This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy.
This delicious Turkey Burger bursts with Thai flavors and is topped with fresh and crunchy Asian Slaw, Cucumber Ribbons & Spicy Sriracha Aioli. Light, healthy, and Delicious! Video. Serve with Sweet Potato Fries.
Infused with fresh lemongrass, ginger, lime zest, shallots and basil, these Turkey Burgers are bursting with Thai flavor. They are topped with a crunchy Asian Slaw and fresh cucumber ribbons, and the buns are slathered with a spicy aioli basically like sriracha mayo. So much deliciousness happening here!
The burgers are great on the grill or can be pan-seared on the stovetop. Easy breezy!
Thai Turkey Burger | 60-second 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 -the star of the recipe, fresh is best but dried will work in a pinch!
- Ginger- use fresh grated ginger root!
- Garlic- and pungent flavor.
- Lime zest- add lime flavor with out liquid.
- Cilantro or Thai basil.
What I love about these Turkey burgers are how they are loaded up with fresh healthy crunchy veggies!
Turkey Burger Components!
- Turkey burger
- Asian Slaw
- Cucumber ribbons
- Sriracha Aioli
- Buns! Or serve over dressed greens, or in a lettuce wrap!
The cucumber ribbons and Crunchy Asian slaw add refreshing texture and flavor.
And then there is the spicy aioli….easy and yummy. Mix Chili Paste like sambal or Sriracha, with either mayo, or vegan mayo or even tarter sauce. So tasty.
Low-carb Burger options!
- Serve in lettuce wraps and go totally bread-free.
- Serve the burger over the Asian slaw, as a main course salad.
- Create Burger Bowls!
Optional Additions!
- Add pickled onions, microgreens, or avocado.
- If you are feeling crafty, these quick sourdough buns are amazing!
On the homefront: 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, 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 that these Thai Turkey Burgers came to be.
What to serve with Turkey Burgers
- Sweet Potato Fries
- Asian Cucumber Salad
- Thai Noodle Salad with the BEST EVER Peanut Sauce
- Vietnamese Vermicelli Salad with Chili Vinaigrette
- Grilled Bok Choy with Ponzu Sauce
- Sesame Cabbage Noodle Salad
More recipes you may like:
- Chimichurri Poblano Turkey Burger!
- Bison Burger
- Thai Turkey Meatballs
- Lamb Burgers
- Quick Sourdough Buns
- Pickled Red Onions
I hope you enjoy these Thai-inspired Turkey Burgers as much as we have! Let us know what you think in the comments below!
xoxoxo
Print
Thai Turkey Burger with Crunchy Asian Slaw
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 45 mins
- Yield: 3-4 1x
- Category: Main
- Method: Grilled
- Cuisine: Thai
Description
Thai Turkey Burgers infused with lemongrass, ginger and basil, served with a Crunchy Asian Slaw and Spicy Aioli. Serve this on a tasty bun, in a lettuce wrap or over grains and greens for healthy bowl.
Ingredients
Turkey Burger:
- 1 lb ground turkey ( see notes)
- 3 tablespoons shallot, very finely diced ( or 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 (or reg basil, or mint)
- 2 teaspoons lime zest
- 1 scallion, chopped
- 1/2 – 1 jalapeño, seeded, finely chopped ( or substitute 1 Tablespoon sriracha sauce, or red chili sauce)
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce (or sub soy sauce)
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper– optional
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 teaspoon sugar
- 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)
- Combine all the burger ingredients in a medium bowl and mix well using hands. With wet hands, shape into 3 burgers, 1-inch thick. Place on a plate in the fridge.
- Toss the slaw ingredients together in a medium bowl.
- Mix the spicy aioli ingredients together in a small bowl.
- Grill patties on a well-greased, pre-heated grill 4-5 minutes each side until golden and cooked through.
- 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 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. 🙂
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 burgers
- Calories: 442
- Sugar: 7.4 g
- Sodium: 738.7 mg
- Fat: 30.2 g
- Saturated Fat: 5.9 g
- Carbohydrates: 12.8 g
- Fiber: 2.3 g
- Protein: 31.5 g
- Cholesterol: 112 mg
Keywords: turkey burgers, turkey burger, turkey burger recipe, turkey burger recipes, thai burgers, thai burger recipe, turkey burgers thai
A wonderfully flavored burger. They are very wet and shaping into burger is troublesome. Any suggestions for a less wet patty?
