Turkey burgers are a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional beef burgers. Choosing the right sides to go along with your turkey burgers is key to making a satisfying meal. The sides should complement the flavors of the turkey and add color, texture, and nutrients to the plate. When deciding what to serve alongside turkey burgers, there are a few key things to consider:
Flavor
You’ll want sides that enhance and balance out the flavors of your turkey burger recipe. Some examples of flavors that pair well include:
– Savory flavors like grilled vegetables, roasted potatoes, caramelized onions
– Tangy flavors from pickles, bbq sauce, chili sauce
– Creamy flavors from avocado, cheese, creamy dressings and dips
– Sweet flavors like honey mustard, sweet potato fries, grilled pineapple
– Herb flavors like pesto, chimichurri, and fresh herbs
Texture
Aim for a mix of textures among your sides – this makes the meal more interesting. Some examples:
– Crunchy textures like slaw, crispy onions, celery sticks
– Soft textures like mashed potatoes or roasted sweet potatoes
– Cool and creamy textures from additions like cheese, guacamole, or ranch dressing
Nutrition
Turkey burgers are usually a healthier choice than beef. You can make your meal even more nutritious by rounding it out with veggie-based sides that add vitamins, minerals and fiber. Some nutritious options include:
– Leafy green salads with vinaigrette
– Roasted, grilled or sautéed veggies like peppers, zucchini, broccoli
– Baked sweet potatoes or roasted potato wedges
– Fresh fruit like watermelon, pineapple, berries
– Whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, whole wheat buns
Ease of Preparation
You’ll want at least some simple sides that don’t require too much extra time and effort to prepare. Some easy go-to’s include:
– Salad greens with ready-made dressing
– Premixed slaw or deli salads
– Canned beans or roasted chickpeas
– Frozen veggies like peas, edamame or corn
– Chips, crackers or bread
– Pre-cut fresh veggies and fruit
10 Tasty Sides for Turkey Burgers
Here are 10 delicious options to consider serving with your turkey burgers:
1. Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Baked sweet potato fries are a crowd-pleasing side. They’re also more nutrient-dense than regular fries. Leave the skins on for extra fiber and nutrients. Season them simply with salt, pepper and a little olive oil or get creative with spices like chili powder, cumin or curry.
2. Avocado Slices
Creamy avocado is the perfect topping for any burger. The cool, smooth texture offsets the sandwich while adding body and tons of nutrients like vitamin C, fiber, folate and healthy fats. Offer sliced avocado on the side or consider guacamole for more flavor.
3. Veggie Skewers
Grilled veggie skewers look impressive and add great flavor. Try mixing mushrooms, tomatoes, bell peppers, zucchini or pineapple on skewers. Brush with a simple marinade of olive oil, salt, pepper and herbs or get creative with teriyaki or tandoori marinades. Grill until tender and serve alongside burgers.
4. Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges
Oven roasted sweet potato wedges make an easy, tasty side to fill up on. Cut sweet potatoes into wedges, toss in olive oil and seasonings and roast at 450°F until browned and tender. Spice them up with chili powder or smoked paprika. They’re naturally sweet which balances the turkey burger.
5. Greek Salad
A classic Greek salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, onions, olives, and feta over lettuce is a refreshing choice. The tangy vinaigrette dressing complements the burger while the salad provides nutrition from all the veggies. Use fresh red onions for some crunch.
6. Crispy Sweet Potato Tots
For something different, make crispy sweet potato tots! Grate sweet potatoes and mix with eggs, flour, and seasoning. Then bake until browned and crispy outside. Kids love them served with ketchup for dipping. The natural sweetness pairs perfectly with turkey.
7. Grilled Corn on the Cob
If grilling your turkey burgers outside, throw some corn on the cob on too. Grilled corn gets deliciously charred and caramelized. Slather with butter, sprinkle on your favorite seasonings and enjoy this classic summer side.
8. Creamy Coleslaw
Cool, creamy coleslaw adds crunch and balances the burger flavors nicely. Use bagged slaw mix for an easy shortcut or shred your own cabbage. Make it creamier with mayo or Greek yogurt, add crunchy carrots, onion, and vinegar and let the slaw chill before serving.
9. Watermelon Skewers
Refreshing watermelon skewers make a fun finger food side. Kids will love them too. Simply cut watermelon into bite-size chunks or small triangles and thread onto skewers. The natural sweetness contrasts with the savory turkey burger.
10. Homemade Oven Fries
Baked oven fries are easy to make and so tasty. Cut potatoes into fry shapes, toss in oil, and bake at 450°F until crispy. Use fun seasoning mixes like ranch, barbecue or Cajun to spice them up. The crunch of the fries balances the soft burger nicely.
