Turkey burgers are a quick go-to recipe that can be made year-round, and I frequently put this recipe on my grocery list. These burgers only take about 30 minutes, and the best part is the garlic aioli! It’s a creamy sauce that can be whipped up in a couple minutes, and I personally think it’s better than the normal ketchup and mustard duo. AND…PRETZEL BUNS!
I like these burgers because they are a lighter than beef and red meat, but they still provide a very satisfying taste. If you want a healthier version of this recipe, opt out of the aioli (or just use a little bit) and pair it with veggies, greens and a whole wheat bun!
What you need to make turkey burgers
You will need fairly simple equipment for this recipe:
- A large nonstick skillet – Here’s my favorite Staub all day pan that is my go-to for cooking meat.
- A blender or food processor – to make the aioli. You have to whip it pretty quickly so that it becomes a thick, white sauce.
- A large bowl – to make our burger patties.
- Spatula – to flip burgers!
How to make turkey burgers
It’s very simple. I get lean ground turkey from Trader Joe’s, which is a personal preference. I like that the meat isn’t too slimy or fatty, so look for at least 90% lean ground meat if you can.
Add the meat to the bowl with Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, chopped onion and some herbs. Fresh rosemary is the best for this recipe because you can really taste it in the burger! However, parsley or dill would be delicious too.
Use your hands or a big spoon to mix together the ingredients and it’s ready. I like to use my hands to form the patties. Just make them round and a slightly bigger than your bun size. The patties tend to shrink a little bit when they are cooking, so it’s better to make them bigger than anticipated, or else you might end up with tiny burgers!
Important burger questions
- How long should I cook turkey burgers? I recommend around 3 minutes per side to crisp them up properly. You might need to flip back and forth, which is okay. Beware that if you flip them too early your burger could crumble.
- What kind of cheese should I put on turkey burgers? Well, whatever you like on beef burgers. I personally enjoy pepper jack cheese on the burgers, but you can use mozzarella, American, etc. Be sure to add the cheese to your patties a minute before they are done cooking so they can melt a bit!
- What to pair with turkey burgers? Roast corn on the cob, bake some homemade fries or make a quick side salad.
- What kind of buns do I need? If your grocery store has pretzel buns, try them! They are fabulous and can often be found in the bakery aisle. If not, find a whole wheat bun for these.
What is aioli?
It’s like mayonnaise….but not. Mayonnaise is emulsified egg and canola oil, while aioli is olive oil based (with garlic!). Otherwise, they are similar, but a fresh aioli mix is very satisfying (much better than the mayo that’s been in the fridge for months).
How to make aioli: to emulsify garlic, raw egg, and olive oil, just dump it into a blender or food processor and pulse it for a good 30 seconds until it looks thick. I added lemon juice and salt as well for ~flavor~. If it is still runny, try adding a dash more olive oil and keep pulsing!
How to store your burgers
Keep the patties separate in an airtight container and refrigerate. Consume within 1-2 days. Keep the aioli in a separate, covered container.
Other recipes to try
If you liked these turkey burgers with garlic aioli, check out some of these recipes:
- Healthier Hamburger Helper
- Crockpot Philly Cheesesteaks with Carrot Mayo and Broccolini
- Chicken Tinga Tacos
- White Cheddar and Gruyere Macaroni and Cheese Stuffed Acorn Squash
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Turkey Burgers with Garlic Aioli
Equipment
- large non stick pan
- large bowl
- blender or food processor
- spatula
Ingredients
For the turkey burgers
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb ground, lean turkey
- ½ yellow onion chopped
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1½ tbsp fresh rosemary chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme
- pinch of salt
- pinch of pepper
- 4 slices pepperjack cheese
- 4 hamburger buns like pretzel buns
- 4 slices tomato optional
Garlic Aioli
- 1 egg
- 2 cloves garlic
- ½ lemon juiced
- pinch of salt
- ¼ cup olive oil
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add the ground turkey, onion, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, rosemary, thyme, salt and pepper. With a large spoon or your hands, break up the ground turkey and mix it thoroughly with the other ingredients until it becomes a consistent blend.1 lb ground, lean turkey, ½ yellow onion, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 2 tbsp ketchup, 1½ tbsp fresh rosemary, 1 tbsp fresh thyme, pinch of salt, pinch of pepper
- Form meat into four large patties, packing them together with your hands.
- In a large skillet or pan, heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat and spread it over the pan. Once warm, add the patties and cook over medium heat, browning for about 2-3 minutes before flipping. Cook each side for an additional 3 minutes, or until the patties look brown and crisp. Use a spatula to flatten down the burgers if desired as you go. Top each patty with the cheese and allow the cheese to warm and melt for another minute. Remove from the heat to a separate plate.4 slices pepperjack cheese, 1 tbsp olive oil
- If you want to toast or warm your buns, you can place them face down onto the warm skillet for 1-2 minutes. Remove from the heat carefully.4 hamburger buns, 1 egg
- To make your aioli, add the egg, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil and salt to a blender or food processor and whip on high for about 30 seconds. It should appear thick. If it is too runny, add a dash more of olive oil and continue to pulse until it thickens.2 cloves garlic, ½ lemon, pinch of salt, ¼ cup olive oil
- Assemble the burgers on top of your buns with a generous helping of aioli and tomato. Add greens if you'd like!4 slices tomato
Nathan Fleischer
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