Thought I’d make us some burgers for lunch today since my boyfriend was home. I was a little worried that they wouldn’t work without an egg or breadcrumbs, but they did great!
You could make your own turkey mince, but I used 500g of it. One large onion, peeled and cut into eight pieces. Two cloves of garlic, peeled. A pinch of sage, a pinch of thyme, salt, and pepper.
Put the onion and garlic into a food processor and pulse them a few times. Then add the rest of the ingredients and pulse again until everything is well mixed. Form into about six burgers, or eight smaller ones. I laid mine on my meat chopping board then refrigerated whilst chopping the salad. Put a little oil in a griddle pan and heat it on medium. Cook your burgers for about 15 minutes, flipping them over every now and then. Serve with homemade chips, salad, and ketchup, if you want. We didn’t have chips because we thought it might be too heavy for lunch.
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#Alternatives to Breadcrumbs for Juicy, Sturdy Turkey Burgers
Breadcrumbs are a common binding agent in turkey burgers, helping to keep the patties together But if you want to cut carbs, go gluten-free, or simply don’t have breadcrumbs on hand, there are plenty of substitutes for breadcrumbs you can use in turkey burgers
With a few simple swaps, you can still achieve tender and flavorful turkey burger patties that hold their shape on the grill or in the pan. Read on for the best options for breadcrumb replacements when making homemade turkey burgers.
Why Use Breadcrumbs in Turkey Burgers?
Before discussing alternatives, let’s review why breadcrumbs are added to turkey burgers in the first place. Breadcrumbs serve a few purposes:
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Binding – They absorb moisture and bind the ground turkey together so patties keep their shape. Without a binder, turkey patties can fall apart easily.
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Texture – They provide some crunch and extra body to contrast the softness of the turkey.
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Flavor – Breadcrumbs lend mild flavor and light sweetness.
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Moisture – They help retain moisture, so patties don’t dry out during cooking.
Any alternative to breadcrumbs needs to accomplish most of the same goals. Now let’s look at your options.
Best Breadcrumb Replacements for Turkey Burgers
Here are the top ingredients you can substitute for breadcrumbs when making homemade turkey burgers:
1. Rolled Oats
Rolled or old-fashioned oats are an excellent stand-in for breadcrumbs. They absorb moisture well to bind the patties, add texture, and provide subtle oat flavor. Use dry oats and pulse them briefly in a food processor if you want a finer crumb.
Use: 1/2 to 3/4 cup oats per pound of ground turkey.
2. Panko Breadcrumbs
Though still a breadcrumb, panko offers a gluten-free choice. The Japanese-style crumbs have a light, crispy texture. Toast them before using for extra crunch.
Use: 1/2 to 3/4 cup panko per pound of turkey.
3. Crushed Crackers
Crush gluten-free crackers like rice crackers or flax crackers in a bag using a rolling pin. The small cracker pieces serve as an easy binder replacement.
Use: Crushed crackers equal to 1/2 cup of crumbs per pound of turkey.
4. Mashed Potatoes
Cooked, mashed potatoes work wonderfully to bind moist turkey burgers. Allow cooked potatoes to cool slightly before mashing smooth.
Use: 1/3 cup potatoes per pound of turkey meat.
5. Cooked Rice
Cooked white or brown rice pulsed in the food processor gives great texture and moisture to turkey patties. Chill the rice fully before using.
Use: 1/3 to 1/2 cup cooked rice per pound of ground turkey.
6. Finely Chopped Mushrooms
Pulse mushrooms like white or baby bellas in the food processor until finely chopped. They add moisture and earthy flavor.
Use: 1/2 cup finely chopped mushrooms per pound of turkey.
7. Ground Flaxseed or Chia Seeds
These healthy seeds absorb a ton of moisture. Grind them first for the best binding effects.
Use: 1/4 cup ground seeds per pound of turkey meat.
8. Rolled Quinoa Flakes
Made from ground quinoa, these flakes create tender turkey patties. Rehydrate the flakes in water first.
Use: 1/2 cup rehydrated quinoa flakes for 1 pound turkey.
9. Ground Nuts
Finely grind almonds, walnuts or pecans to make a nut “meal” for adding to turkey burgers. It adds flavor and healthy fats.
Use: 1/4 cup nut meal per pound of ground turkey.
