Green Chile Turkey Burgers

Green Chile Turkey Burgers combine juicy patties infused with the zesty flavor of green chilies, adding a spicy kick to your burger experience. Made with lean turkey meat and seasoned with a flavorful spice blend, they offer a healthier twist to the classic burger.

Side view of a grilled turkey burger with lettuce, tomato, and pepper jack cheese.

Interested in other burger recipes? Try our Grilled Salmon Burgers or Goat Cheese Burgers next!

Best Turkey Burgers

I enjoy using ground turkey in many of my recipes, like in my Deconstructed Stuffed Peppers, Sweet Potato Turkey Chili, and a simple Cheesy Turkey Taco Skillet. To me, it tastes very similar to ground beef.

Save This Recipe Form

Want to save this recipe?

Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get more great recipes and tips from us each week!

When it comes to burgers, ground turkey needs more doctoring up than beef. Which is why I’ve added a handful of ingredients to this recipe for extra flavor. And believe me, it works!

Why we love this recipe:

  • SIMPLE. Just four ingredients plus seasonings to your perfect burger.
  • FULL OF FLAVOR. The green chiles and handful of seasonings add incredible southwest flavor.
  • IMPRESSIVE. While these are simple, they make an impressive burger for family and friends. Add grilled buns and all the condiments for a great burger!
  • GREAT LEFT OVER. These make the best patty melts. Slice them in half (the long way) and grill between two places of sourdough bread, along with some grilled onions and extra cheese.
Side shot of a halved grilled turkey burger, with a bowl of mustard.

Ingredient Notes:

  • Ground Turkey – For four 6-ounce burgers, you’ll need about 24 ounces.
  • Green Chiles – I used the hot version of canned chiles and they added incredible flavor without being too spicy.
  • Red Onion – Minced red onion adds even more flavor.
  • Breadcrumbs – Just a bit of breadcrumbs will help hold the burgers together.
  • Seasonings – Garlic powder, ground cumin, red pepper flakes, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper.
A bowl of the turkey burger ingredients, separated by ingredient.

How to make Green Chile Turkey Burgers:

Step 1
Combine ingredients. In a mixing bowl, combine the burger ingredients – the ground turkey, green chiles, red onion, breadcrumbs, and seasonings (garlic powder, ground cumin, red pepper flakes, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper).

Step 2
Form patties. Use your hands to gently combine the ingredients and form four patties. Place on a baking sheet and press your thumb in the middle of each patty.

Step 3
Light grill. Prep an outdoor grill to about medium-high heat, or 400 degrees. We love using our Big Green Egg.

Step 4
Grill burgers. Grill turkey burgers until done, or until a digital thermometer reaches 160 degrees (allowing for a few degrees of carry over cooking).

Step 5
Finish burgers. Top each burger with some pepper jack cheese (or cheese of your choice). Add burgers to some grilled buns!

Some extra toppings include avocado slices, tomato slices, lettuce leaves, or some fried eggs!

NOTE: Turkey is done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F on a digital thermometer. I always take it off at around 160 to allow for a few more degrees of carry-over cooking.

Can I use hatch chiles in turkey burgers?

Hatch chiles are a type of green chile grown in New Mexico that has a crisp, sweet and smoky flavor. They are normally in season in August and you can either roast hatch chiles in the oven or purchase canned hatch chiles.

I’ve used different versions of canned Green Chiles, but plan to use the fresh hatch chiles in season.

A turkey burger with a knife in the middle.

More Grilling Recipes:

We love using our Big Green Egg or our Memphis Smoker for our outdoor grilling. I’ve got lots of ideas for you to try, including the following!

No grill? No problem! You can also make these indoors in a cast iron skillet or a grill pan. Just make sure you check for doneness with a digital thermometer. You want them cooked through like you do with chicken!

Overhead shot of a finished turkey burger with tomatoes, lettuce and cheese.

xoxo ~Sue

Side view of a grilled turkey burger with green chiles.

Green Chile Turkey Burgers

Make these Green Chile Turkey Burgers for your next backyard barbecue. These lower-fat burgers include ingredients that pack major flavor and are just as tasty as any other burger you've tried!
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Dish, Sandwich
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4 burgers
Calories: 221kcal
Author: Sue Ringsdorf

Ingredients

  • 24 oz. ground turkey – 93% lean
  • 4 oz. Green Chiles – drained
  • 1/4 cup red onion – minced
  • 1/4 cup Panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper – to taste
  • cheese slices – we used pepper jack
  • hamburger buns (grilled) – to serve
  • lettuce, tomato, mustard – condiments to serve

Instructions

  • Combine ingredients. In a mixing bowl, combine the burger ingredients – the ground turkey, green chiles, red onion, breadcrumbs, and seasonings (garlic powder, ground cumin, red pepper flakes, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper).
  • Form patties. Use your hands to gently combine the ingredients and form four patties. Place on a baking sheet and press your thumb in the middle of each patty.
  • Light grill. Prep an outdoor grill to 400 degrees.
  • Grill burgers. Grill turkey burgers until done, or until a digital thermometer reaches 160 degrees (allowing for a few degrees of carry over cooking).
  • Finish burgers. Top each burger with some pepper jack cheese (or cheese of your choice). Add burgers to some grilled buns along with some lettuce and tomato (or other condiments).

Notes

**Turkey is done when it reaches 165 degrees F on a digital thermometer. I always take it off at around 160 to allow for a few more degrees of carry-over cooking.
No grill? No problem! You can also make these indoors in a cast iron skillet. Just make sure you check for doneness with a digital thermometer. You want them cooked through like you do with chicken!

Nutrition

Calories: 221kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 218mg | Potassium: 542mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 191IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @Suebeehomemaker or tag #suebeehomemaker!

4 Comments

  1. This is the best turkey burger ever and I love that it has some kick! Did not miss beef and actually prefer this recipe!

  2. In my opinion, a turkey burger never gets close to a beer burger, but this one makes you think… highly recommend giving these a try

    1. Suebee Homemaker says:

      Thanks Josh!

5 from 2 votes

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating