Smashed turkey burgers are the latest craze for a healthier, delicious burger option. With their crispy edges and juicy interior, these turkey burgers deliver big flavor in a lighter package. I’m sharing my foolproof recipe for making the best smashed turkey burgers at home.
Why Try Smashed Turkey Burgers?
Beef burgers are an American classic, but they can be heavy Smashed turkey burgers give you that same delicious burger experience in a lighter, healthier way Here are some of the benefits of choosing turkey over beef
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Lower in fat and calories – Turkey is a leaner meat than beef, meaning fewer calories and less unhealthy saturated fat. Each turkey burger has around 200 calories vs 300 for a beef burger.
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More protein – Ounce for ounce, turkey has more protein than beef. You’ll get around 25g of protein in one of these smashed turkey burgers.
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Lower risk of foodborne illness – Ground turkey is less prone to contamination with dangerous bacteria like E, coli or salmonella It’s just a safer choice,
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Versatile flavor options – Turkey takes on the flavor of whatever spices and mix-ins you add. You can make Mediterranean turkey burgers, Southwest turkey burgers, and more.
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Budget-friendly – Ground turkey is cheaper than ground beef. You can make delicious gourmet burgers for less.
With all those advantages, it’s easy to see why smashed turkey burgers are having a moment!
How To Make Smashed Turkey Burgers
Making smashed turkey burgers at home is easy. Here’s a step-by-step walkthrough:
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground turkey (93% lean works best)
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tbsp butter, melted
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 4 hamburger buns
- Desired toppings like lettuce, tomato, cheese, etc.
Instructions
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In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, diced onion, Worcestershire sauce, melted butter, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix until thoroughly combined.
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Form the mixture into 4 equal patties, about 1/2 inch thick. Use your hands to gently press down on each patty to flatten slightly.
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Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add a drizzle of oil or cooking spray.
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Add the patties to the hot skillet. Immediately use a spatula to press down hard on each patty, until it’s about 1/4 inch thick with crispy, lacy edges.
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Cook for 3-4 minutes on the first side until well-browned. Flip and cook another 2-3 minutes on the second side.
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Place each smashed turkey burger on the bottom half of a toasted bun. Top with your desired toppings.
And that’s it – you’ve got yourself some delicious smashed turkey burgers ready in less than 30 minutes!
Cooking Tips for Juicy Smashed Turkey Burgers
The two keys for making sure your smashed turkey burgers come out moist and juicy are:
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Adding some fat – Since turkey is a lean meat, it helps to mix in a little fat like melted butter. This keeps the burgers tender.
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Smashing them thin – Smashing the patties thin on the hot skillet gives you those crispy edges that lock in moisture.
A few other tips:
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Make sure your skillet is hot before adding the patties. You want it to sizzle immediately.
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Don’t overmix the ground turkey or it will turn dense and rubbery. Gently mix just until combined.
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Resist squishing down the patties more than once. Smash them thin right away so they cook up crispy.
Follow those simple tricks and your turkey smash burgers will never turn out dry or bland!
Top Smashed Turkey Burger Toppings
One of the best parts about turkey burgers is customizing them with fun toppings. Here are some of my favorites:
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Cheese – Cheddar, Swiss, pepper jack, bleu cheese, you name it. Melty cheese takes these burgers over the top.
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Avocado – Creamy avocado slices bring a fresh flavor contrast.
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Caramelized onions – Sweet, melty onions are an amazing complement.
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Jalapeños – Fresh sliced jalapeños give a nice heat.
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BBQ sauce – For a sweet, sticky mess of a burger, slather it in BBQ.
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Fried egg – A runny fried egg makes any burger next level.
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Slaw – Cool, crunchy coleslaw balances the burger nicely.
Get creative with toppings based on whatever flavors you’re craving!
Best Buns and Sides for Smashed Turkey Burgers
Don’t forget about the rest of your burger setup. Here are some tasty options:
Buns: Brioche, potato, pretzel, Hawaiian rolls, or lettuce wraps
Sides:
- Sweet potato fries
- Grilled corn on the cob
- Kale salad with lemon vinaigrette
- Air fryer tator tots
- Crispy Brussels sprouts
Picking fun sides is another way to customize your meal and make your smashed turkey burgers part of a delicious feast.
FAQs
Do you have to use butter?
Butter isn’t 100% necessary, but it does help keep the patties moist. You could substitute olive oil or avocado oil instead.
What’s the best turkey to use?
Ground turkey that’s 85-93% lean works perfectly. Too lean and the burgers may be dry.
Can you freeze uncooked patties?
Yes, place the uncooked patties in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer bag. Thaw before cooking.
Enjoy the Best Smashed Turkey Burger of Your Life
Smashed turkey burgers are the healthier burger option you’ve been craving. With crispy edges, a savory juicy interior, and endless customization options, you’ll never miss boring beef burgers again. Try my easy smashed turkey burger recipe and get ready for your new favorite weeknight meal!
turkey smash burgers, how to make them…
First we’ll make the secret sauce which is so easy it’s ridiculous. Is that the secret, you ask? That it’s so easy? No. No, it’s not. The secret to my secret smash burger sauce is hot sauce. Just a teaspoon, but it really adds that extra something. Feel free to use any hot sauce you like, but I like mine with a lot of vinegar and a good amount of heat. So, mix up some mayo, ketchup, mustard, garlic powder and hot sauce and set the sauce aside.
Now for the burgers and they are really quick and easy… lean ground turkey, salt, pepper and… BUTTER. Butter is the magical ingredient that will absolutely make these burgers perfect. Since ground turkey doesn’t have a lot of fat, we need to add some fat to these burgers to make sure they are juicy, moist, and crusty. Trust.
The patties go into a hot cast iron skillet (I use a 12″ one like this) on the stove with a little drizzle of oil and then you’re going to… you guessed it… smash ’em down so they’re nice and flat and thin. Let them cook, flip them, add some melty cheese and finish them off.
Now, toast your brioche buns, assemble your burgers and eat.
Recipe ingredients, tips, substitutions:
Turkey – lean ground turkey is what’s readily available to me, so that’s what I use. You can use ground chicken too. Don’t worry, the burgers won’t be dry because we’re going to add in our special magic ingredient….
Butter, yes butter! Butter makes everything taste better, but it’s especially important in a turkey burger because it adds fat where there isn’t much. Do not skip this part or you will regret it. .
Lettuce: I love iceberg lettuce, and I think it’s great on a burger when it’s shred into thin ribbons. Feel free to use your favourite lettuce though.
Onions – I like sweet onions, sliced thinly and raw on my burgers. They’re mild and just add the right hit. Use whatever you prefer or even fry or caramelize your onions.
For smash burgers, brioche buns are the best because they are soft, rich, and slightly sweet. They go well with the crispy patty. Sesame buns or any other bun you like will also work.
Pickles – sliced dill pickles are ideal, but sometimes I use sliced sweet pickles. Sometimes I add both. I’m moody like that.