If you read my post about my first experience at Chick-fil-A, then you know my love for their Southwest Chicken Salad. Through that post and through ordering more salads from Chick-fil-A, I converted my mom, sister, and boyfriend (Devin) into southwest salad lovers. As I was thinking about that, I wondered how I could convert Devin into a turkey burger lover and that’s when the Southwest Turkey Burger was born.
I LOVE turkey burgers. Whenever I go out to eat, the first thing I look for on the menu is the turkey burger. I always wondered how restaurants got their turkey burgers to be so mouth-watering and juicy. When my mom made them at home, they never tasted the same as they do in the restaurant. (Sorry, Mom!) So I made it my mission to make a mouth-watering and juicy turkey burger that will make beef lovers (a.k.a Devin) go back for seconds.
As I developed the recipe for the southwest turkey burger, I wanted to make sure there was enough flavor. Roasting the corn and jalapeno brings out so much more flavor than putting them in raw. Cumin also adds that flair that a southwest burger would need. The pepperjack cheese adds spiciness and my favorite component, the tortilla strips, were actually Devin’s idea! They add a crunch and saltiness that brings the burger to the next level.
I have to say that as far as turkey burgers in my house go, this was the best one I’ve ever had. My mom even said, “This is the best turkey burger I’ve ever had including from the restaurants!” So that was it! I had succeeded in making a mouth-watering and juicy turkey burger. But what about making beef lovers go back for seconds? Well… Devin LOVED the burger. In fact, he told his family about it the next day because he loved it so much, but then he said one more thing: “This is really good, but it would be better if it were beef.” I even put bacon on it just to make him happy!
You can’t win ‘em all, can you? Next time you’re in the mood for a turkey burger, try out this recipe and see if your family raves about it as much as mine has.
- 2 jalapenos Add more if you love spice.
- 1 ear of corn
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 pounds ground turkey
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1.5 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp chipotle powder
- 1 15 ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 15.5 ounce jar mild, medium, or spicy salsa I used medium, but get whatever heat level you like!
- 16 ounces plain Greek yogurt or sour cream I used all Greek yogurt, but you can replace it with all sour cream or do 8 ounces yogurt and 8 ounces sour cream.
- 12 hamburger buns
- 1 red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 tomatoes
- 1 small head of lettuce
- 4 ounce bag tortilla strips You can find these with the salad dressings in the store.
- pepperjack cheese
- Put your oven on high broil. Drizzle the ear of corn and the 2 jalapenos in oil, then place on a sheet pan under the broiler. Once the corn and peppers start to blister and blacken, rotate them until they are blistered all the way around. (Watch them carefully because they can burn in seconds.)
- Remove the corn and peppers from the oven. Once cool enough to handle, remove the corn from the cob and dice the jalapenos. It is up to you whether or not you want to keep the seeds in the jalapeno.
- Add the corn and jalapenos to a large bowl with the ground turkey, salt, pepper, chipotle, paprika, cumin, and beans. Use your *clean* hands and mix until combined.
- Heat a pan over medium high heat with the remaining olive oil. Once hot, take a tablespoon of your mixture and cook until done. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Once you are happy with your seasonings, form the mixture into 10-12 patties. Make your patties flat, wider than you need them to be, and push your thumb in the middle to make an indent. Burger patties tend to shrink while cooking.
- Sear your patties in the pan in batches, about 5 minutes on each side or until an internal temperature of 165 F is reached. If desired, you can cook your burger in the oven at 375 F for about 30 minutes or until fully cooked through.
- While your burgers are cooking, mix the salsa and the Greek yogurt or sour cream together. Set aside.
- Prep your toppings. Set aside.
- Toast your buns if desired. Then, top with sauce, the patty, pepperjack cheese, tomatoes, onions, and tortilla strips. Enjoy!
