BBQ Turkey Sliders

^{This post has been sponsored by Andria's Food Group. All opinions expressed are my own.}

Today we're preparing one of my game day must-haves - BBQ Turkey Sliders. We're preparing ours with a mix of ground turkey and Andria's Barbecue Sauce, infusing them with a mix of sweet and smoky goodness, mixed with panko for added texture. We're setting the sliders on brioche buns before layering on pickles, onions, and avocado slices, and folding them into brioche buns.

Our turkey sliders bridge the gap between healthy eating and indulgence by using lean meat, while ensuring that the patties themselves grill moist, juicy, and deliciously flavorful. Our two secret ingredients are panko breadcrumbs - which absorb and hold in moisture - and Andria's Barbecue Sauce, which we're adding to the mix itself, and then brushing on during grilling, giving the patties a sweet and smoky flavor.

Whether you're hosting a crowd for game day or prepping a weeknight meal, these sliders provide a lighter option without compromising on flavor. As a nice bonus, they're super simple to pull together. Now, without further introduction, let's make some sliders.

BBQ Turkey Sliders - Recipe Overview

Taste and Texture

If you shy away from turkey burgers because you think they won't be as juicy as their beefy counterparts, I invite you to let these turkey sliders change your mind. These patties cook up both juicy and tender, with a delicious turkey flavor that works beautifully with today's key ingredient - Andria's Barbecue Sauce. Not only are we brushing the BBQ sauce on during cooking, which gives the sliders a nice glaze, but we're also mixing it into the patties to impart some of that sweet and herbal goodness into the patties themselves. Meanwhile, we've got roasted garlic bringing savory depth and sweetness. However, the panko breadcrumbs are a big part of what keeps these patties juicy, since they help with moisture retention - and a lack of moisture is what turns most people off from turkey patties. Turkey meat is also markedly leaner than beef or pork, meaning less fat, and that also can contribute to them cooking up dry.

Difficulty Level

Beginner-friendly. We're achieving restaurant-quality sliders with minimal effort. All we're doing is mixing the ingredients, forming the patties, then chilling and pan-frying. Chilling the patties ensures that they retain their texture, while also helping with even cooking. This recipe requires no special equipment, no complex cooking techniques, and no precision timing. I promise, as far as burger recipes go, today's turkey sliders couldn't be simpler.

Preparation Process

About an hour and fifteen minutes in total, with roughly 20 minutes being active cooking. We start off by mixing the ingredients for patties, which should only take about five minutes. We then form the patties and set them in the freezer for 20-30 minutes. After that, we cook them, which should take about ten minutes, depending on the thickness of the patties. For the sake of efficiency, we use the freezer time to prep the garnish and set up the slider building area.

Pairings

• Homemade French Fries: My go-to pairing for sliders has to be my Crispy Oven Baked Fries. This recipe skips the deep fryer and opts for a much simpler oven fry method.
• Homemade Onion Rings: Believe it or not, these onion rings are one of my all-time favorite recipes here on Living the Gourmet. I still remember prepping this recipe and how happy I was with how it came out. Hardy, satisfying, and with that delectable "onion ring crunch," I promise you won't be disappointed.
• Coleslaw: For a bit of refreshing crunch alongside the savory patties, I'd also recommend a homemade coleslaw. This can be prepped the night before and set in an airtight container in the fridge to help cut down on prep time.

