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Home » Dinner » Turkey Burgers

Turkey Burgers

Created: June 14, 2023 Updated: June 14, 2023 by Lyuba Brooke 48 Comments *This post may contain affiliate links. Read More...

75.8K shares
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This quick and easy Turkey Burgers recipe always yields the most tender and juicy results! There’s the perfect mix of ingredients to make the burgers flavorful and juicy. These patties are a leaner alternative to beef that don’t sacrifice any flavor!

Sink your teeth into more of my favorite burger recipes like Classic Burgers and Chicken Burgers.

four turkey burgers stacked on top of each other on parchment paper.

Table of Contents

  • Ingredient Notes
  • How to Make Turkey Burgers
  • Recipe FAQs
  • How to Freeze Turkey Burgers
  • More Burger Recipes to Try
  • Turkey Burgers Recipe

Turkey is a pretty lean meat, which means most turkey patties turn out fairly dry. Not my turkey burgers though! I’ve had too many turkey burgers in my life where you have to pile sauce mile high just to be able to chew it. Dry burgers are not pleasant and that’s why I’ve tested out several little tricks to make it juicy and tender. 

These easy to make turkey burgers are perfect for both weeknight dinners and summertime backyard barbecues alike! You only need about 10 minutes of prep time and another 20 minutes to cook them, so it’s a great recipe for when you need something quick.

You can also top off these burgers with all of your favorite fixings, just like you would a beef patty. Brioche or pretzel buns are my usual go-to buns depending on what toppings I’m craving. Brioche is a light and slightly sweet bun and goes great with a simple lettuce, tomato, and onion toppings. For a richer, more filling option, I use a pretzel bun and add cheese, mushrooms, onions, and bacon.

Ingredient Notes

labeled ingredients to make turkey burgers on a wooden background.

Ground Turkey – Don’t choose turkey meat that is too lean. There is extra lean ground turkey on the market – do not get those for burgers! Fat is what adds juiciness to the meat, so select ground turkey that is no leaner than 93%-7% lean to fat ratio.

Bread Soaked in Milk – I use wet bread slices in my turkey burgers as well as meatballs because it gives the best results. Breadcrumbs also work, but don’t provide the same moisture.

Parmesan Cheese – Grated parmesan cheese is great for enhancing the flavor and making these burgers juicier. Parmesan is not really noticeable in the burger because it doesn’t take over the flavor, but it’s just subtle enough to really take the patty to the next level.

Fresh Herbs – Just a little bit of dill weed and parsley adds a nice herbaceous note to the burgers without overpowering the overall flavor.

See recipe card for complete information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make Turkey Burgers

collage of two images of ingredients for turkey burgers in a bowl and mixed and scooped.
four shaped turkey burger patties before cooking.

Soak the bread. Before you combine the ingredients, place the slices of bread into a wide, shallow bowl and pour milk over it. Let the bread soak up the milk.

Squeeze and crumble the bread. Combine all of the ingredients except for the bread in a large bowl. Squeeze most of the milk out of bread slices, then crumble the bread as finely as you can, then add it to the bowl with the other ingredients (1).

Create the patties. Mix all ingredients together until combined (2). Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper, then shape the burger patties and place them there (3).

four turkey burgers cooking in the pan.

You can make them on your stove top. Preheat a large pan over medium heat and add oil. Cook the turkey patties for about 6-8 minutes on each side, depending on the size of the burgers (4). 

Or, you can grill them. Spray the patties with oil on both sides, not the grill! Set the coals far away from the grill gate, then cook the burgers for about 5-6 minutes per side until cooked through.

PRO TIP: Since turkey burgers are much softer than beef hamburgers, use a vegetable grilling basket with finer grate to cook the turkey burgers on the grill.

several turkey burgers in a circle in the large cooking pan.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make turkey burgers gluten-free?

Yes! To make gluten-free turkey burgers, use gluten-free bread in the patty mixture. My favorite gluten-free bread is Schar artisan white because it seems to resemble regular bread the closest. Give it a few extra minutes to soak because gluten-free bread is usually on the denser side.

How do I store and reheat turkey burgers?

Store your leftover turkey burgers in the refrigerator, in an airtight container, for 4-5 days. Reheat them easily in a microwave. Just make sure to cover the plate with a microwave lid or another plate. You can also reheat your leftovers in a pan over medium-low heat. Cover the pan with a lid while reheating. 

