Description

This is the best turkey burger recipe out there! These easy-to-make burgers are healthy and super flavorful. And you can make them on a grill or on the stovetop (I prefer the stovetop in a cast-iron pan). If you make these, make sure to leave a rating and comment below. I love hearing from you!

Ingredients

Units Scale

1 pound (93 percent lean) ground turkey*
1/4 cup finely chopped green onion (white and green parts)
1–2 garlic cloves, finely chopped or pressed
2 tablespoons ketchup (I like Sir Kensington’s brand)
1 tablespoon tamari** (or coconut aminos, low-sodium soy sauce, or sugar-free Worcestershire sauce)
1 teaspoon kosher salt or fine sea salt
a few spins of freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons avocado oil (or other healthy cooking oil) for the pan
Burger buns of your choice, or romaine lettuce leaves for a bunless burger
Topping ideas: cheese of your choice, lettuce, onions, sliced tomatoes, natural ketchup, and/or mustard (or see variation ideas below)

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Instructions

In a medium mixing bowl, mix the turkey meat, diced onions, minced garlic, ketchup, tamari, salt, and pepper. Your clean hands work best to mix it all together.
Using your hands, form into 4 patties each about 3/4-inch-to-1-inch thick. The meat will be wet. You can lightly coat your hands in oil, if needed, to help form the patties.
Let the patties chill in your refrigerator for at least 15 minutes, up to 2 hours. (Don’t skip this! It helps them hold together.)
In the meantime, heat your cast-iron pan over medium-high heat (or your grill to about 450°F if you’re grilling outside). Generously oil your grill or grill pan grates (or add 1 tablespoon oil to your skillet, if using).
Add burger patties and cook untouched for 5-6 minutes.
Using a sturdy spatula, flip the burgers and continue cooking until cooked through and the internal temperature reaches 165°F, another 5-6 minutes.
If you’re adding cheese, add to the top of the patties in the last minute of cooking.
Remove from the heat and let sit for a minute or two. Serve on buns or lettuce wraps with condiments of your choice.

Notes

*If you only have or prefer 99% lean ground turkey, add 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil to the turkey burger mixture to add a little fat back in to prevent it from drying out and sticking to the pan.

**Tamari is gluten-free soy sauce. “Coconut aminos” is a gluten-free, vegan liquid seasoning sauce made from the fermented sap of coconut palm and sea salt. It tastes similar to Worchester sauce or soy sauce and adds a great umami flavor.

You want to use real onion and garlic, not garlic or onion powder. The taste is remarkably better with fresh ingredients.

Variations:

Gluten-Free Burgers: Use your favorite gluten-free burger buns. Or skip the bun and use lettuce as a wrap.
Greek-Style Turkey Burgers: Add a cup of finely chopped fresh spinach and 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano to your turkey burger meat. Then top your cooked patties with feta cheese, Tzatziki sauce, and some sliced cucumbers and fresh dill.
Asian-Style Turkey Burgers: Add 1/4 cup shredded carrots and 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger to your burger patties, then top your burger with some crunchy slaw tossed in my Thai Peanut Sauce and some cilantro.

Nutrition

Calories: 281