Turkey Burger Recipe with Goat Cheese (2024)

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This turkey burger recipe is one for the books! Homemade burgers are created by combining ground turkey, panko, and flavorful sun-dried tomatoesto give you juicy and tender grilled results every time. Slather the grilled burger with goat cheese, and you have a restaurant-quality burger that is out-of-this-world delicious!

this recipe

The Best Turkey Burger recipe

While I love a good, juicy beef burger, sometimes I like to switch things up for something a bit lighter. Don’t get me wrong — recipes like these Guinness burgers with Irish cheddar and bacon are a definite staple in my house. But this turkey burger recipe is the answer when you’re in the mood for a delicious burger that is lower in fat but still filled with protein.

I sneak in some other ingredients directly into the patties: Italian seasoning and sun-dried tomatoes. Then, I slather them in a healthy helping of goat cheese. It’s a unique twist on a classic dish, and I have to say I can’t get enough of it.

I'm not sure what took me so long to get on the turkey burger train, but man I am glad I did. It’s a good place to be. Try my goat cheese turkey burger recipe if you’re looking to switch up your weeknight dinner menu!

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  • The Best Turkey Burger recipe
  • Why You Will Love This Recipe
  • Instructions
  • FAQs
  • Expert Tips for Making this Turkey Burger Recipe
  • More Grilling Favorites
  • Recipe

Why You Will Love This Recipe

➤ Flavorful and lean. Ground turkey is lighter and leaner than ground beef, and the addition of sun-dried tomatoes and goat cheese really set this dish apart.

➤ Perfect for weeknight dinner and beyond. Whip up this grilled turkey burger recipe for your family, or make a larger batch to serve at a barbecue!

It freezes beautifully. Want to get ahead for the week (or month)? These burgers will keep in the freezer for up to 4 months.

Made with simple and fresh ingredients. Don’t worry about running all over town to find what you need!

Ingredients & Substitutions

Turkey Burger Recipe with Goat Cheese (2)

Panko: I find that Panko crumbs are a bit lighter than traditional breadcrumbs. That light and airy texture can’t be beat! You can use Italian flavored or plain Panko crumbs with great results.

Egg: Works as a binder to hold your burgers together.

Ground turkey: The most important ingredient for this grilled turkey burger recipe is, of course, ground turkey. I like to use a mix of ground dark meat and light meat for nice, juicy burgers. You can use all dark or all white as well, whatever you have on hand!

Italian seasoning: To add even more flavor to the burger patties.

Salt and pepper: You’ll only need a bit to balance out the rest of the flavors.

Sun-dried tomatoes: Opt for high-quality, oil-packed, sun-dried tomatoes. Make sure to drain the excess oil first and chop them finely to get that delicious tomato taste in every bite.

Goat cheese: Soft, mild, and slightly earthy in taste, goat cheese pairs really well with ground turkey. Havarti or Pepper Jack are great alternatives too!

Instructions

Turkey Burger Recipe with Goat Cheese (3)

Create the burger: Add the Panko, egg, ground turkey, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and sun-dried tomatoes to a large bowl and mix to combine. I find that clean hands work best!

Turkey Burger Recipe with Goat Cheese (4)

Form the patties: Shape the mixture into 6 even-sized patties and place them in the refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour.

Grill the burgers: Place the burgers on the grill and cook over medium-high for about 3-4 minutes on each side.

Let them rest: When your turkey burger patties are ready, remove them from the grill and tent them with foil. Allow them to rest for about 5 minutes.

Garnish and serve: Add a thick layer of creamy goat cheese on top of each burger, add any other toppings you’d like, and enjoy!

FAQs

What kind of cheese goes best with turkey burgers?

I think that this goat cheese turkey burger is out of this world tasty! If you’re looking for some other cheese options to use, I suggest going with Swiss, Fontina, Mozzarella, Havarti, or Colby Jack. Basically, anything that melts well would work great.

How do you make turkey burgers stick together?

The Panko and egg will work together to bind the patties together. Refrigerating them for an hour before grilling is the secret to getting the patties to stay formed while grilling. Don't be tempted to add more Panko crumbs or you will have dried-out burgers.

How should turkey burgers be cooked?

The grill is great if you have one, but they also cook up nicely on the stovetop, or even in an air fryer. My advice? Work with what you’ve got at home!

How do you know when it's time to flip a turkey burger?

You’ll know your burger is ready to be flipped when you start to see charred grill marks on it. 3-4 minutes on each side will do the trick.

Turkey Burger Recipe with Goat Cheese (5)

Expert Tips for Making this Turkey Burger Recipe

✔︎ Add-ins take the flavor over the top. That’s why I love using sun-dried tomatoes and Italian seasoning in this recipe! You can easily add in other extras like hot sauce if you like spicy foods or fresh herbs if you love an herbaceous burger.

