Taste the Turkey
I feel like turkey burgers get a bad rap because they don’t seem as flavorful or juicy as a regular beef burger. Now, this can be true if prepared and cooked incorrectly. Turkey doesn’t have as much fat content as beef, so it can dry out if overcooked or turn rubbery if overmixed. However, you’re going to learn the secret to making the best turkey burger today. If you follow this recipe to make these Ranch Turkey Burgers, you’ll never have another dry, boring turkey burger. These burgers have juicy turkey patties seasoned with ranch mix, layered with lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, ranch sauce, avocado, and brioche buns. These are the juiciest turkey burgers you’ll find, and you’re going to learn exactly how to make them!
The Key to Deliciousness
Jumping right on in, we’re starting with the main component — the turkey patty. Add the ground turkey, zucchini, onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, red pepper flakes, a beaten egg, ranch seasoning, dill, salt, and pepper to a large bowl. Mix the ingredients together until well combined. I’m a sucker for a dill ranch. I think the flavors compliment each other so well, so I had to incorporate some of the fresh herb into the mix.
The first key to making a delicious turkey burger is to keep it juicy. The grated zucchini might seem a little weird, but it actually helps the patty retain moisture. Zucchini is naturally very high in water content so we do want to squeeze out a good bit of its moisture before combining it into the burger. The remaining moisture in the zucchini will keep the burgers juicy and won’t add any weird textures or flavors.
The second key to making a delicious turkey burger is to not overmix the mixture. It’s so easy to continue mixing the ingredients together to make sure they’re all evenly mixed in. However, you need to stop before you get ahead of yourself. Mixing too much can overwork the proteins, causing them to become dense, rubbery, and tough. This is why I also like to beat my egg before adding it into the mixture. That way, the egg is already homogenous and doesn’t need to be mixed more for it to be evenly blended in.
The Perfect Patty
Next, portion the burger mixture into 5 equal servings. Form each serving into a patty. Another trick for all burgers — not just turkey burgers — is that your patty will most likely shrink more than you think. A lot of the moisture evaporates and leaks out during the cooking process, causing the patties to lose its size. Therefore, don’t be scared if your patties are looking a little on the larger side.
Heat a pan or grill over medium to medium high heat. Add in the olive oil and then the turkey burger patties. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until slightly golden brown and cooked through. One minute before they’re done cooking, place a slice of pepper jack cheese onto each burger patty. Cover the pan with a lid to melt the cheese.
Burger Classics
With these Ranch Turkey Burgers, I really wanted to let the turkey burger and ranch flavor shine. With that said, I kept it simple with the toppings and went for the classic, lettuce, onion, tomato, and avocado. And because this is a ranch burger, the condiment of choice is obviously ranch. I feel like this medley of toppings is perfect because it isn’t too overpowering, but also adds freshness and a variety of texture.
Layer these toppings onto the brioche bun and your meal is ready! Not only are these Ranch Turkey Burgers so delicious, but they’re also so easy to make! Bonus is if you make them on the grill, it’s even easier because the clean up process is less. Once you make these, they’ll become a staple summer recipe — whether you want an easy dinner, a burger recipe for a barbeque, or a light lunch. Try it out and let me know what you think!
Ranch Turkey Burgers
Ingredients
For the Turkey Burgers:
- 1 lb. Ground Turkey
- 1 Zucchini (grated on small holes, about ¾ cup when squeezed dry)
- ⅓ cup Finely Chopped Onion
- 1 Garlic Clove (minced)
- ¼ cup Breadcrumbs
- ¼ tsp Red Pepper Flakes
- 1 Large Egg (beaten)
- 1 Tbsp Ranch Seasoning Mix
- 1 Tbsp Chopped Dill
- ½ tsp Kosher Salt
- ¼ tsp Black Pepper
- 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 5 Slices Pepper Jack Cheese
For Assembly:
- 5 Brioche Burger Buns
- Ranch Sauce (for serving)
- Sliced Tomato (for serving)
- Green Leaf Lettuce (for serving)
- Sliced Red Onion (for serving)
- Sliced Avocado (for serving)
Instructions
For the Turkey Burgers:
- Add all of the ingredients except for the olive oil and pepper jack cheese to a large bowl. Mix until the ingredients are just combined, you don't want to overmix. Portion the mixture into 5 equal servings and form them into patties.
- Heat a pan or grill over medium to medium high heat. Add in the olive oil then place the burger patties into the pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until slightly golden brown and cooked through. In the last minute of cooking, place a slice of pepper jack cheese onto each patty. Cover the pan with a lid to melt the cheese.
For Assembly:
- Toast the brioche burger buns if desired. Spread some of the ranch sauce onto the bottom bun. Then layer on the cooked turkey burger, sliced tomato, lettuce, sliced red onion, and sliced avocado. Top with the top burger bun and enjoy!
