The absolute BEST turkey burgers that are moist, juicy and loaded with flavor. Only 5 ingredients and 20 minutes to prepare!
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Summertime Burgers
These easy turkey burgers are a popular choice for those seeking a healthier alternative to traditional beef burgers during grilling season. Made from ground turkey meat, seasoned perfectly and topped with your favorite condiments, they offer a leaner protein option with less fat and fewer calories just like my healthy turkey chili!
I adapted these from my favorite hamburger recipe and the end result was just fabulous. The burgers were moist, juicy and full of flavor. Plus they’re a bit lighter and great for when you aren’t in the mood for red meat.
They taste amazing on a fresh hamburger bun with all your favorite toppings and a side of grilled vegetables or my favorite caprese salad. Or keep it low carb and make a lettuce wrap burger instead. Both ways taste delicious!
Type of Ground Turkey
The type of ground turkey you use can make or break your burgers. There are some brands that are more wet than others, making it harder for the patties to keep their shape because of the excess moisture. The meat shouldn’t be soggy to touch. After testing out a few brands, you’ll get the feel for which ones have the best texture.
I like to use 80% lean, 20% fat ground turkey. It doesn’t dry out like the 99% lean ground turkey does and the little bit of fat also helps to bind the burgers together. That way they’re still more lean than regular hamburgers, but are equally moist and juicy.
Seasoning
If you’re wondering how to season your burgers, it’s super easy! I keep it simple and use BBQ sauce (or steak sauce or teriyaki sauce), salt, pepper and garlic powder. The spices add just the right amount of flavor and the sauce binds the meat together and keeps them moist and juicy. You can also season them with this easy homemade hamburger seasoning. I always love to have a batch in my pantry!
Instead of BBQ sauce, some people prefer to use 1 egg with 1/4 cup breadcrumbs to bind their patties together. You can easily make this swap, however I find that BBQ sauce works just as well and adds a little more flavor.
Tips for the Best Turkey Burgers
- Don’t overmix. Be careful not to over mix or else the meat won’t be as tender. Mix everything together just until combined.
- Thumbprint in center. Make a thumbprint in the middle of your patties to prevent the burgers from bulging.
- Sticking to grill. To avoid sticking, make sure to clean and oil your grill plates.
- Flipping. Don’t move the burgers until 4 to 5 minutes have passed. You want them to solidify and get a good char on the bottom prior to flipping.
- Meat thermometer. Use a meat thermometer to easily know when they are done. They are ready when the interior has reached 180°F and the juices run clear.
- No grill, no problem: Follow the directions for my baked hamburger recipe and bake in oven!
Making Patties Ahead of Time
You can easily prepare the patties in advance to save yourself the extra work at dinner time. Form them as directed, then place on a plate or in a pan and cover with plastic wrap. Then store in the fridge until ready to grill. If you have multiple layers of patties, I’d recommend using parchment paper in between each layer so that they don’t stick together.
Favorite Toppings
Make the burger your own by adding on all of your favorite toppings. Keep it classic with lettuce, tomato, pickles and melted cheese. Or make it gourmet by adding a fried egg, bacon and some caramelized onions.
- Lettuce
- Tomato
- Sliced avocado
- Onion
- Cheese
- Pickles
- Ketchup
- Mayo
- Mustard
- Burger sauce
- Bacon
What to Serve with Turkey Burgers
- Potatoes. In my opinion, potatoes are meant to be served with burgers. Whether it’s these homemade french fries, healthy sweet potato fries, loaded potato salad or even a simple baked potato, each option is bound to be a home run.
- Other veggies. The grill is already fired up, so why not use it to make grilled corn on the cob, vegetable skewers, grilled asparagus or grilled sweet potatoes.
- Fruit. Nothing screams summer liked fresh sliced watermelon or a berry fruit salad.
- Salads. Who can forget potluck salads. I like this easy cucumber tomato salad, pasta salad or this fresh Mediterranean quinoa salad.
FAQs
It really depends on the percentage of fat in the ground meat you are using! If you are using 93% lean ground beef in your burgers, you may not notice much difference between the calories and fat of the two burgers when comparing them. The biggest factor to consider is the saturated fat and ground turkey does contain less saturated fat which is considered more heart-healthy friendly.
I prefer to use 80/20 ground turkey, although 85/15 is also a great choice for the best flavor. You could use 93% ground turkey and still have great flavor. While 99% ground turkey will be your most lean ground meat, it does tend to be dry and have not as much flavor.
While most recipes will use breadcrumbs, I do not! I feel the BBQ sauce holds them together without the need for any other binders. If your turkey burgers are falling apart, you could add some breadcrumbs or even try chilling them for 30 minutes before grilling.
Season well! I love to use BBQ sauce, garlic powder, salt and pepper. You could also add additional seasoning like smoked paprika, onion powder or even liquid smoke!
Looking for more ground turkey recipes? You’ll also love my turkey meatloaf recipe, egg roll in a bowl and turkey meatballs.
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Turkey Burgers
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds ground turkey , 80% lean and 20% fat
- 2 Tablespoons BBQ sauce , or steak sauce
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Optional toppings: ketchup, mayo, mustard, thousand island, cheese, bacon, lettuce leaves, tomato slices, sliced onion, pickles
For serving: hamburger buns or lettuce wraps
Instructions
- Preheat the grill to medium-high.
- Combine the ground turkey, BBQ sauce, salt, garlic powder and pepper in a medium-sized bowl. Mix just until combined with your hands and shape into 4 patties about 3/4-inch thick. Make a well in your patties with your thumb to prevent from bulging.
- Place patties on the grill and cook 4 to 5 minutes. Flip and then cook an additional 4-5 minutes, or until juices run clear and burgers have reached 180°F. Top with cheese slices, if desired. Grill until cheese has melted and turn off the heat.
- Serve on buns or lettuce wraps with your favorite toppings.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 30 Minute Meals, 30 Minute Meals, 4th of July, 5 Ingredients Or Less, American, Dairy-Free, Dinner, Grilling, Grilling, Sandwiches
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
These burgers are so juicy! I follow the recipe exactly and cook it 5-6 minutes on each side. Sooo Sooo good! Thank you for the recipe! We make these all the time
Yay, so happy to hear you loved them! Thanks for your comment and review, Margaret :)
Just tried this recipe and my family loved it. Thank you so much!
These turkey burgers were great! Easy to make, and delicious!
This is such a mouth watering recipe…i also loved turkey burgers..this looks soo yummy & sound soo delicious..Thanks For sharing…!
Love turkey burgers. They are so delicious
I love the idea of turkey meat instead of red meat for this burger! Thanks for the great healthy inspiration!
I know what I will be having for dinner tonight; this looks amazing! Looking forward to enjoying this!
These turkey burgers were AMAZING!! Seriously so good! Thanks for sharing!
We make turkey burgers weekly in the summer so I am so exited for this recipe! It’s definitely a keeper!