Tasty Turkey Burgers

Turkey burgers are notoriously plain. They don't have nearly as much flavor as a beef burger, and the fat content is lower, so all of these factors lead to having a mediocre burger compared to the traditional beef burger.

However, these turkey burgers are a different story.

One of the benefits of having a meat with less flavor is that it more easily takes on other flavors. I have been making turkey burgers for a few years now (not exclusively, we still eat beef burgers as well), and these are definitely the best so far. The burger itself has a lot of flavor and the toppings make it really special and yummy. Between the bacon, caramelized onions, and chipotle mayo, I don't see how it could get any better. Oh wait, there's also avocado! It just got better : )

Making actual caramelized onions takes some time. 30-40 minutes to be honest. That is what I did here and I think it really does make a difference compared to just cooking them until translucent and tender, but if you don't want to put that much time into a burger then go ahead and cook them to your liking. I think it's worth it though! Also, I cooked the bacon first, then caramelized the onions in the bacon fat, and then cooked the burgers in the same pan to take full advantage of all the flavors that were being built up. Again, this makes it take longer as opposed to having everything cooking at the same time in different pans, but you won't get the same flavor and you'll have a lot more dishes that way. I recommend the method I describe below, hence the reason I wrote the recipe like I did!

I paired these with some black bean chips and peas. Marshall doesn't like avocado and I can't have cheese right now, so I had mine bun-less with avocado, and he didn't have the avocado but had a bun and cheese. 

He liked them so much he asked if we could have them again within a week or two. I complied and we had them the following Friday : )

Tasty Turkey Burgers

Ingredients for the burgers:

1 lb. ground turkey

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon dried oregano

1 teaspoon garlic powder

salt 

Chipotle Mayo:

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder

1/2 teaspoon oregano

salt to taste

Toppings:

Per burger - a couple slices of white cheddar cheese, 1 or 1 1/2 strips of bacon, 1/2 an onion, 1/4 avocado, and a dollop of chipotle mayo 

Directions:

Mix together all ingredients for the burgers, shape into 3 or 4 patties, and if time allows let them sit to absorb flavor. Mix together all ingredients for the chipotle mayo and if time allows let it sit for the flavors to meld.

In a medium size pan, crisp your bacon over medium heat. Reduce to low and add your sliced onions with a sprinkle of salt. Keep your temperature low and caramelize the onions, stirring every few minutes and adding a little butter if it becomes necessary. This process should take 30-40 minutes. Remove onions when done, raise heat to medium, and cook the burgers for 7-10 minutes per side depending on the heat. Add the cheese during the last couple minutes of cooking for it to melt.

Spread chipotle mayo on your bun and place the burger. Top with bacon, avocado, and caramelized onions.


This is obviously a specific recipe with certain toppings and methods for preparing them, however, this post is also to get the point across that all you need is a few thought-out and well-prepared ingredients, such as caramelized onions, to make a meal delicious and special. You shouldn't have to sacrifice flavor to eat healthy food, and I hope this encourages you to give turkey burgers another try, not as a sacrifice for your health, but because it looks so good that you'd rather have it than a beef burger.