The Best Turkey Burger Recipe will be the juiciest and most delicious burger you ever did make. One secret ingredient takes these burgers over the top! Simple to make on the grill or stovetop, flavorful and obviously super moist!
The Best Turkey Burger Recipe is here! I asked you all to tell me the recipes you’d like to see and lots of you surprisingly said juicy turkey burgers. Say what? I know turkey burgers can be notoriously dry, but I didn’t realize it was such an epidemic. So here I am, showing up to the party with the juiciest turkey burger recipe you ever did eat.
Turkey Burger Recipe
To make the juiciest of all turkey burgers gather up these ingredients and get ready to cook!
- Lean Ground Turkey – I used the 93/7 kind but you could probably get away with the 99% fat-free kind, just make sure to grease your pan well!
- Egg, Salt, Pepper, Parsely, Poultry Seasoning, and Milk – this is all mixed in with the turkey! I know this mixture may seem a little weird but once it starts cooking, the egg will help hold its shape together.
- Cold Butter – get ready for the secret technique for making these the best turkey burgers out there.
- American Cheese – if you don’t like cheese with your burgers, don’t add it.
- Hamburger Buns – you’re going to need someplace to put these beautiful patties. For a healthier spin get the whole wheat buns.
- Toppings – lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions, mustard, ketchup, etc, etc!
How to Make Turkey Burgers
The process to make these burgers is really simple and easy to follow. So here we go!
- Into a large bowl, add in lean ground turkey, milk, egg, salt, pepper, parsley, and poultry seasoning.
- Mix to create a uniform mixture, then divide into 4 equal patties.
- Cut cold butter into 1/2 tablespoon slices and press into each turkey burger patty.
- Form the meat evenly around the butter and preheat your griddle pan or outdoor grill. This is the griddle pan I have; its great!
- Cook about 4 minutes per side, until browned and internal temperature registers 165 degrees.
- Serve hot!
Add your turkey burger to a soft sesame (or potato) bun with all the goodies and condiments you’d like and snarf it down. My favorite toppings are all the ‘classic’ ones you’d find at any burger joint: lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, ketchup, and mustard. Oh, and American cheese! There is a time and place for American cheese and this is it. 1-2 bites in and you’ll have a few drips. I tried to get a picture of it on my hand, but it was pretty hard holding a burger in one hand, my camera in the other AND trying to prevent other children from picking up and throwing the other 3 burgers I prepared. But you get the idea. They are juicy.
How to Keep Turkey Burgers juicy
In the directions above I laid the recipe out pretty thoroughly, but there are a few steps I wanted to highlight to ensure you don’t skip them!
- Add milk to the turkey burger mixture. This not only helps keep the meat moist but also tender!
- Fill each burger with butter. This is a little extra insurance to keep things extra moist and juicy inside, even if you overcook. As long as you don’t cut into the burger to check whether it’s done or not, the butter should stay intact and keep everything perfect!
- Do not overcook. Turkey burgers are notoriously dry, and a big part of this has to do with overcooking. Use a meat thermometer to check your burgers. Once they hit 165 degrees internally, pull them off the heat.
- Serve them hot. I mean, the term hot & juicy go hand in hand for a reason.
A word about Ground Turkey
So, in my experience living coast to coast, I’ve come to realize the differences in ground turkey meat you can find at the grocery store. Some of it is more moist, some of it is more dry. (In my photos, you’ll notice my formed burgers look perfectly normal because I used the super lean meat.) Typically the leaner the turkey, the ‘drier’ it is. So, for ease, use a leaner ground turkey.
If you make this recipe and you happen to have some of that wet turkey meat, try decreasing the milk. 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.
What to Serve with Turkey Burgers
Like any other burger recipe, there are side dish staples to serve with it. I’ve picked out a few of my own recipes that you can make alongside this juicy and tasty recipe.
- Pommes Frites – This is a homemade french fries recipe, YUM! The perfect side to any burger recipe.
- Simple Macaroni Salad Recipe – This is a super simple recipe that can be found at any BBQ event.
- Homemade Kettle Chips with Onion Dill Dip – Get that perfect crunch with these homemade chips!
- Salted Caramel Rice Krispie Treats – After you finish your meal, try these super tasty rice Krispie treats!
Grilling Turkey Burgers
The taste of a grilled burger is like no other, plus those amazing grill marks. Insert all the puffy heart eye emojis!
Grill on medium-high heat until the internal temperature is 165 degrees. If you don’t think your patties are firm enough, throw them in the freezer for 10-15 minutes. Then proceed to grill.
