Italian Turkey Burgers

Say hello to your new favorite weeknight dinner! These Italian turkey burgers are inspired by meatball subs, smash burgers, and garlic bread, combining all three into one. It's the best of all 3 worlds!

Watch how to make this

Ingredients

• Ground turkey: The base for these burgers, providing a leaner alternative to traditional beef burgers. It has a mild flavor profile that works well with the Italian seasonings.
• Parmesan: Provides umami and savory notes to both the turkey patties and garlic butter.
• Mayonnaise: Acts as a binding agent to help hold the patties together during cooking. It also adds crucial moisture to prevent the lean turkey from drying out.
• Marinara: Any good-quality marinara sauce works well. If you have time, homemade marinara sauce can take these burgers even further.
• Mozzarella: Creates the classic melty, stretchy cheese pull that makes burgers satisfying. Use fresh mozzarella instead of shredded mozzarella for the best results.

Substitutions and variations

• Protein: Try this recipe with ground pork, ground beef, ground chicken, or a combination of ground meats.
• Spicy: Add red chili flakes or chopped Calabrian chilies to the turkey patties or marinara sauce.
• Gluten-free: Use your favorite gluten-free buns.

Recipe

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Italian Turkey Burgers

Total Time30 minutes mins

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Italian

Keyword: sandwich, turkey

Servings: 5

Author: Christine Ma

Ingredients

Turkey patties

• 1 ½ pounds ground turkey
• ¼ cup grated parmesan
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt

Garlic buns

• 5 burger buns
• ½ cup butter softened at room temperature
• 6 tablespoons grated parmesan
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Remaining ingredients

• 15 ounces marinara sauce
• 8 ounces sliced mozzarella cheese
• 3 cups arugula
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• salt and pepper

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Prepare turkey patties. Combine ground turkey, parmesan, parsley, mayonnaise, garlic powder, and black pepper in a large bowl. Mix just until combined, being sure not to overmix. Shape the patties into 10 portions, rolling them into balls. Place on a baking sheet lined with wax paper and chill in the refridgerator for at least 15 minutes or overnight.
• Prepare garlic buns. Combine softened butter with parmesan, garlic, parsley, and salt in a medium bowl. Spread butter on both sides of burger buns and place buns on a baking sheet with the buttered side facing up. Bake buns for 7-8 minutes or until toasted.
• Pour marinara sauce in a medium saucepot and heat until warm. Set aside.
• Preheat broiler to high.
• Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Remove the turkey patties from the refrigerator and lay patties in the pan, giving them plenty of space in between. You may need to cook the patties in batches. Smash the patties using a flat spatula until they're ¼-inch thick. Season generously with salt and cook utnil browned, about 2-3 minutes.
• Flip patties over and cook for 2 more minutes. Remove from heat and spoon marinara sauce on each of the patties. Place a slice of mozzarella on top and broil for 2-3 minutes or until cheese has melted.
• While the patties are broiling, toss together arugula with extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Remove patties from the broiler and place on the toasted garlic buns. Top with arugula salad and remaining bun. Serve immediately.

Notes

The garlic butter for the buns and turkey patties can be prepared the day before. Cover the patties with plastic wrap if storing in the refrigerator overnight. Bring the butter to room temperature to soften before spreading on burger buns.

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Prepare burger patties

The foundation of any great burger is the patty, and these turkey patties are truly special. The key is adding ingredients that boost both flavor and moisture.

Ground turkey gets mixed with grated parmesan (which adds saltiness and umami), fresh parsley, mayonnaise (adds moisture), garlic powder, and black pepper.

Be careful not to overmix here-gentle mixing keeps the patties tender rather than tough. Once mixed, form them into balls and chill them for at least 15 minutes or overnight.

Chilling helps the patties hold together when cooking and makes them much easier to handle when you smash them. The cold fat also creates pockets of moisture when it melts during cooking, resulting in juicier burgers.

If you prefer not to make smash burgers, you can create 5 regular patties instead.

Step 2: Toast buns

While your patties are chilling, it's time to transform ordinary burger buns into something extraordinary. The garlic butter spread is what makes these buns irresistible.

Mix softened butter with grated parmesan, minced garlic, fresh parsley, and a touch of salt-think of it as making garlic bread, but for your burger buns!

Spread this mixture generously on both cut sides of your buns and pop them in the oven until golden and toasty. The butter creates a slight barrier that prevents the buns from getting soggy from the burger juices and marinara sauce later.

You can make this garlic butter ahead of time and keep it in the fridge. Just remember to bring it back to room temperature before spreading.

Step 3: Cook burgers

Now for the fun part-cooking those turkey patties. Take your chilled turkey balls and place them in the hot pan, then immediately smash them down with a spatula until they're about ¼-inch thick.

The smashing technique creates those deliciously crispy edges that add texture and flavor. Season generously with salt and let them cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes until beautifully browned. This undisturbed cooking time allows that wonderful caramelization to develop.

After flipping and cooking for another 2 minutes, spoon warm marinara sauce over each patty, top with a slice of mozzarella, and broil just until the cheese gets melty and bubbly.

Make sure not to overcook the turkey; it should reach 165°F, but cooking it for too long will dry it out.

Now, the reason I didn't call these Italian smash burgers is that the texture isn't the same as a smash burger. Because we're using turkey instead of ground beef, the patties won't have the same crispy texture. However, they will still taste great!

Step 4: Assemble

While your cheese is melting, quickly toss together fresh arugula with extra virgin olive oil and lemon juice.

This simple salad adds a peppery bite and bright freshness that cuts through the richness of the burger. The acidity from the lemon juice balances the savory garlic and cheese flavors.

To assemble the Italian turkey burgers, place a cheesy turkey patty on the bottom half of your toasted garlic bun, top with a generous handful of the dressed arugula, and finish with the top bun.

These Italian turkey burgers are proof that healthier options don't have to sacrifice flavor. They're juicy, satisfying, and pack so much flavor that you won't miss the beef one bit! Plus, you'll have plenty of energy left for your evening instead of feeling like you need to hibernate after dinner.

Give them a try for your next burger night-I promise they'll become a regular in your dinner rotation!

For another fantastic burger, check out this smoky cilantro salmon burger!

Make-ahead and storage tips

• Make-ahead: You can prepare the turkey patties and garlic butter for the buns the day before. Let the butter come to room temperature before using.
• Store: Keep leftover burgers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Frequently asked questions

More Italian sandwich recipes

Looking for more Italian sandwich ideas? Try these: