Baked BBQ Turkey Burgers

BBQ Baked Turkey Burgers are a delicious anytime weeknight dinner or main dish for a summer barbecue. Top them with your favorite slaw or pickles and serve on a big fluffy bun, alongside your favorite barbecue side dishes. 

2023 Update: This recipe was originally shared in June 2013. I have updated the recipe to make several (instead of one.) It also now includes measurements by weight. The post has been updated to include new photos, as well as more tips and tricks. I hope you love these burgers!

Summertime… it’s almost here.

While I don’t look forward to the sweltering days this Texas summer will no doubt bring, I’m thrilled that it’s the time of the year where I can step outside and be engulfed by the smell of a grill firing up and cooking all kinds of delightful meats and veggies. 

I’m also thrilled that it’s now acceptable to hang out outdoors for unspecified amounts of time, sipping your summer drink of choice (hello, lemonade) as you hear the ice clinking against the side of your glass.

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It’s a fabulous time of year, and this recipe fits right in for the summertime. It combines two of my favorite things: barbecue and burgers.

A great thing about these burgers is that they’re made in the oven. I can understand wanting to grill them, but the burgers are so sticky that they will fall apart and stick to the grill. 

I don’t mind that they’re made in the oven, though, and this is one of my favorite ways to get these flavors. That makes them great for rainy days, busy evenings and winter nights when I crave summer barbecue. 

Honestly, this is the best burger recipe that’s NOT made on the grill.

Why I love this recipe:

If you’ve never had a BBQ baked turkey burger, you are going to love this recipe! 

Truly, this is the PERFECT burger recipe because this recipe makes for an incredibly juicy burger. (No dry burgers here!)

Here are some more reasons I love ’em:

• This BBQ burger recipe is a great, easy weeknight dinner made right in the oven. 
• They have incredible flavor but require minimal ingredients.
• It is also perfect for warm weather entertaining and backyard BBQs. Everyone loves a burger. 
• You can make a batch of these ahead of time and pop them in the fridge (or freezer) and then bake them off, so they’re a great choice for parties. 
• These juicy burgers are truly the best BBQ burgers around!

More burger recipes to try: Pan Fried Skillet Hamburgers | Classic Salmon Burgers | Cajun Turkey Burgers | Juicy Lucy Burgers

What you need to make this recipe:

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• Baking sheet or rimmed sheet pan
• Parchment paper
• Large mixing bowl
• Food-safe gloves
• Tongs and/or a spatula 
• Meat thermometer

Here are the simple ingredients you’ll need:

• Lean ground turkey breast — I recommend getting a leaner meat for these. You can also use frozen protein that’s been fully thawed. 
• Barbecue sauce — use your favorite BBQ sauce here or make your own. This homemade barbecue sauce is my fave and makes for the most flavorful burger.
• Dry rub for barbecue — I like to make my own Memphis-style BBQ rub but you can also find dry rubs in the spice aisle of your grocery store. 
• Salt and pepper — Kosher or sea salt plus freshly-cracked black pepper will send these over the top. 
• Hamburger buns — get your favorite or use the best you can afford. Brioche hamburger buns are delicious. Gluten-free buns work, too. And I won’t judge you if you want to skip the bun and enjoy this burger over a salad or as a lettuce wrap. (Though it’s a little messy!)

If you don’t want to use turkey, you can swap it with ground chuck or a lean ground beef and follow the same method. I still recommend baking the burgers instead of throwing them on a grill, since the barbecue sauce makes these burgers sticky.

BBQ Turkey Burger Toppings

If you’re serving barbecue burgers, you’re going to need lots of toppings. Take it from a Memphis girl who now lives in Texas. 

