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
These were a big hit at my table! The burgers grill well and the fresh ingredients pack flavor! The guac-turkey-burger-cheese combo is KILLER you guys.
I omitted the jalapeño and swapped pepper-jack for provolone to make it kid-friendly. We built our burgs with tomato, butter lettuce, and caramelized yellow onion!
On the side I did a simple arugula salad with heirloom cherry tomatoes, EVOO, balsamic, salt and pepper. Also put out a bowl of watermelon because summer!
This recipe is a staple at our home, Gaby! Every time I make it, all six of us can’t stop relishing in the flavors and yumminess! Thank you for this recipe!
Made these last night, such a flavourful turkey burger and def a new go to recipe!!
I haven't done a turkey burger ever but this flavor from all that you packed into it sounds intense and delicious! I am going to be grilling this up this week. And we eat so much guacamole around here that I instantly gravitated to this burger anyway. Thank you!
Do the patties store well in the fridge or freezer? Hoping to make some tonight and was wondering if I could freeze a few for quick dinners down the line!
totally!! freeze them!
How do these burgers hold up on a bbq?
perfectly!
Just made this. Outstanding!
I love your blog and am happy to let you know that I featured your turkey burger recipe today on my blog with a link for my readers to your blog. Buon Appetito!
Ciao,
Roz
This burger looks delicious, can't wait to make it.
That is one more gorgeous turkey burger, Gaby! Love all that you added to it to make it extra special!
These look incredible!! Perfect for summer grillin'
This looks like the most delicious burger I have EVER seen!!
Made me hungry. I used to live in Mexico and miss the fresh guacamole and pico.
Never knew they had so many different salsa-type things. It was there I learned to throw garlic and tomatoes in the blender with the skins on and then run them through a sieve!!!
Love the guacamole!
Good Lord that looks incredible...