Juicy and flavorful healthy Turkey Burgers with 5 simple ingredients. These lean burgers made with ground turkey will disappear as soon as they come off the stovetop or grill. Sumptuously moist, smack-your-lips and the best turkey burger recipe on the web!
Serve these turkey patties traditionally on a whole grain bun with Instant Pot corn on the cob or “naked” over a bed of lettuce salad or pictured arugula salad. Yum!
Table of contents
Why This Turkey Burger Recipe Works?
I just gave the classic burger an epic makeover. What’s better about my easy turkey burgers?
- 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 recipe!
- Juicy burgers thanks to one secret ingredient – zucchini.
Now you can sink your teeth into the real taste of turkey. And turkey can be flavorful and moist, proof is in most popular turkey recipes here on iFOODreal – turkey meatloaf, turkey meatballs and this record breaking star collector ground turkey recipe. It can be good, healthy and amazing!
From turkey chili to turkey to roast turkey breast to turkey meatball soup, I have been using this nutritious, lean and delicate meat in dinner recipes for a decade now. No one ever complains!
5 Simple Ingredients
For the best turkey burger recipe you’ll find anywhere:
- Ground turkey: It can be any fat %. I usually buy extra lean but lean will work as well.
- Grated zucchini: I recommend to use medium size holes on the grater. So squash doesn’t become a puree, neither appear in big shred in burger patties.
- 1 garlic clove: You can use 1-2 tsp garlic powder or flakes but fresh is better, more flavor.
- Cumin: Adds a nice punch of flavor to otherwise bland turkey meat.
- Salt and pepper
I tried to make turkey patty with oil instead of zucchini and they 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
It’s extra fast and easy!
- Combine turkey and zucchini: 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 flavor: Add one chopped garlic clove, cumin, salt and pepper. That’s it! Mix well. Shape into patties.
- Pan fry: Brown patties on both sides in a hot pan – about 8 to 10 mins.
- Grill: Not only grilled turkey burgers look more appetizing, but darker grill marks also give more flavour to the meat.
- 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.
- Bake: Baked turkey burgers are possible if you place patties on lined baking sheet and bake at 375 F for 25-30 minutes. You will have to sear them on a hot pan for 2 minutes on each side, or possibly broil.
Dinner’s ready!
Tips for Best Results
- 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.
- Don’t 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.
If grilling: freeze burgers for 10 minutes prior.
Making Patties in Advance
Yes, you can make ahead of time this clean eating turkey burger recipe and get dinner on the table even faster.
- Fridge: These patties keep well overnight in the fridge.
- Freezer: 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.
Recommended Burger Toppings
Turkey with all the trimmings – let everyone build their own burger.
- 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!
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.
When the internal temperature reaches 165 F your burger is done. The best way to ensure doneness is to insert a meat thermometer in the center of the patty.
Use your traditional favorite burger toppings such as lettuce, mustard and ketchup or see post for themed turkey burger seasoning ideas.
Serving Recommendations
Whether you grill, pan fry or bake, turkey patty meal ideas will remain the same. Here are some of my favorite ways:
- Picnic style salads such as Mexican street corn salad, healthy broccoli salad, healthy potato salad or cauliflower potato salad.
- Leafy green salads like Mexican kale salad or spinach salad.
- Bean salads like white bean salad or mango black bean salad.
- Veggie sides pair well such as grilled zucchini, balsamic grilled vegetables or roasted asparagus.
- Quinoa / grains are perfect like this blueberry quinoa salad, southwest quinoa salad or Mexican cauliflower rice.
- Instant Pot favs like baked beans and corn on the cob.
More Favorite Turkey and Burger Recipes
Juicy Turkey Burgers Recipe {5 Ingredients}
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 (guacamole) 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.
Video
Notes
- Zucchini: 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.
- Forming patties: Shape patties a bit wider than the bun since they shrink during cooking.
- Indoor grilling: Don’t use a panini press grill as it presses all the juices out of burgers. Indoor one sided grill or grill skillet is fine.
- Flipping: Flip burgers only once during cooking.
- Get ready: Prepare all the toppings and buns before cooking the burgers.
- 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.
Nutrition
Recipes and images are a copyright of ifoodreal.com. It is against the law to republish recipes anywhere including social media, print and all world wide web. Nutritional info is provided for informational purposes only and to the best knowledge.
Hi, I am Olena.
A mom to 2 boys, a wife to Alex, and soon-to-be Certified Nutrition Coach and Cornell University Healthy Living program graduate. Welcome to our easy healthy recipes blog! I grew up in Ukraine on real food. As an adult, I tried many diets without results. Now for over 10 years, I cook quick and easy healthy meals for my family. I can help you with “What’s for dinner?” too.
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