Description
Spicy meets classic with these jalapeño popper turkey burgers, blending creamy cheese and bold pepper heat into a mouthwatering patty. Grill masters and home cooks will savor this zesty twist on traditional burgers, creating a memorable meal that satisfies craving for exciting flavor combinations.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein and Cheese:
- 2 pounds ground turkey
- 3 ounces (85 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 3 ounces (85 grams) cheddar cheese, grated
- 6 cooked bacon slices
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons onion, finely minced
Binding and Additional Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup almond flour
- 1–2 jalapeno peppers, minced
- 1–2 tablespoons olive oil, for grilling
- Optional: lettuce wraps for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the spicy cream cheese filling by blending softened cream cheese with shredded cheddar, finely chopped jalapenos, and minced garlic in a mixing bowl. Set aside at room temperature.
- In a separate large mixing bowl, thoroughly combine ground turkey with almond flour, diced onion, salt, black pepper, and ground cumin until ingredients are evenly distributed.
- Create burger patties using either a burger press or manual technique: for press method, line with parchment paper, layer half the turkey mixture, add cheese filling, then cover with remaining turkey mixture. Ensure edges are completely sealed.
- For manual stuffing, create a shallow depression in turkey portions, carefully nestle cheese filling inside, then cover completely and pinch edges to prevent leakage.
- Heat grill to medium-high temperature, approximately 400-425°F. Lightly brush burger exteriors with olive oil to prevent sticking and enhance browning.
- Grill burgers for 7-8 minutes per side, monitoring internal temperature until it reaches 165°F for food safety. Check doneness with meat thermometer.
- Garnish finished burgers with crispy bacon strips and serve alongside fresh lettuce wraps or traditional hamburger buns according to preference.
Notes
- Customize Heat Control carefully remove seeds from jalapenos to reduce spiciness while maintaining flavor complexity.
- Moisture Management add a small amount of Greek yogurt or breadcrumbs to prevent turkey burgers from becoming dry during grilling.
- Dietary Adaptations substitute almond flour with gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed pork rinds for low-carb and keto-friendly options.
- Cheese Filling Stability refrigerate cream cheese mixture for 15 minutes before stuffing to help maintain structural integrity during cooking.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 448 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 560 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg