Healthy Turkey Burgers Recipe with 5 simple ingredients that are juicy, low fat and flavorful. And one secret ingredient holds turkey burgers together without the breadcrumbs.
Serve traditionally on a whole grain bun with corn on the cob or “naked” over a lettuce salad. Yum!
Turkey Burger Recipe
I just gave the classic turkey burger an epic makeover.
What’s better about my healthy turkey burger recipe? Forget about all those unnecessary fillers like egg, breadcrumbs and exotic sauces. Only 5 simple ingredients are all you need for a sumptuously moist, smack-your-lips turkey burger! Now you can sink your teeth into the real taste of turkey.
5 Simple Ingredients
Ground turkey + grated zucchini + 1 garlic clove + cumin + salt and pepper = the best turkey burger recipe you’ll find anywhere.
I tried to make turkey burgers with oil instead of zucchini and it came out dry. So, zucchini is key. And just simple seasonings. I believe you don’t need Worcestershire sauce here.
How to Make Turkey Burgers
You can make my homemade turkey burger recipe in minutes. It’s extra fast and easy!
Simply add ground turkey to a medium-size bowl and add grated zucchini. Yes! That’s my “secret ingredient”. It keeps the patties moist, flavourful, and zucchini is a superfood, loaded with nutritional benefits.
Add one chopped garlic clove, cumin, salt and pepper. That’s it! Mix well. Shape into patties.
Brown patties on both sides in a hot pan – about 8 to 10 mins. Dinner’s ready!
Can I Make Patties in Advance?
Yes, you can make burgers ahead of time and get dinner on the table even faster.
These patties keep well overnight in the fridge.
Make a big batch and freeze them for days when you’re extra rushed or when unexpected company comes calling. Arrange patties on a parchment-covered baking pan, freeze, then place in storage containers.
How Long to Cook Turkey Burgers on the Stove?
They cook fast. Brown patties on both sides, with a little olive oil in a hot pan. About 8 to 10 mins total time. Dinner’s ready.
How Long to Grill Turkey Burgers?
Love the look of those sizzling hot grill marks? Not only grilled burgers look more appetizing, but darker grill marks also give more flavour to the meat. No wonder grilling is so popular!
Tip: If grilling, freeze burgers for 10 minutes prior. Helps to hold their shape.
Make sure the temperature of your barbecue reaches 285 degrees F before placing your patties on the grill, so they won’t stick. Grill about 8 minutes for well done.
Healthy Toppings Ideas
Turkey with all the trimmings.
Let everyone build their own burger. Offer lots of tasty toppings to pile on the basic burgers.
- Fresh greens like Boston or bibb lettuce.
- Thickly sliced large size tomatoes.
- Fresh red onion rings.
- Dill pickle slices.
- Dijon or regular mustard.
- Your favorite cheese.
- Hot sauce and ketchup.
Theme ideas:
- Go Hawaiian with pineapple rings.
- Go Italian with tomato sauce, grilled peppers and Parmesan cheese.
- Go Mexican with guacamole and salsa.
- Go Greek with tzatziki and feta cheese.
It’s a party on your plate!
Side Dishes that Go Well with Burgers
Tips for Best Turkey Burgers
- To grate zucchini, use medium size grater holes. Not the large ones and not the ones that makes a complete mush. This way burgers are right amount juicy.
- Shape patties a bit wider than the bun since they shrink during cooking.
- If grilling, freeze burgers for 10 minutes prior.
- I do not recommend to use a panini press grill as it presses all the juices out of burgers. Indoor one sided grill or grill skillet is fine.
- Flip burgers only once during cooking.
- Prepare all the toppings and buns before cooking the burgers.
Is Turkey More Healthy than Beef?
What makes a turkey burger healthy? Um, are you sure you are ready for this mind blowing info?
Beef vs. turkey.
- Calories: 500 vs. 87.
- Fat: 32 vs. 2 grams.
- Protein: 18 vs. 27 grams.
Turkey is packed with high protein to help build strong, healthy muscles. It gives you a boost with energizing iron and builds up your body with immune-strengthening zinc.
Turkey is bursting with vitamin B12 to keep your nervous system – your body’s electrical wiring – working well.
Obviously, poultry is more healthy choice when it comes to a burger. And that’s what we cook at home. However, I would be lying if I said me and Alex didn’t stop at Johnny Rockets for their burger while in LA last month.:)
Hope these healthy turkey burgers will become your new favorite and you enjoyed the video. Please let me know in comments what other recipes would you like to watch us make. And don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube Channel for weekly cooking videos!
More Healthy Burger Recipes
PrintHealthy Turkey Burgers Recipe
Healthy Turkey Burgers Recipe with 5 simple ingredients that are juicy, low fat and flavorful. And one secret ingredient holds turkey burgers together without the breadcrumbs.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 burgers 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stove or Grill
- Cuisine: North American
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground turkey
- 1 1/2 cups finely shredded zucchini (about 1 medium)
- 1 large garlic clove, grated
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- In large mixing bowl, add ground turkey, zucchini, garlic, cumin, salt and pepper. Using your hands, mix well.
- Form 6 large turkey burger patties about a size of a medium hand. Flatten them as burgers “jump up” while cooking. Use wet hands to help with stickiness issue. I usually form patties as I am waiting for skillet to get hot and as I go.
- Stovetop: Preheat medium ceramic non-stick skillet on low-medium heat. It’s important to cook turkey burgers low and slow so they get cooked through and do not fall apart (they won’t). Add about 1.5 tbsp of oil to the skillet and swirl around. Place 3 patties in the skillet and cook for 5 minutes per side, flipping once. Repeat with remaining oil and burgers.
