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by Joanne April 23, 2023
75
If you think Turkey Burgers are bland and boring, it’s time to try this recipe. These have incredible flavor, with feta crumbles and fresh basil. This recipe only takes 20 minutes, and can be done either on the stove or on the grill.
Do you know what a turkey burger has that a ground beef burger doesn’t?
A special friendliness with other flavors. It’s way more suited to having different flavor combinations added to it.
Put feta and basil in a beef patty, and that might be kind of weird. Put feta and basil in a turkey patty, and you get something magnificent.
I’m all about having quick burgers and sandwiches that are delicious and easy to make (helloCroque MadameandEggplant Parmesan Sandwiches), and these burgers are delicious, quick, and easy. They are the best turkey burgers, and a family favorite in our house!
Tips for Best Results
Use dark ground turkey – Do not use ground turkey breast here, which is nearly fat free and will turn out dry, even if cooked perfectly. Dark ground turkey is still lean, usually at around 93% lean, but will give you better flavor and juiciness.
Grill it if possible – While you can sear these turkey burgers on the stove, grilled meat is always superior in flavor. Grill it if you can!
Mix lightly – As with all ground meat preparations from meatballs to burgers, try to mix up the meat as little as possible. Using a light hand will give you a superior texture.
While I love the grill for the best flavor possible, these are fantastic even when they’re quickly cooked in a cast iron skillet on the stove indoors. Just make sure to get the heat high so you get that wonderful brown crust on the edges.
How to Make It Step by Step:
In a large mixing bowl, combine dark ground turkey meat, feta cheese crumbles, fresh basil, worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper:
Be sure not to use the 99% extra lean ground turkey breast here, as doing so will make it hard for you to have a juicy burger. The dark meat will give you better flavor and moisture.
Mix this all together gently to distribute the ingredients evenly, then shape the ground turkey mixture into four equal portions:
Make-ahead Option
At this point, you may store the prepared patties in the fridge for up to 1 day, if you are making this recipe ahead of time. Just cook when you are ready.
To cook juicy turkey burgers, I’ve had great success for years simply cooking them in a cast iron skillet on the stove, but since my father-in-law bought me this indoor grill(affiliate) for Christmas, I’ve started using that instead.
You can also grill these on an outdoor grill, either a gas grill or charcoal grill. A george foreman grill also works. The cook time is more or less the same for all of these options.
I generally recommend medium-high heat, turning down to medium heat as needed if the outside is browning too fast.
When are the burgers done?
The recommended internal temperature for doneness for turkey is 165F, as measured using a meat thermometer inserted into the center of the turkey patty.
Because carryover cooking is about 5 degrees, I like to pull these off the heat at 160F. This will maximize juiciness.
Here’s a look at the fully cooked turkey burger, without any toppings:
Because there’s so much going on with the actual turkey patty, you can go pretty minimal with the fixings.
How to Serve It
I usually add sliced tomato, lettuce, red onion, and some pickles on the side, though you could also add an Aioli, Mayonnaise, or Dijon mustard. Feel free to add your favorite burger toppings.
If you’re up for it, you can even make your own Whole Wheat Hamburger Buns from scratch. A brioche bun is also fantastic.
Want to cut carbs? Serve in a lettuce wrap instead of a bun. Because there are no bread crumbs in the burger mixture, this makes it gluten-free (make sure your brand of worcestershire is gluten-free).
I served my burger here with some Baked Garlic Fries, thoughRed Potato Salad,Greek Zucchini Salad, and classic Homemade French Friesare also perfect for pairing.
If you enjoy this recipe, I also recommend trying this flavorful Turkey Chili, Baked Turkey Meatballs with Mushroom Gravy, and my Double Decker Burger.
Variations to Try
Once you’ve tried the recipe, feel free to play with other kinds of ingredients. One of my favorite things about these homemade burgers is how versatile it can be. Here are some other variations I’ve enjoyed:
Blue cheese + Basil: Swap blue cheese crumbles for the feta cheese.
Feta + dill: Swap fresh dill for the basil. Add 1/4 of sliced green onion.
Turkey sage: Swap finely chopped sage for the basil.
Rosemary + feta: Swap finely minced rosemary for the basil.
Spiced: Add 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, and 1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder.
Extra umami: Add 1 tablespoon of soy sauce to the mix, and omit the salt.
FAQ and Tips:
How do you store turkey burgers?
Keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. Store in an airtight container or tightly wrapped with plastic wrap so the turkey burger patties don’t dry out.
Can you freeze leftover turkey burgers?
Yes, for up to 2 months. Store in an airtight container to prevent the meat from absorbing off flavors.
What are some good side dishes to serve with turkey burgers?
Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Homemade French Fries, and Creamed Corn are all great.
Can the turkey burgers be made ahead?
Yes, feel free to mix in the ingredients and shape the patties, then keep them in the fridge for up to 1 day before cooking.
Can you bake instead?
For baked turkey burgers, place in a 450F oven for 12-15 minutes, depending on thickness. Cook to 160F, checked with an instant-read thermometer. I recommend placing the patties on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, so they don’t stick to the metal.
Did you enjoy the recipe? Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. Or, follow me on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest!
Turkey Burgers
Servings: 4 burgers, easily doubles, triples, etc
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 10 minutes mins
Total Time: 20 minutes mins
Tons of flavor and quick to make. This is a healthy and delicious option for a weeknight meal!
