This is the ultimate turkey burger sliders recipe! Give these a try for your next BBQ! The great thing about these easy turkey burger sliders, is that there is minimal prep work. Our favorite way is to use leftover cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving. These mini turkey burgers are the perfect appetizer, but can also be served as a main course. Serve these ground turkey burgers on mini burger buns, small soft dinner rolls or Hawaiian rolls.
Why you will love these Turkey Burger Sliders!
One of the best things about lean turkey burger, is that you can top them with any of your favorite toppings. We top them with smoked Gouda cheese and cranberry sauce for a great tangy, smoky flavor. You can also top them with mozzarella cheese and Sunday sauce for an Italian flavor. We swap out the sage for ground rosemary, and top with feta cheese for a Greek turkey burger sliders variety! Another great way to make your taste buds happy is to top with sweet caramelized onion and Swiss cheese!
Ingredients for turkey burger sliders:
- Lean ground turkey: We like to buy this when Bruce shops on Sunday, and keep it in the fridge to whip these up. You can also keep the ground turkey in the freezer, and thaw it overnight.
- Pepper, Garlic powder, Onion powder, Smoked Paprika and Ground Sage: The mix of these seasonings gives these burgers that hint of holiday dressing.
- Dijon mustard & Mayonnaise: Adding both of these condiments helps the turkey bind, and it also gives them moisture, and flavor.
- Worcestershire sauce: The slightly tangy, spicy notes of this sauce brings up the taste in these burgers.
- Slider buns: Feel free to use regular size buns if you are making bigger burgers. Dinner rolls or Hawaiian rolls work well.
Equipment needed for these turkey burger sliders:
- Baking sheet
- Large mixing bowl
- Griddle or large skillet
- Flat metal spatula
How do I know when the turkey burgers are done?
When cooking turkey in any form, it is important to cook it to the proper internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Cooking ground turkey to the proper internal temperature is especially important due to the bacteria that are introduced into the meat mixture. A simple way to check is to use a meat thermometer.
Can I keep leftovers in the refrigerator to eat later in the week?
You can store the cooked turkey burgers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator, to eat the next day. They will stay safe to eat for 3 to 4 days. You want to make sure that once they are cool, you put them into the refrigerator right away. You do not want to allow them to sit at room temperature for longer than a few minutes.
How do I thaw frozen ground turkey to make this turkey burger recipe?
The best thing to do is shop for ground turkey and plan your menu. Look at the expiration date. You will find that you can purchase ground turkey and allow it to be in your refrigerator for several days. However, if you are using frozen ground turkey, you will want to get it out of the freezer 24 hours before you make these, and allow it to thaw in the refrigerator. You can safely microwave on the defrost setting for a few minutes to completely thaw the ground turkey.
Can I substitute ground chicken or ground beef in this sliders recipe?
Absolutely you can substitute another ground meat! The key to a delicious burger is fresh ground meat. Ground chicken, beef, or lamb are excellent substitutes. You can switch up the spices to give the flavor profile you want. No need to use egg or bread crumbs, but feel free to use Parmesan cheese for extra flavor. Avoiding bread crumbs keeps the burger juicer.
Ingredients
Ingredients for the ground turkey burgers
- 2 lbs. ground Turkey
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon ground sage
- Half teaspoon smoked paprika
- Quarter teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- A half a teaspoon black pepper
Ingredients for assembling the turkey burgers
- Slider rolls
- Gouda cheese
- Cranberry sauce
- Mustard & Pickles
Instructions
- Mix the above gently, and form balls with a large ice cream scoop. Place on parchment and press with more parchment, & keep in fridge.
- Heat up griddle on stove or on your grill. If you are using a grill, and want to get a smoky flavor, use Western Wood BBQ smoking chips. We like to use cherry wood chips. We create a foil pouch and put the chips in, and poke holes. Get that smoking, and then make your burgers.
- We place the burgers onto the griddle by using the pieces of parchment and smashing them down. Allow them to brown up for a few minutes. Wash your spatula with warm soapy water and dry off, so that no raw turkey is on it when you flip the burgers. Flip burgers over. At this point I check the internal temperature of the last burger I put on the grill. When I see that it is at 162 degrees F, I put the cheese on the tops to melt. Once the cheese melts check the temperature again, looking for 165 Degrees F.
- Remove burgers and place on slider rolls. Top with cranberry sauce, and serve with pickles and mustard.
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