These Thai Turkey Burgers topped with a crisp and creamy slaw stuffed between a well-toasted bun may be one of the best burger experiences you’ll ever have. They’re loaded with fresh and bright flavors, healthy, delicious, and quick and easy to make.
Cook these Asian turkey burgers any way you’d like — on the stove, in the oven, on the grill, or in the air fryer! This perfect weeknight meal has is so convenient.
Why You'll Love Thai Turkey Burgers
- They’re unique and delicious. Turkey is a healthy alternative to Classic Beef Hamburgers, but they can start to get boring after a while. By adding Thai flavors to these turkey burgers, you can make something unique that is healthy, tasty, and different.
- The flavorful patties. These Thai turkey burger patties are full of aromatic ingredients that create an Asian turkey burger like no other. Red curry paste and fish sauce add a hint of spice and umami to the fresh flavors of onion, ginger, and basil. Balance is key, and these Thai turkey burger patties have nailed it.
- The saucy slaw. In the coleslaw, you’ll find cabbage and carrots smothered in a creamy and tangy sauce of mayo, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. The slaw is the perfect companion to these Thai turkey burgers because it softens the bright flavors in the burger patties and adds some sauciness to them.
Ingredient Notes
To make these delicious Thai Turkey Burgers, you will need the following ingredients (full measurements in recipe card below):
- ground turkey - you can also substitute the ground turkey with ground chicken or pork.
- shallot - or substitute with red onion.
- breadcrumbs - helps to make the cooked turkey patties lighter and more tender.
- ginger
- red curry paste
- fish sauce
- basil - I recommend using fresh basil and not dried. Fresh basil compliments the other fresh Thai flavors so well.
- salt and pepper
- coleslaw - made easy with shredded cabbage, carrots, mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
- vegetable oil - if pan frying the turkey patties.
- hamburger buns - try making homemade hamburger buns or use store-bought buns.
You will also need measuring cups and spoons, and a mixing bowl.
How to Make the Best Thai Turkey Burgers
First, make the turkey patties.
- Marinate the ground turkey. In a large mixing bowl, combine ground turkey with onion, breadcrumbs, red curry paste, fish sauce, basil, ginger, salt, and pepper. Mix well until evenly combined. Set aside for at least 15 minutes or refrigerate overnight to allow the flavors to infuse into the meat.
- Shape the patties. Divide the turkey mixture in 4 and use your hands to shape into 4 large patties (each about ½ cup of the mixture).
Next, cook the patties.
Cook the patties on a skillet, in the oven, on the grill, or in the air fryer.
- To pan fry: Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat until sizzling hot, about 2 minutes. Place patties on the skillet and cook until nicely browned and firm, about 5 minutes per side. The internal temperature for the turkey should reach 165F as read on a meat thermometer.
- To bake: Add patties to a large parchment lined half sheet baking pan and bake in a 375F preheated oven for 15 minutes until nicely browned, flipping once.
- To grill: Preheat the grill on medium-high until hot. Brush some oil onto the grilling grate and place patties on top. Brush some more oil on top of the patties as well. Cook for 4-5 minutes and then carefully flip over and cook on the other side.
- To air fry: Add patties in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook at 375F for 12-15 minutes until nicely browned. Flip once halfway through cooking. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may have to cook in batches.
Assemble the Asian turkey burgers.
- Make the slaw. In a medium mixing bowl, combine shredded cabbage, carrot, mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Stir well until evenly combined.
- Toast the buns. Slice the hamburger buns and toast them on the grill or in the frying pan, if desired.
- Assemble the burgers. Place the turkey patties on the bottom half of the bun and top with coleslaw. Place top bun on top and serve immediately.
How to Serve
Thai Turkey Burgers are delicious and filling on their own. But you can add some sides for a complete meal, such as:
- Air Fryer French Fries
- Thai Mango Salad
- Grilled Corn on the Cob
- Zucchini Fritters
- Classic Coleslaw
- Baked Sweet Potato Wedges
Make Ahead and Storing Instructions
- Make ahead instructions: To prep burgers ahead of time and still enjoy them fresh, you can store the raw patties for up to 2 days. I recommend storing them in an airtight container, stacked on top of each other, with parchment paper in between to keep them separated.