✔︎ Use a kitchen scale. Burgers that are the same size will cook evenly, preventing overdone (or underdone) burgers!

✔︎ Do a quick taste test. If you’re not sure whether or not you’ve added enough sun-dried tomatoes and seasonings, pinch off a bit of the seasoned turkey mixture and cook it in a frying pan to taste it.

✔︎ Don’t overcook them. Ground turkey is naturally a lot leaner than other types of protein, which means your burgers can dry out if you overcook them. Follow the cooking instructions carefully!

✔︎ Check the internal temperature to determine whether they’re done. According to the USDA, turkey must have an international temp of 165 degrees F to be safe to eat.

✔︎ Cook the burgers to medium, nothing more, nothing less. Speaking of internal temperatures, while ground beef burgers taste great when cooked medium rare, I suggest cooking your burgers to medium (which is 165 degrees F!).

Turkey Burger Recipe with Goat Cheese (6)

More Grilling Favorites

The grill is one of our favorite cooking methods. Try some of these other tasty grilled recipes or check out all of our main dish recipes.

  • Italian Grilled Sausage Wraps
  • Grilled Sockeye Salmon recipe with Maple Ginger glaze
  • Grilled Brats
Did you make this recipe? We'd love to hear your thoughts! Please rate the recipe and leave a comment below. Your feedback helps us and your fellow readers! 

Recipe

Turkey Burger Recipe with Goat Cheese (11)

Turkey Burger Recipe with Goat Cheese

Garnish With Lemon

You won't miss the beef when you bite into this juicy Tukey Burger slathered with goat cheese.

5 from 4 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 7 minutes mins

Additional Time 1 hour hr

Total Time 1 hour hr 22 minutes mins

Course Main Dishes

Cuisine American

Servings 6 burgers

Calories 430 kcal

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup Panko Crumbs
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 1 ½ pounds ground turkey
  • 1 tsp italian seasoning
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • ½ cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes drained and chopped
  • 6 ounces goat cheese softened

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, mix together Panko crumbs, egg, ground turkey, seasonings and sun-dried tomatoes.

    ¾ cup Panko Crumbs, 1 egg, 1 ½ pounds ground turkey, ½ tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper, ½ cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes

  • Form into 6 patties and refrigerate for at least one hour to set.

  • Grill over medium -high heat for 3-4 minutes per side.

  • Remove turkey burgers from the grill and tent with foil. Let rest for 5 minutes.

  • Slather goat cheese on top of burgers and serve.

    6 ounces goat cheese

Notes

Ingredient Notes:

Panko: I find that Panko crumbs are a bit lighter than traditional breadcrumbs. That light and airy texture can’t be beat! You can use Italian flavored or plain Panko crumbs with great results.

Egg: Works as a binder to hold your burgers together.

Ground turkey: The most important ingredient for this grilled turkey burger recipe is, of course, ground turkey. I like to use a mix of ground dark meat and light meat for nice, juicy burgers. You can use all dark or all white as well, whatever you have on hand!

Italian seasoning: To add even more flavor to the burger patties.

Salt and pepper: You’ll only need a bit to balance out the rest of the flavors.

Sun-dried tomatoes: Opt for high-quality, oil-packed, sun-dried tomatoes. Make sure to drain the excess oil first and chop them finely to get that delicious tomato taste in every bite.

Goat cheese: Soft, mild, and slightly earthy in taste, goat cheese pairs really well with ground turkey. Havarti or Pepper Jack are great alternatives too!

Tips

Use a kitchen scale. Burgers that are the same size will cook evenly, preventing overdone (or underdone) burgers!

Chill your burgers for an hour before grilling to prevent them falling apart as they cook.

Don’t overcook them. Ground turkey is naturally a lot leaner than other types of protein, which means your burgers can dry out if you overcook them. Follow the cooking instructions carefully!

Check the internal temperature to determine whether they’re done. According to the USDA, turkey must have an international temp of 165 degrees F to be safe to eat.

Cook the burgers to medium, nothing more, nothing less. Speaking of internal temperatures, while ground beef burgers taste great when cooked medium rare, I suggest cooking your burgers to medium (which is 165 degrees F!).

Nutrition

Serving: 1burgerCalories: 430kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 35gFat: 27gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 160mgSodium: 516mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1g

Nutrition info not guaranteed to be accurate.

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Turkey Burger Recipe with Goat Cheese (12)

About Lisa

Hi, I’m Lisa! Looking for the party? It’s probably at my house. Nothing brings me more joy than sharing good food with friends and family. That and a seriously good co*cktail.

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Comments

  1. Turkey Burger Recipe with Goat Cheese (13)Sandy says

    Just made these Turkey Burgers on the grill tonight. Even my beef loving carnivorous husband loved them. Thanks for making eating healthy so delicious!

    Reply

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Turkey Burger Recipe with Goat Cheese (2024)

FAQs

What holds turkey burgers together? ›

Add a spoonful of mayonnaise.

