Simple Turkey Burger with Caramelized Onions

If you ask me, turkey burgers get a bad rap for being bland and dry.

This turkey burger with caramelized onions proves that theory completely wrong. The sweet, golden onions add tons of flavor while keeping the meat juicy and tender.

I cook the onions low and slow until they’re soft and jammy, then pile them high on seasoned turkey patties. A good bun and maybe some cheese, and you’ve got yourself a burger that rivals any beef version.

It’s a weeknight dinner that feels special enough for company, plus it’s a bit lighter than the usual backyard fare.

What Kind of Ground Turkey Should I Use?

For the best turkey burgers, you’ll want to use ground turkey breast rather than regular ground turkey, which often includes dark meat and skin. Ground turkey breast is leaner and has a cleaner flavor that works perfectly with all the seasonings in this recipe. You can find it at most grocery stores, and it’s usually labeled clearly as “ground turkey breast” rather than just “ground turkey.” If you can only find regular ground turkey, that’s fine too – just know that your burgers might be a bit more moist and have a slightly different texture. Either way, make sure your ground turkey is fresh and hasn’t been sitting in your fridge for more than a day or two before cooking.

Options for Substitutions

This turkey burger recipe is pretty forgiving when it comes to swaps and substitutions:

• Ground turkey breast: You can use regular ground turkey (which has more fat and flavor) or even ground chicken. If you want to stick with turkey breast, add a tablespoon of olive oil to the mix to keep the burgers moist.
• Light mayonnaise: Regular mayo works just fine here, or you can use Greek yogurt for a lighter option. Just use about 3/4 cup since yogurt is tangier.
• Coarse-grain mustard: Dijon mustard or even yellow mustard can step in if that’s what you have. The flavor will be slightly different but still tasty.
• Prepared horseradish: If you don’t have horseradish, you can skip it or add a bit more cayenne pepper for heat. Fresh grated horseradish works too – just use about half the amount.
• Liquid smoke: This adds great flavor but isn’t essential. You can leave it out or add a bit more barbecue sauce to make up for the smoky taste.
• Steak seasoning and mesquite seasoning: Don’t stress if you don’t have these specific seasonings. Use garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper instead. About 1 teaspoon each should do the trick.
• Jalapeño pepper: Swap with serrano peppers for more heat, or use a pinch of red pepper flakes if fresh peppers aren’t available.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest mistake when making turkey burgers is overcooking them, which turns lean ground turkey into dry, flavorless patties – use a meat thermometer and pull them off the heat once they reach 165°F.

Another common error is not adding enough moisture to the turkey mixture, so make sure to include that grated onion and don’t skip the barbecue sauce and Worcestershire, as these ingredients help keep the burgers juicy.

When caramelizing your onions, resist the urge to crank up the heat – low and slow is the way to go, allowing them about 15-20 minutes to develop that sweet, golden color without burning.

Finally, avoid pressing down on the burgers with your spatula while they cook, as this squeezes out all the precious juices you worked so hard to keep in there.

What to Serve With Turkey Burgers?

These turkey burgers are packed with flavor from the spicy mayo and caramelized onions, so they pair perfectly with classic sides like crispy sweet potato fries or regular fries for dipping. A cool coleslaw or cucumber salad helps balance out the heat from the jalapeños and hot sauce, while grilled corn on the cob makes a great summer side. You can also serve them with baked beans or potato salad for a complete backyard barbecue feel. Don’t forget some pickles and extra napkins – these juicy burgers can get a little messy, but that’s part of the fun!

Storage Instructions

Refrigerate: Cooked turkey burgers will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days when stored in an airtight container. I like to store the patties separate from the buns and toppings so everything stays fresh. The honey mustard sauce can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to a week.

Freeze: You can freeze the cooked turkey patties for up to 3 months in freezer-safe bags with parchment paper between each one. The caramelized onions also freeze well in small portions, which is great since they take time to make. Raw patties can be frozen too – just shape them and freeze on a tray before transferring to bags.

Warm Up: To enjoy leftover burgers, warm the patties in a skillet over medium heat for about 3-4 minutes per side, or microwave for 1-2 minutes. Frozen patties can go straight from freezer to pan – just add a few extra minutes. The caramelized onions taste great warmed up in the microwave or a small pan.

