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If youโre looking for a Turkey Burger Recipe to knock your socks off, look no further. As a classically-trained chef, I have plenty of secrets up my sleeve to make sure your next Turkey Burger is the best one youโve ever had!
Homemade Turkey Burgers
The best Turkey Burger recipe is extra flavorful and juicy from an infusion of feta cheese, fresh parsley, and basil mayonnaise. I started with my wildly popular turkey meatball recipe (the one with over 1,900 5-star ratings) and adapted it for the grill. Since lean ground turkey has a chance of drying out at high temperatures, I added minced white onion to the mix with the feta and ground turkey meat.
You can make these burgers on the stove or on the grill, and Iโve provided all the instructions for both methods below. I also explored make-ahead options, and Iโm happy to report that you can form these patties ahead, freeze in a single layer, and store in the freezer for future meals. Just add them straight to the grill without thawing and youโre good to go!
I love butter lettuce leaves and tomatoes with these turkey burgers, but feel free to add the toppings of your choice. Finish with a dollop of lemon-basil mayonnaise for a fresh, summery burger like no other.
Turkey Burger Ingredients
At a Glance: Here is a quick snapshot of what ingredients are in this recipe.
Please see the recipe card below for specific quantities.
- Ground turkey:ย Choose 93% lean turkey rather than 99% lean turkey breast which will be too dry for these turkey burgers.ย It also infuses your turkey burger patties with more flavor.
- Onion: Adds moisture to the turkey patties so they donโt dry out.
- Parsley: For a light lemony flavor and bright green color.
- Feta cheese: Even if you buy crumbled feta cheese, check the package for any large chunks and break them apart or cut them down before adding to your burger mixture.
- Basil mayonnaise: I think this is the ideal spread for this turkey burger, but you can leave the mayo plain or use something else entirely. For even more lemony flavor, add some lemon zest.
- Buns:ย Either brioche or standard hamburger buns work here. Consider brushing the cut surfaces with butter and grilling in a skillet (or placing over indirect heat on the grill) before assembling your burgers.ย
- Lettuce and tomato: Or your favorite toppings. I once had a turkey burger with grilled pineapple and teriyaki sauce on top, and it was marvelous.
How to Season Turkey Burgers
For the best possible flavor, add salt and pepper to turkey burgers and any burger patty mixture. In this recipe, though, we add feta cheese which is salty and needs to be considered. I like to add 1 teaspoon salt and ยฝ teaspoon pepper to my meat mixture.
How do you know if your meat is properly seasoned without cooking your burgers? Do a mini-patty taste test like this:
- Scoop a teaspoon-sized ball of meat mixture, flatten into a patty, and fry in a dry skillet until browned, about 2 minutes per side.
- Taste and add more salt and pepper if desired. Fry a second teaspoon of filling if you want to double-check your seasonings.
How to Make Turkey Burgers
- To make the basil mayo, in a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, basil, and lemon juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper (I like just a pinch each of salt and pepper).
- In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, feta cheese, onion, parsley, 1 teaspoon salt, and ยฝ teaspoon pepper.ย Using aย strong spatulaย or your hands (I like to wear latex gloves), mix well. Shape the mixture into 8 patties, about 5 ounces each.
- Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add the burgers in a single layer (working in batches if necessary) and cook until the bottoms are browned, about 3 minutes.
- Flip the burgers and continue to cook until light brown. Reduce heat to low, partially cover the pan, and continue to cook until an internal thermometer inserted into the middle of the burgers reaches 165 degrees, about 5 to 7 minutes longer. Serve in buns with lettuce, tomato, and the basil mayonnaise.
Tips and Variations for Turkey Burgers
- Yield:ย This recipe makes about 40 ounces of turkey burger mixture, enough for 6 burgers, 6 ยฝ ounces each (pre-cooked weight). For smaller burgers, plan on 8 patties, 5 ounces each.ย
- Teriyaki burger: Add some sliced pineapple rings to the grill or skillet with the patties. Skip the basil mayo and add a drizzle of homemade Teriyaki Sauce.
- Mexican turkey burger: Top your burger with pepper Jack cheese, pico de gallo, and guacamole.
- Bacon turkey burger: Add a few strips of cooked bacon to your turkey burger.
- Turkey meatballs: The recipe that started it all, this Turkey Meatball recipe is made with regular breadcrumbs or panko, Worcestershire sauce, and dried herbs and spices like basil and oregano. They are perfect for meal prep, spaghetti sauce, or meatball sandwiches.
