Grilled Turkey Burgers

These grilled turkey burgers stay moist and juicy thanks to the sautéed onions and garlic in this easy recipe. Grill them up when you want a lighter burger option.

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Grilled turkey burgers are a perfect, lighter alternative to beef for your summer menu. But, they can be notoriously dry. Since ground turkey has so little fat, I like to add moisture and flavor with onion, garlic, and spices.

These grilled turkey burgers are going to stay moist and juicy WITHOUT adding eggs or breadcrumbs to the recipe. You don't need 'em. We are not making meatloaf or meatballs. And this way all of our gluten free loved ones can enjoy them, too.

They cook FAST, too. Less than 10 minutes on the grill and you're good to go.

Jump to:

• Grilled turkey burger ingredients
• How to make grilled turkey burgers
• 10 pro tips for the best grilled turkey burgers
• FAQ
• How to keep turkey burgers from falling apart on the grill
• Recommended tools and equipment
• What to serve on the side
• More grilling recipes
• This grilled turkey burgers recipe makes moist, juicy burgers that cook perfectly in minutes!
• Recipe

Grilled turkey burger ingredients

My grilled turkey burgers recipe is tried and true, I've literally been making it for years to rave reviews. And you don't need very many ingredients to achieve perfect taste and texture. Only 4 ingredients plus a few pantry staples for seasoning and you're good to go.

• Ground Turkey: Use ground turkey with the highest fat content you can find, which usually also includes dark meat. Usually you'll find 93% lean ground turkey, which means 7% fat. If you can't find it, ask the butcher to grind some turkey thighs for you. A higher fat content is key to keeping your grilled turkey burgers moist and juicy. (There's no helping them if you use the 97% lean kind. That's only 3% fat and that's no good.)
• Onions and garlic: This is the secret to the best grilled turkey burgers without using breadcrumbs or eggs. The onions and garlic and the bit of olive oil used to cook them down add moisture and texture.
• Olive oil: You'll need it to cook the onions, and to brush on the burgers before cooking.
• Salt, black pepper, crushed red pepper: These are the seasonings I use to add a little more flavor. If you don't like the spice, you can easily omit the crushed red pepper.

How to make grilled turkey burgers

Step 1: Chop and cook onions and garlic

Chop onion and garlic. You want the onions in a very small dice and mince the garlic. We need them in pretty small pieces so they don't prevent the turkey burger from holding together on the grill.

Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat, drizzle with olive oil to lightly coat pan.

Add onions and a pinch or two of kosher salt. Sweat onions for about 4 - 5 minutes until translucent, then add garlic and crushed red pepper and continue cooking until the garlic softens, another 1 - 2 minutes. Do not brown the onions or burn the garlic!

Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.

PREP TIP We just want to cook the onions down until they are translucent, not brown. Browning means most of the water has been cooked out. We want the onions to keep some of their moisture so it can release and create steam while the turkey burgers are on the grill, keeping them juicy and helping them to cook evenly.

Step 2: Form and chill the turkey burgers

Add onion and garlic mixture to ground turkey along with 1 teaspoon of kosher salt. Carefully fold it in, do not overwork the meat.

Form the burger mixture into patties. This might be a little tricky because ground turkey is not a firm meat. Gently shape into patties about ½ - ¾-inch thick, and oil your hands along the way if necessary.

Brush both sides of the patties with olive oil and lay side by side on a sheet pan or a large platter. Chill for about 20-30 minutes.

Step 3: Grill the turkey burgers

Grill over medium-high heat for about 3-6 minutes. Brush a bit more olive oil onto the patty, then flip and cook on the other side for another 3-5 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.

Serve with your favorite burger toppings.

