This is the most succulently juicy, masterfully seasoned Turkey Burger recipe out there – even non-turkey lovers will be singing its praises- and yours! Readers are raving: “5 star Turkey Burger!!!” “this Turkey Burger was EVERYTHING,” and “Outstanding recipe!
Are Turkey Burgers healthy?
Absolutely! Turkey burgers are a lean, protein-packed alternative to traditional beef burgers. They’re lower in fat and calories, high in protein to keep you full and satisfied, and a great canvas for all sorts of healthy add-ins and toppings. With the right seasonings and fresh ingredients, they’re a delicious way to enjoy burger night guilt-free!
Why this is the BEST Turkey Burger Recipe
Turkey Burger Ingredients
A few key ingredients are all you need to create the best turkey burger recipe! Let’s take a closer look (full measurements in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):
Turkey Burger Seasoning
Aromatic fresh parsley and onion flakes are combined with garlic powder, smoked paprika, dried oregano, ground cumin, salt, pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes to create a well-rounded turkey burger seasoning. Dried oregano adds a fragrant, herbaceous note, smoked paprika lends a smoky, slightly sweet undertone, cumin offers an earthy, warm spice, pepper adds a touch of heat, and salt enhances the meat’s natural flavor.
Now for my secret ingredient…
Beef bouillon I always add it to turkey recipes, like in my turkey tacosturkey meatballs, and turkey chili. It infuses the turkey burger recipe with rich, beefy goodness. For this recipe, use two teaspoons of granulated bouillon or crushed bouillon; don’t dissolve it in water first.
How to make Homemade Turkey Burgers
Learn how to make turkey burgers in just 4 easy steps! (Full recipe in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.)
Turkey Burger Temperature
Ground turkey burgers are safe at 160°F, then rested 5 minutes to reach 165°F. Use an instant-read thermometer and avoid overcooking, as lean turkey dries quickly.
1. Heat olive oil in a large cast-iron skillet, grill pan, or nonstick frying pan over medium heat.
2. Once hot, add patties and cook until the bottom is browned and easily releases from the grill, about 3-4 minutes.
3. Flip, cover, and continue to cook until the burgers register 160 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, about 3-4 additional minutes.
How to Grill Homemade Turkey Burgers
1. Preheat grill, clean, and generously grease.
2. Once hot, add patties and cover. Cook for about 4-5 minutes per side or until they reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees F.
1. Transfer the parchment-lined baking sheet with the patties to the oven and bake at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes.
2. Flip patties, and continue to cook until they reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees, about an additional 5-10 minutes.
Turkey Burger Air Fryer Instructions
1. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray, then add turkey patties so they aren’t touching.
2. Cook at 400°F for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway, until they reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees F.
How to Toast Buns for Best Turkey Burger Recipe
Buns MUST be toasted for the best turkey burgers! The toasted exterior prevents them from becoming soggy and delivers a golden, crispy exterior, giving way to a soft inside.
TOAST IN THE OVEN: Line the top and bottom buns on a baking sheet, cut side up, spread with softened butter or mayonnaise, if desired. Bake at 400 degrees F until warmed and lightly crispy, about 5 minutes.
TOAST ON THE STOVE: Melt 1-2 tablespoons butter (may sub olive oil) over medium-low heat in a skillet. Add buns, cut side down, and toast until golden, about 1-2 minutes.
TOAST ON THE GRILL: Spread some softened butter or mayo on the cut side of the buns for extra decadence, but they are still delicious without. Add buns to the hot grill in a single layer, cut side down, and grill until slightly charred, about 1 minute.
Prep Ahead Turkey Burgers
•Turkey patties: Form the patties on the parchment, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to 48 hours. DON’T bring to room temperature before cooking – cook straight from the refrigerator.
•Toppings: Prep the toppings while the burgers are chilling or prep 24 hours ahead of time and refrigerate in separate containers.
•Remoulade: Store for up to one week in the refrigerator.
Tips for making the best Ground Turkey Burger
Want the juiciest turkey burgers? Follow these tips!
How TO Cook Turkey Burgers without Them Falling Apart
Turkey has lower fat content than beef, so it is more likely to stick, tear, and crumble. Follow these simple steps, and your turkey burger recipe will come together with ease!
1. Preheat grill or pan: Ensure it’s hot to sear the burgers, prevent sticking, and lock in juices.
2. Clean the grates. Use a wire grill brush to remove any residue, create beautiful sear and grill marks, and help prevent sticking and crumbling.
3. Grease generously: Rub high-smoke-point oil (vegetable or canola) on grates with oiled paper towels—never spray a hot grill or use olive oil.
4. Peel from parchment: Transfer burgers patty onto the grill or pan directly from the parchment, then peeling the paper away.
5. Cook undisturbed: Let burgers sear for 3 minutes without pressing or touching to form a crust. Don’t fuss with it, or it will crumble.
6.Flip at the right time:Only flip when golden brown and releasing easily, about 3–5 minutes; otherwise, it can crumble.
7Use a wide spatula: The spatula should be at least as wide as the turkey burger (this one is my fave shown in the video)
Ground Turkey Burger variations
Most of the variation fun comes in the toppings, but here are a few ideas:
Turkey Burgers are best with all your favorite potluck foods! You can go as simple as chips and watermelon or amp it up with pasta salad, fruit salad, and grilled corn. Here are some of our favorite sides to serve with this turkey burger recipe:
Turkey Burger Toppings
To make the best turkey burger recipe, I highly encourage remoulade instead of mayonnaise or any other spread – the rest of the ingredients are negotiable! Here are some topping ideas:
BEYOND BASICS
Ground Turkey Burger storage
Tightly wrap turkey burger patties in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For longer storage, freeze turkey burger patties instead (see below).
