How long to cook turkey burgers

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 3/4 cup onion, finely chopped

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 pound ground turkey thighs

• 1 pound ground turkey breast

• 1/3 cup dry unseasoned breadcrumbs

• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice, or lime juice

• 1 large egg, lightly beaten

• 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning, or seasoned salt mixture

• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• 8 hamburger buns, toasted, if desired

• Lettuce, tomato, salsa, flavored mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, for serving, optional

Steps to Make It

1. Gather the ingredients.

   
   

   The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

2. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 F. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray. 

   
   

   The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

3. In a medium nonstick skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and cook, stirring, until the onion is tender and begins to brown. Add the minced garlic and continue cooking, stirring, for about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.

   
   

   The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

4. Combine the ground turkey thighs and breast with the breadcrumbs, chopped cilantro, lemon or lime juice, beaten egg, Creole seasoning, salt, pepper, and the onion and garlic mixture. Mix until the ingredients are well blended.

   
   

   The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

5. Shape the turkey mixture into 8 (4 3/4-ounce) burgers. Arrange the burgers on the prepared baking pan.

   
   

   The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

6. Bake the burgers in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until no longer pink in the middle and cooked through.

   
   

   The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

7. Serve these flavorful burgers on buns with your choice of fixings.

   
   

   The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

Tips

• According to the USDA, ground poultry must be cooked to a minimum of 165 F. To know when they're done, check turkey burgers using an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a burger.
• To make sliders, form the mixture into smaller (2-ounce) patties to yield about 19 sliders. You may need to reduce the baking time slightly.

Recipe Variations

• Use chopped fresh parsley in place of the cilantro, if you don't care for the flavor of cilantro.
• Swap out the spices for your favorite spice blend (Cajun seasoning is an excellent choice).
• To make the turkey burgers gluten free, use gluten-free breadcrumbs and buns.

Can Turkey Burgers Be Frozen?

Make extra turkey burgers to freeze for later. Lay the unbaked patties in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for one to two hours before transferring to a freezer-safe container or bag. They'll keep well for two to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator before baking; turkey burgers can also be baked while still frozen, though you'll need to extend the cooking time.

Are Turkey Burgers Healthier Than Beef Burgers?

Ground turkey is often viewed as a leaner alternative to beef, but this isn't necessarily the case. Turkey breast is leaner than the thigh, and this recipe uses a mixture of the two so the burgers aren't dry. (Some ground turkey is a mixture of dark and white meats, and it's important to read labels when shopping.) Generally, the calories, fat, and saturated fat of turkey burgers is comparable to a burger made with the leanest beef. The toppings and buns are equally important; for the healthiest burgers, be as selective about the fixings as you are with the patties.

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