Turkey Burger Recipe
This Turkey Burger Recipe makes the best juicy, flavorful turkey burgers. They’re easy to make and you can cook them on the grill, on the stove or in the oven.
These homemade turkey burgers are a staple in our recipe rotation. On hot summer days, we love to grill up these burgers on our outdoor grill and enjoy them with a refreshing glass of Lemonade, Air Fryer French Fries and a crisp Greek Salad. Once grilling season is over, these turkey burgers still find their way onto our menu. They cook up perfectly on the stove or in the oven, alongside Honey Roasted Sweet Potatoes or Baked Sweet Potato Fries.
This turkey burger recipe is one of our favorite ground turkey recipes because it calls for just a few simple ingredients and the burgers are so easy to make from scratch. An egg makes the burgers especially juicy and also helps to bind them together. The turkey burger seasoning is made of a few everyday ingredients and brings mouthwatering flavor to these homemade burgers.
Both the kids and adults in our house always devour these healthy turkey burgers. Load them up with your favorite burger toppings for a meal that’s sure to satisfy!
Turkey Burger Recipe Ingredients
- Ground Turkey: Some brands of ground turkey have more moisture than others, so I recommend testing different brands until you find one that isn’t too wet, especially if you plan to cook your burgers on the grill. To keep turkey burgers from falling apart on the grill, you can freeze the patties for 30 minutes before grilling to firm them up. Or you can cook delicate burger patties in the oven or in a skillet. If you choose extra lean ground turkey, your burgers may turn out drier than a less lean option.
- Fresh Parsley: Chopped parsley adds fresh flavor to the turkey burgers. You can omit it if you don’t have parsley on hand.
- Worcestershire Sauce: This is optional, but it adds a delicious depth of flavor that makes the burgers extra irresistible. If you need your turkey burgers to be gluten-free, be sure to use a gluten-free Worcestershire sauce and serve the burgers in lettuce wraps or on gluten-free buns.
- Onion Powder & Garlic Powder: These seasonings make the turkey burgers so flavorful.
- Salt and Pepper: Don’t skip the salt and pepper when seasoning your turkey burgers.
- Egg: With turkey burger recipes it can be tricky to make a burger that is moist and juicy because ground turkey tends to be dryer than beef. The egg adds moisture for juicy burgers and also helps to bind the ground turkey mixture together.
What can I use instead of an egg?
If you’re looking for an egg alternative, you can use one of these to add moisture to turkey burgers:
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1/2 cup grated zucchini (squeezed of excess moisture)
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise (use vegan mayo for egg-free burgers)
How to Make Turkey Burgers
- Combine the egg, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Mix with a fork until these ingredients are well combined.
- Add the ground turkey to the bowl. Mix until everything is just combined. Don’t overmix at this step.
- Divide the mixture into four equal parts. Shape into patties that are about 1/2-inch thick.
How to Cook Turkey Burgers
How long to cook turkey burgers depends on the thickness of the burgers and your cooking method. They typically take about 5-6 minutes per side on the grill or stove, or 20 minutes in the oven. Whichever method you use, be sure to fully cook your turkey burgers. A turkey burger is fully cooked when the center of the patty reaches an internal temperature of 165° F. You can insert an instant-read thermometer sideways through the side of a burger to check the temperature of the center.
Grilled Turkey Burgers
- Since turkey tends to be more delicate than beef, you’ll want to put your patties in the freezer for about 30 minutes to firm them up before grilling. Arrange the patties in a single layer in a parchment paper-lined baking dish and freeze.
- Be sure your grill grates are clean and heat the grill to medium-high heat. Oil the grill grates well to prevent sticking.
- Grill burgers about 5-6 minutes per side, until cooked through.
Skillet Turkey Burgers
I love cooking turkey burgers in my cast iron skillet! It’s so easy and they come out perfectly seared with a flavorful browned crust.
- Preheat your skillet or grill pan to medium heat and add about 1 tablespoon of olive oil or other cooking oil.