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 1950-2100
• Protein: 105-115 g
• Fat: 90-100 g
• Carbohydrates: 190-210 g

Ingredients

For the honey-mustard sauce:

• 1 cup light mayo
• 1/4 cup whole grain mustard
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 tbsp ready-to-use horseradish
• Hot sauce (such as tabasco), amount to preference
• 1 tsp ground cayenne

For the turkey patties:

• 1 1/4 lb ground turkey breast
• 1/2 large onion, grated
• 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped
• 2 tbsp barbecue sauce
• 2 tbsp worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 tsp liquid smoke
• 1 tbsp steak blend seasoning
• 1 tsp dry mesquite seasoning

For serving:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 large onion, sliced thin
• 5 split hamburger buns

Step 1: Make the Honey Mustard Sauce

• 1 cup light mayo
• 1/4 cup whole grain mustard
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 tbsp ready-to-use horseradish
• hot sauce (such as Tabasco), amount to preference
• 1 tsp ground cayenne

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the light mayo, whole grain mustard, honey, horseradish, hot sauce to taste, and ground cayenne pepper.

Mix well until fully blended.

Cover the sauce and place it in the refrigerator to chill while you prepare the rest of the meal.

Step 2: Prepare Turkey Patty Mixture

• 1 1/4 lb ground turkey breast
• 1/2 large onion, grated
• 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped
• 2 tbsp barbecue sauce
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 tsp liquid smoke
• 1 tbsp steak blend seasoning
• 1 tsp dry mesquite seasoning

In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey breast, grated onion, finely chopped jalapeño, barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, steak blend seasoning, and dry mesquite seasoning.

Use your hands to gently mix until all ingredients are just incorporated.

Form the mixture into 5 equally sized patties.

I like to handle the mixture as little as possible for juicier burgers.

Step 3: Caramelize the Onions

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 large onion, sliced thin

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.

Add the sliced onion and cook, stirring frequently, until the onion becomes translucent, about 5 minutes.

Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue cooking and stirring until the onion is very tender and a deep golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes more.

For extra depth of flavor, I sometimes deglaze the pan with a splash of water if the onions start to stick.

Step 4: Cook the Turkey Patties

• turkey patties from Step 2

Heat a medium skillet over medium heat (use a little oil if your pan isn’t nonstick).

Add the turkey patties from Step 2.

Cook for about 6 minutes per side, or until the patties are browned on the outside and reach an internal temperature of 180°F (85°C).

Turn the patties only once to keep them juicy.

Step 5: Assemble the Burgers

• 5 split hamburger buns
• turkey patties from Step 4
• honey mustard sauce from Step 1
• caramelized onions from Step 3

Split the hamburger buns and place a cooked turkey patty from Step 4 on each bun base.

Top each patty with a generous spoonful of the honey mustard sauce from Step 1 and a portion of the caramelized onions from Step 3.

Cover with the top half of the bun and serve immediately.

For even more flavor, I like to lightly toast the buns before assembling.

Simple Turkey Burger with Caramelized Onions

Delicious Simple Turkey Burger with Caramelized Onions recipe with step-by-step instructions.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 17 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 52 minutes mins

Servings 4

Calories 2025 kcal

Ingredients

  

For the honey-mustard sauce:

• 1 cup light mayo
• 1/4 cup whole grain mustard
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 tbsp ready-to-use horseradish
• hot sauce (such as Tabasco), amount to preference
• 1 tsp ground cayenne

For the turkey patties:

• 1 1/4 lb ground turkey breast
• 1/2 large onion, grated
• 1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped
• 2 tbsp barbecue sauce
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 tsp liquid smoke
• 1 tbsp steak blend seasoning
• 1 tsp dry mesquite seasoning

For serving:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 large onion, sliced thin
• 5 split hamburger buns

Instructions

 

• In a medium mixing bowl, combine the light mayo, whole grain mustard, honey, horseradish, hot sauce to taste, and ground cayenne pepper. Mix well until fully blended. Cover the sauce and place it in the refrigerator to chill while you prepare the rest of the meal.
• In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey breast, grated onion, finely chopped jalapeño, barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, steak blend seasoning, and dry mesquite seasoning. Use your hands to gently mix until all ingredients are just incorporated. Form the mixture into 5 equally sized patties. I like to handle the mixture as little as possible for juicier burgers.
• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced onion and cook, stirring frequently, until the onion becomes translucent, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue cooking and stirring until the onion is very tender and a deep golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes more. For extra depth of flavor, I sometimes deglaze the pan with a splash of water if the onions start to stick.
• Heat a medium skillet over medium heat (use a little oil if your pan isn’t nonstick). Add the turkey patties from Step 2. Cook for about 6 minutes per side, or until the patties are browned on the outside and reach an internal temperature of 180°F (85°C). Turn the patties only once to keep them juicy.
• Split the hamburger buns and place a cooked turkey patty from Step 4 on each bun base. Top each patty with a generous spoonful of the honey mustard sauce from Step 1 and a portion of the caramelized onions from Step 3. Cover with the top half of the bun and serve immediately. For even more flavor, I like to lightly toast the buns before assembling.