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Home » Meal » Dinner

Published: Feb 27, 2023 by Genevieve · This post may contain affiliate links.

The Best Turkey Smash Burgers

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A turkey smash burger on a wooden cutting board with the words Turkey Smash Burgers and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
A turkey smash burger on a wooden cutting board with the words Turkey Smash Burgers and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
A turkey smash burger on a wooden cutting board with the words Turkey Smash Burgers and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
A turkey smash burger on a wooden cutting board with the words Turkey Smash Burgers and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
A turkey smash burger on a wooden cutting board with the words Turkey Smash Burgers and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
A turkey smash burger on a wooden cutting board with the words Turkey Smash Burgers and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.
A turkey smash burger on a wooden cutting board with the words Turkey Smash Burgers and the URL www.twocloveskitchen.com.

This delicious turkey smash burgers recipe is the best I've ever tasted. Turkey patties are smashed onto a hot cast iron skillet to produce a caramelized exterior that's crisp, savory, and delicious. Serve on a toasted bun with your favorite toppings and condiments!

Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe
A turkey smash burger on a wooden cutting board in front of subway tile.
Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love This Dish
  • What You'll Need for Turkey Smash Burgers
  • Toppings for Turkey Burgers
  • Recommended Equipment
  • How to Make Homemade Turkey Smash Burgers
  • Variations & Substitutions
  • How to Store
  • FAQ
  • How to Serve
  • Expert Tips
  • Other Recipes You'll Love
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

Why You'll Love This Dish

This is seriously the best turkey burger recipe I've ever tried.

Turkey burgers have a tendency to be dry and a bit bland, but with the addition of grated onion and Worcestershire sauce, these turkey burgers are moist with a lightly caramelized and crisp exterior.

Turkey burgers are a great recipe when you're looking for something lighter than beef burgers. Plus, because they're not cooked on the grill, you can make them any time of year. 

They're also quick and easy, only cooking for a few minutes on each side. Finally, you can make turkey smash burgers in advance and use them for meal prep throughout the week!

The labeled ingredients for turkey smash burgers on a white marble counter.

What You'll Need for Turkey Smash Burgers

Two Cloves Kitchen, as an Amazon Affiliate, makes a small percentage from qualified sales made through affiliate links at no cost to you.

  • Ground Turkey I have tested this recipe with both 85/15 and 90/10 blends, and both work well.
  • Onion This will be grated. Yellow, sweet, red, or white onion will work well here.
  • Worcestershire Sauce This is key to the browning on the exterior of the burger, so don't leave it out!
  • Kosher Salt My preferred brand is always Diamond Crystal. 
  • Black Pepper Fresh black pepper is a great addition to the burger.
  • Neutral Oil Like grapeseed oil or avocado oil. 
  • Hamburger Buns
Labeled toppings for turkey smash burgers on a white marble counter.

Toppings for Turkey Burgers

  • Lettuce
  • Tomato
  • Onion
  • Mustard
  • Ketchup
  • Mayo
  • Cheese

You can also add whatever other toppings you may like - pickles, avocado, and kimchi are some of our favorites.

Recommended Equipment

Cast Iron Skillet or Stainless Steel Pan (you can also use a griddle pan)

Kitchen Knife

Cutting Boards

Mixing Bowls

Spatula

How to Make Homemade Turkey Smash Burgers

A red onion is grated on a box grater.

Step One Preheat a skillet over medium-high heat. Grate half of a medium onion using the smallest holes of a box grater.

Grated onion in a measuring spoon.

Step Two Measure two tablespoons of the grated onion, leaving behind any liquid.

ground turkey, salt, pepper, grated onion, and Worcestershire in a stainless steel bowl with a fork.

Step Three Add the ground turkey, Worcestershire sauce, grated onion, salt and pepper to a bowl.

ground turkey, salt, pepper, grated onion, and Worcestershire are mixed in a stainless steel bowl.

Step Four: Mix the burger mixture well, trying not to overwork the turkey meat.

turkey smash burger meat is rolled into four equal balls.