Can I Make the Patties Ahead of Time?
You sure can! The great thing about this turkey burger recipe is that it can be made ahead of time. Follow the directions as followed until the middle of step 4.
- Into a large bowl, add in lean ground turkey, milk, egg, salt, pepper, parsley, and poultry seasoning.
- Mix to create a uniform mixture, then divide into 4 equal patties.
- Cut cold butter into 1/2 tablespoon slices and press into each turkey burger patty.
- Form the meat evenly around the butter.
Now stack them up with parchment paper in-between each patty and refrigerate. These can be made a day or two ahead of time.
Like this Turkey Burger Recipe? Try these others:
- Cheddar Ranch Turkey Burgers
- Girls Night Turkey Burgers
- Southwest Turkey Burgers
- Greek Turkey Burgers
- Classic Homemade Burgers
Crack out your griddle and enjoy 🙂
Printable recipe card is below along with a super helpful video!
The Juiciest Turkey Burgers
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground turkey 93/7
- 1 large egg
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/4 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1 tablespoon cold milk
- 2 tablespoons cold butter
- 4 slices American cheese
- any other burger toppings: pickles, lettuce, tomato, onion, etc as desired
- 4 soft sesame burger buns
Instructions
- Place turkey into a large bowl with egg, salt, pepper, parsley, poultry seasoning and milk. Stir to combine. {Mixture may seem a little wet, but once it starts cooking, the egg will help hold it's shape together.}
- Preheat indoor griddle to medium-medium high heat.
- Divide meat into 4 even patties. Cut butter into skinny half tablespoon pats. Press butter into the center of each patty forming the meat around it.
- Spray griddle pan with nonstick cooking spray and place each burger down onto the griddle. Cook about 4 minutes per side or until browned and completely cooked. Feel free to melt cheese on top of each burger. {Place cheese onto cooked side of the burger and cover with a large pot lid or foil for 1 minute to melt cheese.}
- Remove burgers and place onto buns. Top with any desired toppings and condiments and serve.
Video
Nutrition
Lupita says
How will these do on he actual grill? Can’t wait to try these! Thanks!
Allison Solseth says
Do you recommend 93% or can I use 99% lean ground turkey?
Lauren says
You miiiight be able to get away with 99%, just make sure you grease your pan or grill really well.
Patricia Mapley says
I made these turkey burgers for dinner tonight. There are 2 of us so I halved the recipe. Delicious, tender and juicy. I actually cooked them in a cast iron frying pan. MY husband loved them and wants me to make them again. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Nia says
I ‘m on Weight Watchers and was looking for new receipes. This was my 1st time cooking and trying a turkey burger. It was delicious. (And 0 points)!! For lunch tomorrow I plan to add bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes on top. Love it!
Jenny says
I love me a good Turkey burger and this looks like perfection. Can’t wait to try it!
Stacey Chaney says
These look amazing, definitely need to try them!
Candi says
Omg I tried these burger and they turned out delicious. Me and my husband had to get off pork and red meat because of high blood pressure. I never really like turkey burger til I tried your receipe. Thanks so much. We have them at least one a week.
Lynn says
I tried your recipe for the turkey burgers because I really didn’t know what to cook for dinner and I took out ground turkey and OMG freaking G these burgers are the bomb the bomb.com and I also put American and provolone cheese on it with some grilled onion all I have to say is wow and please make more recipes thank you.
Brittany says
Delicious!! Instead of a bun I used lettuce for a lower sodium and low carb option. Such a great and easy recipe!
Melissa says
I made these last night and was a little skeptical that they would really be juicy. They were! We liked them very much. Thanks for a great recipe!
DiNunno7 says
I skipped the milk (didn’t have any) still the best turkey burger I’ve ever had, excellent recipe. Thank you!!
Mary G Schultz says
Okay, I’m an experienced cook and Turkey burgers are generally pretty dry and tough. What caught my eye was adding the milk in the mix and adding the butter in the center of the burger. Most receipes for Turkey burgers add bread crumbs of some sort. I have to tell you these were very moist and juicy. I added my own seasonings. But bottom line very juicy. The key here was the milk and butter. Turkey burgers need the added fat. Loved this receipe. Thanks for the tip.
Kristin says
Amazing turkey burgers!!
Crystal says
I used turkey ground beef too tonight.. my husband is passed out in his man cave with an empty plate next to him.. he ate 2 of them.. We absolutely love it this way
Kristin says
WOW! Best turkey burgers I’ve ever had. So flavorful and juicy.
