Juicy Baked Turkey Burgers With Garlic

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 10/13/22
Tested by
Diana Andrews
Diana Andrews
Tested by Diana Andrews
Diana has served as head recipe developer and editor for the Emmy-nominated PBS series Moveable Feast, food editor and test kitchen manager at Fine Cooking Magazine, and recipe developer and product tester at Food Network. 
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 45 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Yield: 8 burgers

Turkey burgers are quick and easy to bake in the oven. This recipe is made with a combination of ground turkey thighs and breasts, making them lean and perfectly juicy. The tasty burgers are flavored with finely chopped onion, garlic, cilantro, and lime juice, while a little Creole seasoning adds even more flavor.

Low in fat and calories, these well-seasoned turkey burgers are baked all at once, eliminating the tedious flipping of burger after burger on the stovetop or grill. To further ensure the burgers don't fall apart, the egg and breadcrumbs act as a binder.

The baked burgers can easily be made into full-sized burgers or appetizing sliders. Finish them with your favorite burger toppings, a flavorful salsa, or spicy Sriracha mayonnaise.

Juicy baked turkey burgers with garlic on a plate

The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

"These moist and flavorful baked ground turkey burgers offer a healthy and satisfying alternative to beef. Few ingredients and no-fuss preparation make this an easy and quick weeknight meal. Top these tasty burgers with your favorite condiments to make them even more scrumptious." —Diana Andrews

Juicy baked turkey burgers with garlic on a plate
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 3/4 cup onion, finely chopped

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 pound ground turkey thighs

  • 1 pound ground turkey breast

  • 1/3 cup dry unseasoned breadcrumbs

  • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice, or lime juice

  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten

  • 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning, or seasoned salt mixture

  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 8 hamburger buns, toasted, if desired

  • Lettuce, tomato, salsa, flavored mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, for serving, optional

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Juicy baked turkey burgers with garlic ingredients gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  2. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 F. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray. 

    Rimmed baking sheet lined with aluminum foil and sprayed with nonstick spray

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  3. In a medium nonstick skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and cook, stirring, until the onion is tender and begins to brown. Add the minced garlic and continue cooking, stirring, for about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.

    Finely chopped onion in a frying pan, with a wooden spoon

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  4. Combine the ground turkey thighs and breast with the breadcrumbs, chopped cilantro, lemon or lime juice, beaten egg, Creole seasoning, salt, pepper, and the onion and garlic mixture. Mix until the ingredients are well blended.

    Bowl of ground turkey meat with breadcrumbs in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  5. Shape the turkey mixture into 8 (4 3/4-ounce) burgers. Arrange the burgers on the prepared baking pan.

    Turkey burgers shaped on a baking pan covered in aluminum foil

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  6. Bake the burgers in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until no longer pink in the middle and cooked through.

    Baked turkey burgers on a baking sheet lined with foil

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

  7. Serve these flavorful burgers on buns with your choice of fixings.

    Juicy baked turkey burgers with garlic, on a bun with tomato and lettuce

    The Spruce Eats / Cara Cormack

Tips

  • According to the USDA, ground poultry must be cooked to a minimum of 165 F. To know when they're done, check turkey burgers using an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a burger.
  • To make sliders, form the mixture into smaller (2-ounce) patties to yield about 19 sliders. You may need to reduce the baking time slightly.

Recipe Variations

  • Use chopped fresh parsley in place of the cilantro, if you don't care for the flavor of cilantro.
  • Swap out the spices for your favorite spice blend (Cajun seasoning is an excellent choice).
  • To make the turkey burgers gluten free, use gluten-free breadcrumbs and buns.

Can Turkey Burgers Be Frozen?

Make extra turkey burgers to freeze for later. Lay the unbaked patties in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for one to two hours before transferring to a freezer-safe container or bag. They'll keep well for two to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator before baking; turkey burgers can also be baked while still frozen, though you'll need to extend the cooking time.

Are Turkey Burgers Healthier Than Beef Burgers?

Ground turkey is often viewed as a leaner alternative to beef, but this isn't necessarily the case. Turkey breast is leaner than the thigh, and this recipe uses a mixture of the two so the burgers aren't dry. (Some ground turkey is a mixture of dark and white meats, and it's important to read labels when shopping.) Generally, the calories, fat, and saturated fat of turkey burgers is comparable to a burger made with the leanest beef. The toppings and buns are equally important; for the healthiest burgers, be as selective about the fixings as you are with the patties.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
429 Calories
16g Fat
32g Carbs
39g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 429
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 16g 20%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Cholesterol 124mg 41%
Sodium 599mg 26%
Total Carbohydrate 32g 12%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 39g
Vitamin C 3mg 13%
Calcium 140mg 11%
Iron 4mg 22%
Potassium 489mg 10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)