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Ingredients
For the Turkey Burgers:
- 1 lb dark ground turkey
- 1/2 cup feta cheese crumbles
- 2 tbsp packed chopped fresh basil
- 1 tsp worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 tsp salt*
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- 4 hamburger buns
- desired toppings like red onion, lettuce, tomatoes, condiments, etc
Side Dish Ideas for Pairing:
- homemade french fries
- greek zucchini salad
- tabbouleh
Instructions
Gently mix together the ground turkey, feta crumbles, chopped basil, worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper with your fingertips. Make sure not to overwork the meat, but rather to think of distributing the ingredients evenly.
Form the meat mixture into 4 patties, keeping in mind that the burger will shrink up during cooking. For this reason, I usually make them flatter than I ultimately want, and a little bit wider than the bun. Don’t make the patties too thick or they’ll take too long to cook.
To cook on the stove, heat up a cast iron skillet over medium high heat for a couple minutes. Once the pan is hot, add the turkey patties and cook for about 3 minutes on each side. Time will vary depending on how hot your pan is and how thick your patties are, but you want the center of the turkey burger to read at 160F (carryover cooking will bring the final temperature to 165F). If you find that the burgers are browning too much before the interior is cooking through, you can put a lid on the pan, or pop the burgers into a hot oven for a few minutes to finish cooking.
You may also grill the burgers either on an indoor or outdoor grill. About 3 minutes on each side as well, depending on how intense the heat is. Check for doneness using a thermometer, aiming for 160F.
Serve the turkey burgers with any accompaniments you want, and enjoy!
Notes
If you don’t have a thermometer, please get one! They’re not expensive and they will make your life in the kitchen a lot easier.
*since feta is pretty salty, I use minimal salt here and find 1/4 tsp total is perfect. You may need to adjust to taste.
Storing leftovers: Keep leftover turkey burgers in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Freezing: Store burgers in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Make-ahead instructions: Feel free to mix in the ingredients and shape the patties, then keep them in the fridge for up to 1 day before cooking.
Nutrition
Calories: 337kcal, Carbohydrates: 23g, Protein: 29g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 95mg, Sodium: 462mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 4g
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Author: Fifteen Spatulas
Post updated in May 2019. Originally publishedMay 2013.
posted in: All Recent Posts, , Quick Weeknight Meals 75 comments
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Mary Ann — Reply
Excellent burger thank you!
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Sarah — Reply
I have been SEARCHING for a flavorful turkey burger! I have finally found it!! Thank you so much for sharing!!!
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Jennifer — Reply
Five stars! I really liked how easily this came together and cooked up! Another bonus: my kids liked it too! I plan to make these often from now on.
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Toccara — Reply
Amazing! I just made these for lunch and they are so full of flavor. Fresh basil is a must for this recipe and it pairs well with the feta cheese. Thanks so much for posting this recipe.
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Pat Guzzardo — Reply
How would these be with turkey breast (white meat)?
My husband is on a pretty strict diet. Thank you in advance for a speedy response.
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Jennifer Siegel — Reply
Easy and delicious. The 2nd time I made these during lockdown and a total success! Could not be easier. Turkey burgers can be difficult and I love this recipe – especially love not having to use egg and bread crumbs. The first time I didn’t have Worcestershire so I used fish sauce which wasn’t ideal but today was perfect! Also having the thermometer makes a huge difference. Thanks Joanne!
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ShelleyC — Reply
This my favorite turkey burger recipe. It’s now my go-to 🙂 The only thing I add is 1 tsp of minced garlic. They are so good!
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Kristen — Reply
Can I use dry basil? I have a very hard time keeping basil fresh and waste money buying it fresh..
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jeanne — Reply
Can you replace the feta cheese with a different one? If so what would you recommend.
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Joanne Ozug — Reply
Do you like ricotta salata?
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jeanne —
No i don’t like ricotta salata what other cheese would you recommend?
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Amy Oxener — Reply
Are the nutirition facts based on just the turkey patty or with the bun included?
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Joanne Ozug — Reply
It includes everything listed on the ingredients list, so yes, it includes the bun. Everything is estimated by a 3rd party company calculating everything, so only use as a rough guide.
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Juli — Reply
This recipe was so delicious. Thank you!
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Joanne Ozug — Reply
So glad you enjoyed it!
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Nancy Tauber — Reply
This recipe is exactly what I wanted – many thanks. One question: what’s the best way to clean a cast iron pan (it’s worth it for the crustiness, and no oil!).
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Joanne Ozug — Reply
Hi Nancy, there are some great resources online for this that you may want to try, but what I usually do it clean it out with a paper towel the best I can, and only using water. I find that if I use a brush or sponge, it removes too much of the seasoning. The paper towel helps get only the crusted food off, then I re-bake it to dry and add a layer of oil to coat.
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Jan Gilmore Morrison — Reply
Fantastic favorite!!!!
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Joanne Ozug — Reply
So happy to hear that!
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Deborah Butler — Reply
I would be pleased to subscribe to your blog. Let me know what you need of me.
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Joanne Ozug — Reply
Hi Deborah, I just added you manually. You can unsubscribe at any time using the links at the bottom of every email.
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Krixee — Reply
Thank you!!
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Krixee — Reply
My husband loooooves these and is not a turkey burger kinda guy.
Do you have any recommendations for veggie sides?
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Joanne Ozug — Reply
Hi Krixee, that’s great! Here’s a link to the veggie sides category of my recipe index: https://www.fifteenspatulas.com/recipes/vegetables/ Some of my specific recommendations would be the crispy smashed potatoes, the lemon thyme roasted beets, zucchini fritters, and the asparagus coin and chickpea salad.
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