Have you come across your ideal turkey burger yet? We are sure you must have eaten your share of delicious turkey burgers, but did they blow your taste buds? The turkey burger recipe we have shared today truly hits the spot. We believe that turkey burgers are best for both body and soul.
Whether they are massively oversized turkey burgers, the ones that fit in your hand, or some mini ones, they must be the best.
When we think about making the best turkey burgers for our family, we think the juicer, the better, as we all know that turkey is lean meat and can get dry easily. But, when seasoned, it is a heaven of goodness in your mouth.
This turkey burger recipe is like no other; it is tried and tested, intentionally bested, and served with great love and care.
Origin Of the Turkey Burger
No matter what the world eats all year round, turkey rules thanksgiving. However, the idea of using it in a burger came to life in the 1930s in California. It was still a slow growth as the turkey burger competed with the mighty hamburger. Then in 1939, a local newspaperman in Texas had a brilliant idea to increase the sale of ground turkey burgers by making Wimpy from Popeye eat them as he loved burgers.
In World War 2, turkey burgers were added to the menu of many restaurants to balance pork, beef, and veal. By the 1950s, drive-in served ground turkey burgers, and here we are today, delivering you the best turkey burger recipe. What an eventful journey the turkey burger had.
Turkey Burgers Rise to Fame
A ground turkey Burger, what a quirky and unusual twist to the life of the burgers and the ones who love eating them. Turkey Burgers were an option on the menu of many restaurants for many and many years, but the thinking started to change around 12 years ago.
During the explosion of the concept of gourmet burgers, turkey burgers were highlighted to the point that many food chains started adding them to their menus. Eventually, when it started to be a healthy substitute over beef burgers, especially for those under the 30s, ground turkey burgers had made a mark and couldn’t be replaced.
How To Cook a Turkey Burger
The following types of equipment are required to cook a tasty turkey burger.
Oven
- Preheat the oven to 360 degrees F. Add a baking sheet before adding the patties and lightly spray some olive oil. After you place the patties on the baking sheet, let it cook for 15 minutes.
Skillet
- Heat some oil in a large skillet. Once it’s warm, add the turkey patties and cook it for 15 minutes. Turn it over only once.
Grill
- Lightly oil and heat the grill. Place the patties and cook them for 5 uncovered. Make sure that the grates of the grill are clean. The patties are cooked if the internal temperature is 165 degrees F.
Air Fryer
- Preheat the fryer for about 4 minutes. Place your patties in the air fryer basket and ensure they are not touching each other. Cook them for 15 minutes and turn them over once.
Equipment
- A bowl for mixing
- A knife for cutting
- Measuring spoons
- Meat Thermometer
- Frypan
Ingredients
The following ingredients will be required for making a turkey burger.
Serving
- Serving size: 1 per plate
- Servings/Recipe: 4
For The Turkey Patties
- 1/2 medium onion
- 1 teaspoon of ginger paste
- 1 teaspoon of garlic paste
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 4 tablespoons of bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon Ketchup
- 3/4 tablespoon of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of crushed pepper
- 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil
- Lastly, some chopped fresh parsley
For The Burger
- Thin slices of tomato
- Thin slices of onion
- Your choice of cheese slice
- Shredded iceberg lettuce
- Thin slices of Pickles
- Mayonnaise or Ketchup or Mustard
The Making Process
- Peel off half an onion and chop it into small and thin pieces.
- Take a pan and heat 1/2 a tablespoon of olive oil; cook the chopped onion in the pan on medium-high heat, Don’t cook them in high heat as they would burn. Stir them until they are golden brown.
- After the onions are done, take the pan off and let them cool down.
- Add the ground turkey, olive oil, ginger paste, garlic paste, fresh or dried parsley, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, breadcrumbs, and the cooked onion.
- Mix all the ingredients properly using a fork.
- Divide the mixture into four round balls and press them gently into your palm to create the shape of the patties. Make sure it’s even.
- Heat some olive oil in a non-stick fry pan over medium-high heat.
- Place your hand above the frying pan, and if it feels warm, put the patties in and cook for 5 minutes. Make sure to cook well on both sides. The patties are cooked if the internal temperature is 165 degrees F.
- Serve on the buns with tomatoes, onions, pickles, cheese, lettuce, and your choice of sauce- mayonnaise, mustard, or ketchup.
Delicious Turkey Burgers: Tips And Tricks
- Make sure the pan is warm enough to put in the turkey patties.
- Be patient with the onions and mushrooms to get the perfect state of golden brown.
- Refrigerate the turkey patties 30 minutes before cooking time. This firms and cools them so that they can hold their shape.
- Once cooked, the leftover turkey burger patties are still edible for 3 days if you refrigerate them.
- You can add chili flakes or chili powder as seasoning if you like them spicy.
- Use enough olive oil before cooking the turkey patties as they tend to stick to the pan. You can also substitute olive oil for some vegetable oil.
- You can use soy sauce if you can’t find some Worcestershire sauce.
What Should We Do with Leftover Ground Turkey
Have you ever tried a leftover turkey salad? Leftover turkey patties can be used in many creative ways the next day. Add them to some Asian rice bowls; they are so yummy.
