Super Healthy Spinach Turkey Burger Recipe

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Make the juiciest homemade turkey burger packed with fresh spinach for a healthy, flavorful dinner. This easy turkey burger recipe is nutritious, delicious, and perfect for the whole family.

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Healthy Spinach Turkey Burger Recipe

Hey everyone! This spinach turkey burger is sure to be the juiciest turkey burger recipe you've ever had, and I really hope you give this a try to switch up your traditional burgers!

If you're looking for a super juicy and delicious turkey burger recipe then you've definitely come to the right place! Due to the leanness of this meat, turkey burgers are known for being extremely dry, but they don't have to be that way! By adding spinach to the patty, you're going to retain all those amazing juices that add so much flavor.

Not only does spinach make the burger juicy, but of course makes the burger very healthy! If you’re like me, you may not be the biggest spinach eater. The most I’ll consume spinach in one sitting is in the Indian Palak Paneer, which means “Indian cottage cheese cooked in spinach.” That may not sound very exciting, but if you’ve never had it before, then I hope you try that recipe! Now that is an excellent way to get in loads of servings of spinach, it’s vegetarian, and so easy to make!

But we’re here to talk about burgers! All you need to do is add some spinach to the meat, season with some cayenne pepper, and add in some minced garlic, olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. This patty is super easy to make! I’m going to be grilling my turkey burgers, but you can definitely pan-sear your patties!

Be sure to pair this amazing burger with a side of air fryer Cajun potato wedges! Have this at your next barbecue and they'll sure be a hit! Enjoy!

Why Make This Spinach Turkey Burger Recipe

I don’t see why you wouldn’t want to make these burgers! Let me give you a couple of reasons why you should for your next barbecue!

Easy to make
Healthy
Made with only a few ingredients
Yummy!
You can pair with your favourite toppings and sides!

Let’s get to cooking now!

Tips for Making Perfect Spinach Turkey Burgers

1. Be Generous with the Seasoning

Turkey is naturally a really bland meat and needs lots of help to warrant it’s several health benefits. Make sure to season the burgers well with salt, pepper and cayenne pepper for heat. Plus, the addition of garlic adds subtle, spicy flavors to really bring this burger to life.

2. Keep the Meat Moist

Being one of the leanest cuts of meat, turkey dries out incredibly fast. To help with this you can try adding extra moisture to the burgers in the form of condiments like mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, hot sauce. Or, instead try adding vegetables that hold lots of water, like finely chopped mushrooms, zucchini or spinach. This recipe uses loads of spinach and it makes the burgers so delicious.

3. Cook the Burgers Completely

Make sure to cook the patties completely, unlike beef, turkey is inedible if there is any pinkness in the meat. The best way to make sure of this would be to use your instincts and experience. The trick that I like to use is to gently poke the center of the patty. If I feel a slight spring back, I know it is ready - this spring back should feel exactly like the one you feel if you poke the tip of your nose.

A more scientific approach would be to use an Instant Read thermometer to measure the internal temperature at the thickest part of the meat. The meat thermometer should read at least 165 F to classify the meat as cooked.

How to Make the Best Healthy Spinach Turkey Burger Recipe

Add the spinach and garlic to the ground turkey in addition to salt, pepper and cayenne pepper. Mix well until combined and then form two large or four small patties with the mixture.

Ground turkey mixed with fresh spinach, minced garlic, and red cayenne pepper in a stainless steel bowl.

Ground turkey mixed with chopped spinach, garlic, and seasonings in a stainless steel bowl before forming into patties.

Ground turkey mixture with chopped spinach and garlic combined in a metal bowl, ready to form into patties.

Hand holding a cooked spinach turkey burger patty with melted cheese and green herb garnish.

Heat a grill pan on medium heat and add the olive oil once hot. A good way to check if the pan is hot is to sprinkle water on the pan, if the droplets dance around the pan before evaporating, the pan is ready. Place the patties on the hot grill and push gently against the centre of the patties to form an indent. This will help ensure your patties stay flat as they cook.

Grill pan with diagonal ridges on medium heat, ready for cooking spinach turkey burgers.

Spinach turkey burger patty with melted cheese on a grill pan, partially wrapped in parchment paper.

Two spinach turkey burger patties on a grill pan, one being flipped with a spatula.

After about 5 minutes, flip the patties, add the cheese slice, turn heat to low and cook the other side for 5-8 more minutes or until the meat is cooked through. Depending on their size, they should be cooked through.

Spinach turkey burger patty cooking on grill pan, topped with melted cheese and fresh spinach garnish.

Spinach turkey burger patties cooking on a grill pan, topped with fresh herbs.

Two spinach turkey burger patties cooking on a ridged grill pan with melted cheese on top.

Melted cheese slice being placed on a cooked spinach turkey burger patty on a grill pan.

Two spinach turkey burger patties on a grill pan, one topped with melted cheese, cooked to golden brown.

Spinach turkey burger patty with melted cheese on a grill pan, being flipped with a spatula.

While the patties finish cooking, toast your burger buns and prepare the burger toppings and assemble the burger lettuce, mayonnaise, tomatoes, and that lovely patty! Serve hot and enjoy!

Toppings, Serving and Storage

These spinach turkey burgers are endlessly customizable. Pile your toasted buns high with crisp lettuce, juicy tomato, and thinly sliced red onion, then add a smear of mayo, mustard, or your favourite sauce. Because the patties are bound by spinach rather than breadcrumbs, they are naturally gluten-free — just serve them on a gluten-free bun. Prefer a richer burger? The same method works with lean ground beef for a classic beef burger.

Cook the patties on the grill or in an oiled skillet over medium heat, and always cook turkey through to an internal temperature of 165°F. To get ahead, shape the patties and keep them in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook; leftovers store well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a skillet or the oven so the patty stays moist.

Two toasted burger buns on a white plate, golden brown with sesame seeds.

Two toasted burger buns dusted with powdered sugar on a light surface.

Spinach turkey burger with melted cheese, tomato slices, red onion rings, and lettuce on a toasted bun.

Two spinach turkey burgers topped with melted cheese and fresh greens on toasted buns, ready to serve.

Can You Make the Patties Ahead of Time?▼

Absolutely! The mince as well as the formed patties can be made well ahead of time. My personal favourite method is to form the patties and place the patties between two sheets of parchment paper. The parchment is cut to the size of the patties, then wrapped in saran wrap and frozen in a freezer safe bag.

The turkey will last in the fridge for 1-2 days or in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Then when it comes to prepare the turkey burger recipe, I just need to take what I require from the freezer and let it defrost naturally. The patty is already made and I have minimal work left to do for dinner. This is one of the secrets on how I can manage to have tasty food so often at home!

Spinach turkey burger with melted cheese, tomato, and red onion on a bun, served with a small ramekin of sauce and a slice of seeded bread.

Recipe by Anadi Misra