Cilantro Lime Turkey Burgers

These turkey burgers are everything you could want in a burger recipe. Cilantro lime turkey burgers are so juicy and flavorful by themselves, but when served with a cabbage slaw for crunch and slathered with a homemade roasted green onion and garlic aioli, they’re taken to the next level. Ground turkey is a great option for dinner because it’s lean and inexpensive, but it can be a little dry and needs some help to add flavor. I read once that burgers aren’t meatloaf and shouldn’t contain breadcrumbs or egg, but truthfully when I’m making turkey burgers at home I prefer to add both of those ingredients. They work as a binder, add flavor, and the egg adds moisture as well. This recipe makes six burgers and is easily doubled. Cooked patties are delicious as leftovers or frozen for a quick meal down the road.

Ingredients for Cilantro Lime Turkey Burgers

• Ground turkey: I’m using 1.5 lbs. of 93% lean ground turkey. It’s inexpensive and readily available!
• Egg: Like I said above, some people think that adding eggs and breadcrumbs to a burger makes them a meatloaf. But I like adding the egg for moisture and as a binder.
• Breadcrumbs: I’m using Italian seasoned breadcrumbs here for flavor, which I highly recommend, but plain breadcrumbs work in a pinch too.
• Cilantro: LOTS of fresh cilantro is key to make the flavor come through. I use almost an entire bunch. You can use less if you want, but the flavor does mellow during cooking, so I like using half a cup of finely chopped fresh cilantro.
• Lime: The juice of one lime is delicious in this recipe, and if you really want extra lime flavor you can also add the lime zest.
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper: A must in both the burgers and the aioli.
• Garlic powder and onion powder: We are using garlic and onion powders in the burgers, but fresh green onions and garlic for the aioli.
• Olive oil: Just a little bit for the burgers and some to roast the green onions, as well as some for cooking the burgers.
• Green onions: I’m using 10 scallions in this recipe. They’re being cooked down to mellow the flavor, so don’t be afraid to use a lot.
• Mayonnaise: Is it even aioli without mayo? I like an olive oil-based mayo.
• Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt adds creaminess and a protein kick to the aioli.
• Apple cider vinegar: A little tang for the aioli. The acidity is a great addition to cut the creaminess of the aioli.
• Fresh garlic: Roasted garlic combined with the roasted green onion are the perfect combination for the aioli.
• Hot sauce: Optional, but a little heat in the aioli is really nice.
• Fresh cabbage: For the slaw I’m just mixing olive oil, apple cider vinegar, salt, and a little sugar. That’s all you need for some crunch!

How to Make Cilantro Lime Turkey Burgers

• First, form your burger patties. In a bowl mix together the ground turkey, egg, breadcrumbs, olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, cilantro, and lime juice. Form them into patties and set aside.
• In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and cook the patties until golden brown on each side and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
• To make the aioli, heat a little more olive oil in the skillet. Chop the green onions into 2-3 inch pieces and add to the skillet. Cook for about 5 minutes before adding the minced garlic and cooking for a few minutes more.
• Add the green onions and garlic to a food processor along with mayo, Greek yogurt, salt, pepper, and hot sauce. Blend until smooth, then taste and adjust the seasonings as needed.
• For the slaw, add finely shredded cabbage to a large bowl along with olive oil, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper. Toss to combine.
• To form your burgers, add the aioli to a burger bun, then add a cilantro lime turkey burger patty. Top with slaw and the top bun and enjoy!