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 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 are onions, garlic, olive oil, and Asiago or Parmesan cheese. These ingredients add enough fat, moisture, and flavor to ground turkey patties. Also, don't overhandle the meat when forming turkey patties. Overhandling impacts the juiciness of turkey burgers cooked on the stove.

How to hold 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 through.

Turkey Burgers on The Stove (Juicy & Flavorful)

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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.

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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 (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 fat ratio. 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 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 form 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 as this impacts the juiciness when cooking the 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 the patties 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.