This easy turkey burger recipe is simple and delicious, perfect for a quick, weeknight dinner. You can also make them ahead and freeze them!
Best Turkey Burger Recipe
I wanted to create a basic turkey burger you can eat on a bun, just like a beef burger. Something with no added veggies, like my Turkey Zucchini Burgers or Turkey Broccoli Rabe Burgers, which are delicious too. I’ve purchased turkey burgers, like Bubba Burgers, from the supermarket, and I think they’re awful. This turkey burger recipe is delicious, perfect for a quick dinner or a casual weekend get-together. It’s versatile and made with condiments you already have in your kitchen. Feel free to get creative with your toppings or mix in different herbs and spices to the ground turkey mixture to make it your own!
Turkey Burger Ingredients
- Ground Turkey: Choose 93% lean ground turkey. 99% ground turkey meat would be too dry. If you prefer a beef burger, substitute 90% lean ground beef.
- Breadcrumbs: Use seasoned whole wheat or gluten-free breadcrumbs to keep the turkey together.
- How do you add flavor to ground turkey? Dried onion flakes, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, grated garlic, and salt flavor turkey burgers.
- Burger Buns: I prefer whole-wheat buns often use Martin’s whole wheat potato rolls or Old Tyme’s 647 rolls for fewer carbs and calories and more fiber.
- Popular Burger Toppings: Cheese, tomato, red onion, iceberg lettuce, sliced pickles, ketchup, mustard, caramelized onions, and avocado are all great options.
How to Make Turkey Burgers
- Make the Patties: Combine ground turkey, breadcrumbs, dried onion flakes, ketchup, Worcestershire, garlic, and salt. Divide the meat mixture into four equal portions and press down into half-inch thick patties.
- Cook on the Stove: Heat a large nonstick skillet on medium-low heat. When hot, lightly spray it with oil, add the burgers, and reduce the heat to low. Cook for four to five minutes on each side until browned and cooked through (the internal temperature should be 165°F).
- Air Fryer: Air fry turkey burgers 400F about 4 to 5 minutes on each side.
- Grill Turkey Burgers: Clean the grill well and wipe the grates with a paper towel covered in oil to prevent sticking. Cook the burgers on medium heat for about 5 minutes on each side.
- Assemble the Burgers: While the patties cook, toast the buns, and prepare your toppings. Place the meat on the bread and top with your veggies and condiments.
How to Grill Turkey Burgers without Falling Apart
Turkey burgers can stick to the grill due to their lower fat content than beef. However, there are a few ways to prevent it from happening:
- Preheat the Grill: Ensure your grill is hot before you put the burgers on. A hot grill helps sear the meat quickly, keeping the juices in and preventing sticking.
- Oil the Grill Grates: Before you start grilling, rub a paper towel soaked in vegetable oil over the grates, which will create a nonstick surface.
- Don’t Move the Burgers Too Soon: After placing your burgers on the grill, let them cook undisturbed until they release easily, typically about five to six minutes. If you flip them too soon, they may stick.
- Use a Spatula: When it’s time to flip your burgers, use a wide spatula and scoop under the meat completely to prevent them from falling apart.
What to Serve with This Turkey Burger Recipe
You can go the traditional route and serve these healthy turkey burgers with sweet potato fries, French fries, or onion rings. Potato salad, macaroni salad, Italian Pasta Salad and corn salad are some other options. I went with grilled asparagus for something lighter, but this creamy cucumber salad, cabbage slaw, or green salad would also work.
How to Freeze Turkey Burgers
Turkey burger patties are perfect for meal prep because you can freeze them raw. Store them in the freezer in a zip-locked bag with pieces of parchment in between so they don’t stick together. Then when you’re ready to serve them, thaw them in the fridge and cook them according to the instructions.
Once cooked, leftover turkey burgers will last up to 4 days refrigerated.
FAQs
Is a turkey burger healthier than a beef burger?
Turkey burgers are typically healthier than beef burgers. It depends on the type of ground turkey you’re using. I always choose 93% turkey, which is lean without being dry.
What do you use to keep turkey burgers from falling apart?
You need a binder to prevent turkey burgers from falling apart. I used whole wheat breadcrumbs in this recipe, but gluten-free panko would also work.
More Turkey Burger Recipes You’ll Love
- Naked Greek Feta-Zucchini Turkey Burgers
- Inside-Out Turkey Cheeseburgers
- Buffalo Turkey Cheeseburger
- Naked Turkey Bruschetta Burger
- Greek Turkey Burgers
Turkey Burger Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb 93% lean ground turkey
- 1/4 cup seasoned whole wheat breadcrumbs, or gluten-free breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup dried onion flakes
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- olive oil spray
- 4 burger buns
Optional For Serving: (not inlcuded in n.i)
- cheese
- sliced tomato
- sliced red onion
- Iceberg lettuce
- sliced pickles
- ketchup and mustard
- caramelized onions
- avocado
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, breadcrumbs, dried onion flakes, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic and salt.
- Make 4 equal patties, press down to flatten so they are not too thick, about 1/2 inch thick so they cook in the center.
