Skillet Turkey Burger {Low Carb, Gluten Free}

This Skillet Turkey Burger made without any breadcrumbs, is moist on the inside and has a crispy brown texture on the outside. One of our go to recipes for celebrating weekends at home! A healthy variation of the classic beef burger, this Low Carb Turkey Burger flavored with Parmesan cheese and Worcestershire sauce is made slowly on stove top and is a must-try recipe as every bite is super tasty!

No need to be afraid of tired and boring turkey burgers any longer. This recipe of Skillet Turkey Burger provides amazing savory flavor along with a much healthier version of the classic burger. 

Made with mild spicy flavors, this Parmesan Cheese Burger is addictive for our kids. We eliminated bread crumbs to make this burger which helps us make it moist and juicy on the inside and has a perfect crispy crust on the outside. If you are a fan of burgers, this crispy skillet turkey burger made with Liquid smoke creates a great barbeque flavor!

Why This Recipe Works?

• Gluten Free Turkey Patties.
• Very quick meal to prepare.
• Kids Friendly.
• Moist, juicy and extremely flavorful.
• Can be made vegan.
• Healthy Ground Turkey Burger.
• Low Carb recipe if you use low carb buns!
• High protein meal.
• Easily available Ingredients.
• Make-Ahead Turkey Burger.
• The Best Skillet Turkey Burger ever!!

Ingredients

This recipe uses super easy ingredients that can be obtained from a local store if you don’t already have them in your pantry. Read the Recipe Card for the measurements.

• Ground Turkey – We use 93% lean ground turkey which has low fat content. It works well with our low carb burger recipe. This recipe works for any other meat like beef or chicken as well.
• Parmesan Cheese – Grated Parmesan Cheese creates a moist texture in the turkey patties. You may use any soft cheese available.
• Worcestershire Sauce – This sauce adds the perfect umami flavor to the mild spicy turkey patties. Gluten free and low sodium, Worcestershire is our favorite addition to most of our meat based recipes and marinades. You may substitute it with vinegar and soy sauce.
• Liquid Smoke – The barbeque smoked flavor comes from this liquid smoke. The best thing about the liquid smoke is that even the cast iron skillet turkey patties can get that real barbeque grill flavor. We used the Hickory brand. You may use any available brand that is local to your place. In summers, you may always use the BBQ grill.
• Garlic Powder – We have used garlic powder for these turkey patties. One may use the fresh garlic cloves as well. Mince them small so that they easily bind.
• Onion Powder – You may use freshly chopped onion as well. Red onions or white onions work best. We have used onion powder to ease up things.
• Ground Black Pepper – The aroma that freshly ground pepper adds to any dish has no comparison. You may always use the packed one to make this recipe quicker. 
• Cayenne Pepper – Add the heat as per your liking. Feel free to add fresh green chilies if you like even more heat in burger patties.
• Cumin – Adding cumin adds some mild sweet flavor and balances the savory flavor of the patties.
• Salt – We use regular table salt. You may also use sea salt or the rock salt for less sodium intake.

Equipment 

• Measuring Cups & Spoons
• Skillet

Variations 

• Vegan Turkey Burger: You can always buy Meatless Protein Patties but making a homemade vegan turkey burger would taste much better. Grab your favorite veggies like carrots, pumpkin or butternut squash and peas. Boil, sieve and cool to make the shape of patties by adding the same sauces in order to make this recipe vegan.
• Make Ahead Turkey Burger: This recipe of turkey burger can be easily made ahead of time by making the patties a day in advance and assembling everything just before serving! 
• Air Fryer Turkey Burger: For making low calorie turkey burgers, you may use an air fryer to fry the turkey patties. Place the patties spaced out in the fryer pan and cook  for about 20 minutes (flipping in between) at 400 degrees F.
• Barbeque Grill Turkey Burger: As much as we love the skillet turkey burger, we also enjoy grilling these turkey patties on the grill during the summer. 
• Lettuce or Keto Turkey Burger: To make this recipe completely Keto or low carb, you may always use Lettuce wraps instead of buns and get the taste of a perfect Keto Turkey Burger.
• Add another Protein: You may add an egg white or whole egg to the turkey patty mix for an extra protein and these turkey burgers would be more protein rich!
• Add another Green: Add Cilantro, spinach or kale leaves finely chopped to these turkey mix to get a vibrant colored healthy burger!

What to Serve With the Skillet Turkey Burger

For a quick meal, these Pan Fried Turkey Burgers can be served with:

• Creamy Tomato Soup.
• Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries.
• Grilled Lemon Butter Asparagus.
• Garlic Mashed Cauliflower.

How To Store Leftover Turkey Patties?

You may store the leftover turkey patties in an airtight container and simply microwave them for a minute or two before serving. Reheating the burgers in the oven might dry them out too much.

How To Make Cast Iron Skillet Turkey Burger

Step 1: Mix It

• In a large bowl, add all ingredients; ground turkey, parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, salt, cumin, cayenne pepper, liquid smoke and worcestershire sauce. 
• This recipe does not call for eggs or breadcrumbs as binders as they are not necessary. Using a spatula, mix well to combine. The turkey gets divided into 4 equal sized portions, approximately 4-5 ounces each. For this job, we like to use a 1/2 cup measuring utensil. It’s the perfect size and amount for measuring a 4-5 ounce burger.

Step 2: Shape It

• We like to keep a bowl of water nearby when shaping turkey burgers. The water aids in holding and keeping the meat together and prevents it from sticking to any utensils or hands. 
• If using a 1/2 cup measuring utensil (or your hands), first dip into the bowl of water, then scoop your turkey meat – measure out 4 equal portions. Next, flatten and shape the meat into round patties using wet fingers. Make a small indentation in the middle of each patty to help them keep their shape during cooking. 

Step 3: Grill It

• When Summer is calling, we love to grill these burgers outside, but because it’s too cold, we’re cooking them on the stove top today. Heat a cast iron skillet or large frying pan on medium high heat. 
• Once hot, give two swirls of olive oil to the pan. Place patties in the pan and cook for 11-12 minutes total, flipping them halfway. Burgers are done when the juices run clear or the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Try not to overcook the burgers too much or they will become a bit dry.
• Do not undercook the burgers. If making a cheese turkey burger, add cheese 2 minutes before done.           

Step 4: Assemble

• Assemble the freshly made turkey patties on your favorite bun along with fresh salad and sauces of your choice!

Expert Tips

• We like to keep a bowl of water nearby when shaping turkey burgers. The water aids in holding and keeping the meat together and prevents it from sticking to any utensils or hands. 
• Make a small indentation in the middle of each patty to help them keep their shape during cooking. 
• You may also apply a little oil over your hands before making these patties. This also helps in holding and keeping the filling together.
• Make sure to place the patties over a hot skillet and not warm else they would stick to it and cook over a slow or medium flame.
• For the batches, season the skillet with raw onion. It helps clean it for the next batch.
• Place the turkey patties gently on the skillet and don’t overcrowd them so that they are not undercooked. You may also cover them with a lid to cook uniformly.

More Healthy Turkey Recipes

• Turkey Chili
• Turkey MeatBalls
• Turkey Meat Sauce