Looking for a healthy turkey burger recipe that is juicy and delicious? Look no further! This Hawaiian Turkey Burger is full of tropical flavors and stays super juicy.
Who says you have to wait for summer to whip out the grill? I make burgers year-round by simply cooking these turkey burgers in the oven.
This healthy turkey burger recipe is packed with vegetables. Yes, I said vegetables! And it’s topped with Hawaiian flavors including an aloha sauce that is going to knock your socks off!
Turkey meat can get a bad rap in the culinary world, but I happen to love it! And thanks to a couple of secret ingredients, these burgers turn out moist every single time.
Are turkey burgers healthy?
According to Livestrong, when comparing ground turkey with their beef counterpart, they’re pretty similar in calories, saturated fat, and sodium content.
But ground turkey comes in a fat-free version that is healthier than even the leanest ground beef.
Because ground turkey is leaner than ground beef, it requires more seasoning for added taste. In addition, it contains less fat than ground beef, which means that it is overall a drier ground meat.
With that being said, I still love ground turkey and mine always end up juicy thanks to the addition of two shredded vegetables: carrots and zucchini.
How to make healthy turkey burgers juicy:
Friends, these burgers will become your new go-to burger recipe because of how juicy they are!
Finely shredded carrots and zucchini are two moist vegetables, which helps the ground turkey meat not dry out.
An added bonus of incorporating shredded carrot and zucchini is that you get an extra serving of vegetables in your burgers!
I love when I can slip extra veggies into meals without it altering the taste. I know my kids are getting healthy, nutritious meals with extra vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Total win right here!
It’s all about the sauce:
Another way I like to add more moisture to the burger is by adding BBQ sauce. Whether it’s premade BBQ or your family’s homemade BBQ recipe, slather some on if you want added juiciness and a flavor burst.
I find that I grab BBQ sauce for meatloaf, too. Ketchup is fine, but once you’ve tried BBQ I don’t think you’ll go back.
How to add some aloha flavor:
Turn a regular, plain turkey burger into a Hawaiian burger with some pineapple! Freshly grilled pineapple will add more depth and sweetness to the dish; however, fresh cut pineapple or even canned pineapple rings are perfectly fine.
How to peel a pineapple:
Place the pineapple on its side. Use a large, sharp knife to cut off the top and bottom, about 1/2 in. Cut as straight as possible. Stand the pineapple upright and cutting vertically, remove the skin in strips. Check out my video below if you need help.
How to make a healthy turkey burger recipe Hawaiian style:
Begin by cooking your bacon. I prefer to cook mine in the oven at 400°F. Speaking of bacon, these burgers would be absolutely amazing with Jalapeño Brown Sugar Bacon.
While your bacon is cooking, now’s a good time to shred the carrots and zucchini. No need to peel the veggies, unless that’s your jam.
Once the carrots and zucchini are done, add them to a large mixing bowl with the ground turkey.
Toss in some seasoning and use your hands to completely mix together. If you have an aversion to mixing with your hands, then use a large spatula or spoon.
Next, divide the meat into 8 portions and shape into hamburger patties. Place them on a foil-lined baking sheet and cook until done, about 13-16 minutes.
When there’s about 7 minutes left on the timer, flip the burgers over and top with a slice of cheese and pineapple and continue cooking.
Now it’s time to prepare the toppings and make the BBQ sauce. Plain BBQ sauce is great, but I love BBQ sauce mixed with jelly. So. Much. Flavor!
Finally, toast the Brioche buns and assemble the burger, starting with the sauce.
What’s your favorite kind of burger? Share below or tag me on social media!
If you enjoyed this recipe, you’re sure to love Jalapeño Popper Meatballs.
Healthy Turkey Burger Recipe:
Healthy Turkey Burger- Hawaiian Style
Healthy turkey burgers don't have to be dry and flavorless. These Hawaiian style turkey burgers are packed with flavor and juicy.
Ingredients
Meat Mixture:
- 2 Pounds Ground Turkey
- 1 Tablespoon + 2 Teaspoons Montreal Steak Seasoning
- ½ Cup Zucchini, Finely Shredded
- ½ Cup Carrots, Finely Shredded
Sauce:
- ½ Cup Grape Jelly
- ½ Cup BBQ Sauce (I like Stubb's)
Toppings:
- Pineapple, Sliced ¼ inch Thick (core removed)
- 8 Slices Cheddar Cheese
- Lettuce, Torn
- Red Onion, Sliced Thin
- 8 Slices Black Forest or Applewood Smoked Bacon (cooked until crisp)
- 8 Brioche Burger Buns
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a cookie sheet with foil.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ground turkey, steak seasoning, zucchini, and carrots.
- With clean hands, scoop out ½ cup meat mixture and form a patty. Repeat, forming 8 patties and placing on one foil-lined cookie sheet.
- Cook the burger patties in the oven for 13-16 minutes or until cooked through. Halfway through cooking, top the burgers with pineapple and cheese.
- Prepare all your toppings. Make the sauce by combining the jelly with the BBQ sauce.
- Toast the Brioche buns. To assemble, spoon sauce on the buns, then add burger patties with cheese and pineapple, and top with lettuce, red onion, and bacon.
Notes
You can also grill the pineapple for a delicious flavor.