Lean, healthy turkey burgers with secret mix-ins for tenderness and LOADS of flavor. Plus an easy, addictive homemade special sauce, melted sharp cheddar, bacon, and your favorite toppings. Your taste buds will understand why this is the ULTIMATE turkey burger.
The Gainesville heat index is at near-lethal levels, so it can only mean that grilling season is here! Actually, I do all my “grilling” on my grill pan on the stove 100% inside, so the season doesn’t exactly apply. But I love to break out the grill pan in June because summer produce looks fabulous with grill marks (and I like to keep up with all the food trends).
Cooking outside is a grand idea if it’s convenient and you have the equipment. And if it’s not 100ºF with 87% humidity, extreme UV index, questionable ground-level ozone (also thanks to the heat and sun), and overrun with mosquitos, I say fire it up. But the other day when I thought it’d be a good idea to walk the 1.5 miles to the bookstore at 2 pm, I got a nice taste of those conditions. And just in case you were wondering, it feels like death. My friend gives the best advice, though: You have to make the conscious decision that you love it. So beginning the trudge back home, I reaffirmed my affection for this beautiful place, cranked up the HSM3 soundtrack, and lived to make this burger and tell you about it.
The Ultimate Turkey Burger
This combo is EPIC. SO tasty that it can change your concept of the turkey burger as the boring “healthy” option, even using ground 99% lean breast meat. WHAT.
(Side note: All turkey shouldn’t be considered necessarily healthier than all red meat. However, quality white meat turkey/chicken is leaner and offers a lighter, more heart-friendly alternative to beef. And if you can make it mouthwatering and indulging, why the heck not?!)
Fortunately, this recipe will work for just about any ground meat. So if you want to spring for the slightly richer 93/7 turkey, ground chicken, any beef, bison, or pork, go wild. The seasoning and sauce would even work well with your favorite plant-based burger.
The Mix-Ins
To make the lean meat succulent and bursting with complex flavor, it really just comes down to a few simple condiments combined with the raw ground turkey. But the combination is MAGICAL.
- Light mayo for tenderness
- Worcestershire sauce for umami flavor
- Finely diced onion secretly adds moisture in addition to taste
- Whole grain breadcrumbs also help the texture
- Seasoning: garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, dry mustard, dried chives, dried oregano, sea salt, pepper (heat is adjustable to your liking)
The Special Sauce
The other secret that takes this turkey burger over the top is this addictive special sauce. Not unlike McDonald’s Special Sauce or Zax Sauce, but you know and can pronounce all the ingredients and can customize it to your heart’s desire.
Plus, talk about easy. We’re just mixing:
- Light mayo
- BBQ sauce (I use Stubb’s Original. The flavor will vary slightly based on the type you use.)
- Worcestershire sauce
- Diced pickle or relish
- Black pepper, cayenne, and/or hot sauce to taste
Build the Burger
Assembling the final product with the perfect toppings is just as important as any other step in the art of burger-making. Take creative liberty here, but might I recommend…
- Toasted whole grain bun. Just place it on the hot grill/skillet about 30 seconds for the perfect easy toasting. I toast the bottom piece on both sides–holds up better when loaded up.
- CHEESE (ok, not a recommendation but a requirement if you are able). Sharp cheddar (pictured), white cheddar, American, pepper jack, Swiss. Add the cheese just after flipping the burger, and cover it at the end if necessary to make sure the cheese is melted.
- Bacon (pictured with Applegate turkey bacon). I cook the turkey bacon on the (nonstick) grill pan first, then use that little bit of grease for cooking the burger (and bonus flavorful browned bits)
- Pickles
- Red onion
- Tomato
- Romaine lettuce
- And don’t forget the special sauce!
And to round out the meal, I also grilled up some summer favorites! Zucchini and sweet corn on the cob (lightly brushed with garlic-infused olive oil, finished with coarse sea salt and black pepper), and juicy ripe peach (sprinkled with chili powder before grilling, just a couple minutes per side).
The Ultimate Turkey Burger with Special Sauce
Notes
*Ground chicken, beef, bison, or pork will also work with this recipe. Nutrition info is calculated with 99% lean ground turkey.
**For extra heat, add a pinch cayenne.
***American, pepper jack, and Swiss are also wonderful options.
Ingredients
For the burgers:
- 6 oz ground turkey (93% - 99% lean)*
- 1 Tbsp light mayo
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tbsp finely diced red onion
- 1 Tbsp whole wheat breadcrumbs
- Seasoning: 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, 1/4 tsp onion powder, 1/4 tsp dry mustard, 1/2 tsp dried chives, 1/4 tsp dried oregano, 1/8 tsp sea salt, 1/8 tsp black pepper**
- 1 oz sliced sharp cheddar***
- 2 whole grain buns
- Special sauce (recipe below)
- 1 slice (turkey) bacon
- Romaine lettuce
- Tomato/grape tomato, sliced thinly
- Red onion, sliced
- Dill pickle
For the Special Sauce:
- 1 Tbsp light mayo
- 2 tsp BBQ sauce (such as Stubb's Original)
- 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp finely diced pickle or relish
- Black pepper, pinch cayenne, or dash of hot sauce, to taste
Instructions
- Mix the seasoning ingredients in a mixing bowl. Add the ground turkey, light mayo, Worcestershire sauce, finely diced onion, and breadcrumbs. Mix with hands until evenly incorporated, but don't over-mix. Shape into 2 patties.
- Mix the ingredients for the special sauce in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Preheat a griddle/grill pan on the stove. Cook the bacon until crisp over medium heat. Set aside. When cool, tear into pieces.
- Remove excess grease from the pan (or add a brush of oil if using turkey bacon). Place the prepared patties on the pan and cook over medium heat for 3-4 minutes. Flip, add cheese, and cook 3-5 minutes longer (to 165º). Cover in the last minute to finish melting the cheese.
- Meanwhile, place the buns face-down on the grill pan until lightly toasted. (I like to toast both sides of the bottom piece.)
- On each bun, layer special sauce, patty with cheese, bacon, and other desired condiments (lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, avocado, etc.).
Nutrition information is calculated with 99% lean ground turkey and includes cheese, bacon, special sauce, and condiments in the ingredients list.
