Easy Turkey Burgers
These easy turkey burgers are incredibly juicy and flavorful! I actually prefer them over traditional beef burgers, they’re that good. Whether you’re firing up the grill or cooking indoors on a skillet, this recipe comes together quickly and always hits the spot. You’ll find yourself coming back to it again and again!
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A Note from Kim
Lean, Mean, and Totally Delicious
Turkey burgers are one of my favorite ways to use lean ground turkey—they’re flavorful, juicy, and always a crowd-pleaser. I love that turkey is a lighter protein option, but still super satisfying. It’s my go-to for everything from better-for-you lasagna to taco night, but these burgers are a definite top pick in our house. Easy to make, packed with flavor, and perfect for busy weeknights or summer cookouts!
With love (and lots of good eats), 
Made these burgers last night for dinner. Fantastic!! A+ recipe & will definitely make these again.
— Beth
Ingredients You’ll Need
What’s summer without juicy burgers piled high with your favorite toppings? To make this turkey burger recipe you’ll need the following simple ingredients:
- Lean ground turkey: I recommend using 93% lean ground turkey or ground chicken, so that it still has a bit of fat content to stay nice and juicy. The extra lean ground turkey will work, but your burgers may turn out drier and less tender.
- Flavor makers: We’re using a mix of onion, breadcrumbs, egg, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, Dijon mustard and salt & pepper to combine with the turkey. This mixture is what will give the burgers flavor, moisture and helps hold them together.
- Hamburger buns: Feel free to use any hamburger buns you’d like (even gluten free). You can even wrap the patties in lettuce for a low carb option or you can serve them as a protein added to salad greens. I like Pepperidge Farm Bakery Classics Buns. Sometimes we go all out and use fluffy brioche buns. Yum!
- Toppings: Use any favorites—lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions, cheese, avocado, mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup. And don’t forget the burger sauce for the ultimate burger experience!
Make It Your Way
One of my favorite things about making burgers is that you can easily customize them to your taste preferences and what you have on hand. Here are some options:
- Stovetop burgers. If you can’t or don’t want to grill your burgers, try cooking them on the stove. Simply add 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil to a cast iron skillet or nonstick skillet or grill pan and place it over medium heat. Once your pan is hot, cook your burgers for 3-5 minutes per side until they’re no longer pink.
- Ground meat: Choose any favorite meat for these burgers. Aside from your turkey or chicken, there’s ground beef, lamb, pork or bison.
- Spices: Try flavoring the meat with garlic, paprika, cumin or any favorite herbs.
- Cheeseburger: I typically use cheddar or American cheese, but some other tasty options are pepper jack, Colby, blue cheese, Swiss or feta cheese.
- Toppings: The toppings are truly what makes the burger, right? Pick your favorite buns or use lettuce wraps, add some fresh produce like tomato, lettuce, red onion, avocado or even cilantro, or keep them simple with ketchup and mustard, secret sauce, or mayo.
Easy Turkey Burgers
Ingredients
- 1 pound 93% lean ground turkey meat
- 1/2 medium onion, finely diced
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 4 hamburger buns
- Optional toppings: lettuce, tomato, cheese, avocado, red onion, mayo, ketchup and/or mustard
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Instructions
- Place the ground turkey, onion, breadcrumbs, egg, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, Dijon, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Stir to combine (I use my hands). Do not over-mix the ingredients because you’ll run the risk of ending up with a tough burger.
- Shape the turkey mixture into 4 patties. Press your thumb into the center of each patty to create a divot, so that when they cook, they stay flat and don’t puff up. Preheat an outdoor grill, indoor grill pan or skillet on the stove to medium-high heat.
- Cook burgers for 4-6 minutes per side, or until completely cooked through and when internal temperature of 165ºF is reached.
- Once fully cooked, place the burgers on the buns, add toppings as desired, then serve.
Notes
- If you don’t think your patties are firm enough for the grill, place them in the freezer for 10-15 minutes.
- Bring the heat of the grill up to about 450ºF. Cook burgers until the internal temperature is 165ºF.
- Make sure that your grill grates are clean and well oiled so that your burger doesn’t stick.
- Be patient and let your burger cook for at least 4 minutes before flipping. If you flip your burger too early, they might fall apart.
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How to Make Turkey Burgers
The process of making turkey burgers is super quick and easy! You have two options for cooking your burgers, the grill method or the stovetop method. Here’s the simple process:
Step 1. Place the ground turkey, onion, breadcrumbs, egg, Worcestershire, ketchup, Dijon, salt, and black pepper in a large bowl. Gently mix (hands work best), being careful not to overwork the meat to keep the burgers tender.
