Grilled Bacon-Topped Turkey Patties on Sizzling Buns
Crack open a cold brew and buckle up, buddy! We're about to turn those boring, lean turkey burgers into a juicy, smoky, bacon-wrapped sensation that'll make you question why you ever touched a beef burger again. Get ready to slap these babies together with homemade hamburger buns, 'cause we're not playing around.
- Yield: 4 burgers, but who's counting?
- Difficulty: Easy peasy, even for a laid-back weekend cookout
- Total Time: 40 minutes, but you could probably doze off while waiting for the buns and still ace it
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 pounds of ground dark-meat turkey, the heartier, the better
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped red onion, because life's too short for dull onions
- 1/4 cup smoky BBQ sauce, plus more for serving, because sauce is life
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce, let's give the turkey a kick
- A pinch of salt and black pepper, just a dollop to amp up that flavor
- 6 slices thick-cut applewood-smoked bacon, halved to deliver double the bacon experience
- Vegetable oil, because the grill demands lubrication
- 4 slices cheddar cheese, because who doesn't love a bit of molten cheese goodness?
- 4 hamburger buns, preferably homemade (see Game Plan note for instructions), but store-bought ones can also do the trick
- Mayonnaise, because you know you need it
- Pickled jalapenos and/or sliced bread-and-butter pickles, for added zing
Instructions
- Mix the turkey, onion, BBQ sauce, and soy sauce in a medium bowl. Season with salt and black pepper, then get your hands dirty and form the mix into 4 equal portions. Don't forget to make a thumb hole in the center of each patty for even cooking!
- Fry that bacon to crispy perfection in a large skillet or frying pan, turning once like the posh animal it is, for about 10 minutes. Pat bacon on a paper towel-lined plate to soak up excess grease, then take a moment to appreciate its majesty.
- Heat up a grill pan or your outdoor grill to medium-high, around 375 to 425°F. Once it's hot, oil the grill pan's ridges or outdoor grill's grates using tongs and a few wadded-up paper towels dipped in vegetable oil. Alternatively, apply cooking spray directly to the surface.
- Cook the turkey patties without any assist, letting them sear on one side undisturbed for about 5 to 6 minutes. Flip those bad boys, close the grill (if it's the latter), and cook until they're cooked through and an instant-read thermometer registers 165°F, approximately 6 more minutes. Slap a slice or two of cheese on top of each patty during the last 4 minutes to let that cheesy dream come to life. When the cheese melts, remove the burgers from the heat and set them on a heated plate, wondering why you ever settled for beef.
- Split and toast the buns. Spread some mayonnaise on the bottom buns, add three bacon slices, then nestle a scrumptious turkey patty on top. Drizzle BBQ sauce onto each patty and add pickled jalapenos and/or pickle slices for an extra kick. Fold in that bun top, marveling at your creation, and chow down!
If bacon isn't your bag, feel free to leave it out – the flavor will still be there to console you. Don't have homemade buns? No biggie, head to the store and grab some pre-made ones. But for an earned badge of culinary triumph, master the art of homemade hamburger buns.
Enrichment Data:
If you're feeling particularly ambitious, try whipping up those homemade hamburger buns. These fluffy, golden beauties will make your BBQ Bacon Turkey Burgers shine. Follow these simple steps to create your own batch.
Ingredients
For the Homemade Hamburger Buns:
- ⅔ cup (150 g) whole milk
- ⅔ cup (150 g) water
- 3.5 cups (500 g) bread flour
- 2 teaspoons (10 g) sea salt
- 3.33 tablespoons (40 g) granulated sugar
- 1.17 tablespoons (10 g) dry instant yeast
- 1 egg
- 3.5 tablespoons (50 g) cold unsalted butter, cubed
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the milk, water, and yeast. Stir gently to dissolve the yeast, let it sit for 5 minutes.
- Add the flour, salt, sugar, and egg. Mix until a shaggy dough forms.
- Add the cubed butter and continue to mix until the dough comes together in a sticky ball.
- Knead the dough using a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment for 12-15 minutes or by hand for about 20 minutes until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and let it rise at room temperature for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Punch down the dough and divide it into 4 equal pieces for large buns or 6 smaller pieces for sliders.
- Roll each piece into a ball and then flatten it slightly into a disk. Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving about an inch between each bun.
- Proof again in a warm place for about 1.5 hours or until nearly doubled.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Brush the tops with egg wash and sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool on a wire rack.
Enjoy your BBQ Bacon Turkey Burgers with homemade hamburger buns that will steal the show at any gathering.
- The boring turkey burger recipe will be transformed into a 'uncategorized' bacon-wrapped sensation with the help of smoky BBQ sauce, soy sauce, and red onion, yielding 4 juicy burgers.
- The instructions for this easy peasy recipe can be followed by a casual weekend cookout, with a total time of 40 minutes.
- The burgers are accompanied by homemade hamburger buns, which, although optional, would elevate the dish to a new level if made according to the given recipe.
- The finished burgers are served with mayonnaise, pickled jalapenos, and sliced bread-and-butter pickles, making them a zesty treat that might leave beef burgers in the dust.
