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    Home » Turkey Recipes » Juicy Turkey Burgers

    Juicy Turkey Burgers

    Last updated: Mar 17, 2023 · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

    Jump to Recipe Card

    Yes, turkey burgers can be juicy and flavorful! The secret is in the type of meat you use and in the ingredients that you add to the mixture.

    As long as you use ground thighs and add a creamy ingredient such as mayonnaise, your burgers will be nice and juicy.

    Four turkey burgers served on a white plate with lettuce and tomatoes.

    I have many beef burger recipes on this website (these baked hamburgers are a big hit with readers), and I make them quite often for my family.

    But sometimes I feel like making something a little different. Beef is great, but even if you love it, variation is, after all, the spice of life! And these tasty turkey burgers, despite being quite lean, are delicious.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Expert tips
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Variations
    • Serving suggestions
    • Storing leftovers
    • Related recipes
    • Recipe card

    Ingredients

    You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make these tasty burgers. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

    • Ground turkey: Use ground thighs - 93% lean - not turkey breast.
    • Mayonnaise: I like to use avocado oil mayonnaise. Chosen Foods and Kensington's are good brands.
    • Dijon mustard: This traditional French mustard is creamier and less vinegary than yellow mustard.
    • To season: Kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika.
    • Chopped parsley: It's best to use fresh parsley. But you can use a teaspoon of dried parsley instead.
    • Olive oil: For frying. It's such a delicious oil, but if you'd rather use an oil with a higher smoke point, you can use avocado oil instead.
    The ingredients needed to cook turkey burgers.

    Instructions

    Making turkey burgers is easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:

    • Mix the ingredients. In a medium bowl, mix together all the ingredients except for the olive oil.
    • Form into patties. With wet hands for easier handling, form the mixture into four ½-inch-thick patties.
    • Cook the burgers. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Then add the patties and cook them until golden brown and cooked through, about 5 minutes per side.
    A six-photo collage showing the steps for making turkey burgers.

    Expert tips

    1. The burgers are a bit sticky (which means they are moist and will be nice and juicy), so it's helpful to shape them with wet hands.
    2. Theoretically, you could use just 2 tablespoons of olive oil for frying these burgers. When you use 4 tablespoons, per my instructions, about half of it remains in the skillet. But in my opinion, using more oil for frying makes for tastier, crispier burgers and for more even frying. So that's what I recommend.

    Frequently asked questions

    How do you prevent turkey burgers from being dry?

    I have a few tricks for making them truly juicy:

    1. Use ground thighs (93% lean) and not ground turkey breast, which is way too lean.

    2. Add a little mayonnaise and Dijon mustard for moisture, lots of spices, and chopped fresh parsley for flavor.

    3. Rather than grilling your burgers, it's best to pan-fry them in a generous amount of olive oil. The olive oil adds great flavor, and it also helps the meat remain nice and juicy.

    How should I season these burgers?

    I like to use dried spices and herbs because they're so convenient. So in this recipe, I use garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika.

    If you've never used smoked paprika, give it a try! You should be able to find it on your supermarket's spice shelf. It's very flavorful.

    I do like to use one fresh herb in this recipe - chopped fresh parsley. I find that it adds great flavor, and it also makes the burgers prettier!

    If you don't have fresh parsley, you could use 1 teaspoon of dried parsley or ½ teaspoon of dried thyme. But I don't think the burgers will be as good.

    How do you prevent the burgers from falling apart?

    Make sure they're not too dry. To achieve this, use ground turkey thighs (not breast), and add a creamy ingredient such as mayonnaise.

    Should I add an egg?

    You could, but it's not needed, especially if you use ground turkey thighs and add mayonnaise and Dijon mustard.

    If you add an egg in addition to the other ingredients, the patties might end up too moist, in which case you could add some pork rind panko or almond flour.

    Variations

    • You can experiment with adding more spices and herbs. Good options include ground cumin and dried thyme.
    • You can use several types of fat for cooking the burgers, such as avocado oil or ghee.
    • Cilantro is a good substitute for parsley in this recipe.

    Serving suggestions

    I like to serve these burgers on 90-second bread or cloud bread. You can also serve them in a lettuce wrap, or simply on a plate with a side salad and some quick pickles.

    Sometimes I serve them in a low-carb bun:

    A turkey burger served in a bun.

    Sides that go well with these burgers include carrot chips, eggplant chips, zucchini fries, and jicama fries.

    Storing leftovers

    You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat them gently, covered, in the microwave on 50% power.

    Four turkey burgers served on a white plate.

    Related recipes

    • Baked Hamburgers.
      Baked Hamburgers
    • Grilled Hamburgers.
      Grilled Hamburgers
    • Bacon Burger
      Bacon Burger
    • Lamb burgers.
      Juicy Lamb Burgers

    👩🏻‍🍳 I typically publish a new or an updated recipe once a week. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe! You can unsubscribe at any time.

    Recipe card

    Turkey Burgers.
    4.99 from 404 votes
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    Juicy Turkey Burgers

    Turkey burgers can be incredibly flavorful and juicy! The secret? Use ground turkey thighs and add creamy ingredients.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time10 mins
    Total Time20 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 4 burgers
    Calories: 263kcal
    Author: Vered DeLeeuw
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    INGREDIENTS

    • 1 lb. ground turkey thighs (93% lean; ground turkey breast is too lean)
    • 1 tablespoon mayonnaise (I use avocado oil mayonnaise)
    • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
    • 1 teaspoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt (or ½ teaspoon fine sea salt)
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ½ cup fresh parsley chopped
    • 4 tablespoons olive oil for frying*

    INSTRUCTIONS

    • In a medium bowl, mix together all the ingredients except for the oil.
    • With wet hands for easier handling, form the mixture into four ½-inch-thick patties.
    • Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
    • Add the patties and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Serve immediately.

    WATCH THE VIDEO:

    NOTES

    *I use 4 tablespoons of olive oil even though about half of it will remain in the skillet. But the generous amount of olive oil ensures even cooking and great flavor. 
    The burgers are a bit sticky (which means they are moist and will be nice and juicy), so it's helpful to shape them with wet hands.

    ADD YOUR OWN NOTES

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    DISCLAIMERSMost of our recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes.

    NUTRITION PER SERVING

    Serving: 1burger | Calories: 263kcal | Carbohydrates: 1.8g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Sodium: 469mg
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    About the Author

    Vered Deleeuw Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

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    Healthy Recipes Blog was founded in 2011 by Vered Deleeuw. It features real-food recipes with a focus on low-carb and gluten-free ingredients. All recipes are nutritionally reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. Contact us at HealthyRecipesBlog@gmail.com.


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