Turkey burger recipes can make burger alternatives that are low in fat and delicious at the same time. Learn some tricks to make your turkey burgers shine.
Unlike ground beef, which can be easily shaped into patties and grilled or fried without losing moisture or falling apart, turkey meat demands a little extra time and preparation.
The key to keeping turkey patties from falling apart is to mix them up with egg or egg whites in addition to breadcrumbs. The egg provides the "glue" and a small amount of breadcrumbs adds a little extra filler to absorb some of the moisture from the egg. For the best results, add one egg white and 1/8 cup of breadcrumbs to one pound of ground turkey.
Because the meat is lean, there is little grease to keep the juices in while it cooks so turkey burgers tend to be dry. You can make a juicy turkey patty by doing two things:
- Add a small amount of diced onion to the ground meat before shaping it into patties. As the onion cooks, it releases juices which compensate for the dryness of the turkey meat. Onion not only prevents dry turkey patties, it also adds a sweet flavor. Yumm!
- When cooking the turkey patties in the pan or on the grill, refrain from pushing down on them with your spatula. Flip them only once. For best results, allow the patties to cook on medium heat for at least six minutes before you flip.
If you want to add some oomph to your turkey burgers, try adding a clove of minced garlic and a touch of seasonings to the ground turkey before you shape it into patties. The seasonings can include oregano, parsley, or steak seasonings. Adjust the amount according to your taste.
Top your burgers with your favorite vegetables and condiments. Lettuce, tomato, pickles or relish, and cheese are good traditional choices.
Have you thought of using ranch dressing or cranberry sauce instead of ketchup and mustard?
With careful preparation and practice, your turkey burgers may be even more popular than your hamburgers and could be the perfect way to ramp up that typical menu at your next neighborhood or family barbecue.
Let's cook some turkey burgers!
Basic turkey burger recipe.
No, this is not a thanksgiving turkey leftover recipe.
Ingredients1.5 pound premium ground turkey breast
1 egg
2 tablespoon bacon fat
Cayenne pepper
1 large red onion, diced
1 clove minced garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
0.5 cup thick beef gravy
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the egg with the ground turkey
- Add the bacon fat and a dash of cayenne pepper
- Mix in the red onion and minced garlic
- Add salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup of very thick beef gravy
- Mix it all together by hand and mold it into patties about 1 inch thick and about 3-4 inches in diameter.
For the best results, in my opinion, you should grill your turkey burger patty over a charcoal flame. But that's just me. You may not even own a grill. No problem. Use the frying pan or the oven grill. Do be careful to cook your turkey patties thoroughly. There is no such thing as medium-rare turkey burger.
Recipe link: Basic turkey burger recipe
Spicy turkey burgers
This spicy turkey burger doesn't need extra condiments, the patty itself has so much flavour. It is perfectly delicious alone on a bun. Nah, you still want to add your lettuce leaves and salsa. :)
Ingredients 1 1/4 pounds lean ground turkey1 cup mild salsa, divided 1/2 cup finely chopped shallots
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon chipotle-flavored hot sauce
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 crusty rolls, halved and toasted
4 lettuce leaves
- Mix the ground turkey with the 1/2 cup salsa, shallots, cilantro, 3 tablespoons oil, hot sauce, cumin, salt, and pepper in large bowl
- Shape turkey mixture into four 3 1/2- to 4-inch-diameter patties
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat
- Add the patties and fry until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side
- Reduce heat to low. Cook until burgers are cooked through, about 4 minutes
- Arrange the crusty roll bottoms on 4 plates
- Place lettuce, then burgers on roll bottoms
- Top each burger with 2 tablespoons of remaining salsa, then place roll tops
- Enjoy
Recipe link: Spicy turkey burgers
Turkey burgers with tomato jam
The tomato jam is made from sun-dried tomatoes.
Ingredients1 large shallot, finely chopped (1/4 cup)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1.5 pounds ground turkey
5 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar, cut into 4 (1/2-inch-thick) slices
Fresh lettuce
4 hamburger or kaiser rolls
- Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Saute the shallot in the olive oil with salt and pepper in an 8-inch skillet over moderate heat. Stir occasionally for 2 to 3 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to a bowl
- Add the ground turkey and mix gently but thoroughly
- Turn the turkey mixture out onto a sheet of wax paper and divide roughly into 8 equal portions
- Pat 1 portion into a 4-inch wide patty. Place a piece of cheese on top and place a second portion of turkey on top of the cheese. Shape to enclose the cheese inside the double layer patty. Pinch edges together to seal and shape into a single patty
- Repeat to make 3 more burger patties
- Heat an oiled well-seasoned ridged grill pan over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking
- Place burgers onto the grill and cook until it is no longer pink which is about 4 minutes. Flip it over and cook for another 4 minutes
- While the burgers are cooking, heat the kaiser rolls on a baking sheet in oven until crusty. Approximately 5 minutes
- Transfer rolls to a rack to cool slightly
- Cut rolls in half horizontally and spread cut sides with tomato jam
- Serve burgers on the rolls with lettuce
Recipe link: Turkey burgers with tomato jam