Turkey burgers have become a popular alternative to traditional beef burgers, and for good reason. These burgers offer a healthier option for those looking to enjoy a delicious burger without compromising their health goals.
One of the primary benefits of turkey burgers is their lower fat content. Turkey meat is leaner than beef, meaning it contains less fat and fewer calories. This makes turkey burgers a great option for those looking to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. A 3-ounce serving of turkey burger contains just 8 grams of fat, compared to the 20 grams found in the same-sized serving of beef.
Turkey burgers are also a great source of protein, which is essential for building and repairing muscles, bones, and other tissues. A 3-ounce serving of turkey burger contains about 22 grams of protein. In addition to being lower in fat and a good source of protein, turkey burgers also contain important vitamins and minerals. Turkey is an excellent source of niacin, which is important for the digestive system and the nervous system, and it also contains vitamin B6, which is important for brain function and the immune system. Turkey is also a good source of iron, which is essential for the production of red blood cells.
This recipe for turkey burgers is simple, can be quickly prepared, and is only 2 Weight Watcher points per burger.
Three reasons why you need to try these Weight Watchers Turkey Burgers.
It’s not a dry burger!
Finally, a turkey burger that isn’t dry. Turkey burgers are often known as being dry and tough to eat. And sometimes bland! This recipe uses a mixture of ground turkey and salsa so the burgers stay nice and moist.
The flavor is versatile.
Since turkey doesn’t have much flavor of it’s own, you can play around with different spices and herbs to come up with a new flavor each time you make this recipe. Spices and herbs are zero points, so changing the flavor won’t change the fact that they’re 2 point burgers. You could add in some sundried tomatoes and basil for an Italian flare or some jalapenos and light mexican shredded cheese for a southwest flavor.
It’s much healthier than a beef burger.
Ground turkey has less saturated fat (the bad fat) than ground beef. By switching your regular beef burger night to these turkey burgers, you’re lowering your risk of heart disease. Ground turkey has a good amount of polyunsaturated fat which can help lower LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol).
Ingredients you need to make Weight Watchers Turkey Burgers:
- 1 lb fat-free ground turkey (97%-99% lean)
- 1/2 cup salsa
- 1 ½ tsp chili powder
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup panko crumbs
- 2 oz (1/2 cup) reduced-fat shredded mozzarella
Instructions:
- In a bowl mix your ground turkey, panko, salsa, chili powder, salt and pepper together.
- Portion into 4 burgers then roll each section into a ball. Push a hole into the middle of the ball, add the cheese, then roll back into a ball. Pat the burger down until flat and in a burger shape.
- Cook on a grill until internal temp reaches 165 degrees. You can also cook in a skillet on the stove or in an oven at 400 degrees.
Makes 4 burgers. Nutrition info per burger: Calories 183, Fat 4g, Carbs 7g, Fiber 1.2g, Sugar 1.2g, Protein 29.9g.
WW Points
- Ground turkey 0 points
- Salsa 0 points
- Chili powder, salt and pepper 0 points
- Panko crumbs 3 points
- Reduced-fat shredded mozzarella 5 points
2 points per burger based on the WW app recipe creator.
If you’re using an older version of WW, check out these points below.
Personal Points- 1-3 depending on your 0PP foods
Freestyle Smart Points (Blue & Purple)- 1 using the WW recipe builder
Smart Points (Green) – 3 using an SP calculator
Points Plus- 4 using a PP calculator
Turkey Burger variations:
- Sliders: You can make these into 8 mini burgers and serve them on cucumber slices for a super low carb appetizer. Add a dollop of light mayo or fat free cream cheese for additional flavor.
- Summer Burgers: Use a mango salsa in the recipe, and add parsley and a squeeze of lime juice instead of the chili powder. You’ll be giving these turkey burgers a “mango chutney” type flavor. These will be perfect during the hot summer with an arugula salad.
- Mushroom Swiss Burgers: Instead of using a light mozzarella in the burger, find a light swiss cheese to add on top. Saute mushrooms to go with it as well and you have a classic mushroom swiss burger.
- Taco Burgers: Use 1 taco seasoning packet instead of the chili powder when making the burgers. Serve the burgers with large lettuce wraps for a low carb taco turkey burger wrap. You can even add a bit of non-fat greek yogurt as sour cream and some sauteed bell peppers and onions.
Tips and Tricks.
- If you don’t have a grill, the best way to cook the burgers is to sear both sides in a very hot cast iron skillet. Leave them about 3 minutes on each side. Then put the whole pan into a hot oven – heated to 400 degrees – for 5-8 minutes so the insides finish cooking.
- Don’t smash or squish the burgers while they’re cooking! They can puff up some, but if you smash them, you’re pushing all the moisture out. Instead, let them rest once they are done cooking so all the moisture stays in.
- You can freeze these raw or cooked. To freeze raw, separate each burger with a piece of parchment paper before putting into a zip loc bag. Take out however many burgers you need for dinner, and let thaw in fridge the day of before cooking. To freeze cooked burgers, make sure they’re fully cooled. Put in a zip loc bag and freeze. To reheat- cover the burger with a paper towel and microwave for 1-2 minutes.
Similar recipes you’ll enjoy:
If this post has you dreaming of grilling season, check these 25 amazing Blackstone Recipes, or these 25 Blackstone chicken recipes.
And if you want even more weight watchers recipes make sure to check out these 30 delicious weight watchers recipes.
Weight Watchers Turkey Burgers (Perfect for the Grill)
Ingredients
- 1 lb raw fat free ground turkey, *I can usually find extra lean, maybe 97%, I just go with it
- 1/2 cup salsa
- 1.5 tsp chili powder
- Dash salt & pepper
- 1/2 cup panko crumbs
- 2 oz about 1/2 cup reduced-fat shredded mozzarella, I used Trader Joe's
Instructions
- In a bowl mix your ground turkey, panko, salsa, chili powder and salt & pepper together.
- Portion into 4 burgers, roll into balls, scoop some out to add in your cheese, stuff cheese in and then roll back into ball and press into a burger.
- I cooked mine on the barbecue over medium heat for approx 25 minutes, turning a few times, they could also be cooked in a frying pan on the stove.
- Makes 4 burgers, burgers can be frozen either before cooked or after.
- *Note- My Panko was 3SP and my cheese 2SP, that is how I got 4SP, also WW says it needs to be 99% fat free turkey/chicken to be zero points, I can't always find 99%, I've chosen to just use what I can find (usually 97%) if you are 100% by the book then you can point out the meat if you can't find 99%, or make your own.. or do what I do and just use what you can find, I don't think 97% over 99% got me to WW in the first place..
Notes
My husband and I loved these turkey burgers!! I had mine with spicy ketchup and they were awesome! We plan on making these again now that grilling season is upon us!! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!