Paleo Turkey Burgers

The best paleo turkey burger recipe! These grilled turkey burgers are so juicy and moist, and have a nice cilantro lime flavor. And best of all, these only take 10 minutes to prep! Perfect for summer grilling!

If you’re so done with bland, dry, and crumbly turkey burgers—this recipe is going to knock your socks off! Yes, it is possible for healthy turkey burgers to be full of flavor and downright delicious. With a few simple ingredients, plus a foolproof grilling technique, you’ll be enjoying perfectly paleo turkey burgers everyone will love!

While I love all the fresh and citrusy desserts like gluten free strawberry shortcake and paleo lemon bars, grilling is my favorite way to enjoy the outdoors in the summertime. We grill it all—including burgers, fish, and chicken skewers! Even though grilling more lean protein can be a challenge, with just a few simple techniques, it’s very easy to keep food moist and prevent it from sticking.

Because the ingredients are simple and fresh, these paleo turkey burgers are Whole30 and low carb! If you’re in need of healthy recipes for the whole family—this one is kid friendly, too. My kids love being able to customize the toppings. You can serve them with guacamole, avocado oil mayo, or a fried egg on top. For paleo turkey burgers, serve wrapped in lettuce! So yum!

Ingredients

• Ground turkey – I recommend 93% lean turkey meat as it’s a lean and healthy option and keeps the patties nice and moist when cooked on the grill.
• Fresh cilantro leaves – Rinse the leaves, then let them dry before chopping them up into a fine dice.
• Lime juice – I like to use freshly squeezed lime juice for the best flavor. You can also use 1 tablespoon bottled lime juice if you don’t have any fresh limes.
• Avocado oil mayo – I use Primal Kitchen Mayo or Chosen Foods Mayo.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Substitutions

• Ground turkey – This recipe also works with ground chicken
• Lime juice – You can also use 1 tablespoon bottled lime juice if you don’t have any fresh limes.
• Avocado oil mayo – This is totally optional for added moisture. I’ve left this out and the burgers were still great and very juicy!

How to Make Paleo Turkey Burgers

1. Prep: In a large bowl, mix the ground turkey, onion, cilantro, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and pepper until just combine. Make sure not to overwork the meat as it can led to tough burgers.
2. Form: Form the mixture into 4 equal-size patties about 1-inch thick. The turkey burgers will be slightly wet. Don’t worry—this is normal. Place the turkey burgers in the fridge until you’re ready to grill them. They’ll firm up and be easier to handle.
3. Preheat: Preheat the grill to medium-high heat, about 450 degrees F. Spray or brush avocado oil generously on a folded paper towel. Using grilling tongs, run the oiled paper towel along the grates to oil the grates. This is the secret to the turkey burgers not sticking!
4. Grill: Season the turkey burgers with the salt on both sides. Place the patties on the grill and cook for 5 minutes with the grill closed, or until the underside is cooked and grill marks form. Flip the burgers with a thin-bladed spatula and grill for another 4-5 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 F. 
5. Serve: Serve the burgers warm, wrapped in crispy lettuce leaves and dressed with your favorite toppings.

The Secret to Juicy Turkey Burgers

The secret to the best paleo grilled turkey burgers is one of life’s greatest flavor combinations: fresh lime juice and cilantro. The lime juice helps the turkey burgers maintain moisture while also adding a punch of flavor. The fresh cilantro and spices give the burgers a nice kick.

My most important tip? If you want insanely moist burgers, you must season the burgers liberally on the outside. Do not add salt to the meat before making patties. Wait and salt the burgers on both sides just before you place them on the grill. This locks in the moisture and keeps the turkey burgers juicy on the inside.

Prepping the Grill

Feeling a little intimidated by grilling turkey burgers? Don’t be! With good ingredients (check!), you’re already off to a great start. When grilling, there’s a little secret trick I find makes a big difference: oiling the grates sufficiently just before cooking the burgers. Generously oiling the grates just before cooking will allow the turkey burgers to stay together, and you’ll get those gorgeous grill marks. Here’s how to keep turkey burgers from sticking to the grill:

1. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat, about 450 degrees F.
2. Spray or brush avocado oil generously on a folded paper towel.
3. Using grilling tongs, run the oiled paper towel evenly along the bars to oil the grates.
4. Season the turkey burgers with the salt on both sides just before placing them on the grill. Seasoning the outsides of the burgers will help the burgers stay moist and juicy when grilling.

Cooking in the Skillet

To cook paleo turkey burgers on the stove, melt a tablespoon of coconut oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add the patties to the skillet and cook the turkey burgers until golden on one side, about 5 to 6 minutes. Flip the burgers and cook until the center is no longer pink and the juices run clear, about 5 minutes. 

Cooking Tips

• You can easily substitute the ground turkey for ground chicken.
• If you don’t have a grater, just finely chop the onions.
• This recipe for healthy turkey burgers cook up beautifully in a pan or on the grill. When cooking in a skillet, you may need to slightly adjust cooking time, about 5 to 6 minutes each side.
• Make sure to only salt the outside of the patties. This will help the grilled turkey burgers retain moisture and remain juicy when cooking.
• If you’re serving more than two people, I recommend doubling the recipe. These store well in the fridge and make great leftovers!

Serving

There are a variety of ways to serve paleo turkey burgers. For not so paleo friends, you can serve them on toasted buns. But, if you’re looking for some grain free options, serve your burgers with:

• Sliced tomato
• Sliced red onion
• Guacamole 
• Avocado oil mayo
• Fried egg
• Lettuce leaves or buns

Storage and Reheating

TO STORE: Store any leftovers in the fridge in an airtight storage container for up to 4 days.

TO FREEZE: To freeze, place the burgers in an airtight storage container or freezer safe zip-top storage bag. It will keep in the freezer up to four months. Let it defrost in the refrigerator before reheating.

TO REHEAT: For the best texture, reheat turkey burgers in the oven at 350°F for for 7 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway through, or until the center of the patty is hot.

More Summer Recipes

• Grilled Chicken Skewers
• Healthy Lemon Bars
• Gluten Free Strawberry Shortcake
• Healthy Sloppy Joes
• Mango Coconut Milk Smoothie