Turkey Cheese Burger on Bun (Printable)
Juicy turkey burger topped with melted cheese on a soft bun—a lighter take on an American classic.
# What You'll Need:
→ For the Turkey Patties
01 - 1 pound ground turkey
02 - 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
03 - 1 large egg
04 - 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
07 - 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
→ For Assembly
10 - 4 slices cheddar cheese
11 - 4 burger buns, split
12 - 1 cup lettuce leaves
13 - 1 large tomato, sliced
14 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
15 - 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
16 - 2 tablespoons ketchup
17 - 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
18 - 1 tablespoon butter
# Directions:
01 - In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, onion, garlic, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined, avoiding overworking the mixture.
02 - Form the mixture into 4 equal-sized patties, approximately 1/2 inch thick, ensuring uniform thickness for even cooking.
03 - Heat a grill or skillet over medium heat. Lightly oil the surface to prevent sticking.
04 - Cook the patties for 5 to 6 minutes per side, or until fully cooked with an internal temperature reaching 165°F.
05 - During the final minute of cooking, place a slice of cheese on each patty and cover to allow the cheese to melt completely.
06 - While the patties cook, butter the cut sides of the buns and toast them on the grill or skillet until golden brown.
07 - Spread mayonnaise, ketchup, or mustard on the toasted buns as desired. Layer with lettuce, tomato slices, and red onion.
08 - Place the cheese-topped turkey patties on the prepared buns and serve immediately while warm.
# Cooking Tips:
01 -
- The combination of Dijon and Worcestershire sauce creates this magical savory depth that makes people question if theyre really eating turkey at all.
- You can prep these patties ahead of time, making them perfect for those evenings when you want something satisfying without the fuss.
02 -
- Overworking the meat mixture will result in tough, dense burgers, so mix ingredients just until combined and handle the meat as little as possible.
- Adding a tablespoon of cold water to the turkey mixture helps maintain moisture during cooking, a trick I discovered after serving unfortunately dry burgers at my first apartment warming party.
03 -
- If you find your turkey burgers sticking to the grill, try chilling the formed patties in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before cooking to help them hold together better.
- Adding a tablespoon of olive oil directly to the meat mixture creates internal moisture that helps counteract turkeys natural leanness.