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Smoky BBQ Turkey Burgers

Smoky BBQ turkey burgers with juicy grilled patties and melted cheddar, finished with crispy fried onions and extra BBQ sauce. Seasoned ground turkey is mixed with smoky spices and grilled until cooked through for a classic summer burger-night texture.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Smoky BBQ turkey burger patties
  • 1.5 lb ground turkey
  • 0.3333333333 cup BBQ sauce
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Toppings and buns
  • 4 burger buns
  • 4 cheddar cheese sliced
  • 0.5 cup crispy fried onions
  • 1 Lettuce leaves
  • 1 Sliced tomatoes
  • 1 Extra BBQ sauce for serving

Method
 

Preheat and mix the turkey
  1. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat until hot, about 5–10 minutes, so the patties sear quickly.
  2. In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, BBQ sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, black pepper, and Worcestershire sauce.
  3. Mix gently until just combined, then stop as soon as the seasonings are evenly distributed to avoid tough burgers.
Form and grill
  1. Form the mixture into 4 burger patties of even thickness for consistent cooking.
  2. Grill the burgers for 5–6 minutes per side until cooked through, keeping the lid closed and looking for browned edges.
  3. During the final minute of grilling, place cheddar cheese on each burger and cook until melted, with the cheese starting to bubble.
Toast and assemble
  1. Toast the burger buns lightly on the grill until the cut sides are warmed and lightly marked.
  2. Assemble burgers with lettuce, tomato, the grilled turkey patty, crispy fried onions, and extra BBQ sauce.
  3. Serve immediately while the cheese is melted and the buns are warm.

Notes

For the juiciest texture, mix just until the turkey holds together, then form patties right away. Store leftover cooked burgers in the refrigerator up to 3 days; reheat gently so the cheese doesn’t toughen. Freezing is not recommended for best texture after thawing. For a lower-sodium swap, use reduced-sodium BBQ sauce and reduce added salt accordingly.