Turkey burgers are a delicious and healthier alternative to traditional beef burgers. Smashing the turkey patties gives them an irresistibly crisp, caramelized exterior while keeping the interior juicy and flavorful This easy smashed turkey burger recipe will soon become a fan favorite!
Why Smashed Turkey Burgers Are So Good
Smashed turkey burgers have several advantages over regular turkey burgers:
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Crispy exterior: Smashing the patties right after they hit the hot pan allows the exterior to quickly caramelize. This adds tons of flavor and satisfying crunch.
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Juicy interior The brief cook time keeps the interior of the patty moist and prevents it from drying out
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Quick cooking: Smash burgers cook fast in just 4-5 minutes per side. You can have dinner on the table in under 30 minutes.
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Endless customization: Serve your turkey smash burgers on buns with your favorite toppings like cheese, lettuce, tomato, avocado – the options are unlimited!
How to Make Smashed Turkey Burgers
Making smashed turkey burgers at home is easy. Here’s a step-by-step overview:
Ingredients
- Ground turkey (90% lean works best)
- Worcestershine sauce
- Grated onion
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- Neutral oil for cooking
- Hamburger buns
Instructions
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In a bowl, combine ground turkey, Worcestershire sauce, grated onion, salt, and pepper. Mix well. Form into patties.
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Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil.
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Add patties to hot skillet and immediately smash with a spatula to flatten.
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Cook smashed patties for 4-5 minutes per side until caramelized.
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Build your burger with desired toppings on a toasted bun and enjoy!
Tips
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Use a very hot skillet for the best sear. Stainless steel or cast iron both work well.
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Smash the patties as soon as they hit the pan so they cook into the surface.
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Resist the urge to move them around. Let them sear undisturbed for the crispiest exterior.
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Add cheese in the last 1-2 minutes so it melts nicely.
Top Smashed Turkey Burger Topping Combinations
One of the best parts about turkey smash burgers is customizing them with different toppings and condiments. Here are some of my favorite flavor combinations:
1. Classic
- Lettuce
- Tomato
- Onion
- Ketchup
- Mayo
- American cheese
2. Southwest
- Guacamole
- Pico de gallo
- Pepper jack cheese
- Chipotle mayo
3. Bacon Avocado
- Crispy bacon
- Sliced avocado
- Swiss cheese
- Ranch dressing
4. Italian
- Fresh mozzarella
- Basil
- Balsamic glaze
- Roasted red peppers
5. Greek
- Tzatziki sauce
- Feta cheese crumbles
- Cucumber
- Red onion
- Spinach
Mix and match toppings to create your own signature turkey smash burger. The options are endless!
FAQs About Smashed Turkey Burgers
Should I use white or dark turkey meat?
I prefer using 93% lean ground turkey which is made from white and dark meat. The bit of dark meat adds great moisture and flavor. Ground turkey breast alone can become dry.
What’s the best cheese for turkey burgers?
I like American, cheddar, Swiss, pepper jack, or provolone. Soft cheeses like brie and goat cheese also pair nicely.
How do you keep turkey burgers from drying out?
Using a meat thermometer and avoiding overcooking is key. Also be sure to add a moist ingredient like Worcestershire or grated onion into the raw patties.
Can you grill smashed turkey burgers?
Absolutely! Use a hot grill and smash the patties right after they hit the grates. Cook 4-5 minutes per side.
Should you flip turkey burgers only once?
I recommend only flipping once to get the best sear on both sides. If using a thinner patty, you can flip twice.
More Delicious Turkey Burger Recipes
If you love these smashed turkey burgers, be sure to also try these flavorful turkey burger recipes:
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Jalapeño Popper Turkey Burgers: Mix diced jalapeños and cream cheese into the patty. Top with more cream cheese and bacon.
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Mediterranean Turkey Burgers: Season patties with lemon, oregano, garlic and feta cheese. Add tzatziki sauce.
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BBQ Turkey Burgers: Brush patties with BBQ sauce during cooking. Add crispy onions, cheddar cheese and more BBQ sauce.
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Cajun Turkey Burgers: Sprinkle Cajun seasoning into patties. Top with pepper jack, lettuce, tomato, and Cajun mayo.
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Hawaiian Turkey Burgers: Add pineapple and teriyaki sauce to patties. Top with swiss, lettuce, tomato, and more teriyaki.
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.