BBQ Turkey Sliders - Ingredient Checklist

• 1 lb ground turkey:
  • How Lean? Choose turkey meat that's in the 85-93% lean range for the best balance.
  • Avoid Ultra-Lean: I really would not go beyond 93% lean. Fat is moisture and flavor, and if the meat is too lean, there is no way to achieve juicy patties.
  • Substitute: Pork or chicken would be my go-to. Beef can also work, but this is not really a recipe tailored for beef.
• 1 tablespoon Andria's Barbecue Sauce (for mixing)
  • The Secret Ingredient: This is a bold, pleasantly smoky, decadently thick, and slightly sweet barbecue sauce, and mixing it into the sliders helps to not only give them a delicious barbecue flavor but also works to balance the turkey's mild flavor.
  • Room Temperature: We want to mix 'all' of the patty ingredients at room temperature, and that includes the sauce, since it helps to achieve a more even incorporation.
• 1 teaspoon coarse-ground black pepper
  • Fresh Ground: For best aromatics, use fresh ground.
  • Substitute: If pre-ground is all you have on hand, or if you want to save a few minutes of prep time, pre-ground will get the job done just fine.
• 1 Egg
  • Binding: The egg helps to bind the patty mixture together, ensuring they keep their shape through grilling.
  • Fat: The added fat from the egg helps to ensure the patties cook up juicy. Remember, fat is both flavor and moisture.
  • Structure: The added protein works to give the patties structure, without making them heavy.
• ¼ cup Panko breadcrumbs
  • Note: Japanese-style breadcrumbs are lighter than traditional breadcrumbs, while also being crispier.
  • Moisture: The breadcrumbs work to absorb and hold moisture, helping to ensure a juicier patty.
  • Structure: They give the patties a lighter structure and body than regular breadcrumbs.
• 2-3 tablespoons fresh parsley
  • Flat-Leaf: Always use flat-leaf Italian parsley unless a recipe specifically asks for curly leaf parsley. Flat leaf parsley has a bright herbal taste, whereas curly leaf parsley is mild to the point of 'tasting like nothing,' and that's why it is almost exclusively used as a garnish.
• 1 clove garlic, roasted
  • Why Roast It? Roasting the garlic mutes its natural bite and brings out a savory sweetness.
  • Substitute: About a half teaspoon of garlic powder, or 1 clove of minced fresh garlic.
• ¼ cup scallions, chopped (about 4 scallions)
  • Onion Flavor, No Bite: Scallions bring some nice oniony flavor, but skip the bite.
  • Slice Thin: We want to slice the scallions thin to promote even distribution throughout the patties.
• ½ teaspoon salt
  • Essential: Works to bind the other flavors together.
  • Table Salt: You can use a coarse grind salt if you want - such as sea salt - but table salt will get the job done just fine.

Ingredients for Grilling the Patties

• Andria's Barbecue Sauce (For Brushing)
  • Brush During Grilling: Using Andria's Barbecue Sauce to brush the patties during grilling creates a lovely caramelized glaze that's sweet and sticky, with just a hint of background smoke. Delicious.
  • Apply Generously: Apply the sauce generously during cooking. We want those flavors sealed into the burgers.
  • Why You'll Love Andria's Barbecue Sauce: Andria's line of sauces and salad dressings really do enhance every recipe they're a part of. For these chicken wings, the BBQ sauce brings a delicious blend of sweet and savory, while being pleasantly thick and smoky. Whether you're grilling sausages or steaks, planking salmon, or prepping BBQ Chicken Wings, this BBQ Sauce has something to offer. So up your culinary game and grab a bottle. I promise you won't be disappointed.
• 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
  • Prevents Sticking: Grilling the patties in oil prevents them from sticking to the pan. It's really as simple as that.
  • Substitute: I'm using olive oil because it's what I had on hand. Any flavor-neutral cooking oil will get the job done.
• Rolls
  • Your Choice of Rolls: Brioche buns provide a rich and buttery flavor, but potato rolls, hamburger buns, dinner rolls, or even English muffins would all work nicely.

For Garnishing

• Avocado Slices
  • For Color: Some bright green avocado adds a bit of color.
  • For Contrast: Helps balance the flavors of the patties with some contrast, both in terms of flavor and texture.
• Pickles, your choice
  • All Preference: Dill will give you that classic deli pickle tang, whereas bread and butter pickles will play into the bbq sauce. Which you should use is all a matter of preference.
• Red onion, sliced
  • Contrast: Red onion brings some contrast, as well as some oniony bite.
  • Substitute: Your preferred onion type will work just fine here.

Tips for the Perfect Burger

Handling Ground Turkey

You should always handle ground turkey with a light touch. Overmixing and rough handling create dense, tough sliders that cook up dry - due to the introduction of air into the mixture. As such, mix the turkey just until the ingredients are combined, and no more. This includes when shaping the sliders. When forming the patties, shape them as gently as you can without compressing them too much, and make a slight indent in the center to create a "meatball effect' where the sliders will puff up during cooking.

Don't Skip the Freezer

You might be wondering how we ensure the sliders won't fall apart during cooking since we can't risk overworking them when forming the patties. The answer is the freezer. By popping the sliders in the freezer, we're solidifying the sliders, ensuring they won't fall apart during cooking.

Control the Heat

Medium heat is what we're looking for. If the heat is too high, the outside of the patties will burn before the inside has finished cooking. If the heat is too low, the patties won't develop a nice sear and will cook up mushy rather than with a crisp exterior and juicy inside. Thus, medium heat is what we're looking for.

Andria's Barbecue Sauce Application

You'll want to apply Andria's Barbecue Sauce during cooking for maximum impact, brushing it on the cooked side immediately while the surface is still hot to ensure that it caramelizes to give your patties a delicious exterior.

Print

And those are BBQ Turkey Sliders! If you enjoyed today's recipe, or have any questions or suggestions, be sure to let us know in the comments below. We always love hearing from you. And, as always, be sure to try out Andria's line of sauces - from their signature salad dressing and Steak Sauce. I promise, you won't be disappointed.

Happy Cooking!

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