Brenda says
By far, the most incredible turkey burger ever!!!! My husband, a beef lover, prefers these over hamburg now. We’re not big fans of poultry seasoning, so I omit that and use seasoning salt n’ pepper. We like sliders, and it’s nothing for hubby to devour at least 4 of them! Every bite gets a “yum” out of him, as he uses several napkins to wipe the juice from his hands! Milk, butter, griddle…great secrets! Good enough to serve company without worrying about “dry” burgers! Thanx.
Angela says
My only regret with these was not doubling the recipe. My whole family was wishing for seconds and checked to see if we had more. Never thought to use butter like that but well worth the extra calories! Thanks!!!
Carole says
Prepared this today for my husband and step-daughter and had them rate it from 1-3, 3 being the highest. It got a 3 from all of us. This is big because my husband never liked turkey burgers before. Nice flavor. Thanks.
Adria says
Hi! Can I use 85% lean ground turkey instead of the 90%? 🙂
Kayla says
Honestly, even restaurants don’t make their turkey burgers this juicy; most of them are quite dry. LOVED this recipe even my picky boyfriend loved it!!! Thanks for the tips
KC says
When first placing Patty in the pan should it be butter UP or DOWN. ??. Thanks!
Alyssa A Dooley says
I have made these twice now, Holy Moly!!! We LOVE them!!! I live with 4 big red meat eaters, and they ASK for these!!! Thank you so much, it’s always fun to try new things 🙂 (I was out of parsley and used about 1/2 of the amount of Italian seasoning mix-was good also!)
Vet says
Ok… I though this butter in the middle of the burger idea was crazy. Boy was I pleasantly surprised when I tried it and the burger was extremely juicy! Just what I asked for in my recipe search. Fed it to my family and nothing was left on their plates. Bravo!
Kathryn says
This recipe is a staple at our house! Just made them over the weekend.
Sandra B. says
This is a delicious burger! Never thought I’d get my husband to eat a turkey burger but he loves these and it is so moist and well seasoned. Thanks for turning us on to turkey!
HeyCandy says
Awesome, Awesome. Spot on! Thanks for a great recipe. My husband suffers from Gout and has had to forgo beef. You saved us:>)!
Drew says
This is best damb turkey burget in the world. Yum yum yummy in my hungry hungry tummy.
Jamie Berglund says
My daughter loved these so much! She said they tasted so good, she thought it tasted like “regular meat, best Berger ever” … So thank you for the recipe. I’m always looking at different recipes to make ground chicken or turkey more rich in flavor, this was great! The butter inside was the key!
Bobbi says
Best Turkey Burger Ever! Made this tonight delicious…
Laurie says
Can you make the burgers up and freeze for a later date to cook
Lauren says
Absolutely!
Eric says
These were amazing. Tried grilling, and they broke up a little bit, but in a pan (as directed in the video), they are perfect.
Cat says
Best turkey burger I’ve tried so far! Made this for my husband who had never had a turkey burger, I hesitated for a long time because he never seemed interested in a “turkey burger”. I have cooked turkey burgers countless times before and just assumed all turkey burgers were dry. My husband LOVED IT! it was definitely not dry. Hubby asked that we make this regularly! So happy I found this recipe!
Sherry says
This looks amazing. Do you think I can put the patties in a cast iron skillet and cook in the oven? I don’t have a griddle or George Foreman grill. Thank you.
Jill Shelley says
Do you know if these would turn out okay on the little George Foreman closed griddle?
Michelle says
I cook mine on the George Foreman and it works great!
Desneiges says
OMG!!!! The are freaking AMAZING!!!!! We will, most definitely, be making these again & again!!!
Michelle says
These turned out great! I skipped the butter and they were still moist and delicious. My whole family loved them. Thanks for a fabulous recipe!
Vimare says
So good, that even an incompetent cook like me can do it!!!
Leana says
Amazing recipe. I didn’t have poultry seasoning so I used oregano, thyme, and some paprika. Had them in a burger with thousand island, sauteed onions and mushrooms, and provolone cheese. I’ve made these twice and they come out perfect every time.
Brittany says
Love these burgers! I’ve made these at least 5 times, but the ads are awful on this page! One of the videos never loads and gets stuck over 2/3 of the page. I’d love to use some of your other recipes, but these ads are seriously crazy. So sorry, but I’m not sure I’ll return.