BBQ turkey burgers with caramelized onions are THE burgers for this summer: saucy, sassy and tasty.
I am a big believer in the idea of every burger being topped with loads and loads of caramelized onions and cheese. The cheese seems obvious. People who eat hamburgers (read: my husband) are weird. But the onions, they are an acquired taste not everyone will love. They take time, an adjustment period. If you force them, your diners will rebel and likely throw the onions in your face.
Maybe they won’t do that exactly, but people will gripe.
It’s an important lesson I’ve learned over the years. You really can’t force foods on people. If they suddenly have a “Come to Jesus” moment with onions, then you’re golden. But the second you try and stuff caramelized onions in someone’s mouth – no matter how delicious and perfectly browned and slightly salty they are – they will hate them forever. It’s about coming to things on your own, of discovering their beauty and flavors at your own speed.
Still, I wish some people would just hurry up and have this enlightening food experience. I am really tired of serving up my caramelized onions on the side. For real.
I made these burgers a few weeks ago and have tried since then to come up with a clever Bob’s Burgers style name that would convey exactly how fantastic they tasted. The sweet and sassy BBQ sauce on a turkey burger, topped with not one but two slices of cheese and covered in a mountain of golden, caramel onions. It needed a cool name. Here’s what I came up with:
Nothing. I got nothing. Sorry. If you’re into cool named burgers, please shout out your suggestions or head over to this amazing Tumblr dedicated to all things Bob’s Burgers. In the meantime, I highly suggest you heat up your grill pan and get to cooking this burger. Please, share it with someone who is super into caramelized onions. They’ll thank you.
Ingredients
- 2 small yellow onions
- 1 Tbsp. butter
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 cup beef stock
- 1 lb. ground turkey
- salt
- pepper
- burger seasoning
- ½ cup BBQ sauce of your choice
- 4 slices American cheese
- Optional: pretzel rolls, ketchup, tomatoes, lettuce
Instructions
- Begin with the caramelized onions. Slice your onions into thin slices. Melt butter and olive oil together in a pan over medium high heat. Once melted, add in the onions and season with salt and pepper.
- Allow to cook for approximately five minutes, then add ¼ cup of beef stock. Cover and cook approximately 7 minutes until the onions have absorbed the stock.
- Add another ¼ cup of stock and repeat until all of the stock has been absorbed and the onions have cooked down and are caramelized. Remove to a plate until ready to use.
- Divide your ground turkey into fourths. Take each fourth and form it into a patty. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and burger seasoning.
- On a grill pan or griddle (you can use your grill if it is warm outside) over medium high heat, cook the burgers for approximately five minutes per side.
- With only an additional minute left, place the cheese on top and allow it to melt. Remove the burgers from the grill. Place them on top of your roll, top each with 2 Tbsp. BBQ sauce, a generous serving of caramelized onions and the other half of the roll.
My husband is in the “plain burger” camp, while I love the “pile it all on” theory. This burger with the caramelized onions is awesome!!!
I know what we are having for dinner tonight now! Thanks for sharing.
I totally agree. Onions are perfect for a burger. They give fantastic flavor plus they may help to reduce the cholesterol.
I am so with you. Mountains of caramelized onions please. These look fabulous!
Yes! Mountains and mountains!
I’m always looking for ways to flavor up a turkey burger. This recipe looks perfect.
I can’t be friends with someone who doesn’t love caramelized onions. What’s not to love, people?! I dig what you’re saying, though. You have to patiently wait for people to come around. In the meantime I’ll eat all the caramelized onions. Love this burger!!
Girl, you and me both. Caramelized onions are basically a gift from the heavens!
These look awesome. Excited to grill for Memorial Day! And we love turkey burgers, caramelized onions and pretzel rolls. OK, going shopping now.
Hooray! I hope you do make them!
These look wonderful. I don’t normally eat beef so turkey burgers are a wonderful option, plus I really enjoy the flavor. My boyfriend on the other hand eats a burger a day. Either way I know we’d both LOVE the BBQ & Caramelized onion combo. Pinned!
Yay! I love that you’d both pile on the bbq and onions!
Holy moly, these look and sound amazing! Love the caramelized onions and the buns look fantastic too!
Thanks, girlie! I do love a good pretzel bun!
I love caramelized onions! The more the better! Pile ’em on!
That’s my philosophy, too!
I believe in topping veggie burgers with as many caramalized onions as possible. This is a great recipe.