This recipe for grilled southwest turkey burgers is a healthy alternative to beef and uses vibrant ingredients like peppers and cumin to give it lots of extra flavor.
Turkey burgers can be really dry, and I guess that's part of the reason they are not as tasty as beef burgers. Since we love Mexican and southwest flavors, I thought I could doctor up some ground turkey to make a healthy, yet tasty, southwest grilled turkey burger.
I was thinking about meatloaf without the extra bread. Adding peppers, onions, and chili seasoning gives this burger a ton of extra flavor.
Ingredients
- ground turkey
- fresh peppers (hot or mild or both)
- onion
- garlic
- oregano
- chili powder
- cumin
- coriander
- fresh basil leaves (cilantro would be good too)
Instructions
Step 1. Spray the grill with vegetable oil before turning it on to make sure the burgers don't stick.
Step 2. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.
Step 3. Divide the turkey mixture into four even sections and pat out to create four turkey burger patties.
Step 4. Grill the burgers on each side for about 5 minutes or until they are cooked through.
This recipe uses a pound of lean ground turkey. But when you add in the onions and peppers, it makes four nicely sized burgers.
These taste great on a traditional burger roll but also in little pita pockets. You can also make it low carb by skipping the bun and using a couple of large lettuce leaves instead.
Sides to Serve with Southwest Turkey Burgers
Traditional toppings are perfect for these burgers. Lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles are the norm. You can even use ketchup, mayo, or mustard if you'd like. However, there are many other options to consider.
Condiment Ideas
- Sour cream
- Avocado slices
- Guacamole
- Red Salsa
- Salsa Verde
- Pickled jalapeno slices
- Manchego or Pepper Jack Cheese
- Red onion
Why not make a topping bar with all the many options and let everyone create their own fabulous burger?
More Great Recipes for the Grill
Southwest Turkey Burgers
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1/2 cup fresh chopped peppers hot or mild or both
- 1/2 cup finely chopped sweet onion
- 1 large clove of garlic grated
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon chopped basil leaves cilantro would be good too
Instructions
- Heat grill on high.
- In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and pat out four burger patties
- Grill on high heat for about 5 minutes on each side.
- Serve on burger buns with lettuce, tomato, and sour cream.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although attempts have been made to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
Carole West
Yum - right on with my menu minus the bread. Love food with a southwest style and I just happen to have a bundle of cilantro handy so trying this over the weekend. Thanks!
Patti Estep
Great! I think you'll love them Carole. Enjoy.