Recipe for turkey burgers with chipotle ketchup {gluten-free}
Truth be told, I love a good hamburger with drippy cheese, oozing and dribbling down my chin. Turkey burgers don't ooze, and that's something I've learned to accept when I opt for healthy eating. However, this chipotle ketchup can drip and dribble with the best. The smoky chipotle flavor here is quite mild, as the recipe calls for the adobo sauce but not the actual chile peppers. If you like your sauces hot, add a bit of chopped chipotle chile (with or without seeds) right into the ketchup mixture. Greek yogurt keeps the burgers moist, so they can cook through without drying out. It's the same trick I use when I make turkey meatballs, and it works every time. You can make the ketchup ahead, even a couple of weeks ahead, and store it in the refrigerator.
Turkey burgers with chipotle ketchup
From the pantry, you'll need: ground turkey, Greek yogurt, cumin, ketchup, chipotle peppers in adobo, honey, lime.
Serves 4; can be multiplied.
Ingredients
1 lb ground turkey (I use 93% fat-free)
;2 Tbsp plain nonfat Greek yogurt
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp fresh black pepper
Olive oil or cooking spray
1/4 cup ketchup
1-1/2 Tbsp adobo sauce from a can of chipotle chile peppers
1 Tbsp honey
Juice of 1/2 lime
Optional, for serving: 4 buns or rolls, crispy lettuce leaves
Directions
In a large mixing bowl, combine turkey, yogurt, cumin, salt and pepper. With your very clean hands, mix everything together until the ingredients are well incorporated. Divide into 4 patties, and set on a plate.
Refrigerate the burgers while you preheat a grill, panini press, stove-top griddle or broiler. If you're cooking your burgers under the broiler, line a rimmed pan with aluminum foil.
While the grill is preheating, stir together in a small bowl the ketchup, adobo sauce, honey and lime juice.
When the grill (broiler, etc.) is hot, brush lightly with olive oil (or spray a panini press with cooking spray), and cook the burgers for 7-8 minutes, turning once, until they are cooked through.
Serve hot, on a bun with lettuce and a big dollop of chipotle ketchup.
More recipes in The Perfect Pantry:
Chipotle turkey meatballs
Turkey, black bean and squash chili
Chipotle meatloaf
Turkey pesto meatball sliders
Greek turkey burgers with yogurt and feta sauce
Other recipes that use these pantry ingredients:
Chipotle turkey, black bean and corn soup, from Soup Chick
Chipotle chicken chili, from No Recipes
Turkey lettuce wrap tacos with chiles, cumin, cilantro, lime and tomato-avocado salsa, from Kalyn's Kitchen
Chipotle turkey pozole, from Simply Recipes
Chipotle turkey chili with butternut squash and Swiss chard, from We are not Martha
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I enjoy the flavour but not the heat myself, so this ketchup is something I would like to try.
Bellini, this ketchup might just be perfect for you. It's smoky, but not hot, unless you add some of the actual chipotle peppers.
I have stayed away from turkey burgers because I haven't been able to get them to be moist and flavorful. This looks worth a try. Thanks!
Donna, try adding some Greek yogurt to your turkey burgers. It's the trick I use for turkey meatballs, and it really does help keep them moist.
That looks delicious; love the idea of adding some Greek Yogurt to the mix.
Love that tip, going to try this!
Kalyn, Gina: yogurt is the key to turkey burgers that aren't dry. Try it, then slather those burgers with some of this chipotle ketchup. Oh boy!
That does it! - I was considering cheeseburgers on the grill tonight for dinner ( and fighting the urge to use up leftovers) and now I am going to have to have the burgers. (but beef because I can't my hubby to eat turkey burgers!)
Carol, the ketchup will be great on beef burgers, too! Hope your husband likes them.
I made turkey meatballs all the time, but never did turkey burgers and I was worried about dryness. I will give these a try with the yogurt. I know the ketchup is right up my alley.
Even though I love chipotle flavor, I have never tried it in ketchup. Now I must!
Love both the yogurt to add moistness to the turkey and the flavorful chipotle ketchup so no one will miss out on the fat.
Winnie, I use the same strategy with burgers as I use with turkey meatballs. Yogurt is the secret.
Donna, chipotle ketchup is my new addiction.
Jeanette, you're absolutely right that the intensity of the ketchup makes you forget you're eating a turkey burger!
Lydia,
Greek yogurt is the key you say? Intriguing. I'm now bouncing in a dozen different directions idea-wise (Thai? with pesto?) I'll rein in when I finally pick up a package of ground turkey.
Thanks!
Kirsten, search this site for turkey meatballs; I've made dozens of variations (including Thai and pesto)!
Looks great! I'm pinning this to the Iowa Turkey Federation's pinterest page (pinterest.com/iowaturkey) and will probably share it on facebook soon, too!