Description
Turkey burgers get a bad reputation because most people treat them like beef burgers, which they are not. Turkey is leaner, blander, and dries out faster — so you have to build the flavor and moisture into the patty itself. These are mixed with BBQ sauce, grated onion, and a touch of Worcestershire, then glazed on the grill until sticky and charred. They are not trying to be beef. They are their own thing, and a good one.
Ingredients
Units
- 1 1/2 lbs ground turkey (93% lean)
- 3 tablespoons BBQ sauce, plus 1/4 cup for glazing
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons grated yellow onion
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 4 brioche burger buns
- 4 slices pepper Jack cheese
- 4 leaves butter lettuce
- 4 slices ripe tomato
- Pickled red onions
- Additional BBQ sauce for serving
Instructions
- Combine the ground turkey, 3 tablespoons BBQ sauce, Worcestershire, grated onion, garlic, paprika, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Mix gently until just combined — overworking makes the patties dense and rubbery.
- Form into 4 patties about 3/4-inch thick, slightly wider than the buns since they shrink. Press a shallow dimple in the center of each with your thumb.
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Clean and oil the grates well — turkey sticks more than beef.
- Grill the patties 5 minutes on the first side without moving them. Flip carefully, brush the tops with BBQ sauce, and grill another 4 to 5 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Add a slice of pepper Jack to each patty during the last minute of cooking. Close the lid to melt the cheese.
- Toast the buns on the grill for 30 seconds. Assemble with lettuce, tomato, pickled onions, and extra BBQ sauce.
Notes
- Grating the onion instead of dicing it releases moisture directly into the meat, which keeps lean turkey from drying out.
- The thumb dimple in the center prevents the burgers from puffing up into baseballs on the grill.
- Oil the grates generously — turkey patties have less fat than beef and will stick badly to a dry grill.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 440
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 780
- Fat: 20
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 36
- Cholesterol: 105