Turkey Jalapeño Burgers

Turkey Jalapeño Burgers are plump, lean and juicy, and will bring all the flavour to your summer cookout! They’re seasoned with a simple spice mixture, diced jalapeño, fresh cilantro and chopped onion. No eggs or breadcrumbs required, and you can adjust the spice level to suit your taste!

This post was originally published in June 2018. It has been updated with new photos and text, including helpful tips for readers and a few adjustments to the recipe. (An original photo is included at the end of this post so be sure to check out the before and after).

Turkey jalapeño burgers have been my go-to burger recipe for so many years, I can’t even remember when I started making them. We love them grilled on the BBQ during the summer, or cooked on the stovetop during the fall and winter months.

Enjoying these spicy turkey burgers is a priority for us year round!

And using lean ground turkey helps keep our love for burgers on the healthier side.

Details on a few ingredients to make jalapeño turkey burgers

Ground turkey: Fresh extra lean ground turkey works best in these burgers. Lean will work too, and if you only have frozen, let it thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Thawed ground turkey may be a little wet, so letting the burger patties firm up in the refrigerator an hour before grilling will be important. 

Jalapeño: I used a small seeded jalapeño in this recipe, which resulted in moderately spicy burgers. If you like your burgers more or less spicy, just adjust the amount of jalapeño you add.

Cilantro: The recipe calls for just one-quarter cup of chopped cilantro, resulting in a very subtle flavour. If you’re not a fan of cilantro, try substituting with fresh parsley. 

Onion: One small, finely chopped onion adds a lot of flavour and helps add moisture to the burgers. 

Garlic: I used fresh garlic in this recipe, which you can mince, press or finely chop. If you prefer garlic powder, just use half a teaspoon in place of the two cloves.

How to prepare and grill turkey jalapeño burgers

• Step 1: Add the ground turkey, spices and chopped ingredients to a large bowl.

• Step 2: Using a fork or your hands, mix everything together until well incorporated. 

• Step 3: Shape into 4 patties that are about 1-inch thick. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.

• Step 4: Grease your grill liberally and preheat for about 10 minutes. Place the patties on the grill, close the cover and cook over medium-high heat for 8-10 minutes. Flip the patties over and cook for another 8-10 minutes, or until fully cooked through.

Frequently asked questions

Can you make these burgers in advance? Absolutely. Since these burgers require refrigeration before grilling, they’re ideal for making in advance. You can make them an hour before, or even the night before. Just wrap them in plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to grill.

Can you freeze turkey burgers? Yes. Just wrap the raw patties individually in plastic wrap and arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Place in the freezer. Once frozen, remove them from the baking sheet, and store in a freezer safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator before grilling.

How do you know when turkey burgers are done? Turkey burgers should always be well done. You want them juicy but they shouldn’t have any pink in the middle. But it’s a delicate balance, as they also overcook quickly and dry out. That’s why a meat thermometer is the best way to check for doneness. Ground turkey is safe when it reaches an internal temperature of 165F.

Can you cook these burgers on the stovetop? Yes. Add a small amount of oil to a grill pan or cast iron skillet and preheat for about 5 minutes. Add the burgers and cover and cook over medium heat for 8-10 minutes per side, or until they reach an internal temperature of 165F.

How do you keep turkey burgers from drying out? While the pepper, onion and cilantro add some moisture, the key to keeping turkey burgers juicy is to minimize the amount of dry ingredients you add and avoid over mixing them. You should also avoid over cooking them and flip the burgers only once during cooking.

How do you store and reheat leftover turkey burgers? Leftover burgers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat them, just microwave for 45-60 seconds or until just heated through. Be careful not to overheat as the burgers will get tough.

Additional recipe tips and substitutions

• Make sure you finely chop your jalapeño pepper and onion so they blend into the burger mixture. Larger pieces will not cook as well.

• If you like your burgers spicier, feel free to add more jalapeños or even cayenne pepper. If you like them milder, just use half the jalapeño.

• I like to refrigerate the burger patties before grilling them as it lets the flavours blend. It also firms up the patties, which makes them easier to grill. If you don’t have time, you can skip this step, but your burgers may not hold up on the grill as well.

• Cleaning and greasing the grill liberally with oil will ensure the burgers don’t stick onto the grill.

• These burgers are thick, so they take about 8-10 minutes per side over medium-high heat (or medium heat on the stovetop). But grills and stovetops are different, so it’s always best to use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. 

• When cooking burgers on the grill or stovetop, I usually keep them covered, which keeps the heat in and helps the burgers cook faster

• Can’t find ground turkey? No worries. This recipe works well with ground chicken too.

Toppings for turkey jalapeño burgers

• You can’t beat the usual burger toppings such as cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, ketchup and mustard.

• Slices of avocado or a generous serving of guacamole pair nicely with the cilantro and spicy ingredients in these burgers.

• We often sauté mushrooms and spinach and pile them on burgers with some feta or goat cheese. It’s a great way to get extra veggies in and the cheese adds another flavour punch.

• If you’re avoiding grains, you can enjoy these patties in between Boston lettuce leaves or on top of a salad.

What to serve with healthy turkey burgers

• Summer Vegetable Orzo Salad

• Air Fryer Baby Potatoes

• Creamy Jalapeño Dip

• Healthier Coleslaw

If you make these jalapeño turkey burgers, I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below!

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