Touchdown Turkey Burger Sliders with Pickle (Printable version)
Seasoned turkey patties topped with crisp pickles and fresh toppings on soft slider buns—an easy, crowd-pleasing game day favorite.
# What You'll Need:
→ Turkey Patties
01 - 1 pound ground turkey, 93% lean
02 - 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
03 - 1 large egg
04 - 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
05 - 1 clove garlic, minced
06 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
07 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
→ Assembly
10 - 12 slider buns
11 - 12 pickle slices, dill or bread-and-butter
12 - 1/4 cup mayonnaise
13 - 1 tablespoon yellow or Dijon mustard
14 - 6 small romaine or iceberg lettuce leaves, halved
15 - 6 cherry tomatoes, sliced (optional)
16 - 6 slices cheddar cheese, halved (optional)
# How to Prepare:
01 - In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, breadcrumbs, egg, onion, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix just until combined without overmixing.
02 - Divide the mixture into 12 equal portions and shape each into a small patty, approximately 2 inches wide.
03 - Heat a large skillet or grill pan over medium heat and lightly oil the surface.
04 - Cook the patties for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 165°F. Remove from heat and keep warm.
05 - While the patties cook, mix mayonnaise and mustard together in a small bowl.
06 - Lightly toast the slider buns, if desired.
07 - Spread a thin layer of the mayo-mustard mixture on the bottom half of each bun.
08 - Place lettuce on the bun, top with a turkey patty, then a slice of cheese if using, a pickle slice, and a tomato slice if using.
09 - Cover with the top bun and secure with a toothpick if needed. Serve immediately.
# Expert advice:
01 -
- These sliders hit that sweet spot between indulgent and light, so you can enjoy a couple without that post-snack sluggishness that ruins the second half of the game.
- The secret combo of smoked paprika and Worcestershire gives these turkey patties a depth of flavor that will have guests swearing theyre eating a much more sinful burger.
02 -
- Letting the patties rest for 5 minutes after cooking allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat instead of running out all over your plate at first bite.
- The patties will shrink slightly during cooking, so make them about half an inch larger in diameter than your slider buns for perfect proportions.
03 -
- Keep a spray bottle of water nearby when cooking to quickly tame any flare-ups on the grill, which can char the outside of turkey burgers before the inside reaches a safe temperature.
- For the juiciest sliders, try mixing in 2 tablespoons of grated cold butter into your meat mixture, a restaurant secret that creates pockets of moisture as the butter melts during cooking.