Stuffed Southwest Turkey Burgers with Pepper Jack & Guacamole Recipe
These Stuffed Southwest Turkey Burgers feature a flavorful blend of lean ground turkey mixed with diced pepper jack cheese and green chiles, seasoned with cumin and garlic powder, and grilled to perfection. Served with a zesty, fresh avocado mash made with lemon and lime juice and optional spices, these burgers deliver a melty, juicy experience with a spicy southwest twist ideal for a summer cookout or any casual meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 stuffed turkey burgers 1x
- Category: Entree
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Southwestern American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound 90% lean ground turkey or chicken
- 6 ounces pepper jack cheese, diced into 1/4-inch cubes
- 1 4-ounce can diced green chiles (mild or hot as preferred)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Optional: 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Vegetable oil, for brushing the grill
For Serving
- Toasted burger buns
- Avocado mash (see below)
- Salsa
- Lettuce
Avocado Mash
- 2 medium avocados, halved and pitted
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
- Optional: 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
- Optional: 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- Optional: 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the grill: Heat your grill or grill pan to medium, aiming for about 500 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure proper searing and grill marks.
- Form the stuffed burger patties: In a large bowl, combine ground turkey, diced pepper jack cheese, diced green chiles, cumin, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and optional cayenne pepper. Gently mix with your hands until the ingredients are evenly dispersed, being careful not to overmix to keep the burger juicy. Using a burger press or mold, shape the mixture into 4 equal patties.
- Prepare the grill grates: Just before placing the burgers on the grill, use tongs to swipe a paper towel drizzled with vegetable oil over the grill grates to prevent sticking.
- Grill the stuffed burgers: Place the patties over direct heat and cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Grill until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Look for beautiful grill marks and melty cheese oozing out around the patty edges.
- Prep the avocado mash: While the burgers grill, combine the avocado halves, lemon juice, lime juice, and salt in a medium bowl. Season with cilantro, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper as desired. Mash the avocado to your preferred texture and set aside.
- Serve: Serve the grilled stuffed burgers on toasted buns with avocado mash, salsa, lettuce, and any other desired condiments. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
- Use 90% lean ground turkey or ground chicken for juicy, flavorful burgers.
- Be careful not to overmix the meat mixture to ensure the burgers stay tender.
- Adjust the heat level by choosing mild or hot diced green chiles and by adding optional cayenne pepper.
- If you don’t have a burger press, you can shape patties by hand ensuring to seal the cheese inside well.
- Check burger doneness with a meat thermometer for safe internal temperature of 165°F.
- Avocado mash can be customized with additional seasonings like cilantro and cayenne for added flavor.
Keywords: Stuffed turkey burgers, southwest burgers, grilled turkey burgers, pepper jack burgers, avocado mash, healthy burger recipe, spicy turkey burgers, summer grill recipe
