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With so many people starting a new diet in just a few days for the new year, I wanted to share a paleo baked turkey burgers recipe that will fit into any low carb, keto, paleo, whole30, or general clean eating diet. But, that doesn’t mean you have to eat boring food. These chipotle turkey burgers are super flavorful and juicy.
I hope you’ll enjoy these paleo turkey burgers in the oven now and make ’em on the grill later next summer!
Spices for Chipotle Turkey Burgers
The key to the best chipotle turkey burgers is a good mix of spices. But, that list doesn’t have to be a mile long to be delicious!
Here is what you need:
- Crushed chipotle chile pepper
- Smoked paprika
- Cumin
- Dried oregano
- Fresh cilantro
- Sea salt
Of course, the star is crushed chipotle chile pepper, which is different from regular crushed red pepper,
Crushed chipotle chile pepper is specifically made out of chipotle chile peppers. Crushed red pepper is usually a blend of ancho, bell, cayenne, and other dried red peppers.
The difference is in the flavor and level of heat. Chipotle chile peppers have a smoky flavor and moderate heat, whereas “regular” crushed red pepper is mainly just hot and sharp, with less other flavors.
You can get crushed chipotle chile peppers here. Although you could swap in regular crushed red pepper in chipotle turkey burgers, they would be a lot more spicy and you’d lose the chipotle flavor.
How To Make Baked Turkey Burgers in the Oven
With your spices in hand, here’s a quick step-by-step walk through of how to make baked turkey burgers in the oven. I have some important tips here to make sure they don’t get dry!
First, make sure your turkey meat is cold. Don’t let it sit at room temperature and work quickly after removing from the fridge, because letting the meat get warm will result in tougher burgers.
Mix the spices with some avocado oil, then pour that over the meat and use your hands to mix together:
When making paleo turkey burgers, be careful not to over mix the meat, because otherwise it will be too tough. This is true for any burger recipe, but especially for turkey burgers in the oven, because turkey meat has less fat to keep them juicy.
Next, divide the meat into four patties on a foil or parchment lined baking sheet. Make a thumbprint in each one, so that it doesn’t bow out during baking:
Bake ’em until almost cooked through, but not quite.
Then, place the baked turkey burgers in the oven again under the broiler for a couple of minutes to brown as much as you’d like. Two to three minutes is a good amount of time to get them golden and also finish cooking inside.
Paleo turkey burgers are done when they are about 160 degrees inside. The temperature will rise another 5 degrees when resting, but just make sure they are 165 degrees inside before consuming.
Like any good burger, letting them rest is important to make sure that they stay juicy. If you cut into them immediately from the oven, the juices will run out and they will be dry.
Baked Turkey Burgers at 400
The time to bake turkey burgers at 400 degrees F depends on how thick you make the burgers, your pan, and your oven.
Always gauge doneness by appearance and internal temperature, but a general guideline is 15 to 18 minutes in the oven followed by 2 to 3 minutes under the broiler.
The time in the oven will vary depending on how done you like them, but don’t skip the broiler step so that they are nice and browned. Just make sure they aren’t fully cooked to your liking before you broil, otherwise they’ll be too dry after broiling.
Why do we make baked turkey burgers at 400? This is the perfect balance between making them quickly and drying out the meat.
Ground turkey is leaner than beef, so will dry out more quickly at higher temperatures. On the other hand, a lower temperature will never brown and takes longer.
So, baked turkey burgers at 400 is a happy medium, and the high-temp broil at the end is a must for browning, too.
Can You Make Paleo Turkey Burgers Grilled or Sauteed?
Sure, you can! The process would be similar to baking.
Paleo turkey burgers are best to grill or saute over medium heat. This is enough to get them browned, without too much heat drying them out.
Here is how long to cook them on the stove top or grill:
- Grill turkey burgers for 3 to 4 minutes per side
- Saute turkey burgers for 4 to 5 minutes per side
Of course, the time will vary depending on how done you like them.
Paleo Sauce: Chipotle Mayo!
The chipotle may might be my favorite part about these chipotle turkey burgers! And, it’s so easy to make.
Simple stir together some mayonnaise (highly recommend 5-minute homemade avocado mayo) and chipotle chile powder. If you’d like, a squeeze of lime is delicious in there, too.
The chipotle mayo in this baked turkey burgers recipe also uses a variation of chipotle chile peppers, but this time it’s ground chipotle chile powder. Again, the difference between this and regular chili powder is the flavor and heat. You could try grinding up the crushed chipotle peppers you bought for the actual burgers for use in the chipotle mayo, but I haven’t tried that yet.
How To Serve Paleo Turkey Burgers
Chipotle turkey burgers need some good fixings! Try these:
- Homemade salsa with fresh tomatoes
- Sliced avocado
- Fresh cilantro
- And of course, chipotle mayo!