10. Ground Flax Meal
In addition to ground seeds, flax meal is an excellent binder. Sprinkle in a few tablespoons when mixing turkey burger meat.
Use: 2-3 tablespoons flax meal per pound of turkey.
11. Coconut Flour
This gluten-free flour absorbs moisture well. Substitute up to 1/4 cup per pound of turkey ground meat.
12. Cornmeal
The texture of cornmeal gives great body to turkey burgers. Use fine or medium grind cornmeal.
Use: 1/4 to 1/2 cup cornmeal per pound of turkey meat.
13. Quick Oats
While they work slightly less well than rolled oats, uncooked quick oats can still provide binding and moisture.
Use: 1/2 cup dry quick oats per pound of ground turkey.
Tips for Making Sturdy Turkey Burgers Without Breadcrumbs
Whichever breadcrumb alternative you use, here are some useful tips:
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Make sure any replacement is well incorporated into the turkey and chill the mix first. This helps everything bind together.
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Add an egg to help hold moisture and glue ingredients. One egg per pound of turkey meat works well.
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Mix in a cheese like cheddar or parmesan for extra moisture and binding.
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Don’t overwork the turkey mixture or patties can get dense. Gently form into patties.
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Make indented centers on patties to prevent bulging as patties cook.
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Chill patties 20-30 minutes before cooking so they firm up and hold together.
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Use a light touch when flipping patties to prevent crumbling.
With the right substitutes and techniques, you can ditch the breadcrumbs and enjoy outstanding turkey burgers! Now fire up that grill.
random thoughts from my days..
Thought I’d make us some burgers for lunch today since my boyfriend was home. I was a little worried that they wouldn’t work without an egg or breadcrumbs, but they did great!
You could make your own turkey mince, but I used 500g of it. One large onion, peeled and cut into eight pieces. Two cloves of garlic, peeled. A pinch of sage, a pinch of thyme, salt, and pepper.
Put the onion and garlic into a food processor and pulse them a few times. Then add the rest of the ingredients and pulse again until everything is well mixed. Form into about six burgers, or eight smaller ones. I laid mine on my meat chopping board then refrigerated whilst chopping the salad. Put a little oil in a griddle pan and heat it on medium. Cook your burgers for about 15 minutes, flipping them over every now and then. Serve with homemade chips, salad, and ketchup, if you want. We didn’t have chips because we thought it might be too heavy for lunch.
How To Make Macro Friendly Turkey Burgers. No Breadcrumbs!
FAQ
How to keep turkey burgers from falling apart without breadcrumbs?
What is a good binder for turkey burgers?
What helps turkey burgers stick together?
How to make turkey burgers without bread crumbs?
This recipe for turkey burgers without bread crumbs is simple to make and produces juicy, flavorful burgers that everyone will love. 1. In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, onion, garlic, egg, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. 2. Mix well until all of the ingredients are evenly distributed. 3.
What do you need to make a healthy turkey burger?
So let’s go over what you’ll need to make these ultimate healthy turkey burgers! You just need 5 ingredients (no eggs and no breadcrumbs!): 99% lean ground turkey, frozen spinach, dried basil, freshly ground black pepper, and coarse sea salt (like this — more on that in a minute!).
What is a good substitute for seasoned bread crumbs?
Just mix them with some savory spices like oregano, garlic powder, and onion powder for a little extra flavor and to balance out any sweetness. Dried stuffing is basically large, dried, seasoned pieces of bread. Process some into fine crumbs in your food processor and you’ve got a savory, herby substitute for seasoned breadcrumbs!
Can you use crackers as a breadcrumb substitute?
Don’t run to the grocery store just yet—you might have some of these easy breadcrumb substitutes on hand already! Turns out that many pantry staples (including crackers, chips, and other dried goods) can be used as a breadcrumb substitute.
How do you cook a turkey burger in a crock pot?
Instructions 1. In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey, onion, parsley, basil, oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. 2. Form the mixture into 4 patties. 3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. 4. Cook the burgers for 5-7 minutes per side, or until cooked through. 5. Serve the burgers on buns with your favorite toppings.
How do you make a no fail turkey burger?
No Fail, Amazing Turkey Burgers! Tired of dried out, falling apart turkey burgers? Then this flavor packed, healthy, sticks-together-and-doesn’t-fall-apart turkey burger is the one for you! Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl; form into 4 patties. Dust each patty with flour, shaking off the excess.