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–+ servings
a turkey burger on a bun with bacon, red onion, and havarti cheese with a bite taken out of it

Juicy & Tender Homemade Turkey Burgers

Rebecca Eisenberg
Say hello to the best homemade turkey burgers! These ground turkey burger patties are thick, juicy, tender and well-seasoned with curry powder, rosemary, fresh garlic, and diced onion. I've included instructions for cooking the turkey burgers on the stove, but they're just as good on the grill too!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4 burgers

Ingredients
  

  • ½ medium onion (small dice)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced (minced)
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary (minced)
  • 1½ teaspoon curry powder
  • 1 lb ground turkey
  • 2 teaspoons salt (for the outside of the burger patties)
  • 2 tablespoons neutral oil (for cooking)

optional

  • ¼ cup BBQ sauce for basting (see notes)
  • 4 slices cheese of your choosing
  • 4 slices bacon

Instructions
 

  • Combine onion, garlic, rosemary, pepper, and curry powder together in a large bowl. Add the turkey last and mix with your hands just until evenly combined. Do not overmix.
  • Divide turkey mixture into quarters (use a kitchen scale if you want to be precise) and shape into balls.
  • Flatten each ball into a patty ¾"-1" thick, approximately 4" wide.
  • Use your thumb to make an indentation on one side of each patty to help them stay flat while cooking. Place the patties divot-side up on a cutting board, plate, or lined sheet pan until ready to cook.
  • Preheat a wide, flat skillet over medium heat. When a drop of water flicked onto the surface sizzles and evaporates immediately, add 2 tablespoons of neutral oil (canola, grapeseed, etc.) and swirl to coat the pan in an even layer.
  • Generously salt the top of each patty before placing it in the pan. Place the patties salt-side down in the skillet. Repeat for each patty. Then, salt the tops of the patties. Cook 5 minutes.
  • Flip the turkey burger patties and cook an additional 4-5 minutes on the second side. The burgers should have a golden brown crust on the outside and be completely cooked through in the middle; an internal temp of 160°-165°F. Place cheese slices and any other toppings (bacon, onions, etc) on top during the final 30-60 seconds of cooking.
  • Serve on your favorite burger buns with your favorite burger toppings.

RECIPE NOTES

  • To taste the turkey burger mixture before cooking all the burgers to see if you need to make any seasoning adjustments, cook about 1 tablespoon of the mixture in the skillet first. Adjust as needed.
  • If you want to add BBQ sauce, use a silicone basting brush to apply it in the last minute of cooking, after each side of the patty has cooked. This works best if you’re cooking them on a grill. It does work on a cast iron, but can get a bit messy.
  • If adding onions, soften them in the pan after flipping the burgers, then place them on top of the cheese while it melts to secure them in place.
  • If adding bacon, cook it before the burgers and use the bacon grease to cook the burgers. Place the bacon on the burgers under the cheese while it melts to secure the bacon in place.