Guys. Get ready to never look at a burger the same way again. I am obsessed with cheeseburgers and love eating them when I’m dining out (ask me sometime about my most recent New Year’s resolution), but cooking them at home tends to be greasy/messy enough to prevent me from doing it too often. Until now. I MUCH prefer a smash burger cooked on the stovetop to a dry, hockey puck-esque thing mangled on a grill (I have stories, can you tell?). Anyway, these Oven Baked Turkey Burgers are true-blue gems, and this recipe is an absolute back-pocket must.
Turkey burgers are a delicious, healthier alternative to traditional beef burgers. With fewer calories and fat, they can be part of a wholesome diet. The key to cooking moist, flavorful turkey burgers is using the right temperature in the oven. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to bake tender turkey burgers, from ideal oven temperature to cook times and food safety.
Why Cook Turkey Burgers in the Oven?
There are several benefits to baking turkey burgers in the oven rather than grilling or pan frying
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Even browning and thorough cooking The dry heat of the oven surrounds the burgers to promote browning while cooking them evenly all the way through No flipping required!
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Hands-off method: Once the burgers are in the oven, you don’t have to keep a close eye on them like on the stovetop.
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Can accommodate batches The oven has room to cook multiple burgers at once, Great for meal prepping or entertaining
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Easy to add toppings: It’s simple to incorporate cheese, vegetables, herbs and other toppings that melt nicely in the oven heat.
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Avoid grease splatters: Baking contains messy grease drips so there’s less cleanup.
Factors that Impact Oven Cook Times
Several factors affect how quickly turkey burgers bake and the oven temperature needed:
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Thickness: Thinner patties cook faster than thick ones. Aim for 1/2-inch thickness for the most even baking.
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Temperature: Higher heat = shorter cook time. But too high can dry them out.
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Size: Individual 4-6 oz patties bake quicker than large batches crowded together.
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Add-ins: Ingredients like cheese and breadcrumbs increase cook time.
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Appliance variances: All ovens heat slightly differently.
Choosing the Best Oven Temperature
The optimal oven temperature range for juicy turkey burgers is 350°F to 400°F. Here are details on each:
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350°F: Provides slower, gentler cooking to keep patties tender on the inside. Ideal for thicker burgers.
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375°F: Strikes a balance between gentle baking and efficient browning. Great all-purpose turkey burger temp.
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400°F: Speeds up cook time; promotes nice browning on the outside. Better for thin patties.
Higher than 400°F risks drying out the burgers before they fully cook through. For food safety, turkey patties need to reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
Recommended Bake Times at 350°F vs. 400°F
Cook times vary based on the oven temp, patty thickness, and quantity you’re baking. Here are general guidelines:
At 350°F:
- 1/2-inch thin patties: 20-22 minutes
- 3/4-inch thick patties: 25-30 minutes
- 4 oz patties: 22-25 minutes
- Stuffed burgers: 30-35 minutes
At 400°F:
- 1/2-inch thin patties: 15-18 minutes
- 3/4-inch thick patties: 18-22 minutes
- 4 oz patties: 18-20 minutes
- Stuffed burgers: 22-25 minutes
No matter what temperature you bake at, always rely on an instant-read thermometer to assess doneness rather than time alone. Insert it into the thickest patty to ensure they reach 165°F internally.
Step-by-Step Guide to Baking Turkey Burgers
Follow these simple steps for baking moist, flavorful turkey burgers every time:
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Preheat oven to desired temp (350°F – 400°F). Preheat for accuracy.
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Form patties that are evenly sized and 1/2 to 3/4-inch thick. Handle meat gently.
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Arrange on baking sheet: Line with parchment paper and lightly grease. Space out patties.
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Bake on middle rack: Check at minimum time and cook longer if needed.
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Flip patties halfway: Ensures even browning and cooking on both sides.
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Test temperature: 165°F internal temp = safe doneness.
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Let rest 5 minutes: Allows juices to redistribute before serving.
Flavor Boosting Ideas
One bonus of oven-baking is how easy it is to incorporate tasty mix-ins and toppings:
- Shredded cheese like cheddar, pepperjack, or fontina
- Minced garlic, onions, or bell peppers
- Fresh herbs like parsley, basil, oregano, or chives
- Spices like chili powder, cumin, paprika, or curry powder
- Chopped nuts like pecans, pistachios, or pine nuts
- Condiments like ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce, or mayo
Get creative with your favorite flavors! The oven heat gently cooks any additions so they infuse right into the patties.
Preventing Dry Turkey Burgers
To keep your turkey burgers juicy and tender:
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Use lean ground turkey with some fat, like 93% lean. Too lean dries them out.
