Southwest Turkey Burgers

Health score
37%
Southwest Turkey Burgers
25 min.
4
838kcal

Suggestions

Get ready to elevate your dinner game with these vibrant Southwest Turkey Burgers, a delicious fusion of bold flavors and lean protein that is ready in just 25 minutes. Perfect for those looking to enjoy a hearty main course without the guilt of a traditional beef burger, this recipe transforms ground turkey breast into a juicy, aromatic masterpiece. The secret lies in the spice blend, where the heat of cayenne hot sauce and fresh serrano peppers dances perfectly with earthy thyme and aromatic garlic, creating a complex flavor profile that sings with every bite.

What makes these burgers truly special is the creative use of sweet red pepper relish or jelly, which acts as a sticky, sweet "glue" for crisp red lettuce leaves, adding a surprising crunch and a burst of fruity sweetness that balances the savory, smoky turkey. Topped with melty pepper jack cheese and finished with crispy turkey bacon, each patty offers a delightful mix of textures and temperatures. Whether you are hosting a quick weeknight dinner or preparing a fun lunch, these burgers deliver an 838-kcal experience that is satisfying and packed with flavor.

Don't be intimidated by the preparation; it is straightforward and forgiving. You simply mix your spices into the meat, form them into patties, and cook them until golden and cooked through. The optional fresh cilantro and the smoky notes of the grill seasoning blend ensure that even picky eaters will find something to love. Serve these on crusty Kaiser rolls alongside a tossed salad or some spicy tortilla chips, and you will have a meal that feels restaurant-quality but comes straight from your kitchen. This is a recipe that proves healthy eating can be incredibly exciting.

Ingredients

  •  crusty kaiser rolls split
  • tablespoons cilantro leaves fresh chopped
  • tablespoons thyme leaves dried fresh chopped
  • cloves garlic finely chopped
  • teaspoons grill seasoning blend (recommended: Montreal Steak Seasoning by McCormick)
  • 1.3 pounds ground turkey breast 
  • teaspoons cayenne hot sauce (recommended: Tabasco)
  •  jalapeno seeded finely chopped
  • servings olive oil for drizzling
  • cup pepper relish sweet red
  • 0.5 pound deli pepper jack cheese sliced
  • leaf lettuce red
  • large shallot or red finely chopped
  • slices at least of turkey bacon smoked with black pepper or applewood bacon

Equipment

  • frying pan
  • grill

Directions

  1. Watch how to make this recipe.
  2. Chop your garlic and veggies.
  3. Cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat until crisp. Wipe excess grease from pan and return skillet to heat.
  4. While bacon cooks, combine turkey meat, garlic, shallot or onion, thyme, cilantro or parsley, bell pepper, serrano or jalapeno pepper, cumin, hot pepper sauce, grill seasoning or salt and pepper. Divide mixture into 4 equal mounds then form meat into patties.
  5. Drizzle patties with vegetable oil to coat. Cook in skillet over medium high heat for 5 to 6 minutes on each side.
  6. Place sliced cheese over the patties in the last 2 minutes of cooking, use 1 or 2 slices for each patty, as you like.
  7. Pile cooked cheeseburgers into buns.
  8. Spread sweet relish or jelly on bun tops and set red leaf lettuce into place, using the relish or jelly as glue. Top cheeseburgers with 2 slices of cooked, crisp bacon or turkey bacon and lettluce. Then serve with tortilla chips, tossed salad and/or spicy o-nuts.

Nutrition Facts

Calories838kcal
Protein28.46%
Fat57.45%
Carbs14.09%

Properties

Glycemic Index
64.25
Glycemic Load
1.5
Inflammation Score
-10
Nutrition Score
37.314347785452%

Flavonoids

Apigenin
0.09mg
Luteolin
1.86mg
Isorhamnetin
1.38mg
Kaempferol
0.19mg
Myricetin
0.03mg
Quercetin
6.01mg

Nutrients percent of daily need

Calories:838.15kcal
41.91%
Fat:53.74g
82.68%
Saturated Fat:20.05g
125.33%
Carbohydrates:29.67g
9.89%
Net Carbohydrates:26.28g
9.56%
Sugar:3.39g
3.77%
Cholesterol:162.66mg
54.22%
Sodium:985.66mg
42.85%
Alcohol:0g
100%
Alcohol %:0%
100%
Protein:59.9g
119.79%
Vitamin B3:18.92mg
94.62%
Selenium:62.95µg
89.94%
Vitamin B6:1.68mg
83.86%
Vitamin C:60.92mg
73.84%
Phosphorus:721.33mg
72.13%
Calcium:505.62mg
50.56%
Vitamin A:1912.57IU
38.25%
Vitamin K:39.73µg
37.83%
Zinc:5.53mg
36.87%
Vitamin B2:0.61mg
35.75%
Vitamin B1:0.49mg
32.76%
Manganese:0.5mg
24.94%
Folate:97.96µg
24.49%
Vitamin B12:1.46µg
24.36%
Iron:4.15mg
23.07%
Potassium:795mg
22.71%
Magnesium:89.24mg
22.31%
Vitamin B5:2.08mg
20.78%
Vitamin E:2.46mg
16.4%
Fiber:3.39g
13.56%
Copper:0.23mg
11.73%
Vitamin D:1.12µg
7.47%