Storing Turkey Burgers
- Storage:ย Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.ย
- Make ahead: Form your turkey burger patties up to 3 days in advance and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can also make the mayonnaise 3 days in advance, and in fact the flavor will improve over time. Just whisk to recombine before serving in case any separation occurs.
- Freezer: Freeze formed, uncooked turkey burger patties in a single layer until frozen solid. Layer them in a freezer-safe container or plastic bag between layers of parchment paper or wax paper. Label, date, and freeze for up to 3 months.
- To cook frozen burgers: You donโt need to thaw the turkey burgers before you cook them. Just add straight to a skillet or grill from frozen. Always cook to 165 degrees on a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a patty.
What to Serve with Turkey Burgers with Mayo
There are so many tasty sides for these turkey burgers. Consider glass burger sides, seasonally-inspired recipes, or dishes that match elements in the burgers such as feta cheese.
- Potatoes: French fries, potato chips, potato salad, curly fries, Greek-style roasted potato wedges
- Salads: Pasta salad, macaroni salad, broccoli salad, Greek salad, chickpea salad, coleslaw
- Fruit: Fruit salad, fruit platter, peach and burrata salad
- Vegetables: Grilled corn on the cob, veggie skewers, roasted asparagus
- Beans: Baked beans, Calico beans
Ground Turkey Burger Recipe FAQs
Everyone has their own definition of โhealthy.โ I can, however, factually state that ground turkey is lower in saturated fat than ground beef.
Many recipes lean on breadcrumbs, panko, eggs, or oats to hold their turkey burger patties together. However, at some point it feels like youโre just making a meatloaf patty and eating it on a bun, right? I like to use feta cheese, fresh herbs, and minced onion for juicy burgers that whole their shape perfectly every time.
Try sliced avocado, pickles, red onion, cheddar cheese, or even classic ketchup and mustard. If itโs good on a ground beef burger, itโs good on a turkey burger!
When it comes to cooking, temperature is always more important than time. You are aiming to cook the turkey burger to 165 degrees regardless of how long that takes. Assuming you preheated your grill or skillet properly, though, it takes about 5 to 6 minutes per side to cook a turkey burger, or 10 to 12 minutes total.
More grilling recipes
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Fish and Seafood Recipes
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Dinner Recipes
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Turkey Burgers with Mayo
Ingredientsย
For the basil mayonnaise:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh basil
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
For the turkey burgers:
- 2 pounds ground turkey 93% lean (see note 1)
- 6 ounces feta cheese crumbled (see note 2)
- 1/4 cup minced white onion
- 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
- 8 brioche buns for serving (see note 3)
- Butter lettuce leaves for serving
- Tomato slices for serving
Instructionsย
- To make the basil mayo, in a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, basil, and lemon juice. Season to taste with salt and pepper (I like just a pinch each of salt and pepper).
- In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, feta cheese, onion, parsley, 1 teaspoon salt, and ยฝ teaspoon pepper.ย Using a strong spatula or your hands (I like to wear latex gloves), mix well. Shape the mixture into 8 patties, about 5 ounces each.
For a gas grill:
- Preheat grill over medium-high heat for 10 minutes and clean and oil grates. Grill the burgers directly over high heat for 5 minutes.
- Flip the burgers, transfer to indirect heat, and continue cooking until an internal thermometer inserted into the middle of the burgers reaches 165 degrees, about 5 to 7 minutes longer. Serve in buns with lettuce, tomato, and the basil mayonnaise.
For a skillet:
- Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add the burgers in a single layer (working in batches if necessary) and cook until the bottoms are browned, about 3 minutes.
- Flip the burgers and continue to cook until light brown. Reduce heat to low, partially cover the pan, and continue to cook until an internal thermometer inserted into the middle of the burgers reaches 165 degrees, about 5 to 7 minutes longer. Serve in buns with lettuce, tomato, and the basil mayonnaise.
Recipe Video
Notes
- Ground turkey: Choose 93% lean turkey rather than 99% lean turkey breast which will be too dry for these turkey burgers.ย
- Feta cheese: Even if you buy crumbled feta cheese, check the package for any large chunks and break them apart or cut them down before adding to your burger mixture.
- Buns: Either brioche or standard hamburger buns work here. Consider brushing the cut surfaces with butter and grilling in a skillet (or placing over indirect heat on the grill) before assembling your burgers.ย
- Yield: This recipe makes about 40 ounces of turkey burger mixture, enough for 8 burgers, 5 ounces each (pre-cooked weight). For larger burgers, make 6 patties, 6 ยฝ ounces each.
- Storage: Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.ย