The Best Turkey Burger
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Published Jun 27, 2022, Updated Apr 09, 2024
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These best juicy turkey burgers made with ground turkey, Worcestershire sauce and a blend of seasonings. They’re loaded with flavor and easy to make on the grill or stovetop.
Grilling season is here and I’m so excited because we finally have a grill again after being without one for quite awhile! Since getting a new grill I’ve been daydreaming about all the things I want to grill this summer in our new house. And these turkey burgers will definitely be on the menu!
I already have a recipe for spinach and feta turkey burgers (which you should definitely try btw!), but I wanted to share a good ol’ fashioned turkey burger recipe for those who might not be into spinach and/or feta.
And not to toot my own horn, but these turkey burgers are definitely the best I’ve ever had.
They’re loaded with flavor and ridiculously easy to make. All you have to do is mix up the ingredients, form the patties and toss them on the grill or cast-iron skillet. Dinner will be ready in minutes!
Why You’ll Love These Burgers
- They’re made with simple ingredients to enhance the flavor of the turkey.
- They’ll satisfy your burger craving in a healthier way.
- They’re quick and easy to put together and they grill up just as fast!
Ingredients Needed
- ground turkey – I like using ground turkey instead of ground beef for burgers because it’s lower in saturated fat. I typically use 93% lean ground turkey, but you can use 99% lean ground turkey if you prefer.
- egg – this helps moisten and bind the burgers together so they don’t fall apart on the grill!
- Italian seasoning – Italian seasoning pairs well with turkey, the combination of herbs complements the flavor without overpowering it. If you don’t have an Italian seasoning blend you can use a blend of other dried spices like rosemary, thyme, oregano and/or basil instead.
- Worcestershire sauce – a great flavor enhancer. If you don’t have Worcestershire sauce on hand, soy sauce or tamari will work as a substitute.
- garlic powder and onion powder – these classic burger seasonings are a must.
- sea salt and black pepper – to bring all the flavors together.
- hamburger buns or lettuce leaves – my go-to is whole wheat hamburger buns, but feel free to use your favorite burger bun! I also like serving my burgers over a salad or with lettuce leaves as the bun!
- toppings – feel free to top your burger with mustard, ketchup, lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado and/or pickles. Just use what you like!
How to Make
I prefer to grill these turkey burgers, but they cook up deliciously in a cast-iron skillet over the stove as well. Either way you make them, they’re super easy to put together!
All you need to do is mix all of the ingredients in a large bowl and shape into 5 turkey burger patties. I like to get my hands a little damp before forming the burgers so the turkey sticks to itself and not my hands.
On the grill: Cook turkey burgers on a preheated grill or grill pan until no longer pink in the center, about 5-7 minutes per side or until cooked through.
On the stove: Preheat and oil on a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until no longer pink in the center, 4-5 min each side.
How to Serve
If you want to serve these burgers up like a traditional burger, simply add the cooked burger on a bun and top with your favorite burger toppings!
For an even healthier alternative, use lettuce leaves as a bun or serve over greens for a turkey burger salad. Trust me, you won’t miss the bun!
I love pairing traditional sides with these turkey burgers. Here’s what I would serve with these burgers:
- You can’t go wrong with burgers and fries! Some suggestions: my baked sweet potato fries or these tasty jicama fries.
- A tasty side salad like my healthy potato salad, this corn and black bean salad or my classic broccoli salad.
- Another option is pasta-based dishes like my vegan mac and cheese, mayo-free pasta salad or this ranch pasta salad.
How to Store Leftovers
These turkey burgers store really well, which make them great for meal prep! After allowing the burgers to cool, store in an airtight container for up to five days in the refrigerator. You can also freeze them for 1-2 months.
To freeze: Place cooked and cooled burgers to a baking sheet and freeze for about 30 minutes or until firm. Then wrap each turkey burger in plastic wrap or cover with parchment paper and add burgers to a freezer-safe bag like a Stasher bag.
To reheat: Let burgers thaw overnight in the refrigerator and heat up on the grill or over the stovetop until warm throughout. You can also reheat the burgers in the oven. Just preheat your oven to 400°F and place thawed burgers on a baking pan in the oven and bake for 3-4 minutes.
FAQ
This really depends on the fat percentage of the meat. If a turkey burger is made with 99% lean ground turkey, the turkey burger will have less calories and fat than a burger made with ground beef. But if you’re comparing 93% ground turkey with 93% ground beef, the calories and fat are relatively the same. The one thing that makes ground turkey a bit healthier is that it contains less saturated fat than ground beef.
I prefer to use 93% ground turkey for my turkey burgers because it offers more flavor, but if you want the leanest burger possible I recommend using 99% lean ground turkey breast, however know that your burgers may turn out a bit dry and not as tasty.
Nutritionally, ground chicken and turkey are pretty similar, however ground turkey is generally a little leaner than ground chicken. Turkey has fewer calories, less sodium, more iron and a bit more protein.
More EBF Burger Recipes to Try
- Spinach and Feta Turkey Burgers
- Cilantro Lime Chicken Burgers
- Black Bean Sweet Potato Burgers
- Teriyaki Salmon Burgers
- Easy Black Bean Burgers
- Curried Pumpkin Black Bean Burgers
- Salmon Burgers
Be sure to check out all of the dinner recipes and all of the ground turkey recipes here on EBF!
Turkey Burger
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey, I used 93% lean
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, or tamari
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- Hamburger buns
- Toppings of choice: Lettuce, sliced tomatoes, sliced onion, ketchup, mustard
Instructions
- Mix together turkey, egg, Italian seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt and pepper in a large bowl until well combined.
- Using your hands, form mixture into 5 patties.
Grill
- Cook on preheated grill or grill pan until no longer pink in the center, about 5-7 minutes per side or until cooked through.
- Serve immediately on bun with toppings of choice.
Cast Iron
- Add oil to cast iron skillet and warm to medium heat over stovetop.
- Cook burger patties on preheated cast iron until no longer pink in the center, 4-5 min each side.
- Serve immediately on bun with toppings of choice.
Notes
- Worcestershire sauce: If you don’t have worcestershire sauce on hand you can use soy sauce or tamari.Â
- Low carb option: Serve the burger on lettuce leaves instead of a bun or serve the burger over a salad.Â
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Way too much Italian seasoning! Absolutely ruined it. I do not recommend 2 tablespoons way too much! Anyone who likes that much is sick in the head, and needs to get checked. Even 2 tsp is a little much!
Hi Chris – I am so sorry you found the Italian Seasoning to be a bit overpowering and you felt it ruined the dish. Feel free to adjust the seasonings based on your preference. I appreciate your feedback.
This recipe was awful. i wish I had read comments first. wasted so much meat. Not one person in my family could get past the taste. WAY too much Italian seasoning… and I had even reduced it. Do not follow this recipe!
Hi Nadine – I am so sorry this recipe did not turn out how you had hoped. Can I ask what type of Italian Seasoning you used? I haven’t had an issue of this being overpowering, so I am wondering if it might be the brand.
Hey Nadine – I’m so sorry again about the issue you had with the Italian seasoning. After seeing your comment I realized that there was an error in this recipe and it indeed had too much Italian seasoning. I just tested these burgers again and have updated the recipe to reflect the new seasoning amount of 1 teaspoon. I hope you’ll give this recipe another chance. Sorry again and thanks again for your comment!
We really enjoyed the turkey burgers. They were so flavorful. Thank you for another amazing recipe.
Amazing! I am so glad you loved these burgers and they turned out amazing for you. Thanks so much for sharing your review + star rating, it means so much to me!