Name: Zesty Zucchini Turkey Burgers
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 1 lb extra lean ground turkey (can also sub in ground chicken); 1 small zucchini (grated (about 1 cup grated zucchini)); ½ tsp lemon zest; 2 garlic cloves (minced); 2 green onions (finely chopped); 2 tbsp. parsley (finely chopped); ¼ tsp. red pepper flakes; 1/2 tsp. onion powder; 1/2 tsp. salt; Freshly ground pepper

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These healthy zesty zucchini turkey burgers make a quick lunch or dinner, and are packed full of delicious flavour! {Paleo, gluten-free, keto, & low carb}

I’m pretty sure I haven’t revealed this fact about myself yet, but I LOVE burgers.

This probably surprises a lot of people because for some strange reason, the second people meet me, they think that I’m a vegetarian.

I have NO clue why.

Maybe they assume because we dietitians love our veggies, it automatically makes us vegetarians?!

Anyways…

Just to clear it up, although I do enjoy meatless meals, I’m not a vegetarian.

And in my opinion, nothing beats a nice juicy burger.

YUM.

Similar to meatballs, I really enjoy experimenting with new burger flavours.

I’ll never forget the time when my husband brought me to a place called “The Works” when we first started dating. I was amazed at how many different burger flavours and combos existed.

It blew my mind.

You can basically choose the type of meat you want, whether you want it topped up or naked, and then there are all of these awesome burgers with fun names to choose from!

Who knew there was so much you could do with a burger?!

Eat it with a bun.

Eat it naked.

Load it with veggies.

Slap on some cheese.

Put the cheese inside the patty.

Serve it with different sauces and spreads.

So yeah….burgers are pretty awesome.

While every once in a while, I enjoy a fully loaded go-big-or-go-home type of burger, for the most part, I try to keep it relatively lean and light since burgers tend to be a regular part of my diet.

That’s why I love these zesty zucchini turkey burgers — they’re loaded with flavour while still being a leaner and healthier option!

How to make Zesty Zucchini Turkey Burgers

So this part doesn’t require much explanation because these burgers are E-A-S-Y.

Basically toss all of the ingredients in a bowl and combine them with a spoon or your hands.

Form into four equal-sized patties.

There are two different methods of cooking – baking or grilling.

To bake: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Bake for 30 minutes or until cooked through.

To grill: I recommend grilling the burgers from a frozen state as they’ll be less likely to fall apart on the grill. Preheat the grill to medium-high. Ease the burger patties onto the grill and do not move them for 6 minutes, leaving the cover of the grill open.

After 6 minutes, flip the burgers just once and let them continue to cook for 8-10 minutes, or until the burgers release from the grill and the interior temperature of the thickest part of the burgers reaches 165°F. Transfer the burgers to a clean plate.

Benefits of Zesty Zucchini Turkey Burgers

We love these turkey burgers for so many reasons!

They are:

Lean & light. Because they’re made with extra lean ground turkey (or ground chicken), they’re lower in saturated fat than your typical beef burgers.
Packed with protein to keep you feeling full for longer.
Refreshing. The lemon zest, fresh herbs and garlic add this refreshing flavour perfect for the summer time!
Full of moisture. The zucchini adds plenty of moisture so no egg is required.
Contains almost a full serving of veggies. How many burgers have that veggie-loaded perk?

So many reasons to enjoy these burgers!

And there’s one more I forgot to mention!