Hawaiian Turkey Burgers with Pineapple

Hawaiian Turkey Burgers with Pineapple are a delicious combination of flavors that create a fun burger with a tropical vibe. This is a standout recipe because a sweet and spicy pineapple salsa is mixed directly into the burger, and spooned on top! Quick to whip up, you can make them ahead of time, to boot.

Sweet, smoky, and a little bit spicy, pineapple turkey burgers have a Hawaiian vibe and they're absolutely scrumptious.

You can make and shape them ahead of time and then sauté them right before serving.

These Hawaiian Turkey Burgers would be a huge hit for Memorial Day, July 4th, or any outdoor barbecue or picnic. Of course they're equally scrumptious indoors! 😉

Ingredient Notes

• ground turkey - I like to use about 85% lean ground turkey. With a 15% fat content, it will be nice and juicy. You can substitute the turkey with chicken if you'd like. (Beef is okay too, but I think the flavor of the pineapple is better with poultry in this recipe.)
• Pepper Jack cheese - Though there are variations, Pepper Jack cheese is essentially Monterey Jack cheese, a cow's milk semi-soft cheese with the addition of spicy peppers, usually jalapeños, serranos and/or habaneros. The burgers would be good with plain Monterey Jack or white cheddar cheese, too.
• avocado - Ripe avocados should yield to firm gentle pressure. They will feel slightly soft but not mushy to the touch.
• lettuce - I use Butter lettuce, but use what you like.
• hamburger buns - Use your favorite.
• Pineapple Salsa - The fresh pineapple salsa is mixed into the ground turkey, and spooned on top of the burger. (It's made with red onion, fresh pineapple, roasted green chiles, cilantro, and basil.)

How to Make Hawaiian Turkey Burgers

- Make the pineapple salsa.

- Add the turkey to a large mixing bowl, and mix in ⅔ cup of the salsa and the salt and pepper.

Shape the burgers. Shape the turkey into 4 burgers and place them on a large plate.

Recipe Tip: These burgers will hold together, but they should be handled gently—the mixture is a bit more delicate than that of most burgers. This is why I prefer cooking them in a skillet. If you'd rather grill them, add about ¼ cup breadcrumbs to help firm up the texture. (I love this stovetop grill pan.)

- Coat the bottom of a large sauté pan with olive oil and place it over medium-high heat. When the pan is very hot, add the burgers.

Recipe Tip: You should hear a sizzling sound — if you don’t, wait! You won’t get a nice caramelization and “crust” on the burger if it’s not hot enough.

- Sauté until the bottoms are nicely browned, about 3 minutes, then flip them over and reduce the heat to medium-low. Continue cooking just until the turkey is cooked through, about another 5 minutes.

- Turn off the heat, distribute the slices of cheese between the burgers, cover the pan and let the cheese melt.

- Toast buns.

- Add a lettuce leaf and evenly distribute the remaining ⅓ cup of salsa to the bottom buns and top them with a cheese-topped burger. Then divide the avocado slices between them and close the burgers with the top buns and serve!

Variations

• Changing up the flavors. Feel free to use another fruit salsa, like Green Chile Peach Salsa, Chipotle Mango Salsa, or for a totally different flavor profile, the burgers would also be delicious with Roasted Tomato Poblano Salsa.
• For a mild version. If you want less heat, use regular Monterey Jack cheese and go easy on the jalapeños.
• Other proteins. You can make pineapple burgers the same with ground beef or chicken.
• For more of an Asian vibe. Add a tablespoon of soy sauce or ​​teriyaki sauce, and 2 teaspoons of grated fresh fginger to the turkey mixture.

Can you make them ahead?

• You can make the salsa up to two days ahead of time, keeping it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
• They can be shaped the night before you want to make them, and they are at their best when they're cooked as close to serving time as possible.
• Leftovers can be stored, wrapped well, in the refrigerator for a few days, and they can be frozen for up to a month.

Other Fantastic Must-Try Burger Recipes

• Spicy Sriracha Burger
• Red Quinoa Burgers
• Greek Turkey Burgers
• Grilled Mediterranean Burger
• Sesame-Crusted Ahi Tuna Burgers
• Grilled Jalapeño Pepper Jack Turkey Burgers
• Salmon Burgers (Made with Fresh Salmon)

I hope you love these Hawaiian turkey burgers as much as my family and I do.

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