This is the best healthy turkey burger recipe with no egg. This easy burger recipe is so juicy, packed with flavor, and made without eggs and breadcrumbs. This light yet protein-packed meal makes the best turkey burgers and is quick to make in 20 minutes. Grill, air fry, or cook them on the stovetop!
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Making delicious and juicy turkey burgers homemade from scratch is so easy (just like our air fryer chicken burgers!)
Why You'll Love This Easy Turkey Burger Recipe
- Heart-healthy swap for a beef burger, lean protein, low-fat, and gluten-free turkey patties. Easy to make keto and low-carb.
- Simple ingredients!
- No egg, hidden veggies (spinach and zucchini), and kid-friendly - great for toddlers and babies!
- Quick and easy. Done in 20 minutes.
- Many cooking methods. This healthy turkey burger recipe can be made on the grill in the summer, in the oven, in the air fryer, on the stovetop, or straight from frozen!
- Moist and juicy thanks to zucchini! Full of flavor thanks to turkey burger seasonings like onion powder, paprika, and garlic powder.
Ingredients You Need for This Healthy Turkey Burger Recipe
Here are the ingredients you need to make this recipe. Reference the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements and the notes below for substitution ideas.
- Ground turkey. I highly recommend using ground turkey thighs, as it has more moisture than turkey breast. Using lean ground turkey is also an option if you want to make them low-fat.
- Grated zucchini. Adding zucchini makes this healthy turkey burger recipe naturally juicy and comes together with no egg.
- Chopped spinach. Chopped spinach is optional, but it is a great way to add veggies and fiber to this recipe.
- Seasonings such as onion powder, paprika, and garlic powder perfectly season these burgers. Italian seasoning is also a flavorful addition.
- Worcestershire sauce. Making these with Worcestershire sauce adds a delicious savory flavor - don't skip this flavorful ingredient! Soy sauce is a great alternative.
- Breadcrumbs (not shown) are not essential, but they help to keep the burger together. Add them if you want more filler.
- Almond flour (not shown) is a great substitute for breadcrumbs when you want more filling but want to keep the recipe low-carb.
- Feta cheese is optional, but it lends great savory flavor and richness.
- Salt and black pepper. (Not shown) Add these seasonings to taste.
How to Make Juicy Turkey Burgers with No Egg
Below are step-by-step instructions for how to cook this recipe with the best results. The recipe card at the bottom shows the exact cooking time and temperatures.
Preparation Instructions:
- Step 1 - Prepare the meat mixture. Add ground turkey to a large bowl and season with turkey burger seasonings.
- Step 2 - Add in Worcestershire sauce.
- Step 3 - Add in the remaining ingredients.
- Step 4 - Breadcrumbs or almond flour if needed. Add up to ½ cup of breadcrumbs or almond flour.
- Step 5 - Combine the meat mixture using your hands and create 6 equal-sized patties. Place each burger patty onto a baking sheet lined with pieces of parchment paper.
- Step 6 - Freeze patties for 10 minutes to one hour before cooking via one of the methods described below.
Recipe Variations
- Use ground chicken. You can also use ground chicken for this recipe (or try this air-fried chicken burger!)
- Paleo. Omit breadcrumbs and feta cheese.
- Spicy. For a spicy version, swap paprika for cayenne pepper or add hot sauce or jalapenos.
- Sliders. Make the patties into smaller sizes for a slider-style option. Or, opt for our turkey burger sliders recipe.
Cooking Methods for Making Healthy Turkey Burgers
How to Grill Turkey Burgers Without Falling Apart
Spray the grill grates with cooking spray and heat to medium.
The grill time for this healthy turkey burger recipe is 7-8 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
How Long to Cook Turkey Burgers on the Stove
Heat a nonstick skillet or cast iron skillet over medium heat or medium-high heat and spray with cooking spray.
Cook patties for 7-8 minutes per side or until an instant-read thermometer reads 165°F.
Baking Turkey Patties in the Oven
Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Bake the patties for 25-30 minutes.
To cook turkey burgers in the oven at 350°F, cook them longer, anywhere between 30 and 45 minutes, or until a meat thermometer reads 165°F.
Air Frying Turkey Patties
Air fry raw, thawed turkey burger patties at 360°F for 15 minutes, flipping halfway.
How to Cook Frozen Turkey Burgers
This healthy turkey burger recipe can be made straight from frozen in the air fryer or on the grill.
Add 2-5 minutes extra per side and use an instant-read meat thermometer to assess the internal temperature.
Cook time for frozen raw turkey burgers is approximately 9 minutes per side, depending on the size of the patty.
How to Know When Turkey Burgers Are Done?
The best way to tell if they are done is by using a meat thermometer to determine doneness. Once the cooking time has elapsed, insert an instant-read thermometer into the center of the patty.
Once the burger has reached 165°F, it is done.
What Should I Serve With Turkey Burgers?
- Serve with a veggie side. You can pair these healthy turkey burgers with healthy sides like sweet potato fries, veggies, or salads.
