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    Home » Recipes » Mediterranean

    Published: Jun 7, 2019 · Modified: Apr 12, 2023 by Mariska Ramondino · This post may contain affiliate links

    Turkey Burgers on The Stove (Juicy & Flavorful)

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Seasoned burgers in biscuit buns and served on a wooden board.

    These easy and juicy turkey burgers on the stove are the perfect go-to dinner.

    Made without egg or breadcrumbs, they're deliciously flavored with simple seasoning, and you can whip them together in less than 30 minutes (gluten-free and low-carb).

    Gluten free turkey burger topped with slices of tomato, thinly sliced red onions, pickles in a bun next to a dollop of ketchup.

    We love these skillet turkey burgers. They are the perfect meal for busy weeknights.

    I often go all out and enjoy them with my favorite toppings, hamburger buns (see suggestions below), and this mango avocado salad as a side.

    But if you want to keep it low-carb or Keto-friendly, serve with a lettuce wrap topped with this Chimichurri sauce or a vegetable side dish like these Roasted asparagus and garlic scapes, healthy cauliflower mash, or easy cucumber salad.

    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • How to Make Juicy Turkey Burgers on The Stove
    • Expert Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • Serving Suggestions & Toppings
    • Side Dish Ideas
    • 📖 Recipe

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    • They're healthy turkey burgers and a great option to keep it gluten-free.
    • They come together with simple ingredients that add extra flavor.
    • It's an easy dinner that's perfect for the whole family.
    • They're juicy with a healthy fat content, made with no egg or breadcrumbs.
    • It's a simple turkey burger recipe you can easily add to your menu rotation.
    • You can even make the turkey burger patties in advance for busy weeknights.

    Ingredients & Notes

    See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

    Grated cheese, one shallot, garlic, ground turkey, olive oil, and seasoning displayed on a table.
    • Ground turkey meat: ground turkey breast is very lean meat (90%), while ground thighs (or drumsticks) have a higher fat percentage. Go for lean turkey meat, or get a 50/50 mix of the two for a higher ratio of fats. Try to go for organic ground turkey.
    • Shallot and garlic: you can always count on this sweet onion and herb to add incredible flavor.
    • Simple additional herbs: salt, black pepper, dried rosemary, onion powder, and red pepper flakes make turkey patties shine and add much flavor.
    • Asiago: This cheese adds a mild nutty flavor to the meat mixture and avoids a dry turkey burger. It is the "secret ingredient." Parmesan is a great alternative.
    • Olive oil: A little bit of this healthy fat in the skillet makes the burgers cook evenly, locks in moisture, and creates incredible flavors.

    Love delicious burgers? Then don't also forget to check out these gourmet burger recipes.

    How to Make Juicy Turkey Burgers on The Stove

    See the full recipe with measurements in the recipe card.

    A series of steps showing how to make easy turkey burgers on the stove.

    Step One (Picture 1 above) - Place ground turkey meat in a medium-sized bowl. Add the cheese, garlic, onion, and seasoning.

    Step Two (Picture 2 above) - Use your hands to mix until all ingredients are well blended.

    Step Three (Picture 3 above) - Divide the meat mixture into 8 or 10 equal portions and loosely create balls. Then flatten into burger patties (about ¾-inch thick). Try to handle the meat as quickly and as little as possible.

    Step Four (Picture 4 above) - Heat a cast-iron skillet or non-stick pan with olive oil on medium to medium-high heat. When hot, cook the turkey patties on each side for about four to five minutes.

    Expert Tips

    • The turkey mixture might feel sticky when shaped into patties because we don't use bread crumbs. A trick is to dust your hands with cassava, almond, or gluten-free all-purpose flour as you handle the meat.
    • When you shape them, don't overhandle the meat mixture because it impacts the juiciness of cooking turkey burgers on the stove. Instead, briefly knead in the ingredients.
    • Heat the oil over medium-high heat until warm, about 2 minutes, before adding the flavorful turkey burger patties.
    • I sprinkle a pinch of salt on the skillet's bottom before the homemade burger patties go in.
    • Cook them for 4-5 minutes on one side until browned before gently flipping them. 
    • Once flipped, gently press them down slightly for a few seconds with a spatula so they don't rise. Don't smash them; don't worry, they won't dry out. The cheese adds enough fat to the lean turkey meat to stay moist and juicy.
    • Work in batches to allow enough room between the patties while cooking.

    Recipe FAQs

    How to tell if a turkey burger is done on the stove without a thermometer?

    In general, these turkey burgers should be done when cooked for 4 to 5 minutes on the stove on both sides.

    If unsure, slice or pierce the thickest part of the patty. There should be no pale pink meat coloring or any pink juices run out. The turkey burgers are done when the juices are clear, and the burgers are brown on the outside and white or almost light greyish on the inside.

    How do you make your ground turkey burgers moist and juicy?

    The secret ingredients for making these turkey burgers on the stove juicy are onions, garlic, olive oil, and Asiago or Parmesan cheese.

    These ingredients add enough fat and moisture to ground turkey patties to keep them deliciously moist.

    Also, don't overhandle the meat when forming turkey patties because it impacts the juiciness when cooking turkey burgers on the stove.

    What holds these turkey burgers together?

    Keep the ground turkey meat cold in the fridge until you can form the patties.

    Although unnecessary, it's even better to place the turkey patties in the fridge until you are ready to cook them or while the skillet is heating up.

    Ensure they are fully cooked and browned on one side before gently flipping them.

    Only flip them once when the burgers are in the pan. Otherwise, it will slow down the cooking process, and they might fall apart.

    How to store and reheat cooked turkey burgers?

    When completely cooled, store in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 days.