HOW TO freeze Cooked Turkey burgers
1.To freeze: Place cooked patties in a freezer-sized plastic bag and separate with parchment paper, or place patties in individual plastic bags; squeeze out excess air. Alternatively, wrap individual patties tightly in plastic wrap, followed by foil.
2.To thaw: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then cook within three days, or bake from frozen.
3. To bake from frozen: Line the frozen hamburger patties on a lightly greased baking sheet without touching. Lightly tent with foil and bake at 425°F degrees for 20-25 minutes, until internal temperature reaches 160°F.
HOW TO freeze Raw Turkey burgers
1. Place the patties on the parchment lined tray tray in the freezer and freeze until solid, about 1-2 hours.
2. Using kitchen shears, cut along the imaginary grid to separate the patties.
3. Stack patties separated into a freezer bag.
Squeeze out as much air as possible in order to prevent freezer burn, then seal and label.
4. Freeze for up to four months.
Best Turkey Burger Recipe FAQs
1. Add Egg. As the egg cooks, it binds the ingredients together, which in turn holds the turkey burger together – no more falling-apart burgers!
2Refrigerate. The colder the patties, the better they will stick together.
3.Add to a hot pan or grill. This will create a beautiful sear or char, which will help prevent the meat from sticking, tearing, and falling apart.
4. Use enough oil. Turkey has very little fat so it’s important to generously grease the grill or heat oil in a pan until hot.
5. Transfer using parchment paper. Instead of using hands, tear or cut the parchment paper from around each burger patty, then flip the patty onto the grill or pan, then peel the parchment paper off.
6. Let cook undisturbed. The burgers need to be seared continuously.
5.Don’t flip too soon. Let the turkey burgers cook for a full 4 minutes before checking whether they easily release from the pan. If you flip them too soon, they may stick to the grill and tear when you try to flip them.
6Use a wide spatula: To flip the turkey burgers, use a wide metal spatula (this one is my fav shown in the video) that is at least as wide as the turkey burger.
Beef bouillon is the best way to add rich beefy flavor to turkey burgers. It won’t necessarily make them taste like beef, but it will give them a richer, deeper flavor. Round out the richness with aromatic onions, umami-rich Worcestershire, and spices such as salt, pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, ground cumin, and oregano.
Let’s take a closer look at how to address the leading factors of dry turkey burgers:
1. Low-fat content: I don’t recommend anything leaner than 93/7, or for extra juicy burgers, look for ground turkey made from dark meat, which has more fat.
2. Not enough moisture in the mixture: Turkey is naturally a lean meat, so it dries out quickly unless enough moisture-binding ingredients are added. Ensure you have added adequate binders, such as an egg, breadcrumbs, and my favorite, Greek yogurt.
3. Handling the mixture too much: Overmixing or handling the ground turkey mixture excessively can lead to denser and drier burgers. Mix the ingredients until just combined with loose fingers, and avoid excessive shaping or pressing of the patties.
4. Overcooking: Overcooking turkey burgers is a common mistake that leads to dryness, which is so easy to remedy! Cook the burgers just until they reach an internal temperature of 160°F, then rest to carryover to 165 degrees F. Use a meat thermometer to accurately monitor the temperature and prevent overcooking.
Turkey burgers made with lean ground meat, 1 egg and panko contain approximately 170-200 calories per 4-ounce (113-gram) patty. Here’s a breakdown of the estimated calories from each ingredient:
Lean ground turkey (90% lean): 120-150 calories per 4 ounces (113 grams).
1 egg: Approximately 70-80 calories.
¼ cup panko breadcrumbs: Approximately 40 calories.
Ground Turkey Burger
- Total Time: 25 minutes
Description
This is the most succulently juicy Turkey Burger recipe out there – even non-turkey lovers will be singing its praises- and yours! The turkey burgers are extra juicy thanks to Greek yogurt (and other tips!), masterly seasoned and infused with richer, deeper flavor thanks to beef bouillon (optional). These juicy flavor bombs are easy to whip up and enjoy immediately or chill for entertaining or whenever the cravings strike!
Ingredients
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup dried minced onions
- 3 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt ((any fat content))
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 teaspoons granulated beef bouillon (or 2 crushed cubes)
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley ((or 1 tsp dried))
- 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp EACH smoked paprika, pepper, dried oregano, salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- pinch-1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 pound (16 oz.) ground turkey ((I use 93/7))
- cooking spray
- 4 brioche buns
- 1 recipe Remoulade Sauce ((optional, highly recommend))
- Topping of choice: cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, avocado, sliced onions/caramelized onions/pickled red onions, bacon, etc.
Instructions
- Combine ingredients: Stir the Turkey Patty ingredients together (except turkey) in a large bowl until well combined. Add the turkey and mix with your hands just to combine (don’t over-mix or your patties will be tough).
- Form patties: Wet your hands with cold water, then shake them, and lightly spray them with cooking spray to prevent the mixture from sticking. Form the mixture into 4 loose, equal balls (I use a kitchen scale) and transfer to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Shape the balls into round patties, about 1/2 inch thick, 4 inches wide. The mixture will be soft, wet, and sticky.
- Dimple patties: Make a 1/4”-1/2" deep indentation in the middle of each patty with the back of a lightly greased 1/4 cup measuring cup (this will prevent shrinking and ensure even cooking).
- Chill: Transfer the patties on the baking sheet to the refrigerator for 30 minutes (or longer as needed) or the freezer for 15 minutes (cold patties stay intact better).
- TO COOK TURKEY BURGERS ON THE STOVE TOP
- TO COOK TURKEY BURGERS ON THE GRILL:
- TO COOK TURKEY BURGERS IN THE OVEN:
- TO SERVE:
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course Main Dish
- Cuisine: American