Sprinkle some into your omelet in the morning to twist that omelet. You can even make some classic turkey sandwiches with avocados.
Turkey Burger VS Beef Burger
Which is the right burger for your next cookout, beef or turkey? The debate is never-ending. We believe it always comes down to the cut of the meat. Dark turkey meat and skin pack more fats and calories than ground turkey breast, which is 93 % lean meat.
When it comes to beef, you can always find ground beef or ground sirloin to be a healthier option than the other cuts of beef. Usually comes at 90% lean.
Both beef and turkey have a lot of nutritional value. They are packed with niacin, selenium, zinc, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12.
Be a conscious eater. When eating a turkey burger from a restaurant, know the calories you are consuming. As lean meat is low on fat and can dry easily, restaurants usually put in a lot of condiments and fats to make them juicy.
Always read the label when you buy your meat and avoid any seasoned meat as it’s filled with sodium. Be a conscious consumer.
Back to the debate, if you ask us which is better, we say you can have them both and live healthier lives. Killing your desire to eat a beef burger will only make you unhappy. Have them sometimes and enjoy yourself.
Turkey Burger Toppings, Sauces, And More
We love experimenting with different toppings to enjoy different styles for the best turkey burger. Here are some of our favorite turkey burger toppings.
1. Jalapenos
Jalapenos are always a good choice for any raw or charred burger. They give you that kick you are looking for.
2. Arugula
A turkey burger that tastes like summer and arugula can bring the whole burger together. Arugula is a great substitute if you don’t eat lettuce in your burger.
3. Cranberry Sauce
Who said you could have cranberry sauce only on thanksgiving? Cranberry sauce goes perfectly with the leftover turkey sandwiches, so why not burgers? Adding them to your burger can bring you a blast of flavors in your mouth.
4. Guacamole
When you add them to your burger, it’s holy guacamole! Guacamole turkey burgers can also be seen as gourmet or exotic burgers. It tastes amazing with both smooth and chunky guacamole.
5. Fried Egg
We all know how a ground turkey burger would taste with a fried egg, flavorsome. Adding a fried egg would be both easy and bring depth to your burger.
6. Herbed Butter
Two things make a great turkey burger, seasoning and juiciness. Adding herbed butter to your burger today will be like killing two birds with one stone. The burger would be packed with flavor and melted in your mouth.
7. Tzatziki
If you want to go from the best turkey burger to the best Mediterranean turkey burger, then tzatziki is the perfect sauce. Adding fresh tzatziki and red bell peppers to that burger will instantly become your favorite.
Your Way to Some Amazing Turkey Burgers
Two things that make every turkey burger lover happy, it should be perfectly cooked and juicy on the inside. Dry and undercooked patties are a big no-no. You are just some questions away from the perfect turkey burger, and here is our guide. You can thank us later.
1. How to Find Out When Turkey Patties Are Done
Until they turn the perfect golden brown, Turkey burgers are well cooked when the internal temperature is 165 degrees.
2. Can Turkey Burgers Have Pink Patties
Please do not eat any turkey below 165 degrees on the meat thermometer. While many types of meat can be eaten raw, turkey is not one of them. Eating undercooked turkey has been associated with salmonella.
3. Sides with The Burger
Eating the right side with your flavorful turkey burgers can take it to another level. Here are some of our favorites.
- Baked sweet potatoes chips
- Baked Zucchini fries
- Scrumptious Broccoli cheese bites
- Good old-fashioned fries
- Crispy Onion rings
- Smoked corn ribs
- Crunchy Asian slaw
4. Can Turkey Burgers Be Grilled
Absolutely yes! However, refrigerate them for an hour or two before cooking them so they can be in perfect form.
5. Can Turkey Burgers Be Prepared in Advance
Hell yes! You can prepare the turkey burger patties in advance. Take a bowl, make the turkey mixture, make them into even patties, cover them and refrigerate for 24 hours in advance.
6. Are Frozen Turkey Burgers Safe to Consume
Yes, you can. You can freeze both the burgers as a whole or the patties separately.
7. Are Turkey Burgers Good for Weight Loss
Turkey burger is the best to eat when you are on your weight loss journey. It is both low in fat and calories. Turkey burgers are a great source of high protein. Packed with minerals and vitamins, they are a wholesome meal. Ground turkey is known to have less saturated fat than beef, so it is a great option to lose weight while indulging.
9. What Can Be Added to Make Turkey Burgers Juicy
Adding olive oil to the turkey burger can make it quite juicy. Make sure not to overcook them and check the temperature for juicy patties. Some cooks add milk and butter if you want to switch it up. If you add too much milk and the mixture becomes wet, add some extra breadcrumbs to bring it back to its consistency.
10. Is Turkey Burger Keto-Friendly
Yes, they are. Rich in protein and fats and low in carbs. You can have them even when you are on a diet.
Bonus Low Carb Turkey Burger Recipe
If you are someone who counts their every calorie, then this recipe is for you. It’s a bun-less, low-carb, and yummy lettuce-wrapped Burger. Also known as the “protein burger”. Lean turkey lettuce-wrapped burgers have everything you need, and they are so yummy that you make them right. So try our best turkey recipe and have a healthy life.
