This turkey burger recipe is absolute perfection! The turkey patties are healthy, super easy to make, perfectly juicy and moist, and packed with flavor from simple ingredients. Now all you have to decide is what ingredients to layer into your burgers. I’ve got delicious servings ideas below!
Are Turkey Burgers Healthy?
Every once in a while, I crave a meaty and juicy burger. But when I try to cut down on red meat and choose leaner options, ground turkey is always my go-to. It’s like switching from beef meatballs to my favorite turkey meatballs recipe.
So to answer the question – “Are turkey burgers actually healthy?” The answer is an affirmative yes! Ground turkey has less saturated fat than ground beef and is even leaner than ground chicken.
The only “downside” is that turkey tends to be a lot drier than beef. But I’ve got a few tips on how to make the perfect turkey burger patty that’s not dry and bland, plus they’re completely gluten-free! This is my go-to turkey burger recipe in my house, and I’m confident you’ll come back to it over and over again as well!
Turkey Burger Ingredients
- Ground Turkey: The key to juicier turkey burgers is choosing the right lean-to-fat ratio. Packaged ground turkey is often a mix of light and dark meat, but you’ll want to choose one that’s 93% lean and 7% fat. This makes for a moist and succulent texture. And if purchasing ground turkey from the butcher, ask them to provide the same mix suitable for a burger patty.
- Mayonnaise: Just a little bit of mayo helps to add moisture and acts as a binder for the patties. You can use your favorite brand or make my easy homemade mayonnaise which tastes 10x better and has no funky ingredients!
- Dijon Mustard & Worcestershire sauce: While turkey is really a blank canvas for flavor, I often find most turkey burger recipes to be bland and boring in flavor. But the simple combo of Dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce adds a savory, umami flavor – and it’ll have everyone going back for seconds! Side note: if you’re gluten-free like me, scroll down to the recipe card where I’ve linked the gluten-free Worcestershire sauce I use (as not all brands are gluten-free).
- Seasonings: All you need are fresh garlic, kosher salt, and black pepper to complete the flavor profile. But if you want to switch up some of the flavors, I’ve got a few options listed below.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below
How To Make Turkey burger patties
Make the patties. Mix the ground turkey, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, salt, and pepper with your hands. Then, divide the mixture evenly to form 4 large patties. To avoid uncooked patties, flatten them out a bit so they’re not super tall and dense. Plus, they do shrink quite a bit when cooking!
Cook the patties. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the oil. Cook the patties for approximately 5 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Unlike beef patties, turkey burgers need to be completely cooked through. If you’d like, you can use an instant-read thermometer to check and see if they have reached an internal temperature of 165°F.
Turkey Burger Filling options
The classic options you can never go wrong with are sliced tomatoes, red onions, cheddar cheese, pickles, and a layer of mayonnaise and ketchup on top. But you can also switch it up and add bacon, avocado slices, and caramelized onions.
Serving Ideas
- Serve up a classic turkey burger. Grab your favorite store-bought buns (you could even toast them if you’d like) and layer on your favorite burger ingredients. I also love to make pickle de gallo for an easy onion and pickle addition.
- Make a lettuce wrap turkey burger: For those of us who are gluten-free or just looking for a healthier option, lettuce wrap turkey burgers are honestly just as delicious. Plus, it’s a naturally low-carb meal! To make the lettuce “buns” — core a head of lettuce and slice it into quarters. Use a few pieces of lettuce as both the base and top, essentially wrapping around the burger.
- Make a turkey burger bowl: Enjoy the patties as a protein source for a veggie-heavy salad or bowl! Layer leafy greens with avocado slices, pickled red onions, and cherry tomatoes (or other vegetables you like). You could even add tzatziki or chipotle sauce on top!
Ingredient Substitutions
- Don’t have access to Worcestershire sauce? You can add a splash of tamari soy sauce (about half the amount).
- Add more yumminess to the patty with finely diced onions or shallots. You can also switch up the seasonings and herbs with onion powder, dried thyme, rosemary, or any other seasonings you like really!
COMMON QUESTIONS
I’ve made this recipe heaps of times and have never had the patties fall apart when using 93% lean ground turkey. But, if you find that your patties are crumbling, you can try adding an egg and some almond flour to the mixture next time.
Absolutely! This is a great summertime burger recipe to toss on the grill. Just be a bit careful when placing them on the grill and flipping them as they tend to be softer than other burger patties.
You sure can! I have a separate recipe for chicken burgers (with a Mediterranean flavor profile), but you can certainly swap the meat in this recipe as well.
Storage Tips
- To store in the fridge: These patties will last for 3 to 4 days in the fridge stored in an airtight container.
- Freeze the patties for later: I love to make a double batch of this recipe and save leftovers for the future! To do so, freeze the cooked patties on a baking sheet first. Then, place them in a freezer-safe bag or container with parchment paper in between. They will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- Make-Ahead Tips: If you want to pre-make the raw turkey burgers, you can do so a day in advance and store them in the fridge. Just add parchment paper in between each patty and layer them on top of one another before placing them in an airtight container.
More Healthy Turkey Recipes
- Turkey Meatloaf: This healthy twist is flavorful, moist, and perfect for family dinners.
- Turkey Cobb Salad: Give this classic Cobb salad a fresh, fall twist with turkey and other fall ingredients!
- Turkey Chili: Another staple ground turkey recipe to keep in your rotation is this delicious turkey chili.
- Lighter Turkey Casserole: Casseroles don’t always have to be heavy. Give this light and tasty version a try when you’re craving comfort food!
- Classic Roast Turkey: While most people think of turkey as a Thanksgiving or Christmas recipe, it can be made and enjoyed any time of year.
I hope you enjoy these turkey burgers as much as I do! Give them a try and let me know how they turned out in the comment box below.
Description
This turkey burger recipe is the best of the best! The turkey patties are healthy, easy to make, perfectly juicy and moist, and packed with flavor from simple ingredients. Watch the video below to see how quickly the recipe comes together (and how I lettuce wrap them)!
Optional items for serving
- I typically don’t use non-stick pans, but for this recipe, I did because the temperature doesn’t go above medium to cook the patties and it makes it easier to flip them. You can find my favorite non-stick pans in this post featuring my favorite cookware!
Calories: 201kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 743mg | Potassium: 272mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 90IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 2mg
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