I’ve Spent Years Perfecting My Turkey Burger Recipe

Turkey burgers don’t have to be dry and boring.

The secret to juicy, flavorful turkey burgers? Greek yogurt! Alex Lepe/TNS

I love a good turkey burger, but it often gets a bad rap for being boring, bland, and dry. Because of that I’ve spent years coming up with the ideal recipe that delivers flavorful and juicy turkey burgers. Well, I finally have a winner! This version starts with a smart technique that leaves you with tender, juicy patties every single time, and leans on a couple of pantry ingredients for a classic savory taste. Serve with cucumber salad, oven-baked potato wedges, or creamy cilantro-lime slaw for the ultimate summer meal.

Why You’ll Love It

• It’s actually a turkey burger you’ll want to eat! The patties are thick, juicy, well-seasoned, and delicious.
• It’s quick and easy with a short ingredient list. These burgers are ready in less than 30 minutes from start to finish, and require fewer than 10 ingredients.

Key Ingredients in Turkey Burgers

• Ground turkey: I strongly recommend using 93 to 94 percent lean ground turkey (the percentage can vary from store to store) for the best flavor and texture (99 percent lean ground turkey makes a much more dry burger).
• Panko breadcrumbs: This essential ingredient forms the base of the panade, my secret technique for making juicy, delicious turkey burgers.
• Greek yogurt: I’m partial to full-fat for the extra flavor, but any fat percentage works well here. Rich Greek yogurt moistens the meat and keeps it from drying out when cooking.
• Dijon mustard: Gives the burgers a big boost of flavor.
• Worcestershire sauce: A little bit gives the burgers a deep savory flavor.

Helpful Swaps

• An equal amount of regular breadcrumbs can be used in place of panko breadcrumbs.
• About 1/4 red onion or yellow onion can be used in place of the shallot.
• If you have another favorite mustard, go ahead and use it in place of the Dijon. Whole grain, spicy brown, and honey mustard also work well.
• If you don’t have any Worcestershire sauce on hand, the recipe calls for such a small amount (just one teaspoon) that I don’t think it’s worth buying a bottle. Instead use soy sauce in its place.

What to Serve With Turkey Burgers

• Shoestring Fries
• Bow Tie Pasta Salad
• Crispy Air Fryer Potato Chips
• Avocado-Corn Salad
• Tomato Salad

Turkey Burgers

Serves 4

For the burgers:

• 1 medium shallot
• 1/2 small bunch fresh parsley
• 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 1 pound 93 percent lean ground turkey
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 slices cheese, such as provolone or cheddar (optional)
• 4 split hamburger buns (optional)

Topping options:

• Lettuce leaves
• Sliced tomato
• Thinly sliced red onion
• Mashed or sliced avocado
• Sliced pickles
• Mayonnaise
• Ketchup

1. Finely chop 1 medium shallot (about 1/4 cup). Pick the leaves from 1/2 small bunch fresh parsley and finely chop until you have 1/4 cup. Place both in a medium bowl.