Welcome to the ultimate grilling experience with a recipe that promises to elevate your burger game: our succulent Pesto and Sun Dried Tomato Turkey Burgers. As the grilling season warms up, there’s no better time to fire up the grill and savor a burger that’s bursting with vibrant flavors. These aren’t just any turkey burgers; they’re a carefully crafted culinary delight, blending savory sun-dried tomatoes, aromatic fresh basil, and zesty garlic into lean ground turkey. Topped with a creamy pesto mayonnaise and slices of melting fresh mozzarella, each bite offers a symphony of tastes and textures that will make your taste buds sing.
For those seeking a healthier yet equally satisfying alternative to traditional beef, turkey burgers are an excellent choice. Our recipe ensures that every patty is moist, flavorful, and anything but bland. The unique combination of Mediterranean-inspired ingredients transforms simple ground turkey into a gourmet masterpiece. Imagine the rich, concentrated sweetness of sun-dried tomatoes perfectly complementing the bright, peppery notes of fresh basil and the pungent kick of garlic. It’s a harmonious blend that captures the essence of summer in every bite.
Looking for more innovative burger ideas to impress your guests this grilling season? Don’t miss out on these fantastic Peppercorn Blue Cheese Burgers with Cherry Sauce, another incredible option for your next cookout.
May often feels like a whirlwind of activity, marking a season of celebration and anticipation. For our family, it’s particularly busy, packed with joyous occasions that truly make the month unforgettable. My husband’s birthday kicks off the festivities, followed closely by the highly anticipated end of the school year. Adding to the excitement, both of my children celebrate their birthdays in May – a coincidence we certainly didn’t plan, but one that always brings a special kind of magic to our household. In fact, I had originally scheduled my daughter’s birth for June 1st, hoping to give her a unique day separate from her brother’s. However, fate had other plans, and she decided to arrive on the same special day!
While sharing a birthday might seem challenging, we’ve found wonderful ways to ensure each child feels incredibly special and celebrated. Our tradition involves two distinct birthday dinners, with each child choosing their favorite meal. We also plan a fun activity for each, selected entirely by them, ensuring their individual preferences shine. It’s crucial for us to acknowledge that they didn’t choose to share their birth date, so making them feel equally cherished and unique is a top priority.
This year, our May celebrations were nothing short of epic. We hosted a fantastic birthday party on Saturday, followed by a beloved “Sunday Funday,” and then their official birthday celebration on Monday. For our special “Sunday Funday,” these Pesto and Sun Dried Tomato Turkey Burgers were the star, perfectly complemented by a spread of other delectable dishes. We paired them with a hearty Everything but the Kitchen Sink Pasta Salad, a refreshing Key Lime Fruit Dip, and a vibrant Tropical Orange Mango Sangria. This combination created a truly memorable feast, allowing us to spend quality time together, savoring delicious food and making cherished memories.
My passion for burgers runs deep; I truly believe there’s a burger for every occasion and every craving. Whether it’s classic beef, flavorful turkey, hearty veggie, or savory black bean, I embrace them all with enthusiasm. My philosophy is simple: when it comes to burgers and their toppings, I want it all! This unwavering love for burgers meant I couldn’t miss out on Burger Month, a celebration dedicated to this iconic dish.
Having recently crafted the delicious Peppercorn Blue Cheese Burgers with Cherry Sauce for #BBQWeek, I was eager to explore new horizons and experiment with a different protein. This led me to choose ground turkey for my Burger Month creation. My inspiration for these Pesto and Sun Dried Tomato Turkey Burgers came from adapting a beloved recipe, my Strawberry Basil Bleu Burgers. Instead of beef, I opted for lean ground turkey and introduced the rich, savory depth of sun-dried tomatoes. This simple swap transformed the flavor profile, creating a lighter yet incredibly satisfying burger that’s bursting with fresh, vibrant tastes.
Achieving the Perfect Turkey Burger: Uniformity is Key
One of my top tips for making consistently excellent burgers, especially with ground turkey, is to ensure uniformity in patty size and thickness. To achieve this, I always weigh my patties and use a burger press. This simple step guarantees that all burgers are the same size, which is crucial for even cooking. Nobody wants a burger that’s overcooked on one side and undercooked on the other, or one that bulges in the middle, resembling an unfortunate hockey puck. Uniform patties cook simultaneously and maintain their shape, resulting in a beautifully cooked burger every time.
The secret weapon for these Pesto and Sun Dried Tomato Turkey Burgers is undoubtedly the decadent pesto mayonnaise. While a good quality store-bought pesto works wonderfully in a pinch, if you have the time, homemade pesto will elevate this sauce to an even higher level of deliciousness. This creamy, herbaceous spread adds an incredible burst of flavor that perfectly complements the turkey patties.
I generously smear this luscious pesto mayonnaise on both the top and bottom halves of the bun, because frankly, it’s just that amazing. Each turkey patty is then nestled onto the bun, crowned with a slice of fresh mozzarella that melts into gooey perfection during the final moments of cooking. The combination of the juicy turkey, tangy sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil, creamy pesto mayo, and warm, melted mozzarella creates a flavor experience that is simply irresistible.
