Copycat Trader Joe Turkey Burgers

Share:

Trader Joe Turkey Burgers

Trader Joe turkey burgers are simple and taste good… that is until you try making your own, at home! Our recipe will show you just how easy it is to make copycat Trader Joe turkey burgers from scratch. Plus, there is still room to get creative adding your own toppings and condiments. Not only is it easy to make these copycat burgers, but they are also a nice and healthy alternative to your normal meals. 

Trader Joe Turkey Burger

Turkey Burgers

Turkey burgers are super easy, and a delicious option. They are also healthier for you than a beef patty. The taste of turkey burgers is hard to describe, it’s different than beef, not quite like eating a whole turkey, and not like chicken. Turkey burgers are loaded with delicious flavors, that you are going to enjoy. Although Trader Joe’s sells a package of turkey burgers already made into patties, it is very easy to make your own patties at home. 

Turkey Burgers, Patties

Making your own turkey burger patties is very simple. You will need some thawed ground turkey, and a few seasonings such as salt, pepper, garlic salt, or rosemary. Mix your desired seasonings into the ground turkey, and then roll balls out of your ground turkey, about the size of a golf ball. Then, pat the patties flat. You can store these in the fridge if you plan to use them right away, or you may layer them in parchment paper, and freeze them inside an airtight container for use later. Personally, I think that your own freshly pressed ground turkey patties taste much better than anything you can buy from the store. 

My Favorite Go-To, Quick & Easy Dinner: Copycat Trader Joe’s Turkey Burgers

If you are looking for a quick and easy dinner recipe, our copycat Trader Joe’s turkey burgers are the perfect solution for you. To make these burgers, it is as simple as pressing the patties, cooking them, and placing them on a bun with all of your favorite toppings. 

Easy Turkey Burgers

Let’s now take a closer look at how you can make these easy copycat turkey burgers right at home. To begin with, there are a few basic ingredients you will need to have on hand. These ingredients are shown below. 

Ingredients for Easy Turkey Burgers without Breadcrumbs

Thawed ground turkey
Garlic salt, salt and pepper
Rosemary (optional)
Hamburger buns
Cheese
Condiments 
Toppings

And all the burger fixings you like!

In addition to the basics, such as ground turkey, seasonings, and hamburger buns, you also get the creative license to add all of your favorite burger fixings to your turkey burger. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking:

Lettuce
Tomato
Bacon
Sliced onion
Caramelized onion
Onion ring
Pickles
Avocado
Cheese slices
Spinach 

How to Make the Best Turkey Burgers

Making the best turkey burgers is easy. To begin, preheat the surface you intend to cook them on. I prefer cooking turkey burgers on a griddle, but you may also use a skillet on the stovetop, a grill, or bake them in the oven. 

Next, add your ground turkey and seasoning salt into a mixing bowl. Mix until combine. Take a portion of your ground turkey and form it into a ball. From there, flatten it into a patty. Place your patty on your warmed griddle and bake on one side until browned. Flip to the other side and cook until browned.

When both sides of your patty are browned, insert a meat thermometer, to be sure the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Once the internal temperature reaches 165°F, add your cheese and allow it to melt, then remove from heat and serve right away. Enjoy! 

Trader Joe Turkey Burger close up at an angle

Tip for Making Juicy & Easy Turkey Burgers

Grease. It is helpful to grease your cooking surface before adding your patties. 

Smash. If you enjoy smashed burgers, ground turkey burgers are the perfect candidate to do this with. Instead of pressing your meat into a patty before placing it on your cooking surface, simply place the ball on your cooking surface, then smash it down with a spatula. 

Squish. During the cooking process, you may need to squish the burgers down a time or two. Ground turkey tends to like to form into a ball while it cooks. To prevent this, give your patties a good squish a time or two during the cooking time and they will stay flat. 

Ingredients

1 lb ground turkey
¾ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
½ tsp garlic salt
Dash rosemary (optional)
Hamburger buns
Sliced cheese
Toppings 
Condiments 

Preparation

To prepare, be sure that you have all the necessary ingredients. Then begin heating up your cooking surface and coating it with olive oil. Then make sure your ground turkey is completely thawed before starting. 

Directions 

Step 1: Mix

In a mixing bowl, combine your thawed ground turkey with your desired seasonings. Stir to combine

Step 2: Press

Remove your balls of ground turkey and press them into patties. The balls you begin with should be about the size of a golf ball or ping pong ball. 

Step 3: Cook

Place your patties on your prepared cooking surface. Cook until one side is browned, then turn to the other side. Your patties are finished cooking when a meat thermometer reads 165°F for your patty’s internal temperature. Add your sliced cheese, and allow to warm until melted. Remove from heat. 

Step 4: Assemble

Assemble your turkey burgers by adding your burger to your choice of buns. Add your favorite toppings and condiments. Serve and enjoy! 

