Juicy Turkey Burgers with BBQ Aioli
Turkey burgers don’t have to be dry and boring! Try this recipe for a delicious meal you’ll make again and again. These reheat really well for leftovers, too.
Turkey burgers are known for being a bit meh. These super juicy turkey burgers with BBQ aioli will rock your world. They’re flavorful, juicy (yeah, I know I already said juicy but it’s worth repeating) and so satisfying. Make extra for leftovers. Trust me on this.
I’ve been perfecting this recipe for years. Before I started blogging, I never wrote down or measured anything. When I finally measured out everything for the turkey burgers, I was honestly excited to have something precise to go by from then on.
Turkey burgers can be tricky. Not enough or too much of something totally throws off the flavor and texture. So now I can get it just right every time and so can you. You’re welcome.
*Heads up. This post may contain affiliate links. If you click one and make a purchase, I might make a small commission at no extra charge to you.
Ingredients:
Ground Turkey
I buy bulk ground turkey at Costco and the individual packages are around 1.4 pounds or so. I’ve experimented with the quantity of turkey and somewhere close to 1.5 pounds works.
Liquid Smoke
Get whatever brand you can find in the store where you happen to be shopping. Mesquite or hickory are both just fine.
BBQ Sauce
My favorite bbq sauce is Sweet Baby Ray’s Original. You can use whatever you like, but this is the one I’ve tested this recipe with. Yum!
Tips:
Dairy Free
For dairy free, double check your hamburger buns. Some have dairy in the ingredients and some don’t. We use Ballpark.
There are so many dairy free cheeses to choose from. But honestly, you won’t even miss having cheese on these.
Cooking
These burgers need to cook on a flat surface. They are very soft and don’t work well on a grill grate. You can use a skillet, which is what I do because they still taste wonderful. If you’d like the grilled flavor, you can use a grill mat like this.
DO NOT press down on the burgers as they cook. That will press out all the fat and juice that makes them so yummy. After all, the whole point is that these turkey burgers aren’t dry.
Juicy Turkey Burgers with BBQ Aioli
Ingredients
For the Turkey Burgers
- 1 ½ lbs ground turkey
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 cloves garlic - minced
- 2 tsp liquid smoke - mesquite or hickory works
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 egg
- 2 slices wheat toast - almost burnt, finely chopped
- dash black pepper
For the BBQ Aioli
- ⅓ cup mayo
- ¼ cup bbq sauce
- ½ tsp garlic powder
Instructions
For the Aioli
- Whisk together mayo, bbq sauce and garlic powder until smooth.
- Cover and refrigerate while you make the burgers.
For the Turkey Burgers
- Add all ingredients for the turkey burgers except for the turkey and bread into a large mixing bowl. Stirl until well combined.
- Add the turkey to the mixture and mix thoroughly.
- Add the toast and fold them into the turkey mixture.
- Preheat a skillet to medium heat. Use cooking spray, if necessary, to prevent sticking.
- Rub some olive oil on the palms of your hands and on your fingers. Get them wet with water and then scoop about 1/3 cup of the turkey into your hands. Pat it into a smooth ball and then press flat into a patty.
- Add straight into the skillet. The patties are too soft to be made ahead. Add another 2-3 patties to the skillet but don't crowd them.
- Let the patties cook 5-7 minutes on each side, then flip.
- Check with a meat thermometer to ensure they have reached 160° F internally.
- Serve immediately, or allow to cool, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
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