Turkey Burgers
281 Comments
Updated Oct 02, 2024
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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.
Best Turkey Burger Recipe
Description
Video
Ingredients
For the turkey burgers
- 1 pound 93% lean ground turkey
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Optional items for serving
- cheddar cheese slices
- sliced tomato
- sliced onion
- caramelized onion
- pickles
- lettuce
- ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise
Instructions
- Make the patties. In a medium bowl, combine the turkey, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, salt, and pepper. Use your hands to mix everything together. Divide the mixture evenly and form 4 large patties.
- 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.
- Assemble the turkey burger. Enjoy the patties plain or assemble them into turkey burgers with your favorite toppings and condiments!
Lisa’s Tips
- 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!
Nutrition
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I make a mean beef burger. But this turkey burger is healthy and full of flavor. 5th time making it. So easy and quick to make.
Hi Chris – Thrilled to hear you’re loving this turkey burger alternative to your usual beef burger! It’s always a great option to have for a healthier alternative!
Hi Chris – So happy to hear you’ve got this recipe in regular rotation. Enjoy!
Absolutely delicious!! Enjoyed them with lettuce, pickles, red onion, guacamole and ketchup. Can’t wait to make them again!
I’m loving all the layers you included in your turkey burgers, Jayne. Enjoy!
Didn’t have Dijon mustard but used the rest of the ingredients. I never cook and I wanted to make the pre-made turkey patties (yuck) delicious for my hubby! The whole family loved them! Super moist. Thank you!
So happy you loved my version of turkey burgers, Alli! Definitely better than those pre-made patties, haha. ;)
Glad I found your recipe. I made the turkey burgers tonight. (I’m in UK) I had ran out of black pepper and mayo so substituted with a quarter teaspoon cayenne pepper and left over home made tartare sauce! They are moist and taste great. Thank you.
Glad you were able to make these turkey burgers successfully with a few small tweaks! Enjoy, Marilyn!
My burgers were tasty but came out quite crumbly. Any idea why?
we use it with half ground turkey breast and half ground dark turkey and it comes out spectacular! Thank you!
Hi Roxy – You can never go wrong with a mix of light and dark meat for the perfect flavor and texture!
I just tried this, it’s absolutely delicious 😋
Was craving a beef burger but my local store was out of ground beef. Bought ground turkey and found this recipe. It’s a keeper for sure. Thank you
Looks like you can alternate beetween beef burgers and turkey burgers now, Lynn! Happy to hear you ended up loving this recipe.
I have been making this recipe many times. It became my regular dinner recipe. My family all love it. It’s flavorful and tasty.
Happy to hear these turkey burgers have now become staple in your kitchen, Clair!
Great recipe, will be making these again soon! So easy to make and taste delicious. Healthy too, Win Win.
Happy to hear that was a winning recipe, Robbie!
Absolutely delish!!!!!!!
Happy to hear you’re loving these turkey burgers, Kelley!
Are the calories per burger, grams serving etc?
Hi Andina – the nutrition info is per burger.
This recipe was my first time eating turkey burgers and I was skeptical. My impression of ground turkey was that it is dry and flavorless but these burgers were moist and oh, so flavorful. I followed the recipe exactly and was so pleased with how they came out. Thank you for this recipe. Highly recommend.
Hi Jess – Happy to hear these turkey burgers changed your mind about ground turkey! If you cook them right, with the proper ingredients, it shouldn’t turn out as dry as you would think. Enjoy!
Lisa These are Yummy! I am a beef farm girl. Last night I had my first Turkey burger & wow.
It was juicy, now I cut up a whole turkey so my ground turkey had no breast meat/no dry.
I was surprised & glad I made extra. I didn’t have the fancy mustard used regular and it was still good & I mixed olive oil w/ bacon grease & it smelled & tasted wonderful. Will eat leftovers today! Worcestershire good call. Next time I am gonna try liquid smoke. Your recipes are amazing. btw…I love your broccoli salad empty bowl every time I make it & yes its the one w/ bacon in it. Thanks for sharing your amazing talent!
Hi Sherry – Happy to hear your first time making turkey burgers turned out better than expected! Let me know how the liquid smoke version turns out next time. Sounds delicious!
This recipe is great! I’ve been making them for dinner at least once a week for the past two months. Sometimes I throw 1/2 cup of panco breadcrumbs and make them into meatballs. Super delicious, thanks for sharing.
I’m so happy you enjoy them, Abby!
Turkey burgers were fantastic, thank you.
Glad to hear you enjoyed these turkey burgers, Fred!
Are u able to store the turkey burger mixture in the fridge raw? And how long in the fridge will it last?
Yes, it will last for a day or two in the fridge, if you’d like to pre-form the turkey burger patties before making. Enjoy!
OMG – the best Turkey – wait.. the best any burger ever! This was so good. Followed the recipe to a tee. The homemade mayo did emulsify enough so ended up adding very hot water (still nothing) but the extra egg did the trick! The burgers seemed very wet when adding to the pan but oh my they browned up nicely and tasted so amazing!!
Wonderful, so happy you loved them, Patty!!
