This spicy turkey burger is bringing big flavors to your dinner table! Packed with bold spices like cumin, smoked paprika, and chili powder, every bite is juicy, savory, and perfectly seasoned. Enjoy it hot off the grill or stovetop with jalapeño mayo and your favorite burger toppings!
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This Southwest-inspired turkey burger recipe will turn the heat up on your next burger night. It's flavorful from the spiced patties to the toppings with jalapeno mayo and pickled onions, so each bite is a banger. Serve it with corn ribs for the perfect meal.
📖Why My Recipe Works
- Jalapeno Mayo- Mayonnaise made from scratch, and packed with jalapeno, garlic, and lime juice. Tastes incredible when slathered on a turkey burger! But my cilantro and avocado crema makes a great alternative if you want the flavor without the heat.
- Adding cheese to the burger mixture adds moisture and keeps turkey from drying out without needing to add oil, egg, or breadcrumbs.
🧾Ingredient Notes
- Ground Turkey- Use either 85% or 93% lean ground turkey. This recipe will also work with ground chicken!
- Pepper Jack Cheese- I like using pepper jack because it already has spice from the peppers. But you can substitute Monterey Jack for a milder flavor.
- Red Onion- Substitute with white or yellow onions.
- Spice Mix- Smoked paprika, garlic powder, dried oregano, chili powder, crushed red pepper, and salt. You can substitute crushed red pepper with cayenne pepper.
Jalapeño Mayo:
- Jalapenos- You can remove the seeds for a milder sauce.
- Eggs- Use pasteurized egg yolks since we're using them raw to make mayo.
- Garlic- Just one garlic clove will do. Swap with garlic paste or garlic powder.
- Olive Oil- Avocado oil works as well.
⏲️How to Make Spicy Turkey Burgers
- Season the ground turkey generously with the spice mixture. Use a spatula or your hands to combine the mixture until all the ingredients are fully incorporated. Don't overmix.
- Form the turkey burger mixture into four evenly sized patties, about ½ inch thick. Then, chill for at least 30 minutes so they firm up enough and don't fall apart on the grill or stovetop.
- Cook the burgers on a skillet or grill, about 5-6 minutes per side. They should be golden brown on the outside, and the internal temperature should reach 165°F. You'll know it's done when you press the burger, and the juices run clear and not pink.
- Spread spicy mayo on both sides of the patties, then assemble with burger buns, lettuce, tomatoes, pickled onions, cheese, and any other toppings you love.
👩🏻🍳 Expert Tip
Try topping it with avocado pico de gallo or mango habanero salsa for a twist. Pair your burger with crispy zucchini fries, avocado corn salad, or mixed potato salad.
More Burger Recipes
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📖 Recipe Card
Spicy Seasoned Turkey Burgers
Ingredients
Turkey Burgers
- 1 pound ground turkey see notes
- 6 ounces pepperjack cheese shredded
- ¼ cup red onion minced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- Neutral oil for cooking
For Serving
- Burger buns or lettuce wraps
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes Sliced
- Pickled Red Onions
Jalapeno Mayo
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 jalapeno
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 ⅓ cups olive oil or use avocado oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ Tablespoons lime juice
Instructions
Turkey Burgers
- Mix ground turkey, cheese, onion, and seasonings in a large bowl. Use hands to combine gently—don't mix too much. Form mixture into 4 equal burger patties, about ½ inch thick.1 pound ground turkey, 6 ounces pepperjack cheese, ¼ cup red onion, 1 teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon cumin, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- Chill the patties in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to help them hold their shape while cooking.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a skillet, or preheat your grill to medium heat and lightly oil the grates. Cook the burgers for 5–6 minutes per side, until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F and are golden brown on the outside.Neutral oil
- Assemble the burgers with spicy mayo on both sides of the bun, then top with pickled onions, lettuce, and tomatoes.Lettuce, Tomatoes, Pickled Red Onions, Burger buns or lettuce wraps
Jalapeno Mayo
- Destem and roughly chop the jalapeño (remove the seeds and ribs for less heat). Add the jalapeño, garlic, and egg yolks to a blender and blend until finely chopped.1 jalapeno, 2 cloves garlic, 3 egg yolks
- Slowly stream in the oil until thick and creamy. Whisk in salt and lime juice. Taste and adjust the seasoning, then chill for 30 minutes before serving.1 ⅓ cups olive oil or use avocado oil, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 ½ Tablespoons lime juice
Notes
- Make the burgers ½ inch wider than your bun, they will shrink during cooking.
Storing Leftovers
- Store the leftover mayo in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Freeze uncooked patties for up to 3 months. Place them on a baking sheet then freeze to keep them firm and in shape. Then, once frozen, you can transfer to a freezer bag.
Equipment
Nutrition
Common Recipe Questions
Gently shape the patties without packing them too tightly, and be sure to chill them for at least 30 minutes before cooking. Or freeze them for 10 minutes if you are in a hurry.
The internal temp should reach 165°F to make sure it's fully cooked and safe to eat.
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