Spice up your burger game with these flavorful, juicy Thai-style turkey burgers seasoned with a super yummy peanut sauce and topped with a crunchy slaw and toasted cashews.
Thai-Style Turkey Burgers
I get it. Most turkey burgers are super dry and bland. But not these! This version elevates lean turkey meat with a sweet, tangy, and slightly spicy peanut sauce.
The sauce has Thai-inspired flavors, including sweet chili sauce, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, lime juice, soy sauce, and peanut butter. It tastes similar to the one used in my turkey meatball banh mi sandwiches. And it’s so good!
And a bonus? These tasty burgers are also super easy to make! Yep, you can easily throw them together on a busy weeknight (or lazy weekend night), especially if you use pre-chopped coleslaw and/or shredded carrots.
Plus, you can also prep the burgers, sauce, and the (undressed) slaw ahead of time. When you’re ready to eat, just toast the buns and dress the slaw and you’re all set. So easy!
Tips for Making Turkey Burgers {That Don’t Suck}
Here are a few tips for making these burgers.
- HOW TO COOK: The burgers are pretty wet and would likely fall apart on the barbecue. Use a stove-top grill pan or skillet instead.
- AIR FRYER OPTION: You can also make these turkey burgers in an air fryer! To make, spray your air fryer grill with some cooking spray and then pre-heat to 380 degrees F. Once ready, add the patties making sure they aren’t touching. Then cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping after 6 minutes. The air-fried turkey burgers will be done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. If your patty is thicker, you may need to cook for a few more minutes.
- SAVE TIME WITH PRE-CHOPPED CABBAGE & CARROTS: To save time and effort, I used store-bought, pre-chopped coleslaw mix for this recipe. The same goes for the carrots. I used pre-grated carrots for this recipe.
- HOW TO SERVE: I served the burgers on a toasted brioche bun with a side of sweet potato fries. But they would also go great with a green salad or watermelon and feta cheese salad.
- SUB FOR CILANTRO: Hate cilantro? Leave it out. Add some Italian parsley instead if you want.
If you’re looking for more fast and easy dishes, try these!
The Tastiest Pulled Pork Carnitas Tacos
10-Minute Chicken and Quinoa Salad
Passion Fruit Vodka Porn Star Martini Cocktail
Summer Sweet Corn and Pancetta Pasta
Quick & Easy Sheet Pan Veggie Gnocchi
Yummiest Cherry Almond Ricotta Cake
Print
Thai-Style Turkey Burgers with Crunchy Slaw
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 burgers 1x
Description
These moist and flavorful turkey burgers are made with Thai-inspired special sauce and topped with fresh, crunchy slaw and toasted cashews.
Ingredients
For the Burgers:
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 2 green onions (green parts only), thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup shredded carrots, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 4 burger buns, toasted
For the Sauce:
- 1/2 cup sweet chili sauce
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup canned coconut milk
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 garlic cloves, pressed or finely minced
- 1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter (or nut butter of your choice)
- 1 tablespoon of freshly grated ginger
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice (about 1 lime)
- 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce
For the Slaw:
- 2 cups chopped cabbage (or coleslaw mix)
- 3/4 cup shredded carrots
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped (optional)
- 1/2 cup chopped toasted cashews
Instructions
- THE SAUCE: In a small saucepan, combine all the ingredients together for the sauce including the sweet chili sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, coconut milk, garlic cloves, peanut butter, ginger, lime juice, and soy sauce. Whisk until combined and fairly smooth. Place on the stovetop and bring to a boil, then immediately reduce to a simmer and cook for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened. Set aside.
- BURGER PATTIES: In a large bowl, combine the ground turkey with the salt, pepper, sliced green onions, chopped shredded carrots, and about 1/4 cup of the prepared (and slightly cooled) sauce. Mix until just combined (I used my hands!). Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large nonstick skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Then add the patties to the skillet or grill pan (the patties will be fairly moist, so I used a spatula to transfer them to the skillet). Cook about 4-5 minutes on each side or until the burgers are cooked through and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
- THE SLAW: Mix together the cabbage, carrots, cilantro (if using), and cashews. Add 3-4 tablespoons of the sauce and toss well to coat. Add additional sauce, if needed.
- SERVE: Place each burger on a toasted bun and top with slaw. Serve with sweet potatoes fries and/or a salad.
Notes
- AIR FRYER OPTION: You can also make these turkey burgers in an air fryer! To make, spray your air fryer grill with some cooking spray and then pre-heat to 380 degrees F. Once ready, add the patties making sure they aren’t touching. Then cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping after 6 minutes. The air-fried turkey burgers will be done when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. If your patty is thicker, you may need to cook for a few more minutes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Stovetop
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 424
- Sugar: 19.1 g
- Sodium: 1011.1 mg
- Fat: 16.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 4.1 g
- Protein: 28.6 g
- Cholesterol: 84.1 mg