This Teriyaki Turkey Burgers recipe is legit one of my favorite ways to eat turkey burgers! They’re made on the grill in minutes and loaded with fresh veggies and the most deliciously spicy yum yum sauce - making it the perfect sweet and spicy summer grilling recipe!
Table of Contents
What are Teriyaki Turkey Burgers?
These Teriyaki Turkey Burgers are the ultimate fusion of bold Japanese inspired flavors and timeless American classics.
The teriyaki marinade not only infuses the notoriously flavorless ground turkey with an enticing umami taste but it also creates a delightful caramelization on the burger itself.
The turkey burgers are nestled within soft, toasted Hawaiian buns, which mirrors the sweet and savory taste of the patty itself.
When it comes to the sauce, I'm using one of my favorite Japanese steakhouse sauces - aptly named - Yum Yum Sauce. It's a creamy, tangy, and slightly spicy, condiment that takes the flavor profile to new heights.
Whether enjoyed at a summer barbecue or as a weeknight treat, these Teriyaki Turkey Burgers with Yum Yum Sauce are a surefire way to please the whole fam!
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Ground Turkey Breast - You could also use ground chicken or beef.
- Sweet Onion - Shallots or red, yellow or white onion also works just fine.
- Teriyaki Sauce - I always use Bachan's Original Japanese BBQ Sauce because it's the best! Regular teriyaki sauce works just fine though, too.
- Ginger Paste - You could also finely grate or chop ginger.
- Garlic Powder - Regular garlic, as long as it's super, super, SUPER finely chopped, can also work.
- Hawaiian Hamburger Buns - I love how the sweet and savoriness of these buns works with the burgers but you could also use regular hamburger buns.
- Cucumber - This is a topping and can be swapped out for grilled pineapple, lettuce or tomato if you're more into that flavor profile.
- Pink Pickled Onions - I always have pink pickled onions in my fridge but if you don't feel like buying or making them, you can use fresh red onion.
- Cilantro - If you don't like cilantro, simply leave it off. There is no real sub for this herb.
- Yum Yum Sauce - I also ALWAYS have a squeeze bottle full of my yum yum sauce as it's one of my favorite sauces of all time. If you don't, you could easily swap it for a simple spicy mayo.
How to make them
Making teriyaki turkey burgers requires a little prep work but only minutes to cook. Here's how you'll want to do it.
First, we'll start by flavoring the ground turkey.
Place it in a large bowl and add grated onion, teriyaki sauce, ginger paste, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
Mix and form into 4 patties - denting the middle of each one to avoid the patties puffing up.
Once they're shaped, get your grill heated over high heat and add the turkey burgers.
Close the lid and let cook until the they stop sticking; about 2 minutes.
Carefully flip each one and add a splash more teriyaki sauce to each patty, brushing it on to help it even out and stick.
Cook for a few more minutes on the remaining side or until the internal temperature reaches 165F degrees.
And lastly, be sure to toast the buns right before the burgers are done cooking.
Remove everything from the heat and get ready to assemble the sandwiches.
Equally smear the bottom half of each of the toasted buns with yum yum sauce.
Then add your cooked turkey burger, salted cucumbers, pink pickled red onions, and cilantro.
Top each one with a little more yum yum sauce then close the sandwich up and enjoy!
What sides go with with Turkey Burgers?
I love pairing this sweet and savory burger with my Florida Cobb Salad this Easy Grinder Salad Recipe, or even burrata caprese salad.
As for sides, I recommend serving them with some of this perfect creamy pesto pasta, this Spinach Artichoke Diatalini Pasta Salad, or this southern pimento cheese potato salad!
For more tasty cheesy sandwich ideas, try my fav Ciabatta Caprese Sandwich, 1905 inspired viral chopped grinder sub or this Grilled Turkey Pastrami Sandwich.
Frequently asked questions
How do you store turkey burgers?
If you're looking to save some time, you can prep the meat and freeze them. To do so, first shape into 4 firmly packed 5-inch round patties. Place them on a plate or baking sheet and freeze them until firm, about 30 minutes, then wrap each burger in plastic; place all burgers in a resealable freezer bag, label, and date. Freeze up to 2 months.
Can I use store-bought teriyaki sauce for this recipe?
Absolutely! I'm absolutely obsessed with Bachan's Original Japanese BBQ Sauce... which is just a fancier name for teriyaki sauce. If you don't use this brand, just make sure to choose a high-quality brand with a balance of sweet and savory flavors.
Are turkey burgers healthier than chicken burgers?
Ground turkey is an excellent lean protein choice for your meals, and apparently it's slightly healthier than chicken burgers.
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Recipe
Teriyaki Turkey Burgers with Yum Yum Sauce
Ingredients
FOR THE PATTIES
- 1 lb Ground Turkey Breast
- ½ Sweet Onion grated
- 2 tablespoon Teriyaki Sauce
- ½ teaspoon Ginger Paste
- ¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- A Few Cracks of Fresh Pepper
FOR THE BURGER
- 4 buns Hawaiian Hamburger Buns
- 4 burger patties Cooked Teriyaki Turkey Burger Patties
- 16 slices Cucumber Slices salted
- 4 tablespoon Pink Pickled Onions
- 4 tablespoon Cilantro roughly chopped
- 8 tablespoon Yum Yum Sauce
Instructions
FOR THE PATTIES
- Place ground turkey in a large bowl and add onion, teriyaki sauce, ginger paste, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix and form into 4 patties - denting the middle of each one to avoid the patties puffing up.
- Get your grill heated over high heat and add the turkey burgers. Close the lid and let cook until for about 2 minutes or until they stop sticking. Carefully flip each one and add a splash more teriyaki sauce to each one, brushing it on to help it stick and caramelize.
- Cook for a few more minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165F degrees.
- As the burgers are finishing cooking, lightly toast the buns on the grill. Remove everything from the heat and assemble sandwiches.
FOR THE BURGER
- Equally smear the bottom half of each of the toasted buns with yum yum sauce. Add cooked turkey burger, salted cucumbers, pink pickled red onions, and cilantro. Top each one with a little more yum yum sauce then close the sandwich up and enjoy!