These Pesto and Sun Dried Tomato Turkey Burgers are a fresh, winning combo!
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Pesto and Sun Dried Tomato Turkey Burgers
Prep
Cook
Total
Author Megan | Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
Yield 4 servings
Ground turkey is mixed with delicious sun dried tomatoes, herbs and seasoning and then placed on top of a bun with pesto mayonnaise and fresh mozzarella to bring these Pesto and Sun Dried Tomato Turkey Burgers to life!
Ingredients
Pesto Mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons pesto, store-bought or homemade
For the Burgers
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon basil, chopped
- 1 tablespoon sun dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 4 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced into 4 slices
- Handful of arugula or leafy green of choice.
- Burger buns of choice (I used kaiser rolls)
Instructions
Pesto Mayonnaise
- Combine mayonnaise and pesto into a small bowl and set aside.
For the Burgers
- Place ground turkey, garlic, basil, sun dried tomatoes, salt and pepper into a bowl and mix to combine, careful not to over mix.
- Form into 4 equal patties and place onto grill or grill pan and cook for 5 minutes, per side. Place a slice of mozzarella cheese onto each patty the last minute of cooking so it melts.
- Spread pesto mayonnaise onto the bottom of each bun, top with a handful of arugula and place turkey burger on top. Spread additional pesto mayonnaise on top of bun and place onto burger.
Courses Burgers
Cuisine American
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 4 servings
Amount Per Serving | ||
|---|---|---|
Calories 391 | ||
% Daily Value | ||
Total Fat 28 g | 43% | |
Saturated Fat 9 g | 45% | |
Cholesterol 104 mg | 35% | |
Sodium 331 mg | 14% | |
Total Carbohydrates 9 g | 3% | |
Dietary Fiber 1 g | 4% | |
Sugars 1 g | ||
Protein 26 g | 52% | |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
To perfectly complement these flavorful burgers, I have to share a game-changing discovery: Red Duck Smoky Ketchup. This ketchup is truly life-changing and took our meal to an entirely new level. As a proud sponsor of Burger Month, Red Duck generously sent us bottles of their smoky and curry varieties. Let me tell you, the smoky ketchup is simply phenomenal. Its deep, rich, and complex flavor profile harmonizes beautifully with the vibrant notes of the Pesto and Sun Dried Tomato Turkey Burgers. If you’re looking to elevate your burger experience, I highly recommend getting your hands on some of this ketchup – it’s that good!
The weather doesn’t always cooperate with our grilling plans, but that doesn’t mean we have to miss out on delicious, perfectly grilled burgers. For these Pesto and Sun Dried Tomato Turkey Burgers, I relied on my trusty Anolon grilling pan. On a day when the rain was pouring outside, this pan truly saved the day, allowing us to enjoy that satisfying grilled flavor indoors. I cannot speak highly enough about this grill pan; it is, without a doubt, my favorite to date. If you’re in the market for a high-quality indoor grill pan that delivers exceptional results, I wholeheartedly recommend the Anolon. It’s a fantastic investment for year-round grilling, making it easy to whip up these flavorful turkey burgers no matter the forecast.
Another staple in our kitchen, and a key player in many of my recipes, is Cabot cheese. While I didn’t use it directly in these specific turkey burger patties, Cabot sent another delivery of their fantastic cracker-cut cheeses, which are pure genius for snacking. We’ve been happily enjoying them all week long! I frequently incorporate Cabot cheese into my cooking, as seen in recent creations like my Breakfast Macaroni and Cheese and Everything Bagel Breakfast Pockets for #Brunchweek. It’s a family favorite and truly the only cheese you’ll consistently find in our household, a testament to its quality and delicious flavor.
Finally, for effortless prep work, I used Microplane’s herb chopper. This handy tool made mincing fresh basil and sun-dried tomatoes an absolute breeze, significantly speeding up the preparation process. The precision and ease of use are remarkable, and it’s super easy to clean, which is always a bonus in a busy kitchen. Tools like this ensure that incorporating fresh, vibrant ingredients into your cooking is simple and enjoyable.
My heartfelt thanks go out to all the incredible sponsors who supported Burger Month. Their amazing products, from premium cookware to delicious condiments and essential kitchen tools, not only aided in the creation of this recipe but continue to be invaluable additions to my kitchen. I’m truly grateful for their contributions, and I’ll be using these high-quality items time and time again to craft more delicious meals.
I sincerely hope you’re embracing this grilling season to its fullest, enjoying outdoor cooking and creating memorable meals with family and friends. If you haven’t already, now is the perfect time to get out there and whip up some delicious burgers. And for even more excitement, be sure to enter the epic Burger Month giveaway for a chance to win some fantastic prizes that will equip your kitchen for countless culinary adventures! It’s the perfect opportunity to enhance your cooking arsenal and bring more joy to your table.
Big thanks to the #BurgerMonth sponsors: American Lamb Board, Anolon, Cabot Cheese, Crow Canyon Home, Melissa’s Produce, Microplane, New York Beef Council, Red Duck, Spiceologist, Veal Made Easy, and Weber Grills.
Be sure to check out burgermonth.com to discover even more mouth-watering, epic burger creations from talented chefs and home cooks!
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