Bacon Turkey Burgers Recipe

Bacon and zucchini keep these Bacon Turkey Burgers perfectly juicy and adds a delicious smoky flavor.

Burgers – Good All Year Round

Often when we talk about burgers, it’s in the context of starting, or being in the middle of, grilling season. We get outside, we uncover our charcoal or gas grill and we start making our favorite summer recipes.

And, what is often at the top of list of favorite things to grill? Burgers!

They’re relatively inexpensive, it’s something the whole family often enjoys, and frankly, they’re pretty easy to make. They are a great cornerstone for a delicious meal.

However, what if the weather is bad? Or, no access to an outdoor grill? Or, it isn’t the normal “grilling season”?

No problem! These tasty burgers are prepared all indoors.

Simple Ingredients – Maximum Taste

This bacon turkey burger recipe was not a seasonal inspiration (hey, it’s Thanksgiving, let’s make a turkey burger!). It’s just that regular burgers have been done a lot and I wanted to do something a little different.

And, other than salt and pepper, there are only five ingredients (ground turkey, bacon, zucchini, onion and garlic). That’s it!

To start, you need some type of ground meat. I decided to use ground turkey breast.

Now, if all you did was create a burger solely with ground turkey breast, it might get a bit dry. That’s where these next ingredients come in to make sure that doesn’t happen and the burgers stay nice and juicy.

First, the zucchini. I shred the zucchini to make it fine and allow it to incorporate into the turkey burger mixture. The moisture from the zucchini definitely helps keep the burger juicy.

Next, the star of the show – bacon. Why? Because everything is better with bacon!

There is a smoke flavoring the bacon brings that really brings the burger to life. And, to reduce the fat content a little bit, I cooked the bacon before making the burgers. I then sautéed the onion and garlic in just a little bit of the bacon fat to add even more smoky bacon flavor.

So good!

How to Serve Bacon Turkey Burgers

This recipe was focused on making a “healthier” alternative to a regular ground beef burger. But, certainly how you serve the burger has a lot to do with that!

If you are on a gluten-free or lower calorie diet, you can simply serve the burger over a bed of lettuce. This is not a bland burger, it has incredible flavor and stands up really well on its own.

Of course, you can also go crazy and put it on a burger bun with your favorite toppings. Try the classic lettuce, tomato and onion.

Or, maybe a slice of cheese (I like pepper jack cheese for that extra zing!), some caramelized onions and a fun mayo or aioli. Whatever your favorite way to eat a burger is, you can probably do that same thing with this bacon turkey burger. The only thing holding you back from a tasty burger is your imagination!

My personal favorite is the burger over lettuce with a drizzle of ranch dressing.

Make Ahead and Freeze Bacon Turkey Burgers

This recipe makes 8-10 burgers and they’re perfect for freezing and reheating for an easy meal in the future. You do need to complete the recipe and make the burgers. Let them cool down to room temperature.

Once cooled, place patties in an airtight container or ziplock bag and put into the freezer. (See “Tips and Tricks” below on the best way to prepare the turkey burger patties for freezing). They should keep well for 3-4 months.

You can reheat these from either thawed or frozen. It will just take a bit more time from frozen. They just need to be warmed through as they are pre-cooked already.

If you want to be more specific, reheat to an internal temperature of 165 degrees. It’s best to use an instant meat thermometer to check the temperature.

Tips and Tricks

• The burgers can be frozen after cooking. I suggest freezing them in a single layer on a sheet pan and then transferring them to a ziploc bag or freezer container. Reheat in the microwave or a 350 degree oven until warmed through.
• I recommend using ground turkey breast because the bacon and the zucchini add plenty of moisture and flavor to the burgers.
• A baking rack works great to put the burgers on while they finish in the oven, if you have one. That will allow the heat in the oven to circulate all around the burgers so that they cook evenly.
• Make sure that the chopped bacon is cooked until it’s nice and crispy.
• I don’t recommend skipping the zucchini, it helps to add moisture and well as adding nutrition.
• I love to serve these on a bed of lettuce and top them with a drizzle of ranch and some diced avocado.

Ingredients Needed to Make Bacon Turkey Burgers

Full instructions can be found below in the printable recipe card

• Ground turkey breast – I prefer using turkey breast, it insures that the burgers aren’t too greasy, which can happen if using dark meat.
• Bacon – This adds salty, smoky flavor as well as helping the burgers stay moist and tender.
• Zucchini – This also helps to add moisture to the burgers.
• Onion
• Garlic – I use fresh garlic, but you can substitute granulated garlic.
• Salt 
• Black pepper

How to Make Bacon Turkey Burgers

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Cut bacon into strips crosswise.
• Cook over medium heat until bacon is crispy.
• Drain bacon on paper towels and allow to cool. Once bacon is cool, finely chop.
• Reserve 1 tbsp of the bacon fat.
• Shred zucchini with a grater or a food processor.
• Finely chop onion and garlic.
• Heat reserved bacon fat in a small skillet over medium heat.
• Add onion and garlic to skillet and saute until onion is tender. Allow to cool slightly.
• In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and mix with your hands until everything is well-combined.
• Form mixture into 8-10 patties.
• Saute patties on a large griddle or in a large skillet over medium heat for about 3 minutes per side, until browned.
• Transfer patties to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil and, if you have one, a baking rack.
• Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, until cooked through.
• Serve on burger buns or over a bed of lettuce.

What Should I Serve with Bacon Turkey Burgers?

• Asian Style Cucumber Salad
• Cauliflower Dill (No Potato) Salad
• Foil Packet Grill Potatoes
• Slow Cooker Baked Beans
• Lemon Roasted Brussels Sprouts

ENJOY!

This recipe was originally posted on 03/30/2015. It was updated to improve user experience and reposted on 02/25/2020.