Description
This Turkey Burger Bowls recipe features flavorful seasoned ground turkey cooked to perfection in a skillet and served with a zesty special sauce. Paired with crispy waffle fries and fresh toppings like pickles, red onion, shredded cheese, and romaine lettuce, it’s a quick and satisfying meal perfect for a weeknight dinner. The homemade special sauce combines mayo, ketchup, mustard, sriracha, and spices for a deliciously tangy kick.
Ingredients
Turkey Burger
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika (can use ½ smoked paprika and ½ regular for a kick)
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp oregano
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- ½ – 1 Tbsp soy sauce
Special Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2-3 Tbsp ketchup
- ½ Tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp sriracha (optional for a kick)
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp paprika
- Optional splash of pickle juice
Additional Ingredients
- 3-4 cups frozen waffle fries (or tater tots, crinkle fries)
- Optional toppings: dill pickles, shredded romaine lettuce, diced tomatoes, sliced red onion, shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Prepare Seasoning: Whisk together the burger spices (garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, oregano, salt, pepper, and cayenne if using) in a small bowl to create the seasoning mix.
- Make Special Sauce: Combine all special sauce ingredients — mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, soy sauce, sriracha, garlic powder, paprika, and optional pickle juice — in a bowl. Whisk well and chill until ready to serve. Prepare toppings and fries during this time.
- Heat Skillet: Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add olive oil and let it glisten.
- Cook Turkey – Side One: Form ground turkey into a flat rectangle about 1½-2 inches thick. Place it in the skillet without disturbing and sear for 3-4 minutes to achieve a browned, crispy outside. Sprinkle half the seasoning on the cooked side.
- Flip and Season Side Two: Flip the turkey carefully onto the other side. Break it into smaller pieces to ease cooking. Sprinkle the remaining seasoning over the new side and sear for several minutes.
- Finish Cooking Turkey: Break turkey further into bite-sized chunks and cook until it is heated through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Finish with Soy Sauce: Remove skillet from heat. Drizzle soy sauce over the cooked turkey and stir well to combine the flavors.
- Assemble Burger Bowls: Serve turkey chunks in bowls topped with crispy waffle fries and your choice of fresh toppings like dill pickles, red onion, shredded cheddar, lettuce, and diced tomatoes. Drizzle generously with the special sauce.
Notes
- You can substitute waffle fries with tater tots or crinkle fries based on your preference.
- The cayenne pepper in the burger seasoning is optional for those who want extra heat.
- Adjust the amount of sriracha in the special sauce depending on your spice tolerance.
- Make sure the turkey reaches the safe internal temperature of 165°F before serving.
- Preparing toppings and fries while cooking the turkey saves time and speeds up assembly.