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Handle patties gently when shaping to avoid dense texture.
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Brush patties with olive oil before baking for added moisture.
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Bake at moderate temps, like 375°F, not too high.
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Cook only until 165°F internal temp to avoid overbaking.
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Allow patties to rest 5 minutes before serving so juices redistribute.
Serving Suggestions
Baked turkey burgers pair wonderfully with all kinds of delicious toppings and sides:
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Toasted whole wheat buns with lettuce, tomato, onion, and condiments
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Sliced avocado, caramelized onions, or sautéed mushrooms
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Oven fries, sweet potato fries, or fresh green salad
However you choose to serve them, oven-baked turkey burgers make for a fast, healthier, and downright delicious meal. Master the ideal oven temperature and cook times, and you’ll enjoy tender, juicy turkey burgers anytime.
- 350°F: 5 times
- 400°F: 5 times
- 165°F: 3 times
- 1/2-inch: 3 times
- 3/4-inch: 2 times
- 4 oz: 2 times
- 22-25 minutes: 3 times
- 15-18 minutes: 1 time
- 18-22 minutes: 1 time
- 25-30 minutes: 1 time
- 30-35 minutes: 1 time
Top three tips and tricks for the very best oven baked turkey burgers
- Smash! Smash! Okay, we’re not going for pucks here, right? We’re trying to achieve that good smash burger effect. You know, the burgers that are somehow both incredibly juicy and still have an even, crisp surface all over? Yes, that’s what we’re getting here, but all done in the oven! The smashing really helps with it, too. It keeps the cook time lower, the patties will bake more evenly, and they’re more apt to actually develop a crust . So, we’re going to smash these to a thickness of about 1/3 inch (give or take) and a diameter of about 4 to 4.5 inches. This is what I do every time, and with 2 pounds of ground turkey, you can get about six big burgers out of it. You could do eight quarter-pounders, but honestly that’s not quite big enough.
- Use a little bit of the doughy bun interiors to help bind the ground turkey. Yes! This is one of my favorite MKL tricks. Rather than introducing a whole new ingredient to the program here (store-bought breadcrumbs) let’s just pick out some of the excess bread from our burger buns and throw that into the meat mixture, yes? Fresh bread is better for this sort of thing than dried anyway, as it contributes to the overall juiciness of the finished burgers more effectively. Similar to how you make classic meatballs, we’ll simply pick out some of the bread from the bun tops, hollowing them out a bit. Next, we’ll tear that bread up into fresh breadcrumbs. This will maintain moisture – literally holding onto it – and it will also bind the patties together nicely. {Speaking of super easy meatballs, you may want to peep my Easiest hands-off spaghetti and meatballs, or my lemony orzo with meatballs, or my Pacific Rim Meatballs.}
- Work it, but not real good. So, as with just about any recipe that uses ground meat, we want to gently mix the ingredients together just until blended. We DON’T want to over-work the turkey, as this will contribute a toughness to the finished burgers. We want lightness, not toughness. Also the heat from your hands will begin to render what little fat they actually do have. We don’t want this to happen just yet.
How long to bake turkey burgers?
From the few rounds of tests I ran for this recipe, I found that 11 to 12 minutes was just right for these oven baked turkey burgers, at the thickness of 1/3-inch. You really don’t want to overcook them, but I don’t know anyone who would be excited to bite into a rare turkey burger. This ain’t beef we’re dealing with here. We’re aiming for an internal temperature of 165 degrees F, if you must know. But who actually takes their burgers’ temperatures? Pretty sure there aren’t many who do, as you can eyeball things just fine.
How to Cook Juicy Turkey Burgers in the Oven – easy turkey burger recipe
FAQ
How long to bake turkey burgers at 400 degrees?
Bake the burgers in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until no longer pink in the middle and cooked through.
How long to cook burgers in the oven at 350 degrees?
Make one large burger patty: Form the beef into one large patty instead of individual patties—this is our secret to making cheeseburger sliders for a crowd! Press the ground beef into an even layer in an ungreased 8-inch square baking dish, and bake in a 350° oven until a thermometer reads 160°, 15 to 20 minutes.
How long to grill turkey burgers at 375 degrees?
Preheat grill to medium high heat, approximately 375-400 degrees F. Clean grill grates with grill brush and rub grill grates with oil soaked rag. Place turkey burgers on the grill and grill each side for 4-6 minutes. Remove from grill and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
What temperature to cook turkey in the oven?
An 8- to 12-pound unstuffed turkey typically takes 2 3/4 to 3 hours to roast in a 325 degrees F oven.Nov 12, 2024