Equipment
- An air fryer
- Meat thermometer
Ingredients
The following ingredients are required to make a turkey burger.
For The Turkey Patties
- 4 button mushrooms
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon of onion powder
- 1-pound lean ground turkey
- 1/4 teaspoon of dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 4 tablespoons of bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon Ketchup
- 3/4 tablespoon of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon of crushed pepper
- 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 3 springs of chopped cilantro
- Lastly, some chopped fresh parsley
For The Lettuce-wrapped Burger
- Thin slices of tomato
- Thin slices of onion
- Iceberg lettuce
- Thin slices of cucumber
- Your favorite slice of cheese
- An avocado
- Low calories Mayonnaise or Ketchup or Mustard
The Making Process
- Peel off half an onion wash the mushrooms chop them into small and thin pieces.
- Take a pan and heat 1/2 a tablespoon of olive oil; cook the chopped onion and mushrooms on medium-high heat, don’t cook them in high heat as they would burn. Stir until golden brown.
- After the mushrooms and onions are done, take the pan off and let them cool down.
- Add the ground turkey, olive oil, dried oregano, garlic powder, fresh parsley, cilantro, onion powder, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, breadcrumbs, and cooked onion and mushrooms.
- Mix all the ingredients, divide the mixture into four round balls, and press them gently into your palm to create the shape of the patties. Make sure they are even.
- Preheat the air fryer for about 4 minutes. Place your patties in the air fryer basket and ensure they are not touching each other. Cook them for 15 minutes. Turn them once after 7 minutes and 30 seconds to get that perfect golden brown turkey patty.
- The patties are cooked if the internal temperature is 165 degrees F.
- Grab that uncut lettuce, place the tomatoes, onion, cucumber, turkey patty, cheese, sliced avocado, and drizzle some sauce (you can go with your favorite).
- Enjoy guilt-free gobbling down this yummy lettuce-wrapped turkey burger with some baked sweet potato chips.
Does Turkey Make You Sleepy
Gobble till you wobble, but does turkey make you sleepy? It’s a myth we want to break. Turkey has tryptophan, an amino acid found in protein-based foods and supplements, turkey being one of them. It increases both the quality of your mood and sleeps; hence you are the happiest during thanksgiving. Other sources of tryptophan can be found in nuts, beef, chicken, milk, and cheese.
There is another reason turkey has been put on trial. As we already know, turkey has tryptophan, which also helps make important hormones like serotonin and melatonin. Melatonin, popular as the sleep hormone, adds to the myth that turkey makes you sleepy.
What you eat with that turkey makes all the difference. The portioning of carbs with turkey can let you stay active or give you a food coma. Let’s say you eat our flavorful turkey burgers; the types of bun you choose and the sides you take are really important. You are bound to feel sleepy if you load your plate with lots of fries or mac and cheese.
If you remember your last thanksgiving, can you think of all the mains and side dishes present at your massive table? Thanksgiving is the perfect example of breaking this myth. Apart from the turkey, foods rich in carbohydrates like bread, mashed potatoes, corn, peas, pie, and lots of wine and soft drinks make the thanksgiving experience. The overall portion on your thanksgiving plate can make you sleepy, especially if it’s loaded with more carbs than protein.
Let us remember that turkey is innocent until proven guilty, and let’s shift the blame to other suspects, like plates filled with heavy carbs, wine, and soft drinks.
Celebrities Who Love Some Turkey Burgers
The world is perfect when our favorite celebs love our favorite burger option. If you want a sneak peek inside some 5 stars turkey burgers? Let’s check out their take on those delicious turkey burgers.
Courtney Cox
Monica is one of our favourite characters from friends. We initially liked her because her profession was in the culinary world. We loved whenever Monica made something in the show. Imagine our surprise when Courtney Cox claims to have the best turkey burger recipe. Let’s see what she does differently.
When we went through the recipe, we won’t lie when we say it was simple, easy, and mouth-watering. Adding some mildly spicy, charred poblano peppers to her burger sounded interesting. She likes to add cumin and eggs to her turkey patty and enjoys the result of her hard work with margaritas. What a great way to have some delicious turkey burgers.
Wiz Khalifa
Wiz Khalifa loves turkey burgers; yes, you read that right. He calls them comfort food and a perfect meal with his friends and family. The recently launched delivery-only restaurant, “Hotbox by Wi, ” has his version of a turkey burger recipe he has been eating for 15 years.
Known as the “Taylor Gang Turkey Burge” under” Thedad’ss special”, it is especially for his son, who loves turkey burgers. If you are looking for another favorite turkey burger recipe after ours, you can try WizKhalifa’ss recipe.
Final Thoughts
We love burgers and at least eat them once every two weeks. Burgers are a big part of our life, and the right burger can lift your soul. From some healthy to indulgent turkey burgers, we have given them to you on a platter.
Please let us know how our version of the turkey burger recipe turned out. And if any of you experimented with some of the condiments or vegetables, then do share your version of turkey burgers in the comment section below.
