Turkey Burgers

Turkey Burgers
Courtesy of Jennifer Segal
Updated:

Most turkey burgers are dry and tasteless and leave you yearning for the real deal. Not these! I add turkey sausage—a trick often used with meatballs—to amp up the flavor and make the burgers incredibly juicy. The best part is that, thanks to the highly seasoned sausage, you can throw them together in a matter of minutes with only five ingredients—no chopping, slicing, or dicing required.

These turkey burgers aren’t just a second-best substitute for real beef burgers—they are delicious in their own right. You can customize them to your heart’s content by topping them with your favorite cheese or other burger fixings. And for an extra kick, serve them with my favorite homemade spicy relish—it’s quick, easy, and a must-have at every Segal family BBQ, as it elevates everything off the grill, from hot dogs and grilled chicken to brats and, of course, burgers.

What You’ll Need To Make Grilled Turkey Burgers

(Courtesy of Jennifer Segal)
Courtesy of Jennifer Segal

Step-By-Step Instructions

Remove the sausage meat from the casings. The best way is to use kitchen shears to cut through the casings and then peel them away from meat.
(Courtesy of Jennifer Segal)
Courtesy of Jennifer Segal

Add the ground turkey, pepper, Worcestershire sauce and Dijon mustard.

(Courtesy of Jennifer Segal)
Courtesy of Jennifer Segal

Use your hand to mix together until well combined.

(Courtesy of Jennifer Segal)
Courtesy of Jennifer Segal

Form the meat into 8 even patties about ½-inch thick, and place them on a foil-lined baking sheet.

(Courtesy of Jennifer Segal)
Courtesy of Jennifer Segal

Clean the grill and preheat to high. To grease the grill, lightly dip a wad of paper towels in vegetable oil and, using tongs, carefully rub over the grates several times until glossy and coated. Place the turkey burgers on the grill and cook for five minutes, covered, until nice grill marks form. Flip and continue to cook, covered, for 3-5 minutes more.

(Courtesy of Jennifer Segal)
Courtesy of Jennifer Segal

Heat the buns on the grill, assemble the burgers, and serve.

(Courtesy of Jennifer Segal)
Courtesy of Jennifer Segal

Makes 8 burgers

Ingredients
  • 1¼ pounds Italian turkey sausage (I use Shady Brook Farms hot or sweet varieties)
  • 1⅓ pounds 93/7 lean ground turkey (I use Shady Brook Farms; one package equals 1⅓ pounds)
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 8 hamburger buns
Instructions

Remove the sausage meat from the casings. The best way is to use kitchen shears to cut through the casings and then peel them away from meat. Place the sausage meat in a large bowl along with the ground turkey, pepper, Worcestershire sauce and Dijon mustard. Use your hand to mix together until well combined. The mixture will seem quite wet; that’s okay. Form the meat into 8 even patties about ½-inch thick. Place on a foil-lined baking sheet and refrigerate until ready to cook.

Clean the grill and preheat to high. To grease the grill, lightly dip a wad of paper towels in vegetable oil and, using tongs, carefully rub over the grates several times until glossy and coated. Place the turkey burgers on the grill and cook for five minutes, covered, until nice grill marks form. Flip and continue to cook, covered, for 3-5 minutes more, until the burgers are cooked through. Heat the buns on the grill, assemble the burgers, and serve.

Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The uncooked burgers can be frozen for up to three months. (Freeze the burgers on a baking sheet or plate so their shape sets, then transfer them to a sealable plastic bag for easy storage.) Defrost the burgers overnight in the refrigerator prior to serving and then cook as directed.

Pair With

Fresh Corn Salad with Scallions and Basil
This article was originally published on OnceUponaChef.comFollow on Instagram.
Jennifer Segal
Jennifer Segal
Author
Jennifer is a classically trained chef, Cookbook author, and busy mom. She became interested in cooking in college while studying abroad in France and living with a French family. She is a graduate of L’Academie de Cuisine. Visit OnceUponaChef.com.
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