Note: be sure that the internal temperature reads 165°F, and no pink remains before eating these burgers. If you do not have a meat thermometer, you can insert a knife to the center and gently pull it open. If there is any hint of pink, the burgers must cook longer. Only enjoy after the burgers are fully cooked. 

Cooking Turkey Burgers on the Grill

Turkey burgers are great when they are cooked on the grill. Cooking them on a griddle over the grill is my favorite way to enjoy them. When they are cooked on the grill, it is very important to pre-season the grill with oil before placing your patties on to cook. Otherwise, your burgers are likely to crumble and fall apart. 

Cooking Turkey Burgers on the Stove

Cooking turkey burgers over the stove is another great way to cook them. Simply place a frying pan lightly seasoned with oil over medium heat. Allow it to warm up, then add your patties. This method also allows you to make delicious burgers. 

Trader Joe Turkey Burger open bun

How To Tell Turkey Burgers Are Fully Cooked

To tell if your turkey burgers are fully cooked, there are a few different methods you can use. First, use a meat thermometer. If your internal temperature reads 165°F, then you are good. The second way you can tell if your turkey burgers are done is to take a sharp knife and slit the center open. Then gently pull it open to see if any pink remains in the center. If there is even a slight hint of pink, allow your burgers to cook longer. Once no pink remains, you are good to enjoy your burgers. 

Nutrition Facts

We estimate that one pound of ground turkey can easily be divided into four nice-sized turkey burgers. Each turkey burger will contain an average of 223 calories, 12.5g total fat, 116mg cholesterol, 559g sodium, .3g carbohydrates, and 31.1g protein. 

Trader Joe’s Turkey Burgers Review

There are varying opinions regarding the pre-made turkey burgers from Trader Joe’s. Some people really enjoy them, while others believe that they taste terrible. No matter your opinion, you should try making your homemade version of Trader Joe’s ground turkey burgers. They are surprisingly easy to make and can be pre-made into burgers as well for added convenience. 

Variations

There are several popular variations on a plain turkey burger. A few of the more popular ideas are covered below, including how you can make them yourself. 

Trader Joe Turkey Burger close up

Umami Turkey Burgers

In a bowl, mix your ground turkey, one small yellow onion that has been finely minced, and 2 tsp multipurpose umami seasoning blend. Place the mixture in the fridge for 20 minutes. Remove the meat from the fridge and form it into patties. Cook them as instructed above. Assemble your burgers using brioche buns, swiss cheese, balsamic glaze, and salad greens. 

Detox Turkey Burger

If you are looking for a healthy alternative, a bun-less turkey burger makes a great detox meal. Simply prepare your patty as stated above, then add to a salad made of lettuce, tomato, avocado, pickles, and onions. Top with ketchup and mustard. Enjoy! 

Greek Turkey Burgers

Prepare your ground turkey as stated above, only add in 1 Tbsp minced garlic, 1 ½ tsp dried oregano, ¾ tsp ground cumin, 2 oz crumbled feta cheese, and ½ cup finely chopped fresh spinach. Once mixed continue preparing as stated in the above recipe. 

Copycat Trader Joe’s Chili Lime Chicken/Turkey Burgers

In the mixing bowl with your ground turkey, add 1 small bell pepper that has been finely chopped, 2 green onions finely chopped, 1 Tbsp chopped cilantro, 2 tsp minced garlic, ¼ tsp red pepper flakes, ½ tsp salt, and the juice of ½ lime. Mix together, form patties, and cook as instructed in the recipe above. Top with pepper jack cheese and your desired toppings. Serve and enjoy. 

Chili Lime Turkey Burgers

Prepare your ground turkey by adding 1lb ground turkey to ¼ cup chopped green onions, 1 Tbsp cilantro, 2 cloves of garlic that have been minced, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp red pepper flakes, and the juice of ½ a lime. Cook as instructed in the above recipe. Also, prepare guacamole using one large avocado that has been pitted and scraped into a bowl, add 2 Tbsp onion powder, 2 Tbsp chopped tomato, ½ chili powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp salt, and 1/8 tsp pepper. Assemble by adding your burger, to your favorite buns, then add guacamole, and top with your favorite toppings and condiments. Serve and enjoy!

Trader Joe Turkey Burgers

Our copycat Trader Joe turkey burgers are simple, yet delicious. These burgers are easy and healthy alternatives for you to mix up your mealtimes with. Give them a try today and let us know what you think! 

Here are some more quick meals you might like to try to switch up some weeknight dinners!

The Best Ground Turkey Sliders
Outback Mac and Cheese 
Amazing Rafferty’s Potato Soup Recipe 
Homemade Banquet Pot Pie
Ultimate Primavera Stuffed Chicken

Share on Pinterest!

Copycat Trader Joe Turkey Burgers Pinterest Image

This is a recipe I came up with to replicate the real thing.

Photo of author
Author
Faith
Faith Has been cooking and baking for many years! she loves to share her recipes with the world, and hopes you will enjoy them too!

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating