Hatch green chile turkey burgers are easy to make and have a delicious flavor. Made with roasted hatch chiles and finished off with fresh pineapple salsa, these burgers are perfect for the end of Summer.
This post was originally published in August 2017 and has been updated for content.
We love grilling during the summer, especially these tasty turkey burgers. The earthy flavor of the ground turkey pairs so well with the smoky roasted hatch chiles. The fresh pineapple salsa is both tart and spicy and adds a great freshness to these burgers.
Serve these juicy turkey burgers with grilled fresh peaches, white cheddar mac and cheese, and homemade Italian sodas!
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🍔 Ingredient notes
- Turkey - I prefer to use regular ground turkey to make the most moist and flavorful turkey burgers. Ground turkey breast or lean ground turkey can certainly be used, but the burgers may be a bit drier and have a tendency to crumble. You can also make these with ground beef for an even juicier burger.
- Hatch Chiles - Hatch chile peppers are a type of green chile grown in New Mexico that has a crisp, sweet, and smoky flavor. Typically they are in season in August and can sometimes be found freshly roasted in the grocery store. If not, you can roast hatch chiles in the oven or purchase canned hatch chiles.
- Pineapple - I love serving these burgers using fresh pineapple for the salsa, however, if that is not an option, canned pineapple tidbits may also be used.
📋 Substitutions and variations
- Toppings - Instead of the pineapple salsa, these turkey burgers can be topped with your favorite BBQ sauce, grilled or sliced red onions, pepper jack cheese, fresh avocado slices, grilled pineapple rings, or pickled jalapenos!
- Gluten-Free - These turkey burgers themselves are naturally gluten-free. You can serve them wrapped in lettuce or on your favorite gluten-free hamburger bun.
🔪 Step by step instructions
First, combine all of the ingredients for the fresh pineapple salsa in a large mixing bowl and toss to combine. Store in the refrigerator while you prepare the turkey burgers.
Next, combine all of the ingredients for the turkey burgers in a large bowl, and using your hands, mix the meat mixture lightly together. Divide the turkey mixture into 6 equal pieces and roll them into balls.
Press the meat down into patties that are approximately one inch in thickness and press the middles down slightly. Place the burgers on a large plate or rimmed baking sheet and store them in the fridge to chill. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
Cook each turkey patty on a greased hot grill for about 8 minutes on the first side and 4 minutes on the second side. Turkey patties should be cooked through until the internal temperature reaches 165˚.
Allow the burgers to rest for 5 minutes after grilling and then serve on buns with the fresh pineapple salsa or your favorite toppings!
If you ever don't recognize a tool or skill that is mentioned, be sure to look it up in our Glossary of Cooking Terms and Definitions for more information.
⭐ Expert tips
- Whether you are using canned or freshly roasted chiles, make sure to drain or squeeze out as much of the liquid from them as possible so the burgers don't fall apart.
- Pour a bit of vegetable oil on a paper towel and rub it on the preheated grill before adding the turkey burgers to help prevent sticking.
- If the burgers are not easily released off of the grill, give them a minute or two more to cook before flipping them.
- Make sure you use a kitchen thermometer (affiliate link) to cook the burgers to 165˚. This is the perfect way to make sure they stay juicy so you don't get a dry burger.
- Toast buns on the grill for an extra smoky flavor to these delicious burgers.
- Make the fresh pineapple salsa a day or two before if you can to really let the flavors combine together!
Frequently asked questions
Hatch green chiles come in different varieties from mild to as spicy or spicier than a jalapeño. It's best to choose the variety that is best for you and your taste preferences.
🥘 Alternative cooking methods
If grilling is not an option, these burgers can be made on the stovetop instead. Use a grill pan or hot skillet that has been greased with vegetable oil.
⏲️ Make ahead and storage instructions
The pineapple salsa can be made up to 2 days ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
The turkey burger mix can be made up to 1 day ahead of time and stored on a plate covered in plastic wrap or in an airtight container. Cooking times may be a minute or two more since they are cold.
