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a white plate with a turkey and zucchini burger, spinach, sliced cucumber and a dollop of tzatziki
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5 from 3 votes

Juicy Turkey Burgers with Zucchini and Feta

Moist and juicy turkey burgers with grated zucchini, creamy feta cheese, red onion and spices. Yes, these burgers are every bit as DELICIOUS as they sound. They're the perfect, simple and quick dinner with plenty of healthy ingredients and even more flavor.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Course: dinner, lunch
Cuisine: American, Mediterranean
Servings: 4 burgers
Calories: 306kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground turkey or chicken either dark or white meat is fine
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 medium zucchini
  • 1/2 red onion finely chopped
  • 2 green onions thinly sliced
  • 1/2 c crumbled feta cheese
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 3-4 tbsp olive oil
  • salt and pepper

For Serving:

  • Tzatziki Sauce
  • Burger Buns or Pita Bread

Instructions

  • Place a box grater over a clean kitchen towel (or a few layers of paper towel) and then grate the zucchini directly onto the towel. Fold up the edges of the towel and firmly ring out the excess moisture. Transfer the zucchini to a large mixing bowl.
  • Mix together the shredded zucchini, ground turkey, feta, egg, red and green onion, and spices. Season with freshly cracked black pepper and a pinch of salt. Divide the mixture into four equal portions and then form each portion into a burger patty.
  • Heat a large pan over medium-high heat. Add a few glugs of olive oil to the pan, just enough to coat the surface. Cook the burgers until golden brown on both sides and cooked through. About 3 minutes per side. Let rest for 3-5 minutes before serving.

Notes

 
Top Tips for Juicy, Moist Turkey Burgers:
  • Start with cold ingredients: Cold ingredients ensure that the gelatin and fat in the turkey are solidified which gives the burgers a light and springy texture rather than dense and dry.
  • Don't over-mix: Over-mixing is a common mistake when making burgers and meatballs. Once the all of ingredients are mixed in, stop. Remember, the burgers are going to be mixed more as you're shaping them into patties.
  • Add moisture-rich ingredients: In this case, we're using grated zucchini and feta cheese.
  • Don't overcook them: Cook your turkey burgers to an internal temperature of 155 to 160 F.
  • Let them rest for 5 minutes: Letting your burgers rest after cooking allows the temperature and juices to redistribute and settle.
 
How to Freeze and Reheat Turkey Burgers
  1. Follow steps 1-3 in the recipe steps then line a baking tray with parchment paper and arrange the cooked turkey burgers in a single layer on the tray.
  2. Place the tray into the freezer for 1 hour, or until the burgers are frozen solid.
  3. Once frozen wrap each burger individually in plastic wrap then place the wrapped burgers in a freezer-safe container and keep for up to one month.
To re-heat: Remove the burgers from the plastic wrap and place on a baking sheet, cover with foil and bake in a 300-degree oven for 15 minutes, or until heated through.

Nutrition

Serving: 1burger | Calories: 306kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 126mg | Sodium: 292mg | Potassium: 548mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 586IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 124mg | Iron: 2mg