Hands down – best turkey burger I’ve had. No comparison. Very juicy and flavorful! The mayo is key as it prevents them from becoming dry during cooking. The only thing I changed, or added, was a little McCormicks Brazilian steakhouse seasoning on both sides of the patties prior to cooking and they turned out great! This recipe will be a part of my weekly rotation!
So happy you loved them, Chris! The mayo definitely adds moisture, especially if you’re using leaner ground turkey. But I love the addition of the steakhouse seasoning as well, I’ll have to try that next time! Enjoy. :)
Very yummy! Good idea adding mayo! Juicy and tasty… with the seasonings just right. Even the little ones liked these. 😊
Hi Cindy – The mayo gives it just enough moisture as it cooks! Glad everyone enjoyed these turkey burgers.
Going to try recipe. Looks delicious!
Can’t wait for you to try this! Be sure to report back on how it turned out, Grace!
I’m making these burgers for dinner. Wondering if they can cook in the air fryer?
I have made these turkey burgers many times. They make for a simple and delicious protein option.
I tend to make a double batch of these at a time, and prefer smaller portion sizes so divide 2 lb of turkey in twelve patties.
Also, the recipe mentions 1 tsp of kosher salt for 1 lb of turkey mince. I use ½ tsp of regular salt. With all the other seasoning that goes in, this works out just right for me.
I am making this turkey burger recipe for dinner in just a cpl hours! The comments have me convinced my picky eaters will love these burgers!
Excited to hear the results, Nikki!
Made these for dinner last night. It was a hit. The mayo is the key that I was missing in previous attempts to make turkey burgers. This will now become a regular. I added smoked paprika because I love the smokey flavor. Great recipe 👌!
I’m so glad you love these turkey burgers, Pauli!
Love these turkey burgers. They are on permanent rotation at our house. Very flavorful and not dry. Thank you for the recipe!
So happy you love them, Laurie!
I really enjoyed eating turkey burger they are so delicious and healthy to eat so much better than hamburger any day.
Glad you enjoyed this turkey burger recipe!
Thank you so much for this receipe! I made them mini so I can pop them in my mouth like a snack! They really hit the spot when I’m hungry at night! Great for me because I am a diatbetic.
Hi Letizia – Happy to hear you’re loving these turkey burgers!
Made this last night. I am grateful to find a recipe that does not require cracking eggs or breadcrumbs. I loosely followed this recipe as I did have dijon mustard, etc, but it still turned out excellent.
Hi Jesse – Thrilled to hear you loved this turkey burger recipe!
Can you cook them on the grill?
Yes, absolutely!
This is a perfect recipe. In the past year have made it at least once a week exactly per recipe and my wife and kiddos still love it and request it. Lifetime keeper. Thank you!
Hi there – Thrilled to hear this turkey burger recipe has been such a hit with your family!
Five stars from me!! Amazing flavors makes this THE BEST turkey burger I’ve ever had!!
Hi Susan – Happy to hear you’re loving these turkey burgers!
SOOO happy I found you and this recipe!
My family LOVES this recipe! Honestly, I had all but given up on a decent turkey burger, until I came across this recipe. Tasty, firm, leftovers are still amazing. I have made this so many times. It’s my go-to when I want to flex some homemade burger skills!
Hi Belen – I’m so glad the whole family loves these turkey burgers!
Great! Just what I needed to read/hear! I’m planning and prepping our winter camping menu. We don’t feeeze nor have any intention of freezing over a campfire. We cook everything at home, freeze in heavy duty foil packs in the cooler, & reheat in the air fryer (we only do water and electric campsites). This is perfect and leftovers can go in w tomatoes and potatoes in a foil pack for sloppy Joe’s & buns! Thanks.
Great recipie. Followed your quick mayo instructions and then made the burgers.
I made my own mayo. No nasty additives it tastes wonderful.
My gluten free wife loved the burgers and the mayo
Thank you
I’m glad you enjoyed both my homemade mayo and the turkey burgers!
I loved these tasty turkey burgers!! They were moist & easy to prepare. I did only use half of the salt & a little less mayonnaise. I put carmelized onions & provolone cheese on top of them & attempted to use lettuce for the buns. It was messy & delicious!. These will be in my rotation of turkey burgers for sure!! If you have any other easy turkey burgers please let us know.
Sounds delicious with the provolone cheese and caramelized onions, yum! So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Sharon!
Good stuff, full of flavors So tasty 😋
Thank you Lisa, these turkey burgers are delicious! I made them as directed except I left out the garlic, as my SIL is on a FODMAP diet at the moment. They were a hit with everyone!
Wonderful! So happy to hear they were a hit. Thanks, Nancy!
I’ve been making turkey burgers for years using different recipes. In recent years I found one that included shredded zucchini that has been squeezed to remove as much water as possible. These have been wonderful. Today I wanted to make the burgers, but didn’t have any zucchini. Luckily I found your recipe. Thank you so much! You saved the day. The family loves them.
Thanks so much for giving my turkey burgers recipe a try, Suzanne. I’m happy you loved them!