Southwest turkey burgers are tender and juicy, with a little kick from roasted poblanos and jalapeño. Top with guacamole and chipotle mayo and load them up with your favorite burger toppings!

Say goodbye to boring, dry turkey burgers because this recipe is packed with flavor and texture. Southwest turkey burgers come together in 30 minutes for the perfect easy and delicious weeknight dinner.

These turkey burgers are juicy and flavorful with no added fillers like breadcrumbs or egg–just the perfect juicy burger!

The Best Southwest Turkey Burgers

As much as I love a grilled burger, I love finding ways to enjoy the foods I love with a healthier twist. Juicy Southwest turkey burgers are just as good as any grilled beef burger and are a great alternative for a healthier weeknight meal.

These burgers are so full of flavor and they stay moist and juicy after cooking! The turkey patties have zero breadcrumbs or egg fillers making them light, fresh, and gluten-free.

If you’re looking for a quick and easy weeknight dinner, these juicy turkey burgers burgers definitely fit the bill! Serve them up alongside these homemade potato wedges or baked sweet potato fries.

Add these burgers to your weekly dinner rotation–you’re going to love them!

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

Healthy – Healthy doesn’t have to meal flavorless, ever! Turkey burgers are low in fat, full of protein, and still taste delicious. They’re perfect for swapping in when you’re looking to cut back on red meat.

Quick & Easy – This whole recipe comes together in just about 30 minutes with minimal prep! Southwest turkey burgers are the definition of an easy weeknight dinner.

Minimal Ingredients – You only need a handful of ingredients that you likely already have in the fridge to get these turkey burgers together. Plus, they’re easy to customize with your favorite toppings!

How to Make Southwest Turkey Burgers

Because the burgers are soft due to the lack of fillers, I prefer cooking these in a cast iron skillet or on a grill pan to avoid them falling apart.

Tools Needed

• Cast Iron Skillet or Grill Pan
• Mixing Bowl
• Sharp Knife
• Cutting Board
• Probe Thermometer

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Ground turkey. I like to use 93/7 ground turkey here for the extra bit of fat, but use whatever you prefer.
• Mayonnaise. A hint of mayo adds moisture to the meat and keeps it from drying out as it cooks.
• Roasted poblano. I love roasting my own chilies, but you could use canned green chilies as well.
• Spices. Ancho chile powder, cumin, dehydrated onion, and garlic powder add all the southwest-style flavors.
• Cilantro. I love the freshness that a bit of cilantro adds, but feel free to skip it if you’re not a fan.
• Cotija cheese. Adding cotija cheese to the turkey burgers adds so much flavor!
• Worcestershire. The secret ingredient to all great burgers.
• Chipotle mayo. You can buy store bought, but chipotle mayo is so easy to quickly mix up.
• Toppings. You can really go wild here, but I love guacamole, sliced tomato, and thinly sliced red onion for my southwest turkey burgers.

The Process

1. Roast the poblano pepper. Start by charring or broiling your poblano pepper until blackened. I use a pair of tongs to rotate it over the flame on my gas burners. Alternately, place it on a baking sheet and broil on high heat, turning the pepper once, until blistered all over. Place the charred pepper in a ziplock bag or a heat safe bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Once the pepper is cool, peel and dice it.
2. Mix the burgers. Combine the ground turkey and remaining ingredients together in a bowl with salt and pepper. Mix gently by hand until just combined and all the ingredients are evenly mixed.
3. Shape the patties. Divide the mixture into 4 and shape into patties with a depression in the middle. Place the shaped burgers on a plate or small baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Transfer the burgers to the freezer for 15-20 minutes, until firmed up.
4. Mix the chipotle mayo. Combine all the ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Season with salt and pepper and transfer to the fridge until ready to use.
5. Cook the burgers. Heat a grill pan or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Let the pan preheat for about 5 minutes. Add a bit of neutral oil. Once the oil is hot, cook the burgers for about 5 minutes per side, until browned. Add the pepper-jack cheese after flipping the burgers so that it has time to melt. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the burgers are cooked to 165 F.
6. Assemble the burgers. Toast the buns and spread one side with chipotle mayo and the other side with guacamole. Place the burgers on the bun and top as desired.

