tangy and tart!
• Olive oil– avocado oil also works!
• Lime– you will need the juice of 1 large lime.
• Honey– to balance out the vinegar and tart lime juice.
• Dijon mustard– for flavor and to help emulsify the dressing.

How to Make Turkey Burgers

• Line a tray or baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• To make the burgers, put the ground turkey in a large bowl. Squeeze out all the moisture of the shredded zucchini in paper towels. Add the zucchini, onion, garlic, paprika, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes to the turkey. Mix until combined, but don’t over mix. Form the mixture into four 1/2-inch-thick patties.
• Place the patties on the prepared tray or baking sheet. Place in the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes. Freezing the patties will prevent the burgers from falling apart on the grill.
• Make the slaw while the patties are chilling.
• Preheat the grill to medium heat and brush with oil. Grill the burgers until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side, melting the cheese on top of the burgers during the last minute. Make sure you don’t over cook the burgers. Nobody wants to eat a dry turkey burger:)
• Place the burgers on the toasted buns and top with slaw. Serve immediately.

Alternative Cooking Methods

If you don’t have an outdoor grill, you can cook the the turkey burgers in a skillet or grill pan, in the oven, or even in the Air Fryer. The cook time will vary a little, depending on the thickness of the burger. A turkey burger is fully cooked when the center of the burger reaches an internal temperature of 165° F.

• Skillet or Grill Pan– Heat your skillet or grill pan to medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of olive oil or avocado oil. Cook the burgers the burgers until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side.
• Oven– Baked turkey burgers are easy to make. Preheat the oven to 400° F. Place the patties on a a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 10 minutes and then flip the burgers. Cook for an additional 8 to 10 minutes, or until cooked through.
• Air Fryer– Preheat your Air Fryer to 360° F. Spray the basket or rack with nonstick cooking spray. Place your burgers in the Air Fryer, in a single layer, making sure they don’t touch. Cook for 15 minutes or until cooked through, flipping halfway.

Burger Toppings

Again, we highly recommend serving the burgers with the slaw. It is the BEST, but if you want to build your own burger, here are some other topping ideas.

Top the burgers with:

• Ketchup
• Mustard or Honey Mustard
• BBQ sauce
• Lettuce or Arugula
• Tomato
• Red onion or pickled red onions
• Pickles
• Candied jalapeño’s
• Bacon
• Avocado or Guacamole
• Cheese- we use cheddar, but Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, or Provolone would be good too!

What to Serve on the Side

You can keep things simple and serve the burgers with potato chips and a pickle or you can add a few side dishes. Here are a few of our favorites.

• Baked Sweet Potato Fries
• Potato Salad
• Broccoli Salad
• Baked Garlic Parmesan Potato Wedges or Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges
• Fruit Salad
• Easy Green Salad
• Easy Orzo Salad
• Easy Pasta Salad

How to Store & Freeze

• Leftover cooked burgers will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• You can make the patties in advance. Make the patties and place them on the prepared tray or baking sheet. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
• To freeze uncooked turkey patties, line a tray or baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the patties in a single layer on the prepared tray or sheet. Freeze for 1 hour or until patties are firm. Wrap each patty with plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag or freezer container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator or grill the frozen patties.
• You can also freeze cooked turkey burgers. Let them cool completely and store in a freezer bag or container. If you are going to stack them, put a piece of wax paper in between the burgers so they don’t stick. Thaw and reheat.

FAQ

More Burger & Sandwich Recipes

• Guacamole Bacon Burger
• Chipotle Burgers
• Fried Chicken Sandwich
• Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches
• Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwich

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Main Dishes

Turkey Burgers

Turkey Burgers- juicy turkey burgers topped with cheddar cheese and a simple cilantro-jalapeño slaw. This is the BEST turkey burger recipe; perfect for cookouts or an easy weeknight dinner!

4.80 from 24 votes

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Prep Time 40 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  

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For the burgers:

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 1/2 cup shredded zucchini
• 1/4 cup diced onion
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• Crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
• Oil, for brushing the grill

For the slaw:

• 2 cups shredded green cabbage
• 2 cups shredded purple cabbage
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 3 green onions, sliced
• 1 small jalapeño, minced
• 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Juice 1 lime
• 3 teaspoons honey
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

For serving:

• 4 hamburger buns, toasted
• 4 slices cheddar cheese

Instructions

 

• Line a tray or baking sheet with parchment paper. To make the burgers, put the ground turkey in a large bowl. Squeeze out all the moisture of the shredded zucchini in paper towels. Add the zucchini, onion, garlic, paprika, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes to the turkey. Mix until combined, but don’t over mix. Form the mixture into four 1/2-inch-thick patties.
• Place the patties in a single layer on the prepared tray or baking sheet. Put the burger patties in the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes. Freezing the patties will prevent them from falling apart on the grill.
• While the patties are chilling, make the slaw. In a large bowl, combine the cabbage, cilantro, green onions, and jalapeño.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the apple cider vinegar, olive oil, lime juice, honey, and Dijon mustard. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Pour the dressing over the slaw and toss well. Set aside and let marinate while you make the burgers.
• Preheat the grill to medium heat and brush with oil. Grill the burgers until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side, melting the cheese on top of the burgers during the last minute. A turkey burger is fully cooked when the center of the patty reaches an internal temperature of 165° F.
• Place the burgers on the toasted buns and top with slaw. Serve immediately.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 412kcal, Carbohydrates: 35g, Protein: 37g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 79mg, Sodium: 1000mg, Potassium: 695mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: -1g, Vitamin A: 1205IU, Vitamin C: 49mg, Calcium: 239mg, Iron: 3mg

Keywords burger

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