Pairing Sides and Condiments
Certain sides and condiments go especially well together with turkey burgers. Some delicious combinations include:
| Side | Condiment |
|---|---|
| Baked sweet potato fries | Ketchup, ranch dressing, honey mustard |
| Avocado slices | Salsa, sour cream, chimichurri sauce |
| Crispy onion rings | BBQ sauce, ranch dressing |
| Greek salad | Tzatziki, hummus, balsamic dressing |
| Coleslaw | Thousand island dressing, remoulade sauce |
| Grilled veggies | Pesto, chimichurri, balsamic glaze |
Play around with different combinations to find your favorites! The key is balancing flavors and textures. Creamy, crunchy, tangy, and sweet are all great complements to savoriness of turkey.
Serving Suggestions
Here are some serving tips and ideas for dishing up turkey burgers with tasty sides:
– Stuff it – For a fun presentation, serve burgers open faced and top with sides like avocado slices, slaw, roasted veggies or cheese.
– Skewer it – Assemble skewers with cubed turkey patty, veggies and fruit for a fun handheld option.
– Bowl it – Serve burger patties chopped up in bowls with roasted potato wedges, corn, beans, cheese, lettuce, salsa and other favorite toppings.
– Bundle it – Wrap turkey patties and toppings in lettuce leaves or flatbread with sides on the side for DIY burrito bowls.
– Bar it – Set up a burger bar with patties, buns and a wide array of sides and sauces for guests to customize their own.
– Grill it – If cooking out, grill sliced potatoes, corn, pineapple or other firm veggies right alongside burgers for easy sides.
Planning Ahead
Making sure you have great sides for your turkey burgers doesn’t have to mean lots of last minute work. Do some advance preparation and planning to cut down on cook time. Here are some tips:
– Prep veggies, fruits and potatoes the night before for quick cooking. Store chopped ingredients in sealed containers in the fridge.
– Make a double batch of oven fries, roasted veggies or other favorite sides to reheat easily on burger day. They keep well for several days stored properly.
– Wash and dry salad greens in advance. Make the dressing ahead too. Then simply toss the salad right before serving.
– Grilled vegetables and skewers can be prepped with marinade a day ahead. Just grill right before eating.
– Use convenient pre-cut and prepped produce like bagged slaw mix, washed salad kits, and cubed butternut squash to save chopping time.
– Buy premade dips and dressings or quality jarred condiments to cut out prep work.
With the right preparation strategies, you can enjoy quick, delicious sides and toppings with your turkey burgers any night of the week!
Healthy Cooking Tips for Turkey Burgers
While turkey burgers are typically lower in fat than beef, it’s still important to take steps to make them as healthy as possible. Here are some cooking tips to make nutritious turkey burgers and sides:
Choose lean ground turkey
Opt for 93% lean ground turkey or higher to minimize saturated fat. White meat ground turkey is leanest.
Avoid overhandling the meat
Gently form patties without over-mixing to prevent burgers from getting dense and chewy.
Cook burgers to 165°F
Use a meat thermometer to ensure burgers are fully cooked through for food safety.
Avoid high-fat toppings & condiments
Limit high-calorie items like bacon, sauces, spreads and mayo. Opt for vegetables, mustard, salsa and more.
Stick to whole food sides
Fill your plate with veggie sides versus refined carbs or fatty fried foods. Grilled, roasted and raw veggies are great options.
Use healthy fats for cooking
Saute sides in olive, avocado or coconut oil instead of butter. Brush oil onto veggies before grilling.
Spice it up
Flavor foods with herbs, spices, citrus and other seasonings instead of salt. Garlic, oregano, chili powder and cumin are tasty on veggies.
Portion control
Be mindful of portion sizes for burgers, buns, sides and condiments to keep calories balanced.
Experiment with Flavor Combinations
One final tip for enjoying delicious turkey burger meals is to experiment with different flavor combinations. play with mixes of cuisines and seasonings to find pairings you love.
Here are just a few ideas to get your creativity flowing:
– Italian – Combine turkey patties with pesto, roasted red peppers and Tuscan kale salad
– Mexican – Top with guacamole, pico de gallo and lime crema with cilantro lime rice
– Greek – Create Mediterranean turkey burgers with feta, tzatziki, roasted eggplant and whole wheat pita
– Asian – Use a ginger soy marinade and serve with stir fried veggies and rice noodles
– BBQ – Smother turkey patties in barbecue sauce and serve with corn on the cob and tangy coleslaw
– Buffalo – Coat patties in hot sauce and serve with blue cheese coleslaw and celery sticks
– Mediterranean – Marinate in lemon garlic and pair with hummus, tabbouleh salad and grill pita wedges
The possibilities are endless when you use culinary creativity. Prepare to get compliments on your flavorful turkey burger meals!
Conclusion
Turkey burgers can be just as delicious and satisfying as traditional beef burgers with the right combination of sides, toppings and seasonings. Baked sweet potato fries, fresh salads, grilled veggies, roasted potatoes and coleslaw are all excellent choices. Play with different texture and flavor combinations and do some advance prep for easy sides on burger day. Most importantly, spice up your turkey patties and sides with herbs, spices and other healthy ingredients to take your meals to the next level. Get creative with globally inspired flavors and you may find yourself choosing turkey burgers over beef more and more.
