The best turkey burger recipe

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The Turkey Burger Recipe will be the juiciest and most delicious burger you’ve ever made. A secret ingredient makes these babies over the top! Easy to prepare on the grill or stove, aromatic and of course super juicy. Serve with homemade fries, kettle chips, or a macaroni salad. Yummy!

Turkey Burger: Healthy and delicious

Believe it or not, many of you are looking for a good, juicy turkey burger recipe. What makes a turkey burger healthier is that it has a lot less saturated fat than a regular beef burger (find the beef burger recipe here), but still tastes great. This is one of the many reasons I love making delicious turkey burgers.

Not all turkey burger recipes are created equal and this one is the best. Though they can be notoriously dry, I’ve found a solution that keeps burgers made with the best turkey burger recipe moist and juicy, whether you’re grilling them on the grill or indoors on a griddle.

Turkey burger vs. meat burger

In many ways, turkey and beef burgers are very similar. The main difference in terms of preparation is obvious. Instead of beef, use turkey meat (usually ground turkey breast or ground turkey thighs).

However, there are some nutritional differences between beef and turkey. Specifically, a ground turkey mix usually contains:

• Less protein per 4 oz. Serving (about 22 grams)

In comparison, a beef patty contains the following per 4 ounce serving:

• About 24 grams of protein

This means that making turkey burgers is not only healthier but can also be a really tasty burger. As with most ground turkey recipes, the only real downside is that turkey can be quite dry. More on that in the next section.

Why are turkey burgers dry?

As I mentioned above Ground turkey has much less fat than ground beef and therefore results in a drier burger patty after cooking. If you use lean ground beef to prepare your burgers, you’ll get a similarly dry result. It really all comes down to fat content. While ground turkey certainly saves some calories, many people dislike turkey burgers because they get very dry when cooked. So how can we make moist and juicy turkey burgers? Here’s my secret:

My secret ingredient: butter

Although I use a lot of relatively simple ingredients to make my turkey burger patties (ground turkey, egg, poultry seasoning, milk, etc.), the secret really is there Fill each burger patty with half a tablespoon of butter. Yes that’s right. Butter! It adds flavor and moisture that help keep the turkey burgers nice and juicy without adding too much extra fat or calories. This makes them the best turkey burgers by far.

Do you love turkey burgers? I have many variations for you: Cheddar Ranch Turkey Burgers, Greek Turkey Burgers.

How to make turkey burgers

Make turkey burger patties

In a large bowl, combine lean ground turkey, milk, egg, salt and pepper, parsley, and poultry seasoning. Mix until smooth, then divide into 4 equal portions.

The milk keeps the patties tender and moist, the egg keeps the patties together, and the salt, pepper, and poultry seasoning make this turkey burger recipe delicious!

Some people prefer to mix their own spices, such as garlic powder, smoked paprika, and onion powder. However. I like the flavor that the poultry seasoning adds to the dish.

Shape each portion into a turkey patty. Cut cold butter into 1/2 tablespoon slices and press into each turkey burger patty. Shape the meat evenly around the butter. If you find your patties aren’t firm enough, throw them in the freezer for 10-15 minutes.

A note on ground turkey

Through my experience living from coast to coast, I’ve become aware of the differences in quality and excess moisture in different brands of ground turkey. Sometimes it is wetter, sometimes drier. (You’ll notice in my photos that my molded burgers look perfectly normal since I used 99% fat-free ground turkey.) Typically, the leaner the turkey, the “drier” it is. So use a leaner ground turkey for convenience. Adding milk to the patty and filling each patty with butter will keep your turkey burgers moist and juicy.

When you make this recipe and realize you have it To moisten the turkey, reduce the amount of milk OR add a few breadcrumbs to make it easier to process. If the turkey burger mixture is still a bit too sticky, try to shape the burgers as best you can and then freeze them briefly, especially if you plan to grill them outdoors. Turkey burgers are easier to cook on an indoor griddle when they’re “sticky.”

Cooking turkey burgers: How to grill your turkey burgers

Preheat whatever frying pan you want with a cooking surface, be it a large cast iron skillet, electric griddle or outdoor BBQ grill. Be sure to grease the patties well or spray them with nonstick cooking spray, whichever is easier. An internal grill with a bottom and top platen for “crushing” the patties for cooking is not recommended (looking at you, George Foreman).

Some recipes recommend using olive oil, coconut oil, or even canola oil to fry burgers. I do not recommend this as it can significantly change the taste. It also prevents the patties from forming that slightly crispy outer shell that we all know and love.

How do you know when turkey burgers are ready? How long does it take to cook a turkey burger?

Fry the turkey patties until brown, about 4 minutes on each side. Turkey burgers are ready when they have an internal temperature of 165°. Once they reach 165°F, remove them from the grill. Overcooking your burgers can result in dry patties. Therefore, be sure to remove them from the grill as soon as the internal temperature has been reached. Don’t cut your turkey burgers to see if they’re done. You’ll lose all the butter and end up with a drier burger. Trust your thermometer. Remove from the grill and let rest covered with foil for about 10 minutes.

Can a turkey burger be pink in the middle?

No. All poultry of any type must be fully cooked to 165°F in order to be safe to eat. While ground beef is rarely eaten, chicken and turkey must be fully cooked through. Invest in an instant read thermometer. This is what I have and would recommend.

Build your turkey burger

Once your turkey burgers are done resting, it’s time to gather up some toppings and make the turkey burger of your dreams! Really, the sky is the limit. I prefer the standard lettuce and tomato pickle, but if you’re creative, here are a few other options.

What to put on a turkey burger

• American cheese, sharp cheddar, Colby Jack or blue cheese. Yummy!
• lettuce
• tomatoes
• thinly sliced ​​red onions
• dill pickle chips
• sliced ​​avocado
• sautéed mushrooms
• mayonnaise
• Ketchup
• Mustard
• barbecue sauce
• ranch dressing
• Chick-fil-A sauce
• soy sauce
• Worcester sauce
• enjoy
• bacon
• french fried onions
• a fried egg

How many calories does a turkey burger have?

The The turkey burger recipe has 198 calories per burger patty with 8.2 grams of fat and 28.6 grams of protein. This does not include the cheese, bun or other toppings. The patty itself is very low carb, and you can maintain that low carb content by serving it on lettuce leaves instead of a burger bun and topping it with just veggies, mustard, and sugar-free ketchup.

Freezing turkey meatballs

You can also freeze your turkey patties to keep them fresh for up to 3 months! Follow directions until you have formed the meat around the butter. Then freeze the patties in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet (about an hour). Once the patties are frozen, place them in an airtight, freezer-safe container, separated by pieces of parchment paper. To use, thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then cook as desired.

What to serve with turkey burgers

As with any other burger recipe, there are side dishes that can be served with it. I’ve picked out some of my own recipes for you to make alongside this succulent and delicious recipe.