- Cook the burgers about 5-6 minutes per side, until cooked through. I usually cover the skillet with a lid while the burgers cook on the first side because this helps the centers cook through without over-browning the outsides.
Baked Turkey Burgers
Baking turkey burgers in the oven is a hands-off way to cook them.
- Line your baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup.
- Bake turkey burgers in a 400° F oven for about 20 minutes total, until they are cooked to 165 degrees F.
- Flip the burgers to the second side after the first 10 minutes of cook time.
How to Freeze Turkey Burgers
I love to meal prep a big batch of turkey burger patties and freeze them (before cooking) for quick meals on busy days. I partially thaw the burgers for a few hours in the refrigerator before cooking them. This way, the burgers cook evenly and hold their shape on the grill.
The easiest way to get the burger patties to freeze flat is to first flash freeze the burgers on burger-sized squares of parchment paper in a single layer on a baking sheet or baking dish. Once the patties are frozen through, stack them, with the parchment squares in between, and place them in a zip-top bag or other airtight storage container. You can store frozen turkey burger patties in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Serving Suggestions
Try topping your turkey burger with my easy Homemade Guacamole or BBQ Sauce and melty cheddar cheese. Add red onion or caramelized onions for extra flavor. Serve on a homemade Brioche Bun with lettuce and tomato for the best ever healthy burger!
This healthy turkey burger recipe is delicious served with Baked French Fries, Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries, Pasta Salad, Potato Salad, Macaroni Salad, Corn Salad or Instant Pot Corn on the Cob. We also love the fresh flavors of this Tabouli Salad Recipe, Southwest Quinoa Salad or a crisp Green Salad with our burgers.
Turkey Burger Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 pound ground turkey
- olive oil or other vegetable oil, for cooking
For Serving:
- burger buns, lettuce, tomato, red onion, avocado or guacamole, ketchup, mustard, bbq sauce, etc., as desired
Instructions
- Place egg, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Mix with a fork to combine.
- Add the ground turkey to the bowl and mix gently with the fork until just combined, being careful to not overwork the meat.
- Divide the turkey mixture into 4 equal parts and shape into patties that are about 1/2-inch thick.
To Cook Turkey Burgers on the Grill:
- Freeze turkey burger patties in a single layer in a baking dish lined with parchment paper for 30 minutes to help them hold together on the grill.
- Meanwhile, heat an outdoor grill with clean grill grates to medium-high heat. Oil the grill grates well to keep the burgers from sticking.
- Cook burgers about 5-6 minutes per side until cooked to an internal temperature of 165° F. Do not flip the burgers too early when cooking on the first side or they may fall apart.
To Cook Turkey Burgers on the Stove:
- Heat a grill pan or skillet, such as a cast iron skillet, over medium heat. Add about 1 tablespoon of oil to the pan and spread it around.
- When the pan is hot, place the turkey burger patties in the pan. Cook about 5-6 minutes per side, until cooked to an internal temperature of 165° F. The burgers should release fairly easily from the pan when they are ready to flip to the second side.
To Cook Turkey Burgers in the Oven:
- Preheat oven to 400° F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and place turkey burger patties on the pan.
- Bake for about 20 minutes, flipping once after 10 minutes. Turkey burgers are done when they reach an internal temperature of 165° F.
Notes
- You can substitute fresh onion and garlic for the onion powder and garlic powder. Chop/mince them finely and use 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion and 2 cloves garlic.
I look forward to trying this recipe for turkey burgers. Usually, I make them with some chopped green onions & blue cheese mixed in to the burger. And I prefer it without a bun. This recipe sounds like juicy deliciousness. Yum!
Thank you, Teresa! Blue cheese and green onions sound delicious!
I don’t have any ground turkey on hand, but I do have some ground pork. Do you think the flavors would turn out similar to the original recipe if I made the switch?
I haven’t tried this recipe with ground pork. If you try it, let me know how it turns out!
How many pounds does the recipe match?
This recipe uses 1 pound of ground turkey to make 4 burgers.
Great recipe! As is, the mixture seemed really wet at first so I added some breadcrumbs and it turned out really well. Will definitely make again.