10 pro tips for the best grilled turkey burgers

1. USE GROUND TURKEY WITH A HIGHER FAT CONTENT: Look for 93% lean or lower if you can find it. This will mean that there is at least some dark meat included. Dark meat has more fat, and will stay juicier and more tender.
2. ADD INGREDIENTS THAT HOLD MOISTURE: The onions and garlic are going to add moisture while the turkey burgers are grilling, and they'll also add lots of flavor.
3. DON'T OVERWORK THE MEAT: Mix the ingredients together as gently as possible. I like to do this with my hands, just lifting and turning the meat with my fingertips, not squeezing it together.
4. DON'T MAKE GRILLED TURKEY BURGERS TOO THICK: One of the main reasons that turkey burgers dry out is because they are too large. Unlike a beef burger, ground turkey has to cook completely. If it's too thick, the center will never get cooked before the outside dries out. Make sure they are about ½ - ¾-inch thick and you're good to go. (You can always make a double burger if you want a meatier experience.)
5. CHILL THE PATTIES BEFORE GRILLING: Ground turkey is not firm like ground beef, so you'll need to chill the burgers to help them hold their shape.
6. CLOSE THE LID ON THE GRILL WHILE COOKING: This will help them cook evenly and quickly. And I do mean quickly, so keep an eye on them.
7. DON'T PRESS DOWN ON THE TURKEY BURGER PATTIES WHEN YOU'RE GRILLING THEM: This will push all of the juices out of the burger and into the fire. Just let them sit there and do their thing.
8. WAIT UNTIL THE PATTIES RELEASE ON THEIR OWN TO FLIP THEM: Meat will release from the grill grates when it's ready to flip. It happens naturally. If you attempt to flip and it's sticking, give it another minute and try again. Don't force it or you'll leave half of the burger behind.
9. USE A MEAT THERMOMETER TO CHECK THE TEMPERATURE: How do you know if a turkey burger is done? Use a meat thermometer. It will be your BEST friend and ensure that you do not overcook or undercook the meat. Turkey burger internal temperature should be 165 degrees F.
10. LET GRILLED TURKEY BURGERS REST BEFORE SERVING: Just like any meat, turkey burgers need to rest before you serve them to allow those juices to cool down and absorb back into the meat. About 5 minutes should do the trick.

FAQ

How to keep turkey burgers from falling apart on the grill

1. Chill the burger patties before cooking: Ground turkey is a soft meat, so it needs a little help from the refrigerator to set up before grilling. Don't worry, it's not long, 20-30 minutes should do it, and that time will help the yummy flavor of the garlic and onions soak into the burgers.
2. Oil the burgers NOT the grill grates: I do not believe in oiling the grill grates. That oil will burn off before you can get the turkey burgers on the grill. Make sure your grates are clean, then brush the burger patty with oil before cooking.
3. Make sure the grill is HOT: You want hot grill grates so that as soon as the turkey makes contact, it starts to sear. This will help keep it from sticking.
4. Don't flip the burgers until the meat releases: Once you put that meat on the grill, leave it alone!! Don't try to scoot it or move it around. After 3 - 5 minutes, check one edge to see if it will lift easily off the grill. If so, flip! If not, give it a little more time and try again.

Recommended tools and equipment

• Outdoor grill or grill pan: Yes, you can make grilled turkey burgers inside on a grill pan no matter the weather. I do it all the time!
• Chef's knife, cutting board, medium skillet, silicone spatula: For chopping and cooking the onions and garlic.
• Mixing bowl: To combine the burger ingredients.
• Basting brush and metal grilling spatula: To brush the turkey burgers with olive oil and easily flip them on the grill.
• Meat thermometer: To check the turkey burger temperature before taking it off the grill.

What to serve on the side

• Succotash is a Southern classic loaded with sweet corn.
• In the heat of summer, this Nectarine and Tomato Salad makes the perfect refreshing side dish with turkey burgers or any grilled meats.
• The smoky flavor of Charred Broccoli with Lemon Yogurt Sauce will complement the smokiness from the grill.

More grilling recipes

• Flanken cut short ribs cook lightning fast on the grill. Try these Grilled Beef Short Ribs with Quick Pickles for something a little different at your next cookout.
• Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Chimichurri Sauce is another fast-cooking favorite.

This grilled turkey burgers recipe makes moist, juicy burgers that cook perfectly in minutes!

• Uses ground turkey with higher fat content so the burgers don't dry out.
• Onions add moisture while the burgers cook.
• Foolproof cooking method means they stay juicy and don't fall apart on the grill.
• NO added breadcrumbs means they still have perfect burger texture and they're gluten free!
• They grill in no time: Only 3 - 6 minutes on each side!

Recipe