- Make a picnic favorite. Pair turkey burgers with a pasta salad, like pesto tortellini salad, orzo pesto salad, Italian pasta salad, or potato salad are some of our favorite healthy side dishes for turkey burgers.
- Topping suggestions. Favorite burger topping ideas include mushrooms, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and red onion, with mayonnaise (avocado mayonnaise for a heart-healthy option), dijon mustard, ketchup, avocado, or guacamole!
- Choose a different bun. Serve in a lettuce wrap for low-carb turkey burgers, or on hamburger buns, Hawaiian rolls, or slider buns for mini turkey burger sliders.
Storage, Reheating, and Freezing
- Storage: Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Reheating: Reheat healthy turkey burgers in the oven at 400°F for 2-3 minutes per side.
- Freezer: If making straight from the freezer, add 2-3 minutes more per side to account for frozen patties. To store frozen and uncooked, allow the burgers to freeze on the sheet pan for one hour. Then, place them in a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months.
Expert Tips for Making the Best Healthy Turkey Burger Recipe
- Freeze to help them stay together. After you make the turkey patties, place them in the freezer for 10 minutes to an hour to help them stay together when grilling.
- Avoid a grainy texture. Peel zucchini and grate on the fine side of a box grater if you have picky eaters.
- Lock in moisture. Do not press burgers down while cooking, this will make them dry and lose their juicy quality.
- Make the patties fit the bun. To make your burgers fit the bun, form patties to be a tad wider than the bun. They will shrink a bit during cooking.
Recipe FAQs
Turkey burgers contain less fat and calories compared to beef burgers.
Healthline compared ground turkey vs. ground beef and recommends turkey burgers for heart health as they have less saturated fat.
The turkey burger's internal cook temp is 165°F according to the Mayo Clinic.
Since these healthy turkey burgers are made with no egg, you need something to keep them together.
Zucchini and freezing the patties before cooking helps to keep them from falling apart.
You can also add in some breadcrumbs if desired.
Be sure to spray your grill with cooking spray. I also spray the patties before putting these healthy turkey burgers on the grill.
Freezing the patties before grilling will also help the patties stay together during grilling.
Adding in the right turkey burger seasoning like paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper helps to create a delicious and juicy burger that tastes as close to a beef burger as you can get!
The nutrition for these healthy turkey burgers can be found in the recipe card. Using an online nutrition calculator, this recipe is estimated to have 116 calories per serving.
If the mixture seems too moist, add some breadcrumbs, oats, or almond flour.
Use a paper towel to remove all of the moisture from the zucchini before adding it to the bowl.
To get a burger with melted cheese, place a slice of cheese on top of the cooked patty after it is done cooking.
Cover the cooking surface with a pot lid or a burger dome and allow the cheese to melt for a few minutes.
No, these air fryer turkey burgers can be cooked straight from frozen.
Other Ground Turkey Recipes You Will Love!
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Juicy and Healthy Turkey Burger Recipe (No Egg)
Equipment
- 1 instant read thermometer
- 1 box grater
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 cup zucchini
- 1 cup baby spinach chopped
- 2 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ cup feta cheese
- ½ cup breadcrumbs optional
Instructions
- Peel and grate zucchini using a box grater. Place zucchini into a paper towel and wring out as much moisture as possible before adding to the turkey burger mixture.1 cup zucchini
- Add ground turkey to a large bowl and season with salt, pepper, onion powder, paprika, and garlic powder. Season with Worcestershire sauce and add in the remaining ingredients.1 pound ground turkey, 1 cup baby spinach, 2 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, ¼ cup feta cheese
- If needed, add up to ½ cup of breadcrumbs. Combine using your hands and create 6 equal-sized patties. Freeze patties for 10 minutes to one hour.½ cup breadcrumbs
Cooking Methods
- Grilled: Spray grill with cooking spray and heat to medium. Grill for 7-8 minutes per side or until an instant-read thermometer reads 165F.
- Pan Fried: Heat a skillet over medium heat and spray with cooking spray. Cook patties for 7-8 minutes per side or until an instant-read thermometer reads 165F.
- Oven Baked: Preheat oven to 375F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Bake patties for 25-30 minutes and temp them to 165F to ensure they are done.
- Air Fryer: Air fry at 360F for 15 minutes, flipping halfway.
Notes
- If the mixture seems too moist, add some breadcrumbs, oats, or almond flour. Use a paper towel to remove all of the moisture from the zucchini prior to adding it to the bowl.
- Do not press burgers down while cooking, this will make them dry and lose their juicy quality.
- Storage: Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an air-tight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: If making straight from the freezer, add in 2-3 minutes more per side to account for frozen turkey burgers.
- Serving: Serve burgers in a lettuce wrap for a low-carb option, or on hamburger buns, Hawaiian rolls, or slider buns.
- Toppings: Top with mushrooms, lettuce, tomato, red onion, with mayonnaise, or avocado!
- Reheating: Reheat leftovers in the oven at 400F for 2-3 minutes per side.
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