Who says Turkey Burgers have to play second fiddle to beef? These Turkey Burgers for the Grill are juicy, boldly seasoned and so full of flavor you’ll forget they’re the “healthy” option. Fire up the grill because this is a grilled turkey burger that can finally rival, and maybe replace your favorite beef burger.
Why Turkey Burgers Go Wrong
If you’ve ever tried making turkey burgers by simply shaping ground turkey into patties, you’ve more than likely run into a problem. The texture simply doesn’t hold up. Especially when making turkey burgers for the grill. Plain ground turkey tends to fall apart without a binder to keep it together. On top of that, it’s naturally lean, which means the burgers often cook up dry and bland, nothing like that juicy beef burger you might be craving.
The fix: Adding the right ingredients to boost both flavor and texture. A simple egg works wonders as a binder, while also adding moisture. From there, it’s all about layering in flavor. After plenty of testing and tweaking, I’ve landed on a turkey burger that delivers. Warm spices for depth, a touch of heat from fresh jalapeno and a juicy bite that stand up proudly to any beef burger.
Why These Grilled Turkey Burgers Work
- How To Keep Them Juicy: Adding moisture and fat in the form of an egg will keep these turkey burgers from drying out on the grill.
- Flavor: Smoked paprika, chili powder and jalapeno pepper adds a Southwestern WOW factor to an other wise potentially bland turkey burger.
- No Bread Crumbs: This is a turkey burger that doesn’t use bread crumbs for a binder. If you use a gluten free bun, these will be a gluten free turkey burger.
The best part is that you can throw them together in a matter of minutes with only seven ingredients. It’s simply a great recipe for those who don’t eat beef.
Let’s take a look:
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Egg: Since turkey burgers tend to be dryer than ground beef, we’ll add egg to help hold it together and add moisture.
- Vegetables: We’ll add choppped jalapeno pepper and onion.
- Spices: We’re turning this into a Southwestern Turkey Burger with seasonings of Chili Seasoning and Smoked Paprika. Please note we’re using a chili seasoning powder that is a blend of spices commonly used to season Tex-Mex style Chili soups. rather than single blend chile (with an “e”).
- Ground Turkey: Tip: Choose a package of ground turkey labeled “ground turkey” rather than ground turkey breast. Ground turkey is a mix of both dark and light turkey meat. Purchasing leaner ground turkey breast may compromise the stability of the grilling this burger.
Seasoning Variations
A Southwestern themed seasoning mix is our favorite, but here are some other ideas to season turkey burgers:
- Switch out the seasonings with 3 Tablespoons powdered Ranch Dressing Seasoning Mix.
- Use Chipotle Pepper Powder in place of the smoked paprika. Doing so will keep that smoky flavor profile and add more spicy heat.
How To Make Turkey Burgers For The Grill, It’s Easy
- Step 1: Simply grab a good sized bowl and add all of the ingredients.
- Step 2: Just like you’d do when making meatloaf, use your hands to gently mix the ingredients together until well blended.
- Step 3: How Long To Grill Turkey Burgers: Form the meat into patties, then chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes, and you’re ready to grill those turkey burgers. Oil your grill grates by pouring a little bit of olive oil on a paper towel and rubbing the grates. Cook at 400 degrees about 6 minutes per side or until a digital read meat thermometer registers an internal temperature of 160 degrees.
About Those Turkey Burger Patties
I turned one pound of turkey meat into three ⅓ pound patties. Simply because I had purchased larger buns. You most certainly can make four ¼ pound turkey burger patties to serve more and fit smaller hamburger buns.
Variations and Topping Ideas
- Peppers: Jalapeno’s too spicy? You can use chopped red bell pepper or orange bell pepper. Poblano peppers are a good choice here, but you’ll need to sautee or roast them before adding them to the meat mix. The flavor of raw poblano peppers is very grassy. Frying them will improve flavor dramatically.
- Cheese: Want a grilled turkey cheeseburger. A good melting cheese like American cheese is a good choice, or even Muenster will work here. Try slices of Pepper Jack or Monterey Jack Cheese.
- Tomatoes: It’s hard to resist adding a slice of tomato when fresh Summer tomatoes are available.
- Lettuce: A slice of Iceberg, Romaine or green leafy lettuce will all work here.
- Slaw: Try my recipe for quick lime slaw: 1 ¼ Cup Coleslaw Mix or a mix of purple cabbage and shredded carrots, ⅓ Cup Mayonnaise, 2 Tablespoons Lime Juice = Easy! Or take a look at Bobby Flay’s Slaw Burger recipe. It’s a good creamy just right Summer slaw recipe.
- Pickled Onions: Ever tried them? Mexican Pickled Onions will add a vibrant sweet and tangy flavor.
