Grilled Turkey Burgers with Avocado and Bacon

Turkey is leaner than most meats, which can make cooking turkey burgers tricky. The low fat content of turkey means that it can dry out quickly on the grill and cause your turkey burgers to crumble. You can avoid such issues by applying these tips:

• Use Egg as a Binder: Mixing an egg into the raw ground turkey as you are making your burgers will add moisture and hold the meat together as you grill it. Avoid making your turkey burgers too eggy by using one egg yolk per pound of ground turkey. Adding breadcrumbs to your egg and ground turkey mixture can help bind the burger even more.
• Season the Grill: Before placing your turkey burger on the grill, spray oil on the grill grates and wipe off the excess. Doing this will minimize the likelihood of the burger sticking to the grill and falling apart when you try to scrape it off. Alternatively, spray non-stick cooking spray or rub half an onion on the grill grates before adding your burger to prevent sticking.
• Use Thicker Patties: If your turkey burger is less than half an inch thick, it may not hold together on your grill. Making your patties about an inch thick will help them retain moisture. A thicker turkey burger will also be easier to flip.
• Refrigerate Before Grilling: Refrigerating your molded turkey patties for an hour will help them stay together when placed on the grill.
• Avoid Sauces & Liquids: Adding sauces and other liquids to your turkey burger either before or during grilling may cause it to fall apart. Only sauce your turkey burgers after taking them off the grill.

For this recipe, we recommend our 93% Lean / 7% Fat Ground Turkey which contains only 7% fat. The low fat content means the burger may not stay moist and juicy when cooked over high heat. you can resolve this issue by lightly greasing each side of your turkey burger with butter prior to placing it on the grill. As the meat cooks, the butter will melt and keep the burger juicy. The butter will also flavor the burger.

Other tips for making moist turkey burgers include cooking your patties in a covered grill and avoiding overcooking.

Since turkey burgers are highly customizable, there are several toppings you can add to enhance the flavor. Some of our favorite toppings include:

• Sliced avocado or guacamole
• A fried egg
• Crispy bacon
• Cheese (sharp cheddar or American)
• Onion slices
• Tomato slices
• Jalapeño slices
• Garlic chips
• Coleslaw
• Fries
• Pesto
• Lettuce
• Pickles

You can also add store-bought sauces like ketchup, mayonnaise, or mustard. Note that the toppings added to your turkey burger can change the taste, texture, and nutritional value. For example, toppings like pickles and tomatoes will enhance the burger’s flavor without adding too many calories. On the other hand, toppings like fries, bacon, and cheese will increase your calorie intake.

The ideal cooking time for turkey burgers will depend on the thickness of the patties. For turkey patties up to an inch thick, you should grill each side for three to four minutes on a 375°F grill.

You can check to see if your turkey burger is ready by using a meat thermometer. It is safe to eat when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, or when the inside is no longer pink. Besides tasting unappealing, an undercooked turkey burger can pose health risks.

Bring our grilled turkey burger with avocado and bacon recipe to life with top-quality turkey patties. Discover where to buy fresh Shady Brook Farms turkey patties in a store near you!