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These pineapple turkey burgers are a lightened-up version of a BBQ staple! The secret is the pineapple and soy sauce combination. Easily make these Hawaiian burgers gluten-free!
A Sweet Juicy Burger With Island Vibes
When it comes to burgers, are you team toppings and sauce, or team only meat and cheese? I’m for sure team toppings and sauce all the way! I recently tried out this recipe for a healthy greek burger topped with a homemade tzatziki sauce and veggies, and it was so delicious.
I love finding new flavors that really pop as I bite into a juicy burger!
You know what’s even better? When a burger has a sweet and salty combination – the best of both worlds.
I personally have a sweet tooth – not ashamed to admit it! Thankfully, there are plenty of different types of fruit that provide natural sweetness without adding processed sugar to my recipes.
That’s why I am so excited for this pineapple turkey burger! A juicy tender turkey patty seasoned with fresh garlic, chopped red onions and cilantro… It’s perfect for family burger night!
For this turkey burger recipe, I used sliced pineapple because not only does it remind me of laying in a hammock on an island paradise, but it perfectly compliments the umami flavor from the soy sauce.
You are going to flip over how amazing this burger tastes!
Ingredients In These Hawaiian Turkey Burgers
This recipe is a marriage of Hawaiian pineapple and salty Asian soy flavors. By using ground turkey and fresh ingredients, we created an unforgettable burger that is layered with incredible taste!
- Ground Turkey: Start with one pound of ground turkey. The best kind of burgers is 93/7 – it’s really lean and fries up really well.
- Red Onion: Since red onions have a very strong flavor profile, you only need to use 1/2 of one. You want to have the red onion complement the rest of the dish, not be completely overwhelming.
- Cilantro: Use lots of fresh cilantro – about 1/2 cup. It just needs to be roughly chopped, so run your knife through it a few times.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic cloves will have the best flavor in this turkey burger recipe. You can use garlic powder in a pinch, but two garlic cloves will give you the best results.
- Soy Sauce: Next, you only need about 2 tablespoons of soy sauce. If you want this to be a gluten-free recipe, use tamari or coconut aminos instead of soy sauce.
- Ginger: I think dried ginger has the perfect amount of spice and punch of flavor. If you use fresh ginger, use 1/4 teaspoon – you don’t need as much since fresh ginger has a much more powerful taste.
- Pineapple: Use as much pineapple as you want! For my family and me, that was about 5 slices.
Kitchen Tools Required For Pineapple Turkey Burgers
You don’t need very many kitchen tools to make these simple and fresh burgers. Grab all your tools before you begin so that you are ready to just breeze through the process.
- Cutting Board
- Knife
- Box Grater
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Skillet or Indoor Grill
For measuring cups, you will need 1/2 cup, a tablespoon, and 1/2 teaspoon.
How To Make Easy Turkey Burgers With Pineapple At Home
Making the burgers is incredibly easy – and even a little bit fun!
In a large bowl, add turkey. Using a box grater, grate onion into turkey meat. This keeps the burgers extra juicy because it retains the juice from the onions.
Add in cilantro, garlic, soy sauce, and ginger. Stir until all combined.
Next, form the meat into burger shapes, about 110g.
Heat a pan over medium heat and spray with nonstick spray.
Cook the burgers for about 5 minutes on each side, covering them after flipping.
After the burgers are finished cooking, add pineapple to the pan for about 2 minutes on each side. Add the pineapple on top of the burger.
Serve and enjoy!
Substitution Tip
Wondering if you can use different burger toppings? There are a few things you can add to your burger for a delicious outcome.
I recommend a white onion instead of red if you think the red onion is too strong. It will be milder, possibly making it a bit more kid-friendly.
You could even grill some bell pepper slices and add them on top of the burger too. Bell peppers have their own tastes and health benefits, plus they add lots of lovely pops of color to your burger.
If you want to add some cheese, I suggest using provolone. It has just a bit of a bite without being so bold that it takes away from the other flavors of the burger.
Not a big fan of cilantro? Just leave it off! In fact, you can replace cilantro with the same amount of parsley, and it will (probably) taste a lot better to ya.
Burger Storage Tips
Honestly, burgers just taste the best when they are fresh off the stove or grill. If you want to make them ahead for your meal prep (or you just have leftovers), store the burger patties separately from the toppings.
Keep your turkey burgers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
What To Eat With Pineapple Turkey Burgers
These Hawaiian burgers taste amazing with some fries. My favorite fries for sweet burgers like this one are crispy baked chili lime sweet potato fries. The layers of flavor on them are unparalleled.
Another great side dish idea that will taste great with the Hawaiian burgers is these garlic sesame green beans!
