This tasty and easy healthy turkey burger recipe is super simple and topped with avocado, sprouts, juicy tomato, and a quick 2-minute lemon basil garlic aioli. It’s gluten free, dairy free, perfect for grilling season and seriously the best ever!
Healthy Turkey Burger with Avocado for Grilling Season!
Have you fired up the grill yet this season? Now that we are officially moved into our new house (final reveal to come soon!), we have been grilling and cooking up a storm. It’s been really nice to have my own space and kitchen back (I’m sure my parents feel the same!) and my hubby is definitely enjoying using the grill multiple times a week.
This healthy turkey burger recipe is one you’ve got to try if you are into grilling this season. Not only is it a healthier take on a traditional burger with the use of turkey and no gluten or dairy, but it’s also just loaded with flavour yet contains simple, wholesome ingredients.
I’m all about switching it up when it comes to burgers. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good grass-fed beef burger, but I’m also into veggie burgers (like this delicious portobello mushroom burger recipe that’s been super popular on the blog), chicken burgers, salmon burgers, and of course, turkey!
Health Benefits of Turkey / Turkey Nutrition
Turkey is definitely an excellent protein option if you eat meat on a regular or semi-regular basis. According to Healthline, turkey is very rich in dietary protein and a great source of many vitamins and minerals, especially B vitamins.
While certain cuts of turkey contain more saturated fats, skinless cuts are leaner than those with the skin on. For this healthy turkey burger recipe I used extra lean ground turkey and it was perfectly juicy but still nice and lean.
Turkey contains a great amount of B vitamins including B3, B6, and B12, all of which help with energy production and boost nervous system health in the body. It’s important to choose unprocessed cuts of turkey as processed turkey foods can contain a lot of additives and artificial ingredients. I like to use ground turkey and whole turkey breast in recipes most often.
For this recipe I also used Alberta Turkey (you’ll find this recipe was sponsored by Alberta Turkey over on Instagram!), and it’s nice to know that I can source great quality turkey close to home.
Healthy Turkey Burger Ingredients
To make this delicious healthy turkey burger recipe you don’t need a ton of ingredients and many you likely already have at home in your fridge or pantry. The lemon basil garlic aioli is totally optional but highly recommended as it adds incredibly flavour that compliments the turkey patties and the toppings so well. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Extra lean ground turkey
- Spices: Salt, pepper, garlic powder, granulated onion,
- Egg
- Barbecue sauce (of your choice, naturally sweetened recommended)
- Avocado
- Tomato
- Onion
- Sprouts
- Spinach
- Gluten free buns (of your choice, I used Schar brand)
Homemade Lemon Basil Garlic Aioli Ingredients
To make the delicious and tangy aioli for these healthy turkey burgers I whipped together a few simple ingredients and that was the only sauce I felt the burgers really needed. No ketchup here! If you aren’t an aioli fan you can top these turkey burgers with whatever sauce you like, but I do implore you to give this tasty aioli a try! Here’s what you’ll need:
- Lemon juice
- Lemon zest
- Real mayonnaise (no miracle whip here!)
- Garlic clove
- Fresh basil
How To Cook Turkey Burgers
When it comes to cooking turkey burgers there’s a few things to keep in mind. When making the patties you always want to add a binder of some sort so they don’t crumble apart during cooking as the meat is rather lean. I used egg as the binder in my recipe. Some people choose breadcrumbs, panko, or crushed crackers as a binder but for me I wanted to keep these gluten free and simple so egg was the best option.
Turkey Burger Internal Temperature:
For food safety and to avoid the risk of food borne illness, the internal temperature of ground turkey burgers should reach a minimum of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. You want to keep a close eye on your burgers as to not overcook them but ensure they reach the minimum internal cooking temperature for safety. There’s no “medium rare” when it comes to turkey burgers!
If your mouth isn’t watering yet I’d be surprised! Grab some of those toppings ingredients, pick up a pack of lean ground turkey and get grilling my friends.
The season has officially begun and it’s about time we all get outside, even if it’s just to our backyards, to enjoy the sunshine and some good, healthy eats!
Be sure to pin the photo below the recipe card and check out my other healthy burger recipes on the blog!
Best Healthy Turkey Burger with Avocado
This tasty and easy healthy turkey burger recipe is super simple and topped with avocado, sprouts, juicy tomato, and a quick 2-minute lemon basil garlic aioli. It's gluten free, dairy free, perfect for grilling season and seriously the best ever!
Ingredients
Turkey Burger Patties:
- 500g Extra Lean Ground Turkey
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried onion flakes or onion powder
- 1 tablespoon barbecue sauce
Quick Lemon Garlic Basil Aioli:
- 1/4 cup real mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 small clove garlic, crushed
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil
Buns & Toppings:
- 4 gluten-free burger/bakery buns of choice
- 1 avocado, pitted and sliced thick
- 1/2 cup deli sprouts
- 4 sliced rounds of red or white onion (or both)
- 1 tomato, sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh spinach
Instructions
- In a small bowl combine Lemon Garlic Basil Aioli ingredients and mix well, set in the fridge to chill.
- Preheat the barbecue or grill.
- In a large bowl add the ingredients for the turkey patties (egg, ground turkey, spices) and mix well with clean hands to combine.
- Using your hands form 4 burger patties about 1 inch thick and 4 inches in diameter.
- Place the turkey burger patties on the grill and grill for 10 minutes, then flip and grill another 5 minutes until browned and cooked to a minimum of 165F internal temperature.
- Remove turkey burger patties from the grill and assemble burgers.
- Spread 1 heaping tablespoon of the Lemon Garlic Basil Aioli over 1/2 of each sliced gluten free bun (toast buns ahead of time if preferred), then top with 1 cooked turkey burger patty.
Layer on the sliced onion, avocado, tomato, spinach and sprouts. - Enjoy with a side salad, baked fries, or on it’s own!
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More Healthy Burger Recipes You’ll Love:
- The Best Portobello Mushroom Burgers with Quick Caramelized Onions
- Healthy Aloha Chicken Burgers
- Tandoori Chicken Burgers with Mango Avocado Salsa