Step Five Divide the turkey into four equal portions.

turkey burger patty is smashed with a black spatula in a cast iron pan.

Step Six Add the burgers to the cast iron skillet. As soon as they hit the pan, smash turkey burgers flat using the back of a spatula.

Turkey burger cooking in a cast iron pan.

Step Seven Cook for about 4 minutes per side.

two halves of a hamburger bun toast next to a turkey burger in a cast iron pan.

Step Eight Toast the buns.

Cheese is melted on a turkey smash burger.

Step Nine If adding cheese, add it in the last two minutes of cooking.

A cooked turkey smash burger with melted cheese is held on a black spatula.

Step Ten Remove the finished burgers from the pan, measuring with a meat thermometer to ensure they have reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Building a turkey smash burger on a wooden cutting board.

Step Eleven Build your burgers, adding your preferred toppings and condiments.

A turkey smash burger on a wooden cutting board in front of subway tile.

Step Twelve Serve right away!

Variations & Substitutions

  • Add a tablespoon of ketchup to your turkey burger meat for added sweetness.
  • Make a traditional turkey burger by forming patties and adding them to the pan without smashing them.
  • You can make a classic smash burger by swapping the ground turkey for ground beef.
  • If making this turkey smash burger recipe on a grill, don't smash the burgers. You can use the same cook time.

How to Store

Fridge You can refrigerate leftover turkey burgers in an airtight container 3 to 4 days. Be sure to store the buns and burgers separately.

Freezer You can freeze cooked turkey burgers if needed, but they may become overcooked or dry in the process of thawing and reheating. I recommend freezing turkey burger patties raw instead.

Reheat the patties from the fridge in the microwave or in a pan with a bit of oil.

FAQ

Do you have to flip turkey burgers?

Yes! You'll want both sides of the turkey burgers to be cooked for the same amount of time. This will create the nice caramelization and lightly crispy exterior that makes these the best turkey smash burgers.

What can I add to ground turkey to keep it moist?

There are a few things you can add to ground turkey to keep it moist. I recommend using a combination of Worcestershire sauce and grated onion. You can also use ketchup.

Can turkey burgers be a little raw?

Unfortunately no. Turkey needs to be cooked to 165 degrees Fahrenheit for food safety reasons. Use a reliable meat thermometer to check the temperature of your turkey burgers before serving.

How to Serve

Try these fantastic turkey burger toppings:

Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms

Spicy Pickled Onions

Chipotle Southwest Sauce

Pineapple Habanero Sauce

Expert Tips

  • Make sure your cast iron skillet is super hot before cooking your turkey smash burger. You can also use a stainless steel skillet if you do not have a cast iron available.
  • Work in 2 batches if needed, only cooking as many patties at a time as will fit in the pan without crowding.
  • To taste for seasoning, cook a tiny bit of the uncooked turkey in the skillet. Taste this piece for seasoning and add more salt if needed before cooking all of the burgers.
  • To prevent the burgers from sticking to the spatula, you can put a bit of fat on the spatula itself, like a bit of oil or non-stick cooking spray.

Other Recipes You'll Love

Looking for sides to have with your turkey burgers? Try these recipes!

Air Fryer Fingerling Potatoes

Spicy Roasted Vegetables

Mixed Pickles

Arugula Caprese Salad

Orzo Pesto Salad

📖 Recipe

A turkey smash burger on a wooden cutting board in front of subway tile.

The Best Turkey Smash Burgers

This delicious turkey smash burgers recipe is the best I've ever tasted. Turkey patties are smashed onto a hot cast iron skillet to produce a caramelized exterior that's crisp, savory, and delicious. Serve on a toasted bun with your favorite toppings and condiments!
5 from 59 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Easy Recipe, Easy Weeknight Meal, Easy Weeknight Recipe, Quick, Turkey Burgers
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Total Time: 18 minutes
Servings: 4 burgers
Calories: 423kcal
Prevent your screen from going dark

Equipment

  • Kitchen Knife
  • Large Cast Iron Skillet or Stainless Steel Pan
  • Spatula
  • Meat Thermometer

