There’s probably nothing more synonymous with summer than a grilled hamburger, but I enjoy switching things up every now and again. So how about a grilled turkey burger for a change?
I hear you groaning… yes, often turkey burgers are dry and tasteless and leave you yearning for the real deal. Not these! Add in Italian turkey sausage to amp up the flavor—a trick often used with meatballs—and keep them incredibly juicy. The best part is that you can throw the patties together in a matter of minutes; only five ingredients and no chopping, slicing or dicing required—except for maybe the toppings.
Since turkey is such a lean meat and so susceptible to drying out, it’s important to pull them from the grill as soon as they reach their doneness temperature to avoid drying out the meat, although the sausage will help on this issue. Every degree counts when you’re grilling ground turkey. Keep in mind, ground turkey needs to be cooked to an internal temperature of 165° F. Use a meat thermometer to ensure accuracy. The key to minimizing moisture loss and maximizing juiciness in burgers is through careful temperature tracking.
The unofficial end-of-the-summer holiday is fast approaching and this recipe would be perfect for those who no longer eat red meat or are trying to cut back—and they won’t feel deprived! What are you waiting for?
Moist Grilled Turkey Burgers
Ingredients
- 1.3 lbs. ground turkey (93/7 lean)
- 1 lb. Italian turkey sausage, casings removed if in links
- 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
- 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
- 1 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 6 whole wheat hamburger buns
- 6-12 slices sharp cheddar cheese (optional)
Directions
- Remove the sausage meat from the casings if necessary.
- Place the sausage meat in a large bowl along with the ground turkey, pepper, Worcestershire sauce and Dijon mustard. Use your hand to mix together until well combined.
- Form the meat into 6 even patties about 3/4″ thick, weighing approximately 6 ounces each. Place on a foil-lined (or wax paper) baking sheet and cover until ready to cook.
- Preheat the grill (or grill pan) to high. Clean the grates then grease the grill with a folded paper towel dipped in vegetable oil. Using tongs, carefully rub over the grates several times until glossy and coated.
- Place the turkey burgers on the grill and cook for five minutes, covered, until nice grill marks form.
- Flip and continue to cook, covered, for 5+ minutes more. Grill for a total of about 10-12 minutes, flipping once. Use a meat thermometer to check for the 165° doneness temperature.
Optional: During the last minutes of cooking, add 1-2 slices of cheese to each burger, cover the grill and let the cheese soften slightly, about 1 minute. - Heat the buns on the grill if desiresd, assemble burgers and serve.
Accounting for Taste 