This One-Ingredient Trick Prevents Dry Turkey Burgers

Turkey burgers are often considered a healthier alternative to beef burgers since they typically contain less saturated fat. But the lower fat content in ground turkey is also what can cause their notoriously dry, crumbly texture. So what’s the solution to making juicy, crave-worthy turkey burgers? It’s a single ingredient, and likely one that you already have in your pantry: an onion.

Why you should add grated onion to turkey burgers

Onions are nearly 90% water. When grated into small flakes, they release their moisture as they cook, which prevents turkey patties from drying out. In addition to ensuring juicy burgers, grated onion imparts flavor and a subtle sweetness, and helps to bind the patties together so they remain tender but don’t crumble apart.

To add onion to your turkey burger patties, start by grating half of a small onion on the largest holes of a box grater. Use about half of a small onion (or ⅓ cup of grated onion) for every 1 1/2 pounds of ground meat (about four burgers). Place the grated onion on a double layer of paper towels and squeeze to remove the excess liquid. Be sure to squeeze the onion thoroughly — if left unsqueezed, it can make the ground meat mixture soggy, resulting in burgers that fall apart or don’t hold their shape. Next, fold the grated onion into the meat mixture along with your desired seasonings, shape into patties, and cook as you normally would on the grill or in a skillet.

Yellow onion is our allium of choice because of its mild flavor and touch of sweetness, but feel free to use whatever type of onion you have on hand. Red onion will offer a sharper bite, white onion will be more mellow, and sweet onion will add additional sweetness. Whatever kind of onion you use, be sure to grate it rather than mince or chop it. Grating ruptures more of the onion's cell walls, causing it to release more liquid, rapidly impart flavor, and cook quickly — it essentially melts into the burgers. 

Try this trick with lean chicken burgers or other ground turkey or chicken dishes like meatballs and lule kebabs. While you can add grated onion to beef burgers, the higher fat content of ground beef typically makes the patties less likely to dry out.