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons neutral oil like grapeseed or avocado oil
  • 1 pound lean ground turkey
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ onion
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • fresh black pepper
  • 4 hamburger buns

Optional Toppings

  • American cheese
  • lettuce
  • tomato
  • onion
  • ketchup
  • mustard
  • mayonnaise

Instructions

  • Preheat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Grate half of a medium onion using the smallest holes of a box grater.
  • Measure two tablespoons of the grated onion, leaving behind any liquid.
  • Add the ground turkey, Worcestershire sauce, grated onion, salt and pepper to a bowl.
  • Mix the burger mixture well, trying not to overwork the turkey meat.
  • Divide the turkey into four equally portioned balls.
  • Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high to high heat. Add a bit of oil and add the burgers. As soon as they hit the pan, smash the burgers flat using the back of a spatula.
  • Cook for about 4 minutes per side. Flip the burgers halfway through.
  • Meanwhile, toast the buns.
  • If adding cheese, add it the last two minutes of cooking.
  • Remove the finished burgers from the pan, measuring with a meat thermometer to ensure they have reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Build your burgers, adding your preferred toppings and condiments. Serve right away.

Notes

General
  1. Estimated calories are for one burger and bun with no toppings. 
  2. Work in two batches if needed to avoid crowding the pan. 
  3. To taste for seasoning, cook a tiny bit of the uncooked turkey in the skillet. Taste this piece for seasoning and add more salt if needed before cooking all of the burgers.
  4. To prevent the burgers from sticking to the spatula, you can put a bit of fat on the spatula itself, like a bit of oil or non-stick cooking spray.
Storage & Reheating
  1. Fridge You can refrigerate leftover turkey burgers in an airtight container 3 to 4 days. Be sure to store the buns and burgers separately.
  2. Freezer You can freeze cooked turkey burgers if needed, but they may become overcooked or dry in the process of thawing and reheating. I recommend freezing turkey burger patties raw instead.
  3. Reheat burgers from a pan into the microwave or in a pan with a bit of oil.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 423kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 963mg | Potassium: 475mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 36IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 78mg | Iron: 3mg

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Shilpa says

    February 28, 2023 at 2:32 am

    5 stars
    I love recipes that are easy to make, yet unique and delicious- this turkey burger is just that! Perfectly cooked patties and the toppings were just right.

    Reply
    • Genevieve says

      March 05, 2023 at 5:12 pm

      That's such a lovely compliment - thank you, Shilpa!

      Reply
    • Genevieve says

      March 05, 2023 at 5:17 pm

      Amazing, so happy you enjoyed it, Shilpa!

      Reply
  2. Gina says

    February 28, 2023 at 4:23 am

    5 stars
    Love a good smash burger! Using turkey was a fun change rather than beef and of course, all the toppings made the meal.

    Reply
    • Genevieve says

      March 05, 2023 at 5:12 pm

      Yay! So glad you enjoyed, Gina.

      Reply
  3. Sarita says

    February 28, 2023 at 7:07 am

    5 stars
    This was so good that even my meat-and-potatoes-only husband asked me to make it again!

    Reply
    • Genevieve says

      March 05, 2023 at 5:17 pm

      Haha, that's a victory for sure! Thank you Sarita!

      Reply
  4. Kris says

    February 28, 2023 at 8:10 am

    5 stars
    Wow were these good! Came out so tender, too. 🙂

    Reply
    • Genevieve says

      March 05, 2023 at 5:11 pm

      I'm so happy you enjoyed them, Kris!

      Reply
  5. Addison says

    February 28, 2023 at 9:58 am

    5 stars
    Ground turkey is my favorite so I absolutely loved these smash burgers! They had such a great onion flavor too!

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Gen! Welcome to Two Cloves Kitchen. I am a certified professional cook, lifelong recipe creator, writer, editor, and food lover. I use my culinary knowledge to teach you how to utilize your ingredients and equipment to their fullest potential, turning ordinary meals into something exciting with bold, fresh, innovative ideas and flavors.

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