Are turkey burgers healthy?

The term “healthy” is subjective since everyone has different dietary needs. With that being said, I do consider turkey to be a healthier protein than most others like ground beef because it’s leaner and has less saturated fat.

If ground turkey works well with your diet too, try out my favorite Avocado Turkey Tacos!

How to Freeze Turkey Burgers

To freeze turkey burgers, mix the ingredients together and shape the burger patties. Place those patties on a rimmed baking sheet covered in parchment paper and pop it in the freezer for about 2 hours. 

Stack the patties in twos with sheets of parchment paper in between and place them inside a freezer bag. You can freeze all of the burgers at the same time or portion them in several smaller freezer bags. Get the air out of the bags, seal, label, and freeze for up to 3 months. 

To thaw burgers, simply place the frozen patties on a plate, cover it, and slow-thaw it in the refrigerator.  

turkey burger on a bun with lettuce and tomato.

More Burger Recipes to Try

Grilled Salmon Burgers

Cheddar Ranch Chicken Burger

Bacon Burger Sliders

Stuffed Taco Burger

PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER

If you’ve made my Turkey Burger recipe and found a lot of good information here, PLEASE leave a 🌟 star rating! Let me know how you liked it by leaving the 📝 comment below as well. Don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter!

Turkey Burgers Recipe

Flavorful, juicy, and tender turkey burgers that you can easily make for dinner or throw on the grill at a cookout.
4.51 from 55 votes
Print Pin SaveSaved! Rate
Course: dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
Servings: 10
Calories: 218kcal
Author: Lyuba Brooke

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs ground turkey 93% – 7% lean
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 slices of bread
  • 1/2 cup whole milk (can use alternatives if needed)
  • 1 Vidalia onion
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tbsp fresh minced parsley
  • 1 tbsp fresh minced dill weed
  • fresh cracked black pepper
  • salt
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Before combining the ingredients together, place slices of bread into a wide, shallow bowl and pour milk over it. Let bread soak up the milk.
  • Combine all ingredients except the bread in a large mixing bowl. Squeeze out most of the milk out of bread slices and crumble the bread as finely as you can. Crumbling it will ensure that bread is spread evenly throughout. (Discard squeezed out milk.)
  • Mix all ingredients together until combined.
  • Cover a baking sheet or a large cutting board with parchment paper and shape the burger patties.

Cooking on stove-top:

  • Preheat a large cooking pan over medium heat and add oil. Cook turkey burgers for 6-8 minutes on each side, depending on the size of the burgers. 

Grilling turkey burgers:

  • Since turkey burgers are much softer than beef hamburgers, use a vegetable grilling basket with finer grate to cook the turkey burgers on the grill.
  • Make sure to spray the burger patties with oil on booth sides, not the grill. Set the coals the furthest away from the grill grate so the burgers don’t cook too fast on the outside. 
  • Cook turkey burgers on the grill for about 5-6 minutes on each side, depending on the size of the patties. 

Video

Notes

  • Gluten Free: To make gluten-free turkey burgers, use gluten-free bread in the patty mixture. My favorite gluten-free bread is Schar artisan white because it seems to resemble regular bread the closest but you can use why one you like. Give it a few extra minutes to soak because gluten-free bread is usually on the denser side.
  • Storing: Store your leftover turkey burgers in the refrigerator, in an airtight container, for 4-5 days. Reheat them easily in a microwave. Just make sure to cover the plate with a microwave lid or another plate. You can also reheat your leftovers in a pan over medium-low heat. Cover the pan with a lid while reheating.
  • Freezing – there are detailed instructions on how to freeze turkey burgers within the post! Please see the post.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 218kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 113mg | Sodium: 194mg | Potassium: 487mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 200IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 1.6mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @willcookforsmiles and tag #willcookforsmiles

LYUBA

ABOUT LYUBA

I’m Lyuba Brooke, mother of 2, the cook, recipe developer, photographer, and author behind willcookforsmiles.com. I share many classic and original recipes, cooking tips, and tutorials. My passion is sharing delicious meals for everyone to try. Read more...