Step 2. Shape the turkey mixture into 4 patties. Press your thumb into the center of each patty to create a divot, so that when they cook, they stay flat and don’t puff up. Preheat an outdoor grill, indoor grill pan or skillet on the stove to medium-high heat.
Step 3. Cook burgers for 4-6 minutes per side, or until completely cooked through and when internal temperature of 165ºF is reached.
Step 4. Serve on buns with your favorite toppings or in a salad.
Kim’s Recipe Tips
- Don’t overwork the meat: Mix just until combined to keep burgers juicy and tender.
- Chill before cooking: Let the patties rest in the fridge for 15–30 minutes to help them hold their shape.
- Clean grill: Make sure that your grill grates are clean and well oiled with vegetable oil or avocado oil, so that your burger doesn’t stick.
- Use a meat thermometer: Cook until the internal temperature reaches 165°F with a meat thermometer for safety and perfect doneness.
- Preheat your grill or pan: Make sure it’s hot before cooking to get a nice sear and prevent sticking. Bring the heat of the grill up to about 450ºF.
- Be patient: Let your burger cook for at least 4 minutes before flipping. If you flip your burger too early, it might fall apart.
- Let them rest: After cooking, let burgers rest a few minutes to lock in juices before serving.
Serving Suggestions
When we enjoy turkey burgers, we love to have some delicious sides to complete the meal! Mix and match to build the perfect plate! Just don’t forget the potato chips or French fries and pickle!
- Potato & pasta salads: Choose from the Best Potato Salad, Creamy Pasta Salad, or Greek Pasta Salad for a cool and satisfying side.
- Fresh summer salads: Enjoy a burst of freshness with Greek Chickpea Salad, Cucumber Tomato Salad, Green Bean Salad, or a crisp Summer Greek Salad.
- Slaws: Whether you love a tangy Vinegar Coleslaw or a Creamy Coleslaw, both pair perfectly with turkey burgers.
- Deviled eggs: Mom’s Deviled Eggs are a classic picnic favorite that everyone reaches for.
- French fries: These Sweet Potato Fries are slightly sweet, crispy, and always a hit with burgers.
Storing Leftovers
- To store uncooked patties: Shape the turkey burger patties and place them in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze until solid, then transfer to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag with parchment paper between layers. They’ll keep well for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before cooking.
- To store cooked patties: Let them cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. For longer storage, freeze them in a single layer until solid, then move to a freezer-safe bag. Reheat straight from frozen or thaw overnight in the fridge before warming.
- To reheat: Warm turkey burgers in a skillet over medium heat, in the oven at 350ºF, or in the microwave until heated through. For best texture, avoid overcooking during reheating.
We’ll be making these delicious burgers for every cookout all summer long. Even my beef-loving kids and husband enjoy these!
More Favorite Burger Recipes
If you try this turkey burger recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and if your family loves it as much as mine does, be sure to give it a five star ⭐️ rating! Also, tag @kimscravings on Instagram with a picture of your creation. Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list to receive more healthy delicious recipes straight to your inbox.
Made these last night. They were so good – perfectly juicy with the best flavor!
Can these burgers be done in an Air Fryer?
Chela
I can’t say for sure anything about cook time or temperature as I haven’t tried it.
These burgers are so good and my young children like them too. They have always come out moist and are so flavourful!
These were SO easy to make and SO packed with flavor. I used all the ingredients (with your burger sauce). Paired perfectly with some sweet tater tots (and dipped the tots in the burger sauce). I can’t wait to make this a regular staple in the burger rotation. My super picky BF also loved it. ?
I made this turkey burgers yesterday and used my BBQ. They are so good and tasty. As a Weight Watcher member, I am always looking for new recipes with lots of taste and these burgers were the answer…Thank you….
Wow! These turkey burgers are amazing! So flavorful and comes together quickly. Already cannot wait to make them again! Thanks for sharing!
Perfect recipe for the summer grilling season! We loved these… so delicious!
Made these burgers last night for dinner. Fantastic!! A+ recipe & will definitely make these again.
So easy and very delicious!!!
This is definitely a keeper in on the rotation for summer barbecue season!!
Loved these! Grilled them last night for a family cookout and everyone enjoyed them. Will definitely be making again!
Our family has been taken advantage of the extra time during quarantine. We have been searching recipes to make and the kids help select and make them. Today we made your recipe! It was a hit! These turkey burgers were so easy and delicious!