This Turkey Burger Recipe will be the juiciest and most delicious burger you ever did make. One secret ingredient takes these babies over the top! Simple to make on the grill or stovetop, flavorful, and obviously super moist. Serve with homemade French Fries, Kettle Chips, or a Macaroni Salad. Yum!
Turkey burgers can often get a bad reputation for being dry and bland. However, when made right, turkey burgers can be incredibly juicy, flavorful, and rival any beef burger. The secret lies in both the ingredients and techniques used. Follow this ultimate guide to make the juiciest turkey burgers ever.
Choose the Right Ground Turkey
Opting for ground turkey thighs rather than breast meat is key. Turkey breast is too lean, which leads to dry burgers. Ground turkey thigh meat has more fat, which helps keep the burgers moister. Look for 93% lean ground turkey thighs for the best results.
Add a Binders and Moisture-Boosting Ingredients
Adding a small amount of breadcrumbs or egg helps bind the turkey burger mixture together so it holds its shape better when cooking. However the real moisture-boosting ingredients come from condiments like mayonnaise, mustard and Worcestershire sauce. The creaminess from the mayo and mustard provides essential fat and moisture.
Season Generously
Turkey can benefit from bold robust seasoning. Be generous with salt pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and other spices of your choice. Herbs like parsley, cilantro, thyme, and oregano also provide great flavor.
Make a Depression in the Center of the Patties
After forming the patties, use your thumb to make a indentation in the center of each one. This ensures even cooking and prevents the middles from puffing up as they cook.
Chill the Patties Before Cooking
Let the formed patties chill in the freezer for 10-20 minutes before cooking. The chill helps them firm up so they hold their shape better during cooking.
Grill or Pan-Fry, Don’t Bake
Skip baking turkey burgers in the oven. The dry heat of the oven is likely to cause moisture loss. For best results, pan-fry them on the stovetop or grill them. Make sure to use plenty of oil when pan-frying to prevent sticking.
Don’t Press Down on the Burgers As They Cook
Resist the urge to press on the patties as they cook. Doing so causes vital juices to escape. Allow them to cook undisturbed for optimum juiciness.
Don’t Overcook
Cook turkey burgers just until done, not longer. Internal temperature should reach 160°F. Overcooking leads to dryness. If reheating leftovers, use a lower microwave power to prevent overcooking.
Serve on Absorbent Buns
Choose buns like brioche or challah that will soak up the tasty turkey juices. Or for a lower-carb option, try wrapping in lettuce leaves.
Top with Cheese and Veggies
Melty cheese, sautéed mushrooms, grilled onions, and crisp lettuce and tomatoes make juicy turkey burgers even more amazing. The moisture from the produce helps keep the burgers from drying out.
Make a Flavorful Mayo or Sauce
Special sauces like sriracha mayo, garlic aioli, or tangy BBQ sauce complement turkey burgers exceptionally well. Their creaminess and acidity balances out the meat.
Freeze Extras Properly
For freezing leftovers, place parchment paper between patties before storing in a freezer bag. This prevents them from sticking together. Thaw before reheating for safety.
Troubleshoot Dryness
If despite your best efforts, you end up with dry turkey burgers, you can rescue them by topping them with a fried egg, avocado slices, bacon, or dunking them in sauce. The added fats will impart moisture.
With the right techniques and ingredients, you can absolutely achieve super juicy turkey burgers full of flavor. It does take some finesse, but the effort is well worth it. Just avoid lean turkey breast, go easy on the cooking, use a flavorful binder, and top liberally. Your new favorite turkey burgers await!
Make Turkey Burger Patties
Into a large bowl, add lean ground turkey, milk, egg, salt and pepper, parsley, and poultry seasoning. Mix to create a uniform mixture, then divide into 4 equal portions.
The milk will help the patties stay tender and moist, the egg will hold the patties together and the salt, pepper, and poultry seasoning make this turkey burger recipe delicious!
Some people prefer mixing their own seasoning using things like garlic powder, smoked paprika, and onion powder. However. I like the flavor that poultry seasoning lends to the dish.
Form each portion into a turkey patty. Cut cold butter into 1/2 tablespoon slices and press into each turkey burger patty. Form the meat evenly around the butter. If you don’t think your patties are firm enough, throw them in the freezer for 10-15 minutes.
In my experience living coast to coast, I’ve come to realize the differences in quality and excess moisture across different brands of ground turkey. Some of it is moister, some of it is drier. In my photos, you’ll notice my formed burgers look perfectly normal because I used 99% fat free ground turkey. Typically the leaner the turkey, the ‘drier’ it is. So, for ease, use a leaner ground turkey. Adding milk to the patty and stuffing each patty with butter will help keep your turkey burgers moist and juicy.
If you make this recipe and notice you have wet turkey meat, try decreasing the milk OR add in a few plain bread crumbs to make it easier to work with. If the mixture for the turkey burgers is still a little too sticky, do your best to form the burgers and then give them a quick freeze, especially if you’re wanting to grill these outdoors. Turkey burgers are easier to cook on an indoor griddle when they are ‘sticky’.
Turkey Burgers: Healthy and Delicious
Believe it or not, lots of you readers are looking for a good, juicy turkey burger recipe. Turkey is a great source of protein without the added calories of a traditional beef burger (find the recipe for beef burgers here). This is one of the many reasons why I love making delicious turkey burgers.
Not all turkey burger recipes are created equal, and this one reigns supreme. Even though they can be notoriously dry, I’ve come up with a solution that keeps burgers made with the best turkey burger recipe moist and juicy whether you’re grilling them on a BBQ or inside on a griddle.
Best Ever Juicy Turkey Burgers
FAQ
How do you keep turkey burgers from drying out?
How do you keep ground turkey moist?
Are turkey burgers supposed to be juicy?
How do you make a juicy turkey burger?
Making a juicy turkey burger is easy. It just takes a few secrets to get the perfect juicy turkey burger. In a mixing bowl, gently knead together turkey, olive oil, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Don’t overwork the meat. Form into patties about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Press your thumb down on the middle to give it a slight indent.
How to make a healthy burger?
There are different ways to make a healthy burger. Traditional bread can be replaced by wholemeal bread or skillet bread rich in fiber or other similar preparations. The sauce used can be a homemade avocado sauce or beet hummus for example. Meat can be prepared at home with ground beef and natural seasonings or you can use shredded chicken breast or canned tuna. Lettuce, tomato and onion are also welcome and a healthy burger.
Can you make a homemade turkey burger?
It’s a fact that ground turkey doesn’t have the same flavor or fat content as ground beef, making many skeptical that you can actually make a good, juicy homemade turkey burger. It’s up to you to add the extra flavor it needs. Today, I’m going to prove it to you.
How do you make turkey burgers drier?
If you choose extra lean ground turkey, your burgers may turn out drier than a less lean option. Fresh Parsley: Chopped parsley adds fresh flavor to the turkey burgers. You can omit it if you don’t have parsley on hand. Worcestershire Sauce: This is optional, but it adds a delicious depth of flavor that makes the burgers extra irresistible.