This healthy turkey burger recipe bursts with irresistible Thai flavor! Cook them on the grill, on the stovetop, or in your air fryer, then top with fresh and crunchy Asian slaw, cucumber ribbons, and sriracha aioli. Gluten-free, made without bread crumbs. Video. Serve with Sweet Potato Fries.
Here’s a ground turkey recipe that will rock your world! These Thai turkey burgers are an easy, delicious weeknight dinner, or special enough for entertaining. Infused with fresh lemongrass, ginger, lime zest, shallots, and basil, they are bursting with Thai flavor. We leave out the breadcrumbs in the recipe so they are gluten-free, light, and healthy.
They are topped with a crunchy Asian slaw and fresh cucumber ribbons, and the buns are slathered with spicy aioli, basically like sriracha mayo. There is so much deliciousness happening here!
A very common problem when making turkey burgers is how dry they can get because they need to be cooked through, unlike beef burgers. I will show you a little tip on how to keep them moist and juicy. Love cooking with ground turkey? Here are our best turkey recipes!
Why you’ll love our Turkey Burgers!
- Versatile! The burgers can be cooked on the grill, can be pan-seared on the stovetop, or made in your air fryer!
- Healthy and Flavorful. Full of vibrant Thai flavor, yet lean and light, with no addition of bread crumbs needed.
- Make it ahead. The burger patties and sides can be made ahead if entertaining!
Turkey Burger Recipe video
Turkey Burger Ingredients
- Ground turkey– or sub ground chicken, beef or lamb, or a plant-based “meat”.
- Shallots – add the BEST flavor here. Use red onion in a pinch.
- Lemongrass – freshly chopped lemongrass, lemongrass paste, or sub-dried lemongrass in a pinch.
- Ginger– use fresh grated ginger root, or ginger paste.
- Garlic -adds a pungent flavor.
- Lime zest- add lime flavor without liquid.
- Cilantro or Thai basil
- Extra virgin olive oil– to add a little richness and keep them moist!
- Serve with: Asian Slaw, cucumber ribbons, Sriracha Aioli and Buns- make our Sourdough buns, or buy GF buns. Serve over dressed greens or in a lettuce wrap!
Turkey Burger Instructions
Combine all the turkey burger ingredients in a medium bowl and using a fork, break apart the ground turkey. 
Mix with fork, then using a wet hand, knead until mixed well.
With damp hands, shape into 3-4 burgers, compressing. The burgers will feel tender, but should hold their shape.
Place on a parchment-lined plate in the fridge until ready to grill or cook.
Grill patties on a well-greased, pre-heated grill for 4-5 minutes ( use the grill cover.)
Flip, lower heat and continue cooking until cooked through to 160F. (They will continue to cook to a perfect 165F). Keep warm until ready to serve.
Assemble the burgers. Grill the buns and slather with sriracha aioli. Add cucumber ribbons if you like and top with the slaw.
The cucumber ribbons and crunchy Asian slaw add refreshing texture and flavor. The sriracha aioli adds punchy flavor!
Turkey Burger Variations
- Add pickled onions, microgreens, or avocado.
- If you are feeling crafty, these quick sourdough buns are amazing!
- Serve in lettuce wraps and go totally grain-free.
- Serve the burger over the Asian slaw as a main course salad.
- Create Burger Bowls!
What to serve with Turkey Burgers
- Asian Slaw
- Sweet Potato Fries
- Quick Sourdough Buns
- Pickled Red Onions
- Asian Cucumber Salad
- Thai Noodle Salad
- Vermicelli Salad
- Grilled Bok Choy with Ponzu Sauce
- Sesame Cabbage Noodle Salad
Storing turkey burgers
Leftover turkey burgers will keep up to 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator, great for meal prep! Freeze for up to 3 months.
More Recipes you may like:
- Chimichurri Poblano Turkey Burger
- Bison Burger
- Thai Turkey Meatballs
- Lamb Burgers
- Sloppy Joes
- Homemade Meatloaf
On the home front: Earlier this spring, I hosted a birthday gathering at my house for a couple of friends. I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before – I’ve been meeting with a group of women friends every Thursday night for the past 20+ years. It has been a godsend and truly one of the best things in my life.
The group shifts and a few have come and gone through the years, and not everyone is present every single Thursday night, but for the most part, we gather as best we can to eat, drink, and commune. Together we ride the waves of our lives, supported, held up, loved.
Birthdays are extra special. We make a big deal of them, celebrating and honoring each other, and taking the pressure off our spouses to do this for us. So it was at one of these birthday celebrations for my dear friend Jill, that this recipe came to be.
I hope you enjoy these Thai Turkey Burgers as much as we have! Let us know what you think in the comments below!
xoxoxo
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Thai Turkey Burger Recipe
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 45 mins
- Yield: 4
- Category: Main, burgers,
- Method: Grilled
- Cuisine: Thai
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This irresistible turkey burger recipe is topped with crunchy Asian Slaw and bursts with Thai flavor! Use the grill, stovetop, or air fryer!
Ingredients
Turkey Burger:
- 1 lb ground turkey (see notes)
- 3 tablespoons shallot, very finely diced (or sub red onion)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh ginger, grated or finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves- finely minced (or 1 teaspoon granulated garlic)
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped lemongrass
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro or Thai basil
- 2 teaspoons lime zest
- 1 scallion, chopped
- 1/2 – 1 jalapeño, seeded, finely chopped (or sub 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes)
- 1 teaspoon salt (or one tablespoon fish sauce- see notes)
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper- or sub black pepper
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
Crunchy Asian Slaw:
- 1 cup grated carrots
- 1 cup shredded purple cabbage
- 1 scallion, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons lime juice ( or rice wine vinegar)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper
Spicy Aioli:
- 1/4 cup mayo, vegan mayo or tarter sauce
- 1–2 tablespoons sriracha or chili garlic sauce
Optional Additions: Toasted Buns, Cucumber Ribbons, pickled red onions ( yum), Pickled radishes, spicy greens like watercress, sprouts, avocado
Instructions
- Preheat grill to medium-high. ( See notes to pan-sear or air fry)
- Combine all the burger ingredients in a medium bowl using a fork, breaking apart the ground turkey. Using a wet hand, knead until mixed well. It will feel very tender. With damp hands, shape into 3-4 burgers, compressing and tidying up the edges. Place on a plate in the fridge until ready to grill.
- Toss the Asian slaw ingredients together in a medium bowl. (You could do this up to a day ahead).
- Mix the spicy aioli ingredients together in a small bowl. ( You could make this up to 3 days ahead)
- Grill patties on a well-greased, pre-heated grill 4-5 minutes each side until golden and cooked through to 160F. (They will continue to cook to a perfect 165F).
- Toast or grill the buns.
- Spread aioli on the bottom bun, top with the patty, then the slaw, cucumber ribbons (optional) , more aioli, then the top bun. Enjoy!!
Notes
- To make cucumber ribbons, use a veggie peeler to make long thin slices. No need to peel English or Turkish cucumbers, but do peel those with thick waxy skins.
- The burger patties can be made up to 2 days ahead and refrigerated until ready to grill.
- To Pan-Sear: heat 1-2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet, over medium heat, pan sear turkey burgers until golden and cooked through, about 5-6 minutes on each side. Resist the urge to fiddle with them- let them develop a good crust before flipping. 🙂
- To air fry- Heat the air fryer to 370F. Place turkey burgers in a single layer, and air fry for 9-12 minutes or until they reach 160 F. (They will continue to cook to a perfect 165F).
- The original recipe used 1 tablespoon fish sauce, instead of the salt, we changed this to make them easier to handle, but feel free to do that if you are used to it!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 burger with slaw, mayo and bun
- Calories: 451
- Sugar: 8.6 g
- Sodium: 764.5 mg
- Fat: 24.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.8 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 2.5 g
- Protein: 27.8 g
- Cholesterol: 84 mg
We normally don’t like ground turkey but this recipe had so much flavor! It will definitely be a regular dinner for us!
Thanks Lindsay- glad you gave it a go!
These burgers are absolutely amazing!!!
I love how the cooking time has been perfected and they are so juicy.
The best burger I’ve ever made.
Thank you so very much!!
thanks so much Kerri! Glad you enjoyed!
This recipe looks delicious! I’m making this 😊
Yay! Let us know what you think.
Love this recipe. I have another version but this one beats it!
Thanks Nicole.
Absolutely love this recipe. Made it for the first time and will make again for sure. I made the burger in a bed if lettuce instead of a bun.
Awesome Monica!
Sylvia, Thanks for all of your great recipes! Your site is my go-to for healthy, delicious, plant-forward recipes as well as great meat additions for the carnivores in the family. Thanks again!
Thanks so much Brooke!
Recently, Trader Joe’s started selling a ground turkey substitute. I didn’t buy it, as there wasn’t something that their soy crumbles (at half the price) could also do. Until I saw this recipe on Instagram.
Wow. I made it exactly as written, only the packs of TJ’s product comes in 12 ounce bricks, but it’s far “wetter” than actual turkey, so I add panko to absorb the extra moisture, and to bring up the volume of “meat” so as to not be over-powered by the spice mixtures. It worked like a charm.
They were formed into small patties to add to lunch bowls (quinoa is the base grain this week), along with the slaw, and the cucumbers.
Thank you for posting this wonderful blend of flavor and texture. I can’t wait for lunch tomorrow!
