Name: Thai Turkey Burgers with Peanut Sauce
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients: 1 lb ground turkey breast; 1/2 cup shredded carrot (approx 1 medium carrot); 1/2 cup shredded zucchini (approx 1 medium zucchini); 1/4 cup chopped cilantro; 1/3 cup of a red onion, chopped finely; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes; pinch of pepper; 1 tbsp coconut oil (or a more neutral oil like grapeseed oil); 5 burger buns, for serving; optional: 5 large lettuce leaves, for serving; 1/4 cup smooth peanut butter; 1 tbsp rice vinegar; 1 tbsp tamari or soy sauce; 1 tsp sesame oil; 1 small garlic clove; 1/2 inch knob fresh ginger (roughly size of your thumbnail)

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These Thai Turkey Burgers made with freshly ground turkey, a mix of veggies and a red pepper kick are topped with a delicious and zesty peanut sauce the whole family will love!

Fun fact: I don’t like beef burgers! I know, I know! I’m weird. Actually, I’m less weird now that people are eating less meat but as a kid people looked at me like I had 3 heads when I told them I didn’t eat burgers (or red meat for that matter). As a kid it was a texture thing, as an adult it’s more of a preference thing.

It’s never really been much of an issue except when I was a kid and it was burger night and my poor parents had to go out of their way to make me a turkey burger because I refused to eat beef. And when you’re feeding 4 kids, each kid can’t really have their own preferences or dinner would be a bit of a nightmare. Thankfully that was my only weird food habit (besides frozen peas) so they obliged by making me a turkey burger instead of a beef burger.

These days I will eat a regular burger only if it’s the BEST thing on the menu (I’ve had a couple standout burgers in my day) but for the most part I’d rather have a turkey burger. And these Thai Turkey Burgers are no exception!

Thai Turkey Burger Ingredients

Ground turkey breast
Shredded carrot
Shredded zucchini
Cilantro
Red onion
Red pepper flakes
Salt and pepper

Must Make: Peanut Sauce

Let’s be real, the star of this recipe is the peanut sauce! If you’re making the Thai turkey burgers, promise me you’ll top them with this peanut sauce. I’m willing to bet, you’ll want this peanut sauce on everything…

Smooth peanut butter
Rice vinegar
Tamari or soy sauce
Garlic clove
Sesame oil
Fresh ginger

How to Make Thai Turkey Burgers with Peanut Sauce

STEP 1: Mix all of the sauce ingredients together in a blender until smooth. If you don’t have a blender, finely mince your garlic + ginger and combine in a bowl. Set side.

STEP 2: Add the ground turkey breast, shredded carrot, shredded zucchini, cilantro, red onion, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper to a large bowl. Wet hands slightly and form mixture into 5 patties using your hands.

STEP 3: Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-low heat with a teaspoon of coconut oil or a neutral oil like grapeseed oil. Cook the patties about 3-5 minutes per side, making sure they don’t burn.

STEP 4: Toast your burger buns, if desired and top with lettuce, patties and a drizzle of peanut sauce.

What to Eat with Turkey Burgers

I may or may not have eaten these for two days straight when I first came up with the recipe. I love how versatile they are! Eat them on a bun, over greens, in a wrap… the options are endless. As far as sides go, I love them with any of these options:

Prepping and Storing

These burgers are amazing for meal prep! After cooking, let them cool slightly before storing in an airtight container. They will last up to 5 days in the fridge or up to 1 month in the freezer.