- How to freeze: You can easily freeze uncooked Thai turkey burger patties for up to 3 months. Place them on a parchment lined baking tray and into the freezer for an hour. Then, stack them up and layer small squares of parchment paper in between. Tightly wrap the stack in plastic cling wrap and store in an airtight container or freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. To cook, first defrost overnight in the refrigerator, then follow recipe instructions.
- How to store: Store cooked turkey burgers and coleslaw in separate airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Store hamburger buns separately at room temperature, also in an airtight container or bag.
- How to reheat: To reheat cold cooked Thai turkey burgers, pre-heat your oven to 350F. Wrap the burgers in aluminum foil with a splash of water, loose enough to allow air to flow around the burger but also tight enough that the humid air will stay inside the foil wrap. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through.
More Ground Turkey Recipes
- Thai Turkey Meatballs in Coconut Curry
- Sweet Chili Turkey Meatballs
- Korean Ground Turkey
- Ground Turkey Pasta Bake
- Turkey Chili
- Mediterranean Turkey Burgers
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Recipe
Thai Turkey Burgers
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 patties
Description
These Thai Turkey Burgers topped with a crisp and creamy slaw are loaded with fresh and bright flavors, healthy and delicious, and quick and easy to make.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 small shallot (or red onion), diced or grated
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons red curry paste
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon ginger, freshly grated
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
For the slaw:
- 3 cups cabbage, shredded
- 1 medium carrot, julienned or shredded
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper (or to taste)
Other ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (if pan frying the patties)
- 4 hamburger buns
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ground turkey with onion, breadcrumbs, red curry paste, fish sauce, basil, ginger, salt, and pepper. Mix well until evenly combined. Set aside for at least 15 minutes or refrigerate overnight to allow the flavors to infuse into the meat.
- Divide the turkey mixture in 4 and use your hands to shape into 4 large patties (each about ½ cup of the mixture).
- Cook the patties ok a skillet, in the oven, on the grill, or in the air fryer.
- To pan fry: Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat until sizzling hot, about 2 minutes. Place patties on the skillet and cook until nicely browned and firm, about 5 minutes per side. The internal temperature for the turkey should reach 165F as read on a meat thermometer.
- To bake: Add patties to a large parchment lined half sheet baking pan and bake in a 375F preheated oven for 15 minutes until nicely browned, flipping once.
- To grill: Preheat the grill on medium-high until hot. Brush some oil onto the grilling grate and place patties on top. Brush some more oil on top of the patties as well. Cook for 4-5 minutes and then carefully flip over and cook on the other side.
- To air fry: Add patties in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook at 375F for 12-15 minutes until nicely browned. Flip once halfway through cooking. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may have to cook in batches.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine shredded cabbage, carrot, mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Stir well until evenly combined.
- Slice the hamburger buns and toast them on the grill or in the frying pan, if desired.
- Assemble the burgers. Place the turkey patties on the bottom half of the bun and top with coleslaw. Place top bun on top and serve immediately.
Notes
Make ahead instructions: To prep burgers ahead of time and still enjoy them fresh, you can store the raw patties for up to 2 days. I recommend storing them in an airtight container, stacked on top of each other, with parchment paper in between to keep them separated.
How to freeze: You can easily freeze uncooked Thai turkey burger patties for up to 3 months. Place them on a parchment lined baking tray and into the freezer for an hour. Then, stack them up and layer small squares of parchment paper in between. Tightly wrap the stack in plastic cling wrap and store in an airtight container or freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. To cook, first defrost overnight in the refrigerator, then follow recipe instructions.
How to store: Store cooked turkey burgers and coleslaw in separate airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Store hamburger buns separately at room temperature, also in an airtight container or bag.
How to reheat: To reheat cold cooked Thai turkey burgers, pre-heat your oven to 350F. Wrap the burgers in aluminum foil with a splash of water, loose enough to allow air to flow around the burger but also tight enough that the humid air will stay inside the foil wrap. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Turkey
- Method: Grill
- Cuisine: Thai
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Lori Fischer says
We really enjoyed this and will definitely make again. I will also add this to my recipes that I can prep ahead and throw in the freezer for busy nights. I threw some lime zest into the turkey burger and used a mixture of Thai chili paste and mayo for the sauce.