75.8K shares

Filed Under: BBQ, Burger, Dinner, Gluten Free, Lunch, Popular Posts, Turkey

All images and text ©Lyubov Brooke for ©Will Cook For Smiles. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If using my posts in collections and features, please link back to this post for the recipe. Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate as most ingredients and brands have variations.

Comments

  1. Julie says

    September 3, 2023 at 4:43 pm

    How do you squeeze the milk out of the bread… since it is already mushy?

    Reply
  2. Donna says

    August 20, 2023 at 12:33 pm

    5 stars
    These are the best turkey burgers that I ever had. Due to my special diet I omitted the onion and garlic and used fresh chives and fresh rosemary. These are so moist and tasty that this recipe put others to shame. The burgers freeze well and I pull out what I need. Thank you for sharing this recipe!

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      August 22, 2023 at 11:03 am

      Wow! Thanks for such a sweet comment! I am so happy you liked it!

      Reply
  3. Catie says

    May 30, 2023 at 8:32 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious, just made tonight for dinner. This will be in the rotation!

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      June 1, 2023 at 11:40 am

      I am so glad you liked it, Catie!

      Reply
  4. Erin says

    March 10, 2023 at 5:43 pm

    Question- the recipe says grated Parmesan and the picture is shredded parm. Does it matter?

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      March 14, 2023 at 11:40 am

      I used freshly grated parmesan cheese so it does look shredded. You can use either but you should buy one that is either freshly grated without the chemicals in it to keep it separated or grate it yourself. That will melt the best and have the best texture.

      Reply
  5. Lez says

    December 19, 2022 at 3:26 pm

    The BEST! The very best Turkey Burgers I have ever tasted. The BEST! The very best!

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      December 20, 2022 at 3:34 pm

      Wow! Thank you for the complement, Lez! I am so glad you liked them!

      Reply
  6. Alyson says

    July 5, 2022 at 7:39 pm

    Hi! I can’t wait to try this recipe. Do you know how long I would cook these in an air fryer?

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      July 7, 2022 at 8:42 am

      Hi Alyson,

      I haven’t tried them in the air fryer so I couldn’t give you an accurate time. Sorry.

      Reply
  7. Shanny says

    June 13, 2022 at 12:15 pm

    What would you recommend to make these gluten free.

    Reply
    • Kelly says

      August 7, 2023 at 10:19 pm

      5 stars
      These were the tastiest turkey burgers we have ever eaten. Very easy too. I didn’t change anything except scaling the recipe down for the two of us.w

      Reply
      • LyubaB says

        August 9, 2023 at 7:31 pm

        I am so pleased to hear that, Kelly!

        Reply
  8. Laura says

    December 22, 2021 at 7:22 pm

    5 stars
    This is the ONLY burger recipe I need ❤️

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      December 29, 2021 at 12:04 am

      Aw thanks, Laura! 🙂

      Reply
  9. Gail L. says

    October 3, 2021 at 1:23 pm

    Girrrrl, you nailed it. Theses are the best turkey burgers I have ever had. Tasty, not dry. I will officially make the switch from beef to turkey today.🦃 we trying to eat healthier. Good job. Keep em coming.

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      October 6, 2021 at 3:27 pm

      Thank you for the compliment, Gail! You made my day! 🙂

      Reply
  10. Shelly says

    July 31, 2021 at 10:11 am

    How many burgers will this make?
    Thank you

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      August 2, 2021 at 12:21 pm

      Hi Shelly,

      This should make 8 to 10 burgers depending on the size of your patties.

      Reply
  11. Bonnie says

    July 28, 2021 at 8:50 pm

    5 stars
    We loved this recipe! Went great with stove top stuffing and gravy.
    4 smart points on the green weight watchers program 🙂

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      August 2, 2021 at 12:17 pm

      Glad you liked it, Bonnie!

      Reply
  12. Jamie says

    May 4, 2021 at 8:06 pm

    5 stars
    Probably the best tasting homemade Turkey Burgers I have ever had. I overcooked the first couple on my foreman grill. Sure they’re much better in a pan. Will definitely make these again!!! Thanks for sharing

    Reply
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Well, hey there!

I’m Lyuba Brooke, mother of 2, the cook, recipe developer, photographer, and author behind willcookforsmiles.com. I share many classic and original recipes, cooking tips, and tutorials. My passion is sharing delicious meals for everyone to try. Read More.

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