These little burgers are perfect for a Superbowl party! Don’t be fooled, they may look and taste decadent but I have made them a lot healthier for you! I use lean ground turkey and pureed lentils which makes them as moist as they are nutritious. Right before I serve them, I brush each one with my homemade BBQ sauce which gives them a wonderful kick (you can omit the chipotle for younger kids’ simpler taste). Of course, my BBQ sauce is much healthier for you than the typical salt-&-sugar-laden store-bought ones–very simple to make too: Click here for the recipe! I serve these on mini Soft Wheat Buns (here is the recipe).
Mini Turkey Burgers with BBQ Sauce
Cuisinicity Tip 1: I like using black beluga lentils for this recipe, but French lentils or brown lentils will do. Just follow package instructions as each is a little different. You will need about ⅓ cup dry lentils to make the 1 cup cooked lentils you need. You can also use organic canned lentils instead (I have links to a couple brands below the recipe). Cuisinicity Tip 2 on the wholegrain bread I grind and use into the mixture: I use Alvarado street Bakery California style complete protein bread that is high in fiber, low in salt, low in sugar, and has no partially hydrogenated oils (even has lentils, and you know how I feel about those!)
Author: Catherine Katz
Serves: 16 mini patties
Ingredients
- 1 lb raw all-natural extra-lean ground turkey (organic)
- 1 Tbsp flaxmeal diluted in 3 Tbsp water
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 slice 100% wholegrain bread, finely ground in food processor
- 1 cup cooked lentils, rinsed, drained, finely ground in food processor
- Use recipe for my homemade BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Mix together all the ingredients thoroughly in a large bowl. The mixture will be “sticky” and that’s just right. You can refrigerate (it also freezes well) at this point until ready to grill (Do not form patties at this point!).
- When ready to prepare, drizzle a little canola oil in a large grill pan (see photo below) and heat. When the pan is very hot, spoon out a scoop of the ground turkey mixture (I like to use an ice-cream scooper) onto the grill pan. Do NOT attempt to shape the patty at this point! Let it sizzle on that side for 2-3 minutes, then flip over and flatten gently with a large spatula and make the circular shape smoother all around with your spatula, continue to grill for 2-3 minutes on that side.
- Flip the patties over once again until cooked through.
- Using a pastry brush, coat each patty with BBQ sauce on both sides (about 2 tsp per patty) and serve on mini soft wheat buns with garnishings.
Grill pan I use to grill my turkey burgers
You can find ready-cooked organic black beluga lentils HERE and HERE!
Khayrie says
March 8, 2019 at 1:16 amThis really looks so yummy!!! I can’t wait to try this! Thank you so much for sharing this mini bbq turkey burgers. I would love to have these for lunch and I think two of these burger will give me enough energy for a 2-3hrs. at the gym.
Sharon says
March 2, 2019 at 6:17 amYummy! I tried it and I never imagined it could be so good! Thanks for sharing!
Aika says
February 25, 2019 at 5:23 pmThese mini BBQ turkey burgers look really delicious. I’m going to try this at home since we love making homemade burgers for breakfast. Thanks for sharing this.
Don Clay says
October 7, 2017 at 9:23 pmHello Catherine, I like many of your recipes, but I noticed that you recommend using canola oil. I’ve read different things about, but I have my doubts about it. First off, my wife is an MD and tells me it’s not the best and you may know Dr. Axe and I’ve given you a link that you may consider reading. https://draxe.com/canola-oil-gm/
Thanks for all your work!
Don Clay
Catherine Katz says
October 8, 2017 at 10:25 amThank you Don for the lovely comment, I always appreciate it! 🙂 I have written about why I choose to use organic cold, or expeller-pressed canola oil, as well as olive oil preferentially in my cooking and baking here:
http://cuisinicity.com/verdict-canola-oil/
I think you may find it helpful. as for the link you sent me, I would be weary of such foolish fanaticism and would redirect you to the global common voice of true experts who agree about the basics of nutrition here:http://www.truehealthinitiative.org
Barbara Ellis says
October 17, 2016 at 12:25 pmOh my gosh, so yummy! All kinds of goodness packed into these little guys, and no one in the family suspected a thing! I love that the recipe made a lot, so we get to enjoy them another night and I am off the hook for cooking!
Thank you for the great recipe, Catherine!
Catherine Katz says
October 26, 2016 at 7:47 amMy pleasure Barbara!! I LOVE your cheerful and absolutely lovely comments–so gratifying for me!! THANK YOU! 🙂
Steph says
June 18, 2016 at 1:05 pmsame directions if using a grill?
Catherine Katz says
June 18, 2016 at 3:50 pmYes, although I haven’t done it on the BBQ so maybe make sure you spray a little olive oil on the patties before grilling!!
Tracey says
February 14, 2016 at 1:09 pmThese were a big success at our Mini Superbowl Party !!
Catherine Katz says
February 15, 2016 at 10:51 amYAY!!!!! Tracey, I served them for our Super Bowl party too–Love’em!!
Catherine Katz says
March 9, 2015 at 5:19 pmThat’s what I like to hear Robin!!!! YES!!!
Robin says
March 9, 2015 at 11:43 amThey were excellent!
David Godfrey says
February 1, 2015 at 6:09 pmCatherine,
Thanks so much for putting these recipes out on your website.
Enjoyed making and eating these foods before tonight’s Super Bowl.
Nutritious & Delicious.
My objectives for 2015.
Preparation instructions easy to follow and expertly written.
Well done!
DG
Catherine Katz says
February 1, 2015 at 10:39 pmYou are so very welcome David! We had them too! What a game!!!!!
Donna Saliter says
January 27, 2015 at 3:23 pmCatherine, these little “sliders” look soooo delicious I am going to make them for the Superbowl! I can’t wait to try them out and let you know how they taste. Finally a little healthy something for my fave football fans. And, lol on the deflated balls. The media is STILL talking about that!
Catherine Katz says
January 27, 2015 at 4:42 pmThank you Donna! YAY! I know I’d impress you with that deflated ball savvy tidbit of mine HAHAHAH!!!