Thanksgiving Turkey Burger

One of my absolute favorite parts of Thanksgiving is the incredible sandwiches you can make with all the leftovers, including leftover turkey. The thing is, that type of sandwich can in theory only be made after the turkey is made. I realized that actually though, with or without making a whole turkey, this type of wonderful sandwich is totally achievable, just by using ground turkey!

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This is the turkey burger with all the best Thanksgiving flavors!

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This Thanksgiving turkey burger literally tastes like Thanksgiving in every bite. Whether you plan to make a whole turkey or not, by just buying some ground turkey whenever you're next at the grocery store, you can still get the classic authentic flavor whenever you want it.

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So what makes this turkey burger taste just like Thanksgiving?

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• Ground turkey - essential for that Thanksgiving flavor
• Cranberry sauce - a staple to pair with the turkey, and a quick homemade version is so easy
• Stuffing - maybe the best part of Thanksgiving food…so obviously incldued here!
• Gravy - necessary with anything turkey, and this version has a little brie too, which is always the best
• Potato roll - the roll is perfect for sneaking in that necessary potato!
• Autumn herbs - thyme and rosemary truly just taste like Thanksgiving

Thankfully, all these flavors incorporated into this turkey burger are actually pretty quick to pull together, and will taste just like your favorite meal.

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So where to start?

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Whenever I'm making something with multiple parts to it, I like to make the simpler smaller aspects first to have them ready before I start making the main item, so once the main item is done it can be quickly put together and ready to pick up and eat!

So let's start with the homemade cranberry sauce. Now I know, some people may like the canned version better (sometimes including me!) but in terms of slathering it on to the most fluffy and delicious potato roll you can find, the homemade perfectly tart version is key.

So you'll want to quickly whip this up by-

1. Bringing some water and sugar to a boil
2. Adding the delicious cranberries, bringing to a boil, then simmering until thickened
3. Seasoning with salt and pepper!

While some people may prefer sweeter additions to cranberry sauce (like orange zest) I find the salt and pepper to be the best addition for this savory burger.

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Next you'll want to make a super simple stuffing that will go in and on the turkey burger - which is really the best of both worlds! Here are the ingredients you'll need for the stuffing:

• butter
• celery
• carrots
• thyme
• chicken broth
• cubed bread

What could be simpler! This stuffing is as easy as melting the butter in a large skillet, and adding the chopped celery, carrots, and a little dried thyme (dried because I think it really makes the flavor stand out). Once the vegetables have softened, you'll want to pour in the chicken broth, remove it from the heat, and stir in the cubed bread. A tip is to make sure your bread cubes are quite small, so that there aren't large chunks in the stuffing.

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Now to the turkey burger!

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This Thanksgiving inspired turkey burger has ground turkey, fresh rosemary and thyme, and of course some salt and pepper. You'll want to incorporate those ingredients together in a medium bowl, then form the mixture into 8 thin but medium-large sized patties. Now for the fun part! Take one of the patties in your palm, add about 1/8 cup of the stuffing, then add another patty on top. The important part here is to pinch the edges together to enclose the stuffing, as this will help ensure the burgers don't split while being cooking.

Next you'll heat a little bit of olive oil (only a little, as the ground turkey will release a bit of oil as well) in a large skillet until it's almost smoking. Add 2 of the burgers and sear until they are golden brown on one side, about 4-5 minutes, then flip and continue cooking until they reach an internal temperature of 165. There are two definite perks to cooking these in a pan, and here they are!

1. No grill - let's face it, grilling is fun, but going outside at this time of year isn't always!
2. Gravy! - it wouldn't be a Thanksgiving burger without some gravy, and thankfully, you can make a homemade version from the burger skillet

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Which brings me to my favorite part of this recipe. Once all 4 of the burgers are cooked and set aside to keep warm, you'll melt some butter in the same skillet the burgers were cooked in, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any bits from the bottom of the pan. Next you'll add some flour, which will help create the slightly thick gravy we all know and love. Once you have your roux, slowly whisk in the chicken broth until it begins to thicken but is still pourable. Now for the secret ingredient and best addition to this recipe - brie! It's tough to have a burger without cheese… so by whisking a bit of brie into the gravy, you'll have the best of both worlds.

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Now that everything is made, how do we assemble these?

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In my opinion, a multi-part meal like this is always so fun to assemble. Here's how I recommend layering these burgers:

1. Spread a little of the homemade cranberry on the bottom bun of a potato roll
2. Add on one of the stuffed turkey burgers
3. Pour on some of the gravy
4. Top with a little extra stuffing because why not!
5. Add a little fresh rosemary for that true Thanksgiving flavor
6. Top with that top bun and admire this super tall and beautiful burger!

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If you're ever craving the best combination of Thanksgiving flavors - this turkey burger is for you. It can be made in a pinch, and tastes just like one of the best holidays with every bite.

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Recipe Details:

Servings: 4

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes