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The Juiciest Turkey Burger Recipe

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This Turkey Burger is super moist, incredibly flavorful, and guaranteed to be become a summer barbecue staple! They’re also incredibly easy to make using simple ingredients.. and delicious enough to even make the beef-eaters happy!

A juicy turkey burger on a bun with lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles.

Why We Love This Turkey Burger Recipe

Summer foods might just be my favorite. The farmer’s market is brimming with delicious seasonal produce, and the grills are hot! During the warm months, we break out our grill at least twice a week. These Turkey Burgers are on regular rotation at our house. They are juicy, flavorful, and hold together nicely when you’re cooking them.

While these Turkey Burgers taste delicious with the standard burger toppings, the flavorful profile is neutral enough for pretty much any flavor combination you throw at them! They’re also incredibly easy to make, using simple ingredients I always have on hand. Plus, they are a hit with everyone who tries them.. even the beef lovers!

Ingredients for homemade turkey burgers.

Ingredients for Turkey Burgers:

  • Ground Turkey– Go for a higher fat content than you might usually buy when making turkey burgers. This will help keep your burgers nice and juicy. Look for an 80-90% lean ground turkey.
  • Bread Crumbs– We used panko breadcrumbs.
  • Cheddar Cheese– We used freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese. You could also use another cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack, Pepper Jack, Gouda, or
  • Egg– An egg will help to bind the mixture and keep your patties from falling apart.
  • Minced Garlic– We used fresh minced garlic, but you could also use 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder if you prefer.
  • Onion Powder– Adds nice flavor to your turkey burgers.
  • Salt & Pepper– Taste to season.
Process shots for how to make turkey burgers.

How to Make the Best Turkey Burgers:

  1. Combine the turkey mixture. Add all of the turkey ingredients to a medium sized bowl. Stir well to thoroughly combine. I like to use my hands!
  2. Shape into patties. Divide your mixture into six equal portions, or more if making sliders. Gently pat into patties, large enough to fit your buns. Place on a parchment covered baking sheet. With your thumb, press a small divot into the middle of each patty; this will prevent the patty from shrinking on the grill.
  3. Chill. This step isn’t necessary, but it will help your patties to hold their shape better on the grill. If you can, allow them to chill for at least 30 minutes before grilling.
  4. Grill. Place your turkey patties on a 450 degree preheated grill. Cook for 4-6 minutes before flipping. Cook for an additional 4-5 minutes until you reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Avoid pressing the patties flat with your spatula, or flipping multiple times.
  5. Serve. Remove the patties from the grill onto a clean plate. Serve on buns with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles if desired.
  6. Enjoy!
A close up picture of a turkey burger on a white bun with toppings.

Turkey or Beef?

While we get this question a lot, it’s sometimes a tough one to answer.  Food science is forever evolving and what we decided was unhealthy years ago, may not be as bad as we once thought. With that said, comparing ground beef to ground turkey really isn’t a fair comparison.  Depending on where the meat was obtained from the animal, the nutrition content can vary. You can have lean ground beef and full fat ground turkey and the ground beef would be considered healthier.  The nutrition profile also changes depending on what the animal is fed. Free range cows, able to graze on grass has healthier meat than an animal under stress that is only fed corn.

With that said, it’s a personal choice whether your family will consume ground beef or ground turkey. For our family, I like to have both.  The bigger variety of foods in our diet, the less likely the kids are going to be picky. I like to be able to give them a variety of tastes, flavors, and textures of food to expand their palate.

A juicy turkey burger with a bite taken out of it.

Tips & Suggestions

How do you keep turkey burgers from falling apart?

Turkey burgers have a tendency to fall apart, due to their higher moisture content. We added bread crumbs to the mixture to help absorb the moisture. The egg also acts as a binder. Additionally, allowing the shaped patties to chill before cooking will help them hold their shape.

What makes these turkey burgers moist and flavorful?

There are a few things you can do to prevent dry, flavorless turkey burgers! First, avoid buying an extra lean ground turkey. The extra fat content will help give you a juicier burger, so shoot for 80-90% lean ground turkey. Second, we added shredded cheese to our burger mix. This not only helps add additional moisture to your burgers, but flavor too! You can experiment with different cheeses for a different flavor profile.

What toppings should I put on my turkey burgers?

You can stick to the classic burger toppings, like we did here. Or- try something new! Here are just a few suggestions of tasty turkey burger toppings:

  • Sliced Avocado and Pepper Jack Cheese
  • Spinach, Feta and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
  • Grilled Mushrooms and Swiss Cheese
  • Caramelized Onions and Bacon
  • Cranberry Sauce, Sliced Gouda and Romaine
  • BBQ Sauce and Cheddar Cheese
  • Cabbage Slaw
  • Mozzarella and Pizza Sauce
  • Roasted Red Peppers, Arugula & Tzatziki Sauce
Juicy Turkey burgers with lettuce, tomatoes, and onions on a wooden cutting board.

More Delicious Turkey Recipes to Try:

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4.1 from 33 votes

Turkey Burgers

This Turkey Burger is super moist, incredibly flavorful, and guaranteed to be become a summer barbecue staple! They're also incredibly easy to make using simple ingredients.. and delicious enough to even make the beef-eaters happy!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6 burgers
Calories: 201kcal

Ingredients

Burgers

Serving Suggestions

  • 6 fresh hamburger buns
  • sliced tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, thinly sliced onion, jalapeno rings, sliced cheddar cheese, mustard, ketchup

Instructions

  • Heat your grill to medium-high heat. (450℉) Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, add all of the burger ingredients. Mix together with clean hands (or wear gloves) until well combined.
  • Divide the turkey mixture into six equal portions and form them into patties. Make them about the size needed to fit on your buns your are serving them with. Place the patties onto the parchment-lined baking sheet. With your thumb, press a small divot into the middle of each patty; this will prevent the patty from shrinking on the grill.
  • If you have time, you can let the patties chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes to help prevent them from falling apart on the grill.
  • Grill the turkey burgers for 4 to 6 minutes on one side, then gently flip them and cook for another 4-5 minutes. At this point, check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. They should have an internal temperature of 165º F at the thickest part of the burger. If the temp isn't there yet, flip the burgers once more and cook for another minute or two.
  • When the burgers are done, remove from the grill onto a clean plate or baking sheet, cover with foil, and let rest for 3-5 minutes before serving.
  • Serve burgers on buns topped with your favorite burger toppings.

Nutrition

Calories: 201kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 103mg | Sodium: 557mg | Potassium: 373mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 0.4g | Vitamin A: 169IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 88mg | Iron: 1mg
Keyword : turkey burger recipe

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Natalie Monson

I'm a registered dietitian, mom of 4, avid lover of food and strong promoter of healthy habits. Here you will find lots of delicious recipes full of fruits and veggies, tips for getting your kids to eat better and become intuitive eaters and lots of resources for feeding your family.

Learn More about Natalie
4.10 from 33 votes (30 ratings without comment)

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10 Comments

These look great! Do you use the thin teriyaki (like the soy sauce) or the thicker glaze kind?

Hi Ashliegh, actually either kind should work in the recipe. We used the thicker glaze kind of teriyaki sauce.

I haven’t tried making them in the air fryer, but I would recommend cooking at 375 degrees F for 12-15 minutes until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.