Uncooked turkey burgers can be frozen and kept in the freezer for up to 3 months. Freeze the turkey burgers on a plate or sheet pan in a single layer and then transfer them into a ziptop bag or airtight container for easier storage. Frozen turkey burgers can be cooked right on the grill but will take a few more minutes to cook.
Cooked turkey burgers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months. Burgers can be heated back up on the grill, oven, or in the microwave.
♨️ More grilling recipes
If you loved this recipe for grilled turkey burgers, check out these other grilling recipes that I know you will love too!
📖 Recipe
Hatch Green Chile Turkey Burgers
Ingredients
Fresh Pineapple Salsa
- 3 cups diced fresh pineapple, approximately 1 medium pineapple
- ½ medium bell pepper, diced
- ½ medium red onion, diced
- 1 medium jalapeno, minced
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- 2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice, approximately 1 lime
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Hatch Chile Burgers
- 1 ½ pounds ground turkey
- ⅓ cup diced roasted hatch green chiles, peeled and seeded, approximately 4-5 medium chiles
- ⅓ medium yellow onion, grated
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- ½ teaspoons ground black pepper
- 6 hamburger buns
Instructions
Fresh Pineapple Salsa
- In a mixing bowl, (affiliate link) combine pineapple, bell pepper, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, lime juice and salt together.
- Mix together until all ingredients are combined and let it sit in the refrigerator while you make the turkey burgers.
Grilled Turkey Burgers
- In a mixing bowl, combine turkey, chiles, onion, cumin, thyme, salt & pepper. Mix by hand until ingredients are well incorporated.
- Divide meat mixture in 6 equal portions and roll into balls. Flatten balls into approximately one inch thick patties and slightly press down the middle of each patty. Place burgers in the refrigerator on a large plate or sheet pan (affiliate link) while the grill heats up.
- Preheat the grill to medium high heat and rub the grill grates with a paper towel with oil on it to grease it.
- Grill the burgers for 8 minutes on the first side and then flip and cook an additional 4 minutes on the other side until the burgers reach an internal temperature of 165° when checked with a kitchen thermometer.
- Allow the burgers to rest for 5 minutes after grilling and then serve on buns topped with fresh pineapple salsa.
Notes
- Drain as much of the liquid from the chiles as possible so the burgers don't fall apart.
- If the burgers are not sticking, give them 1-2 more mintues to cook before flipping them.
- Make the fresh pineapple salsa a day or two before to really let the flavors combine together!
Substitutions and Variations
- Ground Turkey Breast - Ground turkey has more flavor and moisture, but ground turkey breast can also be used. Burgers may be a bit more dry and have a tendency to crumble. Ground beef can be used for a juicier burger.
- Hatch Chiles - In August, freshly roasted chiles can be found in the grocery store. If not, you can roast hatch chiles in the oven or purchase canned hatch green chiles.
- Pineapple - Instead of fresh pineapple, canned pineapple tidbits may also be used.
- Toppings - Instead of the pineapple salsa, these turkey burgers can be topped with BBQ sauce, grilled or sliced red onions, fresh avocado slices, pepper jack cheese,grilled pineapple rings, or pickled jalapenos!
- Gluten Free - Serve burgers wrapped in lettuce or on gluten-free hamburger buns.
Alternative Cooking Methods
Cook burgers on a grill pan (affiliate link) or cast iron skillet (affiliate link) that has been greased with vegetable oil.Make Ahead and Storage instructions
- SALSA - Make salsa up to 2 days ahead of time and store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.
- BURGERS - Make and form up to 1 day ahead of time and store on a plate covered in plastic wrap or in an air-tight container. Cooking times may be a minute or two more.
- FREEZE - Uncooked turkey burgers can be frozen for up to 3 months. Freeze on a plate or sheet pan in a single layer and then transfer into a ziptop bag or airtight container for easier storage. Frozen turkey burgers can be cooked right on the grill but will take a few more minutes to cook.
- LEFTOVERS - Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator after cooling for up to 3 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months. Burgers can be heated back up on the grill, oven, or in the microwave.
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