If you’re craving big flavor, make these jalapeño pepper jack turkey burgers. These medium spicy burgers are bursting with flavor from cumin, smoked paprika, jalapeño pepper, garlic, cilantro, and pepper jack cheese and taste phenomenal hot off the grill. Turkey burgers often dry out, but these remain extra juicy and moist!
Last summer, I published one of my favorite burger recipes. Black bean burgers are DEFINITELY one of my top choices and even meat eaters tend to agree. They’re big, thick, and hearty and meat eaters (plus non meat eaters!) around the world have raved about them. My caprese pesto chicken burgers are the most flavorful chicken burgers I’ve had. Lately I’ve been playing around with turkey burger recipes and I’m confident I found the best combination of ingredients to make an absolutely divine burger. Meet my jalapeño pepper jack turkey burgers. We loved these.
Here’s What You’ll Love
- Juicy (not dry)
- Crazy flavorful
- Thick and satisfying
- Medium spicy, but you can adjust the heat
- Relatively easy
Turkey burgers are leaner than beef burgers, so they definitely dry out quickly. We fix all that with today’s recipe. Shockingly good. Look how thick and hearty!
Overview of Ingredients in These Turkey Burgers
Ground turkey simply doesn’t contain the same flavor profile as ground beef, so it’s up to you to add extra flavor to the burgers. After playing around with different spices, binders, and herbs, I found the following list to be the real deal. Each ingredient adds a little something special and I encourage you to try the recipe as written. However, feel free to substitute your preferred flavors!
If You Crave Big Flavor, Make These Jalapeño Pepper Turkey Burgers!
Overview: How to Make Jalapeño Pepper Jack Turkey Burgers
You could also enjoy the turkey burger plain, on a salad, or chopped up in a wrap. These jalapeño pepper jack turkey burgers are crazy flavorful, so they truly don’t need any extras!
Don’t Overcook
Cook the turkey burgers until a meat thermometer registers 165°F (74°C). Overcooking the turkey burgers will quickly dry them out, so keep a close eye on the grill or stove. They’ll cook in about 10 minutes on a high heat grill or medium-high stove. Keep the grill closed or place a lid over the skillet.
Are They Spicy?
The exact recipe below yields medium spicy turkey burgers. I don’t like super spicy foods, but loved these. If you don’t like spicy or are sensitive to spice, leave out the jalapeño pepper and substitute cheddar cheese for the pepper jack cheese. If you want a spicier kick, add another chopped jalapeño.
Making these for every cookout for the remainder of the summer. They’d be a fantastic main attraction on your menu of Memorial Day recipes, too. For inspiration on what to serve after the burgers, head over to our list of 25+ desserts for a BBQ cookout, including these favorite chocolate chip cookies.
Jalapeño Pepper Jack Turkey Burgers Recipe
Ingredients You’ll Need
Instructions
- Whisk all of the first 11 ingredients together (not the 12th ingredient, the ground turkey) in a large bowl. Once completely combined, add the ground turkey and use your hands, a silicone spatula, or wooden spoon to thoroughly mix. Once completely combined, form the mixture into 6 plump and compact patties. The patties will weigh around 6 ounces each and be a heaping 1/2 cup each.
- Place the patties onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet, baking pan, or plate. Cover tightly then refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours. This ensures the patties will hold their shape. You can also freeze the patties for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.
- Clean the grill and grease with vegetable oil. Pour a little vegetable oil on a paper towel and carefully rub all over the grates. Preheat grill to high. Place cold turkey burgers on heated grill and cook for 5 minutes with the lid closed. Flip burgers over and cook covered for an additional 3 minutes or until a meat thermometer registers 165°F (74°C). If adding cheese, place a slice of cheese on the burger for the last 30 seconds. Overcooking the turkey burgers will quickly dry them out, so keep a close eye on them.
- Serve on hamburger bun with desired toppings.
- Store leftover turkey burgers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
