Pesto Turkey Burgers are a delicious grilling recipe for the summer! Pop a turkey burger on the grill flavored with basil pesto and spices for a delicious and healthy hamburger option made with lean meat. Also works with beef or chicken. A great BBQ entrée for 4th of July, Memorial Day, Father's Day, and Labor Day with Italian flavors.
Prep Time10 minutesmins
Cook Time20 minutesmins
Total Time30 minutesmins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, International
Keyword: 30 Min or Less, BBQ, Chicken/Turkey, Summer
Heat a large skillet over medium heat.I prefer to cook burgers in a skillet because it is easier for them to hold together plus more meat comes in contact with the surface of the pan. This means more color which means more flavor!
Mix the turkey, pesto, garlic powder, egg, breadcrumbs, salt, and red pepper flakes together in a medium bowl.
Separate the meat mixture into four patties. Form them and place them on a clean plate. Set aside.If desired, make one very small patty and cook before shaping the others if you want to test the flavors and adjust before cooking.
When the skillet is hot, add 1/2 Tablespoon of vegetable or canola oil, swirl around, and add two of the patties.
Cook, without moving or touching it, for 5 minutes.
Flip with a spatula and cook 4-5 more minutes until cooked all the way through to 160°F. (Residual cooking will raise the temperature to 165°F).In the last minute of cooking, add cheese slices on top of each patty (if using) and cover the skillet with a lid, another skillet, or baking sheet. This will trap the heat in and help the cheese melt.
Set the burgers aside to rest and repeat the cooking process with the remaining patties.
Serve with tomato, additional basil pesto, or other toppings as desired.
Notes
I love using homemade pesto, which you can find my recipe for here: https://www.threeolivesbranch.com/basil-pesto/Any store bought pesto will also work great.