To cook on the stove:
- Heat a large nonstick skillet on medium-low heat. When hot, lightly spray oil.
- Add burgers to the pan and reduce the heat to low. Cook 4 to 5 minutes on each side until browned and cooked through. Keep an eye on the bottom to prevent burning and to make sure the burgers are cooked all the way through.
- While the burgers are cooking, prepare your buns and toppings. Toast the buns if you like.
- When the burgers are done, place them on the buns, add your desired toppings, and serve immediately.
If grilling:
- Clean grill well before cooking and spray with oil spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook the burgers on medium heat about 5 minutes on each side, or until no longer pink in the center and reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Air Fryer Option: Air fry turkey burgers 400F about 4 to 5 minutes on each side.
Last Step:
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Notes
- Preheat the Grill: Ensure your grill is hot before you put the burgers on. A hot grill helps to sear the meat quickly, keeping the juices in and preventing sticking.
- Oil the Grill Grates: Before you start grilling, take a paper towel soaked in vegetable oil and, using tongs, rub it over the grill grates. This will create a non-stick surface.
- Don’t Move the Burgers Too Soon: After placing your burgers on the grill, let them cook without disturbing them until they release easily from the grill, typically about 5-6 minutes. If you try to flip them too soon, they may stick and fall apart.
- Use a Spatula: When it’s time to flip your burgers, use a wide spatula and make sure to scoop under the burgers completely to prevent them from falling apart. Remember to make sure your turkey burgers reach an internal temperature of 165°F to ensure they are cooked safely.
Really good. Held together well. I used Tamari and Montreal Steak Seasoning instead of salt. Will definitely make these again…soon!
I’ve been so disappointed w/turkey burgers.This recipe restored my confidence. I added a little oregano , a bit of olive oil in the mix and actually did not use any salt. Made them thin and they did not fall apart. I’ll be using this recipe again.Thanks
This is a delicious way to enjoy turkey burgers. I cooked mine in the Air Fryer and they were GREAT! LOVE all your recipes so far!!!
First time making these burgers in the air fryer and they were delicious! Will be making again! Topped with the best guacamole recipe and chef’s kiss!
I made these in my air fryer and they turned out great. I added some fresh chopped spinach to sneak in extra veggies. These were delicious!
We all loved the flavor of these!
These burgers were really tasty and my husband loved them! But how do you keep them from falling apart? Any suggestions?
Use an egg.
Mix it in well with the mixture, it will help keep it together.
I made these Turkey Burgers for dinner tonight and they were soooooo gooood!! I did add Spicy Mustard and 1 tsp of Montreal Steak Seasoning. Simple yet so flavorful!! I topped my burger with 1 slice of Sargento Ultra Thin Swiss Cheese and some WW Coleslaw and used 1/2 of Joseph’s Lavash Bread!! So yummy. I do have to ask you, since I am doing WW I see this burger has 8points. Is that including the burger bun?
Yes 🙂
Followed the recipe, but used Italian style bread crumbs and spicy mustard so not sure if that might have made a difference. They were a bit thicker than they needed to be, cooked on the stove for the correct amount of time, but they were very mushy to eat. Afraid this won’t be a repeat in our house.
Thank you for another healthy and delicious recipe! Will be making this recipe again!
Question! Does anyone know what kind of mustard to use? Not specified in the recipe and dijon/deli mustard are totally different flavors.
Thanks!
I just made these and they were delicious! I wondered the same thing, but I just ended up using yellow mustard. 🙂
Any mustard is fine but I used yellow mustard.
This was probably user error, but I could not get the patties to stay together. They just fell apart in the pan. However, the taste was great so I am going to try again!
Try adding an egg to help bind it together. That’s what I will do when I make them tonight.
After you form the Pattie’s place them in the freezer for a few minutes before you cook them
Is the bun included in the calorie count?
Yes
Oh these turned out so amazing! I served them with caramelized onions and both my husband and five year old devoured them. Thank you!
Yum!!
Made this and used a keto bun that was 1 point. I also used 99% fat free and worked out to be 1 point. I ate some avocado and it all was delicious. Thanks again for your site and all your recipes.
These are absolutely delicious! I do low carb so I substituted bread crumbs for pork rind crumbs but spiced everything else the same. Cooking direcions for stove top cooking is spot on. These turned out so juicy and flavorful. Definitely saving this one!!
Just made these burgers. Flavorful and moist and delicious.
Fantastic recipe! Is the bun low cal? Trying to work out nutritional info. Thanks in advance.
Old Tyme’s 647 rolls have fewer carbs
So yummy! I used ground chicken breast and had melted cheese on the top and no bun. It was sooo good! My husband loved it too!
Great!!!!
Juicy and delicious
Was wondering like others here…
Is the nutritional information for the bun and burger? or burger alone?
Thanks Gina, love your recipes!
Includes the bun. 🙂
Want to do this but does the N.I include the bun or is that just for the burger?
What buns do you use? What would be the N.i. for just the patty?
You read my mind! I bought ground turkey today ☺️☺️☺️