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some common pineapple turkey burger questions. Donโt see the answer youโre looking for? Leave a comment at the bottom of this post!
How is turkey healthier than beef?
The biggest difference between turkey and beef is that turkey has less saturated fat. It’s commonly called a “heart-healthy meat” for that exact reason. When you fry it, you’ll notice less grease – that’s why I prefer to use it to make burgers.
How do you make it gluten-free?
It’s really easy to make gluten-free burgers. Use tamari instead of soy sauce since soy sauce usually has wheat in it. Then, serve the burger on gluten-free buns or wrap it in a large leaf of lettuce.
Is canned pineapple ok to use, or is fresh better?
Honestly, either one is just as good as the other. I know how tedious slicing fresh pineapple can be. If you use canned pineapple, it will save you a lot of time and energy. Just make sure and rinse off any syrup or try to find pineapple that is stored in water.
If you liked this recipe, youโll want to try these!
Here are some more of my favorite grilled recipes that you should try next. Enjoy!
- Healthy BBQ Chicken Thighs
- Simple Turkey Burger Recipe
- Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken
- Healthy Greek Turkey Burgers With Tzatziki
Easy Pineapple Turkey Burgers
These pineapple turkey burgers are a lightened-up version of a BBQ staple! The secret is the pineapple and soy sauce combination. Easily make these Hawaiian burgers gluten-free!
Ingredients
- 1 lb 93/7 ground turkey
- 1/2 small red onion
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1/2 tsp dried ginger
- 5 slices pineapple
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add turkey. Using a box grater, grate onion into turkey meat. This keeps the burgers extra juicy.
- Add in cilantro, garlic, soy sauce, and ginger. Stir until all combined.
- Form into burger shapes, about 110g.
- Heat a pan over medium heat and spray with nonstick spray.
- Cook burgers for 5 minutes on each side, covering them after flipping.
- After burgers are done cooking, add pineapple to pan for about 2 minutes on each side. Add on top of burger.
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Michele says
Delicious! Super easy on a week night! These burgers as so juicy there is no need for a higher condiments at all! Definitely making these frequently this season!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Michele, so happy you loved them! ๐
Alli says
So easy and delicious. Accidentally used yellow onion instead of red but still turned out so tasty. Will be making again!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Alli, so happy you loved them!!
Meaghan Quay says
Super easy and delicious! I was surprised by the amazing flavor with not too many ingredients. Perfect for a summer night or just cooking in.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Meaghan, so happy you loved the burgers!!
Katie P says
I used the pineapple slices as the bun and it was a huge hit! Makes enough for way more than one meal too!
Erin says
Hi Katie, so happy you loved them!!
Kaitlin says
Omg so juicy!! Great flavor, husband wanted a second immediately and 15 month old ate an entire patty, safe to say these are a winner!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kaitlin, so happy you all loved them so much!!
Kaitlin says
Delicious! These will become a summer staple. The grilled pineapple on top is magic!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kaitlin, I am so glad you enjoyed the burgers!
Faith Simon says
These were great! I added shaved red onion to the mixture for extra moisture and flavor
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Faith, so glad you enjoyed them and made them your own!!
Tara says
Best. Turkey. Burgers. Ever. So juicy and full of flavor and then adding grilled pineapple on top. Absolutely delish!! My red meat loving husband was even pleasantly surprised with how much he liked these!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Tara, so happy you loved them!! ๐
Susan says
Made these turkey burgers tonight. Everyone really liked them. Will definitely be making them again.
Erin says
Hi Susan, so happy everyone enjoyed them!
Susan says
So I was going to make these again tonight and was feeling lazy so I added an egg and 1/2 a cup of plain panko and made meatballs. Just as delicious as the burger.
Erin says
Hi Susan, wow sounds great!!
Kara says
New summer fav!!! These burgers have lots of flavor and are unique. Feels lighter than a traditional burger and was fun to mix it up.
Erin says
Hi Kara, happy you liked the burgers!
Jill says
Juicy, fresh & jam-packed with flavor. Definitely going to be added into our summertime rotation.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jill, so glad you loved them!!
Kris B. says
These are a winner!! I love all your turkey burger flavors!! Can these be frozen after cooking?
Erin says
Hi Kris, so glad you loved them and yes of course!!
Kim B says
Made these tonight for a quick healthy summer dinner and they were great!! Grilled them instead of cooking on the stovetop and they were just as good. Summer staple recipe!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Kim, so glad you loved them!!
Corrin says
Is there a sauce (similar to how you used Taziki for the greek turkey burger) that you recommend for this burger? Thanks!
Sydney says
Juiciest Turkey burgers I have ever made! Erin lives whole does it again!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Sydney, so glad you love the burgers!!