Turkey Burger with Avocado (Printable)
Savory turkey patties paired with creamy avocado and fresh fixings for a delicious, lighter meal option.
# What you'll need:
→ Turkey Patties
01 - 1.1 lbs ground turkey
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
05 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
06 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
07 - ½ tsp ground black pepper
08 - 1 tsp salt
09 - 1 tbsp olive oil (for grilling)
→ Toppings & Assembly
10 - 2 ripe avocados, sliced
11 - 4 whole wheat burger buns (or gluten-free if preferred)
12 - 1 medium tomato, sliced
13 - 4 leaves romaine lettuce
14 - ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
15 - 2 tbsp mayonnaise (optional)
16 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
17 - Salt and pepper, to taste
# Directions:
01 - In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, finely chopped onion, minced garlic, chopped parsley, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, ground black pepper, and salt. Mix gently until just combined to avoid toughness.
02 - Divide the mixture into 4 equal portions and shape each into a round burger patty.
03 - Heat olive oil in a grill pan or skillet over medium heat. Cook patties for 5 to 6 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
04 - While cooking, toss avocado slices with lemon juice, salt, and pepper to maintain freshness and prevent browning.
05 - Lightly toast burger buns if desired to enhance texture and flavor.
06 - If using, spread mayonnaise on the bottom bun. Layer romaine lettuce, cooked turkey patty, tomato slices, red onion, and avocado. Complete with the top bun.
07 - Serve immediately accompanied by preferred side dishes.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- Turkey stays surprisingly juicy when you don't overwork the meat, and the garlic-mustard combo makes each bite taste restaurant-quality.
- It's the kind of burger you can eat and actually feel energized afterward, not sluggish.
- Avocado transforms it from a simple burger into something that tastes a little fancy, but takes barely any extra effort.
02 -
- Don't season the avocado until just before assembly—salt draws out moisture and turns it into mush.
- Turkey burgers cook faster than beef, and they'll dry out if you cook them past medium or let them sit too long after cooking.
- Patties with an indent in the center cook more evenly than flat ones; the edges won't be overdone while the middle catches up.
03 -
- Buy ground turkey that's labeled 93% lean or 93/7—it's lean enough to feel healthy but has enough fat to stay juicy during cooking.
- If your avocados aren't quite ripe yet, buying them a day or two early and leaving them on the counter overnight works perfectly.