    Reheat in the microwave or on the stove with a bit of olive oil until warm all the way through.

    Serving Suggestions & Toppings

    If you want the full-on experience of delicious homemade turkey burgers, serve them on gluten-free buns.

    We also love them on fresh homemade, Gluten-free Drop Biscuits. It's the best!

    Condiments like ketchup, mustard, pickles, sliced red onions, tomato slices, and burger buns displayed on the table.

    Some of my favorite toppings:

    • You got to have some sugar-free ketchup and Dijon mustard.
    • Add some bread and butter pickles and thinly sliced red onion.
    • I also love to add thinly sliced tomatoes.
    • Maybe add an extra slice of Asiago cheese.
    Gluten free turkey burger topped with slices of tomato, thinly sliced red onions, pickles in a bun next to a dollop of ketchup.

    Side Dish Ideas

    Here are some great side dishes to enjoy these incredible flavored and juicy turkey burgers made on the stove.

    • Oven-baked Potatoes with Jamaican Curry and Caraway Fruits with Rosemary for Garnish
      Oven-baked Potatoes with Jamaican Curry and Caraway Fruits
    • A massaged apple kale salad in a large wooden bowl.
      Sweet Kale Apple Salad with Creamy Avocado Pesto
    • A small bowl filled with avocado quinoa salad and a creamy lemon dressing on the side.
      Avocado Quinoa Salad with Creamy Lemon Dressing
    • Rosemary Drop biscuits in a cast-iron skillet.
      Easy Gluten-Free Drop Biscuits (& Dairy-Free Too)

    Now it's your time to make these easy gluten-free ground turkey burgers.


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    Have questions? Simply comment below or message me. If you make this recipe, please leave a comment and a starred review below. Thank you!


    📖 Recipe

    Gluten free turkey burger topped with slices of tomato, thinly sliced red onions, pickles in a bun next to a dollop of ketchup.

    Juicy Turkey Burgers on The Stove

    Mariska Ramondino
    Enjoy these delicious gluten-free stove-top turkey burgers as a low-carb dinner, or pair them with your favorite hamburger buns and toppings.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 25 minutes mins
    Course Main Courses
    Cuisine Italian

    Equipment

    • 1 large 12-inch cast iron skillet or a large nonstick skillet.
    Servings 10 mini burgers

    Ingredients
     

    • 2 pounds ground Turkey (93% lean) 908 grams
    • 1 shallot finely chopped, 35 grams
    • 2 large garlic cloves finely chopped
    • 1 cup hard grated Asiago or Parmesan Cheese 85 grams, plus more to garnish
    • 1 teaspoon dried Rosemary
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • 2 teaspoons salt plus more to taste
    • 1 teaspoon black pepper or 15 half turns with the pepper mill
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil or more if needed

    Instructions
     

    • Place the meat in a large bowl. With your fist, make a dent in the middle of the meat. Add the finely chopped shallot, garlic, cheese, dried rosemary, onion powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper.
      2 pounds ground Turkey (93% lean), 1 shallot, 2 large garlic cloves, 1 cup hard grated Asiago or Parmesan Cheese, 1 teaspoon dried Rosemary, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper
    • Use your hands to combine all the ingredients. Divide the mixture into 8 or 10 equally-sized parts.
    • Roll each piece into a ball. Use the palms of your hands to flatten them into turkey burger patties.
    • Coat the bottom of a large skillet with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and heat over medium heat (for about 2 minutes). I like to sprinkle the bottom of the pan with some salt (optional).
    • Place the turkey burgers in the skillet and cook on both sides for 5 minutes or until cooked through and slightly browned on both sides. Add more salt and pepper to taste.
    • Note: Cook them first on one side for 4 to 5 minutes until browned. Then gently flip the burgers and press them down slightly with your spatula for a few seconds so they don't rise up—don't smash them. Then allow browning on the other side for another 4 to 5 minutes.
    • Enjoy with a large salad (low-carb) or place on your favorite (gluten-free) bhamburger uns.
    • Extra garnishes: extra slices of Asiago cheese, bread and butter pickles, tomato slices, thinly sliced red onions, sugar-free ketchup, sweet and spicy mustard, and ¼ teaspoon olive oil to coat the bun.

    Notes

    Helpful notes:
    • Try serving these on gluten-free biscuits with extra slices of Asiago cheese.
    • The meat mixture might feel sticky when shaping them into patties. Dry hands between shaping the turkey patties or dust your hands with gluten-free all-purpose flour, cassava, or almond flour.
    • Shaping the burger patties: When you shape the burgers, don't overhandle the meat mixture because it impacts the juiciness when cooked. Instead, just briefly knead in the ingredients and handle the meat as quickly and as little as possible.
    • Work in batches to allow enough room between the patties while cooking.
    • My favorite unsweetened ketchup is Organic Ketchup from Primal Kitchen.
    • My favorite sweet and spicy mustard is Primal Kitchen Organic Dijon Mustard.
    • Asiago cheese is more buttery and creamy than Parmesan, so try to go for Asiago if you can. Otherwise, Parmesan is a great alternative choice.
    • Nutritional data is calculated without the bun and add-ons.

    Add your own private notes

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    Nutrition (% Daily value)

    Calories: 195kcal (10%)Carbohydrates: 1gProtein: 31g (62%)Fat: 7g (11%)Saturated Fat: 3g (19%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 71mg (24%)Sodium: 2003mg (87%)Potassium: 360mg (10%)Fiber: 0.1gSugar: 0.4gVitamin A: 127IU (3%)Vitamin C: 0.5mg (1%)Calcium: 155mg (16%)Iron: 1mg (6%)

    Disclaimer: This nutritional data is calculated using third party tools and is only intended as a reference.

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