Healthy AND tasty? WHHAAAAAT?
Yep. Super tasty. Takes a little bit of time and TLC, but absolutely worth it. Patti and I have really been making a concerted effort to eat healthier this year. Given my love of things like meat, bacon, fat, fried stuff, bacon, dessert and bacon – I find this a difficult commitment.
This smoked turkey burger makes it a little easier.
So you can make this as spicy and cheesy as you want. I’ll include in the recipe box what I did, but you could add/subtract and end up with a great product. Next time I make it I’ll be increasing the jalapeno.
How Do You Keep Turkey Burgers From Drying Out?
Ahhh…the age old question when it come to turkey burgers!
This recipe uses a three prong approach to keeping these turkey burgers from drying out:
- Slow Smoking
- Use the Right Turkey
- Added Moisture from the Veggies
Slow Smoking
I highly recommend smoking turkey burgers.
If you grilled these burgers the high heat would cause the burgers to contract and would squeeze out the limited moisture. In contrast, slow smoking is a gentle cooking process where more moisture is retained.
In addition, the smoke adds a great flavor to burgers.
Use the Right Turkey
When you are making turkey burgers it is important to use ground turkey that is 85% Lean and 15% Fat. You are going to need that 15% fat to keep the burger moist.
Do not try using 95:5 ground turkey for burgers. Ultra lean ground turkey is great for taco meat and spaghettis sauce but is horrible for burgers.
If you want to grind your own turkey then start with turkey thighs with the skin on and make sure you grind the skin and associated fat along with the meat.
Added Moisture from Veggies
These burgers include jalapenos and roasted garlic.
These ingredients bring a ton of flavor to the burgers along with their own moisture.
How deliciously cool do those look?? Yum. Give these a try soon and let me know what you think. I bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised with how good they turn out!
Smoked Turkey Burgers with Jalapeno and Cheddar Cheese
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs ground turkey 85:15
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 jalapenos chopped or 2 tsp jarred jalapenos
- 4 cloves of smoked roasted garlic smashed
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients and form patties.
- Set up your grill for indirect cooking/smoking.
- Smoke burgers at 250F using pecan or apple wood for smoke.
- Cook the turkey burgers for about 25 minutes, or until internal temp hits around 140.
- Finish burgers by searing direct over coals for 2-3 minutes per side, until internal temp is 165.
- Serve on a bun with your favorite toppings!