Jalapeño Pepper Jack Turkey Burgers

Last summer, I published one of my favorite burger recipes. I eat meat, but black bean burgers are DEFINITELY one of my top choices. They’re big, thick, and hearty and meat eaters (plus non meat eaters!) around the world have raved about them. This summer, I’ve been playing around with turkey burger recipes and I’m confident I found the best combination of ingredients to make an absolutely divine burger. Meet my jalapeño pepper jack turkey burgers. We loved these.

True story. . .

I’d told my parents we’d be there for my Dad’s birthday dinner at 5:30 PM, with dinner in tow.

At 5:05 PM, I heard noises in the kitchen.  I walked in to find my (usually perfect, and always adorable) dog licking up the last bite of my Jalapeño Pepper Jack Turkey Burgers I’d just finished cooking for dinner. The very LAST bite!

After calling my parents to say we’d be late because Maple ate our dinner, I got the kids in the car to hurry to the store to buy more ingredients.  Then I whipped these burgers up for a second time inside of an hour.

How to Make Jalapeño Pepper Jack Turkey Burgers

• First step is to prep all of your ingredients. Finely chop the onion and jalapeño, mince the garlic, and get out all your spices.
• Mix everything except for the ground turkey together.
• Add the ground turkey and mix well. Honestly your hands are the best tool, but a wooden spoon or rubber spatula works just fine too.
• Form into 6 plump and compact patties. Each will be a heaping 1/2 cup of the turkey burger mixture. If you have a scale, each will weigh about 6 ounces.
• Chill. Place patties onto a lined baking pan or plate, then refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 6 hours. Starting with very cold patties is important because the colder the meat, the less likely the burgers will fall apart. Refrigerating the uncooked turkey burgers also gives the turkey a chance to absorb some of the awesome flavors.
• Grill the patties or sauté on the stove. I highly recommend grilling the turkey burgers because it really locks in all the moisture and adds the most wonderful grilled smoky flavor. Maybe it’s the winter and/or not everyone has access to a grill, so sautéing in a little oil on the stove is another option. See instructions for both in the recipe below. Add a slice of pepper jack on top as the burgers finish up.
• Add toppings. Serve your turkey burgers on a bun with spicy mayo, spicy ranch dressing, pickles, guacamole, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, cilantro, or whatever else you’re craving.
• You could also enjoy the turkey burger plain, on a salad, or chopped up in a wrap. These jalapeño pepper jack turkey burgers are crazy flavorful, so they truly don’t need any extras!

What You Need

•  1/2 cup finely chopped onion s
•  1 clove garlic, minced
•  1 lb. 93%-fat-free ground turkey
•  1 can (15 oz.) black beans, rinsed
•  1/2 cup drained canned corn with red and green bell peppers
•  1 tsp. chili powder
•  1 tsp. ground cumin
•  8 KRAFT Big Slice Pepper Jack Cheese Slice s
•  8 hamburger bun s
•  1 large tomato, cut into 8 slices
•  1 avocado, sliced

Let's Make It

1. Cook and stir onions and garlic in large nonstick skillet on medium heat 3 to 4 min. or until crisp-tender. Add to turkey, beans, corn and seasonings in medium bowl; mix just until blended. Shape into 8 (1/2-inch thick) patties.
2. Cook, in batches, in skillet 8 to 10 min. on each side or until done (165ºF), topping with cheese for the last 2 min.
3. Serve on buns topped with tomatoes and avocados.

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