We have all had a grilled turkey burger that is dry, overcooked, and under-seasoned! Let me save you from that fate ever again with this amazing recipe for Grilled Chili Lime Turkey Burgers. This is a perfectly seasoned and flavorful, juicy turkey burger recipe.
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To make sure you end up with a well seasoned and flavorful grilled turkey burger I fill it with garlic, fresh lime zest, green chilies, and chili powder. These ingredients make a perfect compliment to the grilled turkey flavor.
And next time you fire up the grill check out these Juicy Turkey Burgers , Classic Hamburgers or Grilled Pork Burgers!
Chili Lime Turkey Burgers for Dinner
I am all about balance when I make my weekly meal plan. I do not strive to keep EVERY night low calorie, low carb or even healthy! Sometimes we have Sloppy Joes and fries or grilled steak and Cheesy Potato Casserole. Then sometimes we have Grilled Chicken Salad or Grilled Marinated Chicken Breast and Grilled Fresh Veggies.
I love this recipe for Chili Lime Turkey Burgers as a more “healthy” option to mix into our weekly meal plan. The lean ground turkey is a great healthy meat option and by adding all the seasonings and spices it still tastes decadent.
When we have these grilled turkey burgers for dinner I like to have baked sweet potato fries and skewered & grilled onions and peppers.
…However, in all honesty, if I’m too tired to make all those sides- I might just pull out some tortilla chips with salsa and guacamole to have on the side!…it’s better than the alternative- cereal!
How to Make Chili Lime Turkey Burgers
Start by prepping your grill for direct heat.
Make a panade with 1 slice of white or wheat bread cut into small pieces, crust removed. Add in the milk, lime zest, drained can of diced green chilies, minced garlic, chili powder, onion powder, kosher salt and pepper.
Mix that all together until it makes a nice paste. This will keep your turkey burgers juicy while they are on the grill.
Add the ground turkey. You want to make sure you are using a 93% lean ground turkey. It has more flavor and has enough fat to keep your burgers from drying out.
Using a fork or clean hands lightly mix the mixture until the seasonings and chilies are incorporated evenly. Overmixing will create a tough turkey burger.
Divide your ground turkey mixture into 4 equal portions and for four ¼ lb turkey burgers.
Pro Tip: You can use a large round cookie cutter to form equal and really pretty patties!
Now press your thumb into the middle of each patty and make a small dent. That will help the burgers from shrinking into little hockey pucks on the grill.
Pro Tip: Cut a large piece of parchment paper into 4 small squares. Place them under each patty or between each patty if you are stacking the turkey burgers. This will make it super easy to pick up the raw turkey patties and put them on the grill without having them stick to the sheet pan!
Do NOT skip this step….Prep the grill grate by brushing it with a little olive oil. I also brush the raw turkey burger patties with olive oil. This will prevent the burgers from sticking to the grill.
Grill the turkey burgers over medium heat for about 4-5 minutes per side. Make sure your burgers are cooked thru to 165 degree internal temperature.
Let the burgers rest for about 5 minutes, uncovered, before serving.
Toppings for your Chili Lime Turkey Burger
I like to top my Chili Lime Turkey Burgers with pico de gallo, guacamole and lettuce. The pico de gallo and guacamole compliment the flavors in the grilled turkey burger perfectly, and the lettuce adds a little crunch. Some other good toppings for this burger would be:
- Melted pepper jack cheese
- Pickled jalapenos
- Salsa
- Raw Tomatillo Salsa or Grilled Tomatillo Salsa
- Fresh Jalapenos for spice!
