Quick and easy turkey smash burgers

The hamburger or cheeseburger is the quintessence of the fast dinner idea. While it’s not fast food, throwing a burger on the grill is always a pretty quick dinner option. Even if you don’t have a grill, you can use the smash burger method to make really good burgers. These Turkey Smash Burgers are my newest smash burger creation and they are SO good!

I like these as an alternative to beef smash burgers. You need to season the burgers well, but they turn out lighter than a regular beef burger.

Let’s dive in and make some smash burgers!

What is a smash burger?

A smash burger is a special technique for making a burger or cheeseburger. Instead of a grill, cook the burger on a griddle or in a large skillet. Once you add the seasoned meat to the pan, press firmly for about ten seconds.

By pressing down on the burger you not only make it very thin which speeds up cooking time but you also create a great crust on the burger!

A finished smash burger is cooked in a few minutes and super juicy!

Why use turkey instead of beef?

This is honestly a personal preference, but many people prefer turkey over beef as it can be slightly lower in fat and calories.

I go back and forth and like to change it up, sometimes I use chicken for a smash burger too.

In general, using turkey can be very lean so you don’t need to add some extra fat to the patty before cooking, unless you’re trying to keep the fat low, then you can omit the extra fat.

How to flavor your smash burger

The biggest mistake people make with ground turkey is underseasoning it. You need to season the turkey heavily as it can be a bit bland.

I start by adding some softened butter to the meat and incorporating that. This adds a little extra fat to the meat and keeps it juicy as it cooks.

Then I add a mixture of salt, pepper, garlic powder and Italian seasoning to the meat which gives it great flavor. You could experiment with other spices like paprika, chili powder, or red pepper flakes for some spice.

How to make a smash burger

When it’s time to smash burgers, preheat your griddle to medium-high and allow the pan to get nice and hot. You can also use a cast iron skillet if you don’t have a griddle. I wouldn’t use non-stick pans because you can’t preheat them well.

Add a drizzle of oil to the pan or griddle, then add your meat. Immediately put some foil on top and press the burger down with a weight. I use a small cast iron skillet for this, but you can use anything heavy. Squeeze it for 10 seconds so it spreads and starts forming a nice crust.

Then you can remove the weight and continue cooking the burger on that side for 30 seconds.

To loosen the turkey smash burger, use a metal spatula to really get underneath and loosen the crust on the burger. Flip the burger. You won’t be able to get the same type of crust on the second side, but that’s okay. Let it cook for another minute or two, then add cheese if using.

The turkey smash burger will cook very quickly and the cheese will melt quickly as well. If you want the cheese to be very melted, you can cover it with a bowl to steam for a few seconds.

I generally don’t worry about checking the temp of these burgers since they’re so thin, but if you’re concerned you can use an instant read thermometer which should read 160F inside the burger.

What to serve with a turkey smash burger

I serve these turkey smash burgers with toasted brioche buns, a simple burger sauce, lettuce, and red onions. Tomato would be great too if you can find good ones. Avocado would also be a nice addition to the burger.

As a side, I would serve them with a large salad like this Honey Mustard Potato Salad or something lighter like this Roasted Beet Salad. Some sort of potato product is always a good idea, like these Loaded Potato Wedges or these Mashed Parmesan Potatoes!

My turkey smash burger recipe

Here are a few other great recipes to try!