Add some spice to your next barbecue with these Southwestern Turkey Burgers. Onions, Monterey jack cheese, and cilantro make these burgers flavorful and juicy. A cool tomato avocado salsa is a refreshing topper.
how to make southwest turkey burgers
Making burgers is simple. It doesn't involve a complex recipe with many steps. Basically all that is needed to make award winning burgers is to season the ground meat, form it into burgers and grill them.
Start by seasoning the ground meat which is ground turkey in this recipe. Using fresh onions, garlic, and cilantro adds a pop of flavor and juiciness to burgers. Sometimes turkey burgers can be bland so Worcestershire sauce, cumin, smoked paprika, and Monterey jack cheese ensure the tastiest burgers.
After gently combining the ground turkey and seasonings, form the burgers. Each patty should be about a quarter pound and just a little bit larger than the size of the bun. Make a small indentation in the middle of the burger. This will prevent it from expanding into a ball as it cooks.
The best burgers are grilled. Prepare a charcoal or gas grill to medium high heat. Place the burgers on a clean and oiled grate. Grill for about 3 - 4 minutes.
Flip the burgers and continue grilling for an additional 3 - 4 minutes. Only flip the burgers once and do not press down on them. These two burger no-nos result in tough, dry burgers.
If you are in doubt if your burgers are cooked through, use an instant read thermometer. The internal temperature of perfectly cooked turkey burgers should be 165 degrees. Add a touch of toastiness to the finished burgers by grilling the buns for about 1 - 2 minutes.
Nothing is better than a juicy burger cooked on a hot grill. Add some spice to your Memorial Day barbecue with a turkey burger loaded with warm spices and topped with cool salsa.
Recipe
Southwest Turkey Burgers with Avocado Tomato Salsa
Ingredients
- for the burgers --
- ½ cup finely chopped onion
- 3 minced garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro chopped
- 1 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese
- 2 pounds ground turkey
- 8 burger buns
- For the salsa --
- ⅓ cup chopped onion
- 1 cup chopped cucumber
- 2 ½ cups chopped tomatoes
- juice of ½ of a lime
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 avocado chopped and tossed with juice of ½ of a lime
- salt and pepper to taste
- tortilla chips
Instructions
- Heat a grill to medium high.
- In a large bowl combine the first 9 ingredients. Add the ground turkey and gently combine the ingredients. Form into 8 burgers about the size of the buns. Make a small indent in the center of each burger.
- In a medium sized bowl, combine the salsa ingredients. Set aside.
- Grill the burgers for about 3 - 4 minutes per side or until the internal temperature is 165 degrees. Remove from grill. Toast the buns on the grill for 1 - 2 minutes. Place each burger on a bun and top with the salsa. Serve with tortilla chips.
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