The pictures also show some homemade low carb burger buns I’m working on for a project, but a lettuce bun is delicious, too.
If you need some ideas of what to serve on the side, try low carb tortilla chips or more low carb side dishes here!
How To Freeze Chipotle Turkey Burgers
You can easily make paleo turkey burgers ahead of time. Simply form the patties (work quickly so they stay cold for juicy burgers later!), but don’t cook them. Place them in a freezer bag and freeze immediately.
When you’re ready to cook them, defrost them in the fridge and then follow the normal baked turkey burgers recipe.
Do not thaw the burgers at room temperature (again, tough burgers!). It’s best not to cook turkey burgers right from frozen either, because the outside will be prone to drying out before the inside is cooked through.
Tools To Make Paleo Turkey Burgers:
Click the links below to see the items used to make this recipe.
- Mixing bowls – This set has the perfect sizes and is easy to clean.
- Baking sheet – For making the baked turkey burgers recipe. This set is reasonably priced and has many uses.
- Whisk – For making the chipotle mayo! It’s not too big or too small, and more sturdy than others I’ve tried.
Paleo Chipotle Baked Turkey Burgers Recipe in the Oven:
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RECIPE CARD
Paleo Chipotle Baked Turkey Burgers Recipe in the Oven
Chipotle turkey burgers are the BEST paleo turkey burgers! You can make these baked turkey burgers in the oven, pan fry them, or even grill them.
Recipe Video
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PrintIngredients
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Chipotle Turkey Burgers:
- 3 tbsp Avocado oil
- 1 tbsp Coconut aminos
- 1 tsp Crushed chipotle chile pepper (or less if you don't want much heat)
- 1 tsp Smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp Cumin
- 1/2 tsp Dried oregano
- 1 tbsp Fresh cilantro
- 1 tsp Sea salt
- 1 lb Ground turkey
Chipotle Mayo:
- 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
- 1/2 tsp Chipotle chile powder
Instructions
RECIPE TIPS + VIDEO in the post above, nutrition info + recipe notes below!
Click on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. (Grease if using foil.)
In a large bowl, whisk together the avocado oil, coconut aminos, chile peppers, smoked paprika, cumin, oregano, cilantro, and sea salt.
Add the ground turkey. Stir or mix with your hands until just combined. Do not over mix to avoid tough burgers.
Divide the burger meat into 4 sections and form a burger patty with each. Place onto the lined baking sheet. Make a thumbprint in each.
Bake burgers in the oven for about 16 to 18 minutes, until just almost - but not quite! - cooked through.
Meanwhile, whisk together the mayo and chipotle chile powder to make chipotle mayo.
When the burgers are done, set the oven to broil. Place the burgers under the broiler for another 2 to 3 minutes, until burgers are browned and cooked through. Rest for about 5 minutes.
Serve burgers with chipotle mayo, avocado, fresh cilantro, and homemade salsa.
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 burger + 2 tbsp chipotle mayo
Video Showing How To Make Baked Turkey Burgers:
Don't miss the VIDEO above - it's the easiest way to learn how to make Baked Turkey Burgers!
Nutrition Information Per Serving
Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database. You can find individual ingredient carb counts we use in the Low Carb & Keto Food List. Carb count excludes sugar alcohols. Net carb count excludes both fiber and sugar alcohols, because these do not affect blood sugar in most people. We try to be accurate, but feel free to make your own calculations.
More Low Carb & Keto Support
If you want to know more about how to start a low carb diet, want to substitute sweeteners, need a food list, or need support, check these guides:
Low Carb & Keto Diet Plan
Starter Guide 
Sweetener Conversion Calculator 
Keto Low Carb Macro Calculator 
Low Carb Keto Food List + Printable PDF
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10 Comments
Michelle
Where do the coconut aminos come in?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Michelle, Good catch! Add the coconut aminos in step 2. I’ll be sure to correct that, thank you.
Renee
I can’t wait to try this! I noticed in the photo the burger is on a bun, but there aren’t directions for the bun in the recipe. Can you tell me where to find the directions for the bun, Please ?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Renee, The burger buns are from The Wholesome Yum Easy Keto Cookbook!
Alisa
I actually love turkey burgers more than beef burgers, because they do take on seasonings so well. This recipe is delicious – I’ll have to add it to my rotation.
Jerusha
I’m looking for a bun recipe for my son. This one looks tasty. Do you have a recipe for it that you can share? Thanks
Wholesome Yum L
Hi Jerusha, I don’t currently have that recipe available on my website but you might like this Keto Low Carb Hamburger Bun Recipe.
Chrissy
These look amazing! I know you mention freezing in patties before cooking – do you think you could freeze after cooking as well? Or would they dry out that way? Either way, I’m so excited to make these in the new year!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Chrissy! I think they would be pretty dry if you freeze after cooking.
Wilhelmina
These burgers look so delicious! I can’t wait to try them!