Tips for Juicy Southwest Turkey Burgers

Southwest turkey burgers are such a delicious and easy recipe to throw together any night of the week. Here are all my tips & tricks for making perfect burgers every time:

1. Look for dark meat ground turkey. Dark meat has a little bit of extra fat and keeps the burgers ultra-juicy.
2. Don’t overmix the burgers. I always mix the burgers by hand since it lets me incorporate all the ingredients quickly without over-mixing. Over-mixing can lead to tough burger patties.
3. Freeze the patties briefly. Because we’re not using any egg or breadcrumbs to keep the patties juicy, they’re a little delicate. I like to freeze them briefly just to firm them up a bit before cooking.
4. Don’t overcook. Overcooked burgers will definitely make them dry no matter what we add to the burger mix. This is where a thermometer comes in handy! Cook the patties just until 165 F and no further!
5. Don’t skimp on toppings. A good burger is all about all the toppings so go all in! Guacamole, jalapeños, crispy onions, red onion, tomato, lettuce, etc.–the more the merrier!

The Key to Juicy Turkey Burgers

It’s all in the type of ground turkey that you use: make sure you use ground turkey with some fat. Often, ground turkey will simply be labelled ‘ground turkey’, which is confusing. This type of ground turkey is a mix of light and dark meat and works perfectly in turkey burgers.

Make sure you avoid anything labelled ‘lean ground turkey’ or ‘ground turkey breast’, as the absence of fat will likely lead to drier and far less juicy burgers.

How to Cook Turkey Burgers

When it comes to turkey burgers, the most common ways to cook them are on the grill or in a frying pan. Personally, I prefer a cast iron pan or grill pan as I find they do not dry out as easily as they do on a grill. Additionally, cooking in oil in a pan provides added fats which keep the patties moist.

How to pan fry

1. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the bottom of a 12-inch cast iron skillet over medium heat (enough so that it coats the surface). Heat until a drop of water sizzles when dropped into the pan. Gently add the burgers into the pan and cook for 4 minutes.
2. Carefully flip the burgers, and cook for another 4 minutes.
3. Check to ensure the burgers reach an internal temperature of 165°F. If burgers need longer, flip them again to help them cook evenly.

How to grill

Be extra careful when grilling these burgers as they are delicate when raw. Make sure to firm them up a bit in the freezer before grilling.

1. Heat grill to 450°F and clean the. grill grates of any debris. Grease the grill grates well with oil.
2. Carefully place the turkey burgers on the grill, and cook for 4 minutes per side. Work carefully as the patties are delicate when raw, but firm up when cooked.
3. Check with to ensure burgers have reached an internal temperature of 160°F.
4. Remove from grill and place on a clean plate. Cover with a bowl to rest for 5 minutes. Carry over cooking should help the burgers reach an internal temp of 165°F.

Make Ahead & Storage Instructions

Southwest turkey burgers work surprisingly well for meal prep! Here are some tips for prepping them ahead:

Fridge

• Patties may be formed up to 24 hours before cooking. Store in a covered container in the fridge.
• After cooking through, store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Reheat juicy chicken burgers by warming incrementally in the microwave until warmed through. Alternately warm them in a skillet with a lid over low heat until warmed through.

Freezer

• To freeze raw patties, arrange on a baking sheet, then freeze for 2-3 hours until frozen through. Transfer to a freezer bag or meal prep container, placing strips of wax paper or parchment paper between the patties
• To cook from frozen: oil the grill well, then cook frozen burgers over medium-high heat for 20-25 minutes, flipping every 5 minutes

---

Southwest Turkey Burgers the perfect recipe for an easy weeknight dinner, meal prep, or any backyard BBQ. They’re an easy and healthy option for replacing beef in your burgers. If you do give them a try, be sure to let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. Be sure to subscribe to my weekly newsletter and never miss a new recipe! You can also snap a photo & tag @JENNYGOYCOCHEA on Instagram. I LOVE hearing about & seeing your SMF creations!

More Summer Grilling Recipes to Try

Authentic Carne Asada
Grilled Lemon Herb Chicken
Grilled Chicken Wings
Beer Can Chicken
Wisconsin-style Beer Brats
Juicy Chicken Burgers

This post may contain affiliate links from which I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Affiliate links allow me to keep providing great recipes for free and I never recommend products that I don’t love and personally own.