- A squeeze of fresh lime juice
- Pickled banana pepper rings
- Red onions
- Melted Pepper Jack Cheese
- Crumbled queso fresco
- Fresh sliced avocado
- Grilled onion slices
More Grilled Burger Recipes
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Chili Lime Turkey Burgers
Equipment
- Grill (gas or charcoal)
- Instant Read Thermometer optional
Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground Turkey - 93% lean
- 1 slice white or wheat bread - crust removed, cut into ¼ inch pieces
- 2 tablespoon milk
- 4 ounce can Diced Green Chilies - -drained very well through a fine mesh sieve
- 1 teaspoon lime zest - -about 1 lime
- 1 plump garlic clove - minced
- ¾ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Serving
- Buns
- Favorite Toppings – see options listed below
Instructions
- Prep your charcoal grill with an even layer of white hot charcoals, or turn your gas grill to medium heat.
- In a large bowl make a panade with the bread pieces, milk, lime zest, garlic, green chilies, chili powder, onion powder, kosher salt, and pepper.
- Form 4 equal patties. Pro Tip: Using your thumb or a small spoon place a small dent in the middle of each patty. This will prevent your burgers from shrinking into little hockey pucks.
- Don't Skip This Step: Brush your grill grate AND both sides of the turkey burgers with a little olive oil. This will help the turkey burgers to not stick to the grill.
- Grill your turkey burgers over direct heat for about 4-5 minutes per side. ** You must make sure they are cooked all the way thru and have an internal temp of 165 degrees. An instant read thermometer is a great tool to have when you grill!
- Let the burgers rest for 3-5 minutes before serving.
Serving Chili Lime Turkey Burgers
- Serve the Chili Lime Turkey Burgers on a bun with the toppings of your choice. I like pico de gallo, guacamole and lettuce. Here are some additional options:Melted pepper jack cheesePickled jalapenosSalsa Tomatillo Salsa or Grilled Tomatillo SalsaFresh Jalapenos for spice!A squeeze of fresh lime juicePickled banana pepper ringsRed onionsCrumbled queso frescoMelted Pepper Jack CheeseFresh sliced avocadoGrilled onion slices
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Esther B
These were delicious burgers and easy to make. I topped mine with avocado, Queso Fresco, green salsa, lettuce, and tomatoes. With a toasted bun my husband said it tasted better than what he has ordered in a restaurant. I will make these again.
Susie Weinrich
I love queso fresco… it is the perfect balance of salt and cheese. I’m so glad you loved these turkey burgers! (try the juicy grilled turkey burger and pork burgers some time too!)
Dianne
Yes this was the second time I made it and it is delicious and will be making it many more times.
Rose Martine
You are AMAZING! Thank you thank you thank you so much for this. I was considering doing the same thing and you’ve just made the task a lot less daunting.
Danielle
Perfect healthy burger option for summer! The seasonings sound awesome – I love the lime! I used to buy the 99% lean turkey and it was just awful. There came a point when it would just make me gag. So the 93% is good LOL!
Susie
Totally! That 99% stuff is almost too lean, it can get so rubbery. Really when you are eating lean turkey what is another 6% of fat!? It makes such a difference in the flavor!
I think you could try this recipe with ground chicken too.
christine hadden
Great flavors. This sounds delicious and I totally agree, the 93% is much more flavorful than the 99% – it’s also a little more forgiving as far as cook time.
kim
I’m a huge fan of turkey burgers and these look fabulous! Love the addition of guacamole! Can’t wait to recreate it!
Susie
Great! Let me know how they turn out for you
Shadi Hasanzadenemati
Wow! Love all the flavors here! These turkey burgers would be a hit at our summer party!
Susie
They are a perfect summer dinner or party dinner!
Ginny
Lime and green chilies sound like a great addition to a sandwich. Just in time for summer!
Susie
They are perfect for summer!
Alyssa
Oh, my husband would love this! I never thought of adding green chiles to my burgers.
Susie
They help keep the burger juicy and add great flavor!
Vicky
Turkey burgers can be dry and a bit bland, but not these. Love your take on the classic turkey burger. They look so flavorful and moist. Southwestern flavors are a big hit in this house!
Susie
Nothing worse than an under-seasoned turkey burger! Definitely give these a try on your summer grill.