Oh! Great to hear Gwyneth! Love how you adapted. 😉
I made this recipe a couple months back and loved it so much I have made it 4 more times. The flavors are incredible. My friend said it was the best dinner she has ever had and my college kids love it also.
Amazing, thanks Ingrid!
Fantastic recipe. You’re quickly becoming my favorite website!
Yay! We are happy you are enjoying!
I can’t wait to try these next weekend! What would be a good side with them?
I will add to the recipe post above!
Great! Thank you! I’m also wondering what is the best sub if I can’t find lemongrass? I saw lemongrass paste and lemon zest as options, but I’m not sure which is better and how much to use.
Lemongrass paste! Use the same amount- 1 tablespoon.
Love these! Great flavor! They are aHIT in our house!
Can you make ahead and freeze these?
They freeze great Beth. So glad you are enjoying!
Best turkey burgers I have EVER made, and I’ve made a lot of them! And best Asian slaw I have EVER made! The slaw is so simple, but absolutely delicious! Even my picky husband loved them! What a winner of a recipe! Thank you Sylvia!
Love hearing this Daria! So happy you enjoyed.
This is one of our all time fave recipes. We couldn’t find ground Turkey at the store this week so we went with ground chicken this time around – still worked great, just in case you find yourselves in the same boat!
Awesome Lisa!
Really enjoyed these on homemade burger buns. The spicy aioli is critical and the Asian slaw adds a nice textural dimension. Will definitely make these again, but will likely increase the spices in the burger mix to help the Thai flavors really shine through. A tasty, healthy, and low fat burger alternative.
Awesome Mary! Appreciate the feedback!
This has become a go to in my house, everyone loves it!! The flavors are so delicious. Making them as meatballs tonight over a salad.
Perfect Georgia- love it!
Instead of salad, I like to make meatballs in lettuce wraps.
Perfect Philip!
Your recipes NEVER let me down. This burger is everything right–spicy, juicy and balanced with the satisfying crunch of the slaw. I will absolutely put this in the rotation for tasty, fast weeknight dinners. Thank you for your incredible creations.
Awesome and great to hear!
This recipe was awesome and my family loved it! My teenage son asked me to make it weekly! I cheated a bit and used a pre-made slaw bag but the recipe was perfect. Thank you!!!
Love it Christina- AND that is not cheating! It is a good option during busy days. 🙂
I love this recipe!!! It has all the balance of the salty, sweet, spicy, savory, sour…everything you expect from Thai food! I can see many ways it can be applied.
Great Michelle! glad you enjoyed!
We make these burgers all the time…. Love all the flavors.
Great to hear Janet! Thanks!
Really flavorful, my whole family enjoy them. Made 4 pretty large burgers instead of 3, my husband nibbled up most of the last one while we cleaned the kitchen. The mix did seem fairly wet but cooked up fine without filler on the stovetop. Will definitely make again.
Great to hear Heather! Glad you both enjoyed this!
I’ve always found turkey burgers bland and boring. These are incredible! I don’t change a thing about the recipe other than I use an actual aioli with the sriracha (it’s a staple here in Spain, so we always have some in the fridge). The first time I made them, I couldn’t sleep that night as I couldn’t stop thinking about how much I enjoyed them and was excited to have the leftovers for lunch the following day. I just mixed up a batch and put it in the fridge overnight for grilling tomorrow’s lunch for my husband’s family!! Once again, I’m up excited for tomorrow’s lunch. Can’t wait to impress them with these!!
Haha! Glad you enjoyed Lisa! thanks so much. x
Whoa whoa whoa- you need to slow your awesomeness down. This is the 2nd recipe that I’ve made from your site and it was absolutely DELICIOUS! Boyfriend gave it a 9/10 and he can be quite the critic. I did make just a couple small tweeks- 1) my burger mix was pretty wet so I added some panko and an egg before forming into 4 patties instead of 3, 2) added a touch of sugar to the aioli to balance the heat from the garlic chili sauce, 3) cooked the burgers on a stove-top grill pan for about 10 minutes on each side. Will definitely be saving this recipe to make again soon!
thanks Danielle!
My whole family loved these! I left the jalapeños out of my daughter’s burger but I loved the spice!!!
Glad you enjoyed Joelle!
the BEST turkey burger ever …I can not sing this burger’s praises enough ….I didnt take a pic …the next day I had a very flavorless chow fun at a restaurant with my husband and it made think how this would be delish in a chow fun or lo mein..I followed the direction n chilled the meat then sauteed it like a ground meat ..ten mixed with rice noodles …I would have preferred a thinner noodle but was all I had… burger or saute this is a winner…I have pi. but dont know how to attach it
thanks Susan- such a great idea!
Delicious first attempt. I did read other comments and adapted the recipe slightly with some oatmeal, breadcrumbs and an egg. Worked out amazingly well. Unfortunately my husband still prefers beef burgers!