A spoonful or two of mayonnaise, mixed right in with the ground meat. Now hear me out. Most recipes use egg to bind ground turkey, helping the meat to form into cohesive, juicy patties.

What's the best cheese to put on a turkey burger? ›

The Best Cheese Flavors To Pair With Turkey Burgers
  1. American cheese for nostalgia. ...
  2. Cheddar for classic flair. ...
  3. Blue cheese to up the flavor of the blander burger. ...
  4. Smoked gouda for that char-grilled aroma. ...
  5. Gruyère for a rich, buttery flavor. ...
  6. Pepper jack for a bit of heat. ...
  7. Feta for loads of sheepy flavor and creamy texture.
Feb 24, 2023

What to use to keep turkey burgers from falling apart? ›

Just like in a traditional meatloaf, you need something to hold the meat together. Try adding some dry breadcrumbs to the turkey mixture before you shape the patties. The crumbs will absorb the moisture and, together with the egg, will act like glue and help your burgers maintain their shape on the grill.

Does goat cheese taste good on a burger? ›

If there is something we love in our household it is goat cheese. These Bacon Goat Cheese Burgers with Caramelized Onions are seriously so good!! It starts with the most perfectly seasoned and flavorful burgers. They're then topped with a layer of goat cheese, some crispy bacon, and perfectly caramelized onions.

Do turkey burgers need binder? ›

You need a binder to prevent turkey burgers from falling apart. I used whole wheat breadcrumbs in this recipe, but gluten-free panko would also work.

How to keep turkey burgers from falling apart without breadcrumbs? ›

What are some tips for making thin burgers that don't fall apart when cooking them? there are multiple ways to make thin burgers that stay together. The first way is to use an egg as a binding agent. Make your hamburger mix, and add one raw egg, or two if you've got over two pounds.

What cheese is most popular in turkey? ›

Kars Gruyere: Kars Gruyere is one of the most famous Turkish cheeses in the world with its tang, rich odor, and flavour. This traditional gruyere cheese is usually made with pure cow's milk or a mixture of cow and goat's milk.

Should I put cheese on a turkey burger? ›

You really can't go wrong. Here's some turkey burger cheeses I like and some turkey burger toppings to go with them: American Cheese - A classic! Serve with bread & butter pickles, lettuce, red onion, thick sliced tomato, and a dollop each of mayo and spicy brown mustard.

Should cheese go on top or below burger? ›

While your patties are cooking, begin building your burger so it's hot when you serve it. If you have cheese on your burger, it should be melted. Place cheese on top of the patties in the last 30 or so seconds of cooking and cover with a lid or bowl to help it melt.

Why put egg in turkey burger? ›

Since turkey burgers tend to be drier than their ground beef counterparts, we added an egg to ours to help it hold together and give it more moisture. We also use 94% lean ground turkey in our patties—we don't recommend any higher than that, or your burgers might not hold together.

Why do turkey burgers leak? ›

Constantly poking, prodding, and flipping causes more juices to leak out. And perhaps the most important tip for a juicy turkey burger -- don't overcook them. Cook the burgers to 165 degrees Fahrenheit but pull them from the heat when they hit 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

Why is my turkey burger tough? ›

Handling the meat too much.

Whether you're making burgers, meatballs, or meatloaf, it's best to keep the meat handling to a minimum. It has a direct impact on the texture of the finished recipe: When over-handled, the meat compacts and the result is a tough finished product.

What makes goat cheese taste better? ›

So why does goats' cheese taste of 'goat'? The scientific reason behind the goat flavour in goats' cheese, is that their milk has a higher amount of three smaller-chain fatty acids (caproic, capric and caprylic fat) that give those 'goaty', 'barnyardy' flavours.

What compliments goat cheese? ›

A milder fresh goat cheese will go perfectly with a sweet conserve, such as fig or raspberry. A cheese with a more pronounced flavour such as Ripened goat log will taste great alongside black cherry or blueberry conserves.

What meat goes best with goat cheese? ›

What meat goes with goat cheese? My two favorite types of charcuterie meat for pairing with goat cheese are salami and prosciutto.

How do you make ground turkey stick together? ›

Since turkey burgers tend to be drier than their ground beef counterparts, we added an egg to ours to help it hold together and give it more moisture. We also use 94% lean ground turkey in our patties—we don't recommend any higher than that, or your burgers might not hold together.

What is a good binder for burgers? ›

If they aren't bound well, the patties will start to fall apart as soon as you start cooking them. The most commonly used binding agent for hamburger patties is eggs. They work well with ground meat and are easy to incorporate into the rest of your ingredients.

What do you use to bind burgers together? ›

Bind the patty together

If you're going for a leaner meat or adding bulky ingredients (eg spring onions, onions, chillies), add an egg and a handful of breadcrumbs to bind the burgers.

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