I remember when the ground turkey craze first started. Finally, there was a viable, healthy alternative to eating chicken in every meal. Ground turkey became the new star of so many of my favorite dishes.

The only problem was, while ground turkey seemed to make a great substitute for beef, it just didn’t possess the same level of flavor. In some dishes, like spaghetti, I was able to mask the lack of flavor from the turkey with the richness of other ingredients. However, any dish where the turkey was supposed to be the star always ended up being disappointing. 

Burgers were the dish that disappointed me the most. I have fond memories from my childhood of lazy summer afternoons, my father grilling succulent burgers on the back deck. I wanted to be able to experience that delicious flavor again, but still be loving my body while eating it. 

Now, I have the answer. After years, I am surprised to say that I have discovered a low-FODMAP way to create the best turkey burgers I have ever tasted. 

This discovery was made with my fiancé, Joseph, while we were grilling this summer. He had decided to start eating turkey burgers as a healthier alternative, and I was attempting turkey burgers again because the low-FODMAP diet made my veggie burgers now a forbidden food (I must bid a sad farewell to my favorite MorningStar burgers). 

I found a simple burger seasoning recipe online, and after tweaking the ingredients a little, it was a low-FODMAP achievement that deserves a spot in every cookbook. The secret is this: Instead of mixing the seasoning into the meat, Joseph had the brilliant idea of using it as a rub on the already-formed, raw burger patties. The result is a spicy, flavorful, succulent burger that dares to compete with the burgers from my childhood. 

Check out the recipe below, and leave me a comment about what you think! I would love to hear how they turned out for you, and your favorite ways to use ground turkey. 

Low-FODMAP Turkey Burgers

Makes: 4 burgers

Ingredients:

• 1 pound 93% lean ground turkey
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

Directions:

1. Mix seasonings together in a small bowl.
2. Form turkey into four patties. Spread the seasoning evenly over each patty, then rub the seasoning over the surface of the meat. 
3. Grill to your desired level of doneness. Enjoy!

Notes:

• The thicker the burgers, the more juicy and succulent they are. We have found that making four burgers out of one pound of meat is the perfect amount. 
• The seasoning recipe was originally inspired by the Easy Burger Seasoning Blend recipe on The Spruce Eats. If you aren’t restricted by a low-FODMAP diet, check out their recipe – it just adds a little garlic and onion, which I am sure would be a delicious addition.