Turkey burgers occasionally get a bad rap because they can be dry AF but I promise these will blow your mind in the best way. Juicy, flavorful, and loaded with guacamole... these are not your average turkey burgers.
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
Do you know the first thing I ever really mastered in the kitchen was a turkey burger? It’s true – and it was stuffed with cheese! My turkey burger skills have come a long way since then and these Guacamole Turkey Burgers with Pepper Jack Cheese are EVERYTHING!
This Guacamole Turkey Burger recipe has been gracing my kitchen for years for many reasons. 1: it's juicy AF. No dry turkey burgers allowed in this joint. 2: it's packed with flavor and 3: it's actually great to make a double batch and save some for leftover lunches! Go ahead and give these juicy turkey burgers, topped with a healthy dose of guacamole and pickles onions, a whirl! What’s not to love! Seriously you need these in your regular grilling rotation this summer – they are absolutely not to be missed!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Ground turkey or ground chicken
- Yellow onion
- Fresh cilantro
- Garlic
- Red Bell Pepper
- Jalapeño
- Dalkin&Co Meat Seasoning (or cumin and paprika)
- Shredded pepper jack cheese (or cheddar)
- Kosher salt
- Freshly cracked black pepper
- Burger buns
- Guacamole
- Pico de Gallo
- Sour cream
- Pickled red onions
How to Make
- Prepare an indoor or outdoor grill over medium heat.
- In a medium bowl, combine the ground turkey, onion, cilantro, garlic, jalapeño, meat seasoning, cheddar cheese, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overwork the meat.
- Form the mixture into four ½-inch thick patties.
- Grill the burgers over medium heat until cooked through and the internal temperature reaches 165°F, about 5–7 minutes per side.
- Assemble each burger on a toasted bun and top with guacamole, sour cream, and pickled red onions. Serve immediately.
Tips & Tricks
- Don’t overmix the ground turkey or you’ll end up with dense burgers.
- Wet your hands slightly before forming the patties to prevent sticking.
- Use a meat thermometer if needed—165°F is the goal for poultry.
- Toast the buns for extra flavor and texture—it’s worth it.
- Make a double batch and freeze the uncooked patties for a super quick weeknight meal.
FAQ's
Can I use ground chicken instead of ground turkey?
Absolutely! Either one works great. Just make sure it's not the super lean kind or you might lose out on juiciness
How do I prevent the patties from sticking to the grill?
Make sure your grill is clean and lightly oiled before cooking. That helps create a good sear and makes flipping easier.
Can I cook these indoors?
Yes! Use a cast iron skillet or grill pan over medium heat for similar results.
What other toppings work well?
Pico de gallo, sliced avocado, shredded lettuce, or even a drizzle of hot sauce if you like things spicy.
Can I make these ahead?
You can mix and shape the patties ahead of time and refrigerate them for up to 24 hours before grilling.
For even more burger recipes, check these out:
Cheddar Jalapeno Chicken Burger with Guacamole - This juicy chicken burger is not only stuffed with shredded cheddar cheese, cilantro and jalapeños, but it’s enhanced even more with the addition of guac, sour cream, and some pico. It's incredible.
50/50 Mushroom Beef Burger - It's made with 50% ground beef and 50% finely chopped mushrooms and it's truly the juiciest perfect burger of all times.
Shredded BBQ Chicken Burger - These are one of my go-to foolproof weeknight meals and they're made in a slow cooker!
Black Bean Veggie Burger - This Black Bean Veggie Burger loaded with quinoa, black beans, zucchini, onions and a few secret ingredients like pulverized tortilla chips and tons of spices! I can promise you that it won’t disappoint!
Similar Recipes
If you tried this recipe, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting today
Guacamole Turkey Burgers with Pepperjack Cheese
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds ground turkey
- 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
- ¼ cup finely chopped yellow onion or 1 shallot
- ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
- ½ cup finely diced red bell peppers
- 2 teaspoons jalapeno pepper finely chopped
- 3 teaspoons Dalkin&Co Meat Seasoning
- ½ cup finely shredded pepper jack cheese
- kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
For serving
- 4 Brioche Buns
- 1 cup guacamole
- pico de gallo
- pickled onions optional
- sour cream optional
Instructions
- Prepare an indoor or outdoor grill over medium heat.
- In a medium bowl, combine the ground ground meat, onion, cilantro, garlic, red bell peppers, jalapeño, meat seasoning, cheese, salt, and pepper. Mix until just combined, being careful not to overwork the meat.
- Form the mixture into four ½-inch thick patties.
- Grill the burgers over medium heat until cooked through and the internal temperature reaches 165°F, about 5–7 minutes per side.
- Assemble each burger on a toasted bun and top with guacamole, pico, and any other optional toppings. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Photo by Matt Armendariz / Food Styling by Adam Pearson / Recipe from What’s Gaby Cooking
I’m so disappointed! I book marked this recipe & have been making it for years. My son requested these burgers as one of the meals he wanted me to make before he leaves for college. This recipe is not the same. It used to have red bell peppers in it, there was never cheddar cheese in it, and the pepper jack, which is clearly stated in the title is not even included. There also used to be a recipe for Pico included. Is there anyway I can get the original recipe?! I so wish I had written it down!
The recipe is in fact the same - just re-written for clarity. The guacamole and pico are both hyperlinked within the recipe card. The cheese is interchangeable. And there was a glitch with the code so the red bell pepper wasn't showing up for some reason - but that is now fixed!! Thanks for bringing that to my attention. You should be good to go!
Thought original recipe had cumin too? Definitely had a slice of pepper jack that you added on top at the end (not shredded & mixed in). It also had you making it in a pan & drizzling a little oil on top of each patty?
Don't do guac. Because the average toddler has a more varied palate than I do. OK with you, Gaby, if I just make the turkey burgers?
you do whatever makes your heart happy! I will do guac for life!
Best turkey burgers I’ve made yet!!!
This recipe is AMAZING! Only downside is it takes a LONG time to prepare. Lots of chopping involved. The prep time posted needs to be quadrupled at least!
So so delicious! Anything with guac and I’m happy. All the flavors in the turkey burger made it extra special. Great with the bun or just on top of a giant bed of guac.
My family & I love, love, love this recipe, but be forewarned - it takes WAY longer than 20 minutes to prep! More like an hour & 20 minutes! It’s definitely worth it, but this is not a quick recipe!
I made this recipe last night for dinner, so good. This is a very WW friendly recipe and will add it to my rotation. This is much better than buying a frozen turkey burger patty and super simple
Gaby, these were delish! I made them for my 85 year old mom who is not a fan of grilling or turkey burgers or really any food I might like .....she LOVED them!!!
Thanks for an easy & yummy recipe!
Forgot 5 stars!