- Aioli: Add an additional kick of jalapeno flavor and smear some Jalapeno Aioli in place of the quick slaw.
Tips For Success
- How To Keep Turkey Burgers From Falling Apart: Practice those knife skills and fine chop the onion and Jalapeno pepper. If the cuts are too large, it may cause the burgers to fall apart.
- Hands: Use your hands to mix the turkey burger ingredients together before forming into patties Your hands are gentler tools. A large spoon will simply mash the ingredients together, risking a tight dryer burger experience.
- Mayonnaise: A toasted burger bun makes for a great burger experience. Brushing a little mayonnaise on each bun, rather than butter will toast them beautifully.
Make Ahead and Meal Prep
- Make Ahead: These turkey burger patties can be made up to one day in advance. Simply cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to grill.
- Meal Prep: I have doubled this recipe to freeze the patties for a quick dinner. Just individually wrap each uncooked turkey burger patty in plastic wrap. Throw them directly on the grill still frozen and they’ll cook up just fine. Just make sure to use a digital read meat thermometer to insure they’re cooked through at 160 degrees.
Storage
- Store any leftover turkey burgers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheat: Use your air fryer to reheat leftover grilled turkey burgers. It’s a great tool for maintaining that crispy exterior. To reheat in the microwave, the 50% power feature is your best friend. Reheat in 30 second increments until hot enough to eat.
FAQ’s
Absolutely. Use a grill pan, or your favorite heavy skillet that will yield a good sear. Add a tablespoon of oil before adding patties. A cast iron skillet works well here, but I prefer my French Blue Carbon Steel Pan. It’s preferred by chefs, lighter weight than a cast iron and sears like a champ. Resist the urge to use a non-stick pan as they are notorious for not generating enough heat for a good sear. Disclaimer: I am an Amazon affiliate. If you purchase the carbon pan using the link I’ve provided, I receive a small commission at no extra charge to you.
Place turkey burger patties on a lightly oiled or sprayed baking sheet. A baking sheet with a raised grate is even better, as it will allow air to circulate around the patties as they bake. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 – 30 minutes, or until a digital instant read thermometer reads an internal temperature of 165 degrees. To obtain Maillard reaction (crispy exterior), finish by broiling the burgers for a few seconds on each side.
More than likely, they’re overcooked. Keep that digital read meat thermometer handy to keep that internal temperature from cooking over 160 degrees.
If you’re looking for low-fat turkey burgers that stay juicy, I hope you give this grilled turkey burger recipe a try. It’s a great alternative to beef burgers, and a must have recipe for those who don’t eat beef.
More Popular Burger Recipes
And don’t miss category for Hamburger Recipes, you’ll find lots of great ideas, including the most popular burger recipe on my site for juicy perfect Buffalo Burgers.
If you liked this recipe, please leave a star ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. I always appreciate your feedback and hearing how everything went.
And, don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more delicious recipes and cooking tips. Make it a delicious day … every day.
Jalapeno Turkey Burgers For The Grill
Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground Turkey
- 1 Large Egg whisked
- 1 Tablespoon Smoked Paprika
- 2 teaspoons Chili Powder
- 1 Jalapeno pepper Fine chopped, seeds and veins removed for less heat
- ⅓ Cup Sweet Onion Fine chopped
- ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- 3 -4 Hamburger Buns Depending on how many patties
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a medium sized bowl and use your hand to gently blend everything together.
- Form the meat into the patties. You can form them into four ¼ pound patties or three ⅓ pound patties. Depending on the size of your burger buns.
- Chill them in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Oil your grill grates by pouring a little bit of olive oil on a paper towel and rubbing the grates. Cook at 400 degrees about 6 minutes per side or until a digital read meat thermometer registers an internal temperature of 160 degrees.
Notes
-
- How To Keep Turkey Burgers From Falling Apart: Practice those knife skills and fine chop the onion and Jalapeno pepper. If the cuts are too large, it may cause the burgers to fall apart.
-
- Hands: Use your hands to mix the turkey burger ingredients together before forming into patties Your hands are gentler tools. A large spoon will simply mash the ingredients together, risking a tight dryer burger experience.
-
- Mayonnaise: A toasted burger bun makes for a great burger experience. Brushing a little mayonnaise on each bun, rather than butter will toast them beautifully.
Nutrition
Turkey Burgers For The Grill … It’s What’s For Dinner
Why Trust My Recipes? I am a Culinary School Graduate and a lifelong student of home cooking. I hope to inspire you try to cook as often as you can. I’ve been cooking for 50 years, and my recipes are tried and true tested and tested and then tested again before published. To read more take a look at my About Page.
They look and sound very good but I’m pretty sure I’ve never had a turkey burger and no way would my hamburger loving wife eat one – Hamburger is about her favorite food.