Here’s are some favorite burger toppings I suggest adding to your juicy burger:

• BBQ sauce: A classic sauce is always good, or you can try different flavors like pumpkin barbecue sauce. 
• Pickles: Use your favorite here, or skip if you’re not a pickle person. Dill pickles, bread and butter pickles or even fried pickles are all worth trying. 
• Melted cheese: These are burgers, so it’s okay to use burger toppings. A slice of cheddar cheese is classic, or go for American, pepper jack, monterey jack, goat cheese, white cheddar, blue cheese or whatever your favorite is. 
• Crispy onion strings: You could also use baked onion rings on the burgers, too.
• Lettuce: A leaf of butter lettuce or iceberg lettuce will work well here. 
• Tomatoes: Highly recommend homegrown or farmers market tomatoes! Otherwise a slice of roma or beefsteak tomato works well. 
• Onions: Go for slices of white onion or red onion, or step it up a notch with pickled onions, fried onion straws or caramelized onions. 
• Ranch: If you like ranch on your burgers, these would be great with homemade ranch dressing. 
• Condiments, like mustard and ketchup

How to make the best Turkey Burger recipe

These burgers are super simple to put together. 

Let’s take it step by step together: 

First, preheat the oven to 425°F. We are not going to grill turkey burgers, so plan accordingly!

Line a baking sheet with parchment and set aside.

Get out a large bowl. Add the ground turkey along with the BBQ sauce, BBQ dry rub, salt and pepper. Mix them well with your hands. (You might want to use food-safe gloves!)

Shape the mixture into big burger patties and place them on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer.

Use your thumb or a spoon to make a shallow depression in each to prevent the turkey patties from ballooning as they cook.

Bake turkey burgers for 20 minutes or until the burgers are cooked through. (Their internal temperature should reach 165°F.)

Serve on top of a toasted bun with your favorite toppings and enjoy!

One thing to note about size: These burgers are pretty thick. We chose to make ‘em big for our family.

However, you can easily make smaller portions (like sliders, even) if that suits you and your crowd better. But keep in mind that they will cook faster if they’re thinner and smaller, too.

How to store and freeze

There are a few ways to store these burger patties:

• Uncooked, in the fridge: Make these burgers ahead of time and stash them in the fridge until you’re ready to bake them. Don’t assemble them more than a day ahead, though. 
• Cooked, in the fridge: Store cooled, cooked burgers in a food-safe, airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat them in the oven at 250°F for about 15 minutes. 
• Uncooked or uncooked, in the freezer: If the meat has never been frozen, you can stash these in the freezer to make in the future. Flash freeze them on a baking sheet, then add them to a freezer-safe bag or container. For best results, thaw them the night before you plan to make them, then cook (or reheat) as directed. If you cook from frozen, they will need to cook longer, about X minutes.

What to serve with barbecue burgers

Whether you are serving these at a potluck or having a weeknight dinner at home, you’re going to want some classic burger sides.

Consider a cold salad like potato salad or pasta salad on the side, or even a colorful fruit salad.

Coleslaw is a classic for anything barbecue. You could also make baked beans and mac ‘n cheese. 

Or you could go true burger night and have a side of garlic fries, classic french fries and ketchup. 

For a healthier option, go for sweet potato fries or zucchini fries. 

And don’t forget the sweet stuff! For dessert, go for a no-bake dessert, like funfetti ice cream sandwiches, berry yogurt popsicles or a big tray of rice krispie treats.

Erin’s Easy Entertaining Tips

There’s nothing like a great burger and sharing it with friends! 

This is an easy recipe to make for entertaining because burgers are pretty darn simple to make and share.

• Batch-make these ahead of time and pop them in the fridge (or freezer) so they are ready to bake when guests arrive.
• Set up a station with all the toppings for people to build their own burger. 
• Make them bigger or smaller depending on your crowd. You can easily double or triple the batch, but you may need to bake them in batches. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick tips and tricks to making the best baked turkey burgers

• Don’t be tempted to grill them. The homemade turkey burgers are pretty sticky, so they will stick to the grill and fall apart.
• Always use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature is 165°F (74°C). 
• Adjust the cooking time for the burger size. Thinner ones won’t need as much time, but larger ones will need more time. Use the meat thermometer as your guide. 

More cookout recipes:

• No Mayo Potato Salad
• Instant Pot BBQ Baked Beans
• Spinach and Feta Burgers
• No Churn Fudge Brownie Ice Cream

Here’s how we make these…