- Grill: If grilling, freeze burgers for 10 minutes prior. Helps to hold their shape. Preheat grill on medium and spray with cooking spray. Spray turkey patties on both sides with cooking spray, place on a grill and cook for 6-8 minutes flipping once. Grills vary, so check your burger for doneness by inserting a food thermometer into the center of the patty. You are looking for 165 degrees = done.
- Serve hot and right away is the best. Burgers are the most juicy this way. Serve traditional way on a whole grain or thin multigrain bun with all the fixins. Or serve “naked” with mashed avocado and store-bought salsa. Or on a bed of greens. Sky is the limit.
Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze leftovers for up to 3 months.
Freeze: Lay patties on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, freeze completely and then transfer to a large Ziploc bag. Cook from frozen following recipe’s instructions + 5 minutes.
Notes
To grate zucchini, use medium size grater holes. Not the large ones and not the ones that makes a complete mush. This way burgers are right amount juicy.
I do not recommend to use a panini press grill as it presses all the juices out of burgers. Indoor one sided grill or grill skillet is fine.
Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating in the comments.
I am new to your blog. What really peaked my interest was healthy recipes for one and two…my Ukrainian heritage. I have been cooking for 50 years so I am not a young cook or a mother with young children. I have always been interested in serving healthy meals to my family. I still like to receive your menu plans ( this is what I did when raising my children and being a working mom) they bring new ideas and I am still a busy grandmother so receiving your menu plans and sharing your recipes are much appreciated. The ones I’ve tried so far have been a hit with my family. I will try your turkey burgers…from the ingredients in the recipe I am sure we will enjoy them.🤗
Hi Helen and welcome. You are very welcome. So happy to hear you are enjoying my recipes! Please don’t be shy to leave me a comment with a star review once you make any recipe. Have a great week!
In a word. YUM!!! So good and moist.
★★★★★
Fantastic! Glad you enjoyed the recipe!
I just tried these turkey burgers and they are great! They didn’t burn like my other burgers have and they’re moist and they brown beautifully! Love this recipe! Thank you!
Yay! So welcome.
We loved these burgers at my house. I used ground beef because that’s what I had on hand. My son has been grilling up the frozen extras I made for a month. I can’t always think of what to make every day, your emails and website have made my life that little bit easier. Thanks!!!
★★★★★
Yay! So happy to help, Romey!
These are the absolute best burgers, so easy to make and really moist, a big hit. I have made multiple times already. A great change from hamburger.
★★★★★
That is so amazing to hear! Glad you enjoyed my recipe, Joanne!
Olena, The recipes I have tried, by far are the very best ever. Thanks very much.
Awe, you are so welcome, Hazel! So happy to hear you are enjoying my recipes!
Made these last night and my husband is a big beef eater and he said he could hardly taste the difference. What’s nice is you can customize like you would any burger by adding cheese or onions or peppers etc. love it! So easy.
★★★★★
Zucchini does the trick. Fantastic! Glad your husband approved your cooking!
Love this recipe even my picky eaters 😍
★★★★★
Yay! So happy to hear! Thanks for taking time from your busy schedule to let me know you enjoyed my recipe.
Hi I put all ingredients in my calorie counter and I’m coming up with about 130 calories per burger? Am I doing something wrong because I really want these to be only 87 calories lol.
Not sure why… Maybe different turkey. Mine was extra lean. It is very hard to calculate calories exactly for any food. Even our bodies can’t do it as well. We provide them for educational purposes and encourage not to count calories but rather eat whole foods until satisfied. So I’m not helpful with calories.:)
Can I cook them in the oven as I don’t try anything and don’t use a grill
If you are ready for pale burgers and if they are not previously frozen. Check out my healthy turkey meatballs for oven t and time.
Too bad I can’t get ground turkey in any of the stores near me. Since I really wanted to try these burgers I decided to make them with ground chicken. My girls had a regular store bought beef burger. My husband had a beef burger as well as a homemade chicken burger and he said the chicken burger was way more delicious than the beef burger. I only had the chicken burger and loved it. Great taste and very juicy! Thanks again for a delicious recipe.
★★★★★
You are very welcome. Chicken works great. Same day content as turkey.
Amazing recipe!! So juicy and flavourful. Everything I have made from your site is so good and I love watching the videos.
Thank you so much for your kind words.
Great Recipe, the zuke makes all of the difference. Three tips to keep them from falling apart.
1. A burger press: place a square of waxed paper beneath and on top of the meat before pressing. Press slow and steady until the meat just starts squeezing out of the sides.
2. Refrigerate or freeze before cooking.
3. Brush with olive oil..
★★★★★
Good suggestions, Andy! I find pan frying turkey burgers has no falling apart issues. For grilling, for sure.
So tender and juicy. I do keto and the shredded zuchinni takes the place of a high carb binder usually used in burgers or meatloaf recipes.
★★★★★
Perfect! Happy to hear, Lynne! Thanks for taking time from your busy schedule and letting me know you enjoyed the turkey burgers.
This turkey burger couldn’t be more flavourful and easy to put together!
★★★★★
Love your recipes! I will certainly use your ideas for clean cooking.
Thank you very much, Brenda. Hope I could help.:)
It was such a pleasure to stumble across your blog. Although I now live in the U.S., I was raised in Vancouver (and my heart’s still there).
This burger is something my family would really enjoy. I often use grated zucchini in meatballs and my kids never know the difference.
Thank you.:) I visited your blog numerous times and was sure you still live in Vancouver.:) It’s a special city!
Oo yum!! This looks awesome, I love to make homemade burger patties! 🙂
Aha. Store bought patties are like rubber if you ask me.:) With one exception – wild salmon burgers from Costco. Juicy and healthy.