★★★★★
Try refrigerating before shaping? To firm it up a bit?
A bit time consuming. No access to lemongrass but used lime zest. But all the time and effort was totally worth it! We are going to make a big batch, freeze raw and grill as needed.
★★★★★
Thanks Jamie! Great to hear you enjoyed it- and love the idea of freezing!
Hi Sylvia, these are punchy and so flavoursome. Thanks yet again for a banging recipe. xx
★★★★★
Happy to hear this Mandy!
These burgers have become a favorite!! They are incredibly flavorful and the finished result is so beautiful to eat!
Haven’t been able to grill them though, as the meat is too soft and will slip through the grates, so any suggestions for that would be helpful!
Love them & the slaw though😊
Glad you like them Jodie! I wonder if you have wider grates? I would try kneading the meat with your hands a bit more. Form the patties, then refrigerate for a while?
This recipe is amazing! Turkey isn’t my favorite meat, but this recipe adds so much flavor to the burgers. They turn out soft, moist, and bursting with flavor, and the slaw and aoli really helps make them. I’ve gotten compliments on this recipe every time I’ve made them.
★★★★★
Awesome to hear!
Not usually a fan of ground turkey, but these burgers had incredible flavor and easy to put together. I have two left in the freezer and look forward to enjoying them as well.
★★★★★
Awesome to hear Maria!
I hardly ever leave a comment, but these were really really good. They crisped up on the grill beautifully and just had so much flavor. Well done and thanks.
Thanks Jonathan! Appreciate this!
I am adding this to my meal plan this week. Can I urge people to try adding fish sauce. It adds so much flavor! I put it in my marinara when I make spaghetti. It doesn’t taste like it smells. Only gives umami to the dish which is what we want!!
★★★★★
Thanks Kelli! Appreciate this!
They sound great and would love to try …I’m sure either white or dark turkey meat can be used but which did you use for this recipe
Great question and I’m not sure Terri! I only see one kind here where I shop, and I assumed it was a mix of both.
Made this for my in-laws and it was a hit! So much so that we made it twice in the same weekend because my father-in-law enjoyed it so much (he also asked for the recipe so he could make it at home). Subbed mint for thai basil since that’s what I had in the house. Doubled the recipe to feed a family of 4 adults + 2 kiddos. Highly recommend!
★★★★★
Great to hear Tammy!
If I were to make these as a meal for a friend (and cook the burgers in advance), what would you recommend for reheat instructions?
What a nice treat for them! I would just leave them unassembled. Have them bake the turkey burgers at 350F till warmed through. Maybe warm up the buns at the end of baking time.:)
This is one of our favorite recipes. My fiance loves them! I make a double or triple batch, form patties, freeze them then vacuum seal them for quick weeknight dinners. They are so flavorful. I have used both chicken and turkey. Both ways are awesome. I give this recipe out all the time. Thank you for sharing it!
★★★★★
Glad to hear it Amy! Really appreciate your comment and all your sharing. You just made my day! 🙂
I added a small drizzle of sesame oil on them and they were sooooo good!!!
Love it Stazzi!
These turkey burgers are amazing. So moist with great flavour. The slaw is simple an delicious. I made no substitutions except to omit the fish sauce. Will definitely make again.
Thanks Rhonda, glad you enjoyed!
I have made these at least 4 times now, making some swaps for keto and it’s frikkin awesome every time. There are two people in this house that aren’t keto and they love it. It’s just so good! (Also, I hate turkey- tastes like feet lol- so I use ground chicken and we always double it) THANK YOU for this!! 🤗
★★★★★
Great to hear Suzanne! I’m glad everyone is enjoying and love that you are using ground chicken- such an easy swap!
Made these yesterday using sriracha instead of jalapeños, soy sauce instead of fish sauce and no sugar in the burger or slaw.
You don’t need the empty calories of added sugar, they were absolutely delicious without it! The turkey burger was so juicy and bursting with flavour! 😋
★★★★
Great to hear Jonathon!