Juicy Turkey Burgers - Healthy Recipes Blog (2024)

FAQs

Can turkey burgers be healthy? ›

"Ground turkey contains less saturated fat than ground beef, giving it a more beneficial fat profile," says Beaver. "In its place, ground turkey instead contains more polyunsaturated fat, which is a protective, healthier type of fat."

Process the Ground Meat for Juicier Texture

Instead of blending the mix with our hands, we reground the meat with seasonings in a food processor. Grinding meat develops myosin, a sticky meat protein that traps water and fat, keeping it juicy.

More not-dry turkey burgers

Mashing avocado into the turkey mixture helps prevent the meat from shrinking and drying out during cooking, which is why these stay awesomely juicy, even when they're cooked all the way through.

Use a Binder

Fresh breadcrumbs (made from fresh bread pulsed in the food processor or torn into small bits) are best here, as they retain some moisture which helps to keep them from drying out the burger.

Protein is a macronutrient, which means that your body needs a lot of it. Your body can't store protein, so you need to consume it every day. As long as you don't eat too much turkey, it is a healthy way to get the protein you need.

Ground beef and turkey are both nutritious meats that provide protein, fat, and a variety of vitamins and minerals. Turkey is generally lower in saturated fat than beef. As such, it may be a better choice for heart health. Fat-free turkey is also the lowest calorie option if you're interested in weight loss.

It's very wet—71 percent water versus 66 percent for beef—which makes it hard to work with, yet it can easily cook up dry. That's because ground turkey must be cooked to 160 degrees. At that temperature, nearly all the turkey's abundant moisture will have been squeezed out by contracting proteins.

Whenever I made turkey burgers, I would dissolve some beef bouillon in a little water and add it to the turkey with a little canola oil, then season and form the patties. The bouillon gave it some flavor and the water and oil helped with moisture. Just make sure not to overcook.

To keep the turkey moist, add a little broth or water and cover. Cover your food and rotate it for even heating.

Add a spoonful of mayonnaise.

Most recipes use egg to bind ground turkey, helping the meat to form into cohesive, juicy patties.

Why put egg in turkey burger? ›

Since turkey burgers tend to be drier than their ground beef counterparts, we added an egg to ours to help it hold together and give it more moisture. We also use 94% lean ground turkey in our patties—we don't recommend any higher than that, or your burgers might not hold together.

Add the fat you seek directly to the meat. Butter is readily available, affordable, and adds moisture and fat to beef — making for a tender, juicy burger.

One of the most common substitutes is breadcrumbs, but sometimes the breadcrumbs can fall off when the burgers are cooking if there are too many or they are too dry. Other popular substitutions for eggs include cornstarch, flour, ketchup, porridge oats, cracker crumbs, and ground flaxseed.

Lean ground turkey needs a binder to help the patties hold their shape so they don't fall apart on the grill. (Higher-fat meat naturally stays together.) So we turn to breadcrumbs. Using fresh instead of dried gives the burgers even more moisture.

If you choose beef, choose 90 percent lean or higher. Bison and venison are also leaner red meat choices. Poultry such as ground turkey or chicken can be higher in saturated fat and calories if dark meat and skin are used in the mix. If you choose to use ground chicken or turkey, look for breast only.

Turkey and chicken are often recommended as healthy alternatives to red meat. But if they are preserved, they count as processed meats and are harmful.

Both chicken and turkey provide healthy protein. Generally, chicken tends to be higher in vitamin B6 and pantothenic acid, and turkey tends to be lower in calories, fat, and sodium while having more zinc, niacin, and vitamin B12.

If we're getting really granular, ground turkey is generally a little leaner than ground chicken. It has fewer calories, less sodium, more iron, and more protein. Still, the differences are almost negligible.