The Best Smash Turkey Burgers
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These Smash Turkey Burgers may just be the perfect burger. Packed with melty cheese and a golden-brown crust from being pressed on a hot skillet, these are not your average turkey burgers. Pile on your favorite toppings and top with my mouthwatering Smash sauce for a healthier, smash burger right at home!
Love cooking with ground turkey? Try this high protein turkey chili, buffalo turkey meatballs, or teriyaki turkey next.
What You’ll Love About This Recipe
Recipe Ingredients
You’ll need the following ingredients to make these smash turkey burgers:
Ground Turkey: Be sure to use 93% lean ground turkey to strike the perfect balance – it’s the fattiest lean option for juicy, flavorful burgers.
Cheddar Cheese: Feel free to swap it with any cheese you like, such as Swiss, Monterey Jack, or American cheese.
Smash Sauce Ingredients: I use a combination of light mayo, regular mayo, and Greek yogurt to keep the sauce lower in fat but still full of flavor. Feel free to to interchange these ingredients based on what you have on hand or your personal preferences.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Recipe Variations
Spicy Turkey Smash Burgers: Add some heat by mixing chopped jalapeños or a teaspoon of chili flakes into the ground turkey mix. You could also include a spicy sauce, like sriracha, in the Smash Sauce.
Mediterranean-Style Burgers: Incorporate herbs like oregano and basil into the turkey mixture, and top your burgers with feta cheese, cucumber slices, and a tzatziki sauce.
BBQ Turkey Burgers: Mix a bit of your favorite BBQ sauce into the ground turkey for a smoky flavor. Top with grilled onions and a slice of smoked cheese.
Low-Carb Turkey Smash Burgers: Skip the burger buns and serve your smash burgers on a bed of mixed greens or wrapped in butter lettuce leaves for a low-carb alternative.
How to make Ground Turkey Smash Burgers: Step by Step
Here are quick visual instructions. Be sure to check out the full instructions with exact ingredients in the printable recipe card below.
Step 1: Divide the ground turkey into 8 even portions, about 2.5 oz each. Roll each portion into a ball.
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Step 2: Whisk all of the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl, set aside.
Step 3: Add your ground turkey balls to a griddle or cast iron skillet. Quickly smash down each ground turkey portion with a large spatula until super flat. It helps to use a piece of parchment paper in between the spatula and beef while “smashing”
Step 4: Cook the thin patties for about 2 minutes or until the juices in the burgers start to rise to the top.
Step 5: Flip the turkey burger patties over (do not smash again) and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes and then add half a slice of cheese to each burger.
Step 6: Toast the brioche buns.
Step 7: Add about 1 tablespoon of smash sauce to the bottom of each toasted bun.
Step 8: Add two burgers to each burger bun and top with toppings.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
Use a Smash Burger Press for perfectly “smashed” burgers every time.
If not using a press, place a piece of parchment paper between the spatula and the turkey ball while smashing. This prevents sticking and helps you achieve an even, thin patty.
Make sure your griddle or pan is pre-heated to a medium-high heat. A hot surface ensures a good sear and helps prevent sticking.
Once you’ve smashed your patties, don’t press down on them again while cooking. This squeezes out the juices, making the burgers dry.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Smash Burger is characterized by its cooking method. Ground meat is rolled into a ball, placed on a hot griddle or pan, and then ‘smashed’ into a flat patty using a spatula or burger press. This technique creates a burger with a crisp, caramelized exterior and a juicy interior, distinct from regular burgers that are typically pre-shaped and not pressed down during cooking.
Smash Burgers can be more indulgent due to the cooking method which often involves a higher fat content meat and cooking on a griddle. However, their healthiness largely depends on the ingredients used. Leaner meats like turkey or chicken and mindful toppings can make them a healthier option. As with any food, moderation is key.
A heavy spatula or the bottom of a sturdy plate can be used to smash the thin burgers.
Absolutely! While a griddle is ideal for even heat distribution, a frying pan works well too.
My favorite side dishes are like baked sweet potato fries, a green salad, pasta salad, or onion rings.
More Easy Dinner Recipes
I hope you love these delicious turkey burgers. Please consider leaving a star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below. Thank you so much!
Turkey Smash Burgers
Ingredients
Burgers
- 1.25 pounds ground turkey 93% lean
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 4 slices cheddar cheese extra thin sliced
- 4 brioche buns
- Burger toppings: lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles
Smash Sauce
- 1/4 cup light mayo
- 2 tbsp plain fat free Greek yogurt
- 1 tbsp full fat mayo
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- 2 tbsp chopped dill pickles chopped dill pickles
- 2 tbsp dill pickle juice dill pickle juice
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp paprika
Instructions
- Divide the ground turkey into 8 even portions, about 2.5 oz each. Roll each portion into a ball.
- Whisk all of the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl, set aside.
- Pre-heat a griddle to medium high heat and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
- Add your ground turkey balls to the griddle. Quickly smash down each ground turkey portion with a spatula until super flat. It helps to use a piece of parchment paper in between the spatula and beef while "smashing"
- Season the smashed down patties with salt and pepper.
- Cook each turkey patty for about 2 minutes or until the juices in the burgers start to rise to the top.
- Flip the patties over (do not smash again) and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes (there should be a nice crust) and then add half a slice of cheese to each burger.
- (Optional) Toast the brioche buns: Preheat your skillet or griddle over medium heat. Place the buns cut-side down and toast until they’re golden brown. This usually takes about 1-2 minutes. Be sure to watch them closely to prevent burning.
- To assemble the smashed turkey burgers: add about 1 tablespoon of smash sauce to the bottom of each burger bun. Add two burgers to each bun and top with toppings.
Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional details for recipes are estimated using MyFitnessPal and can vary with different products, measurement accuracy, and source reliability. We aim to provide accurate information but cannot guarantee the precise accuracy of the nutritional data