These Green Chile Turkey Burgers with Guacamole and Pickled Red Onions are packed with Southwest flavor and perfect for grilling this spring or summer!
Happy National Burger Month! Yep, May is burger month. It’s the perfect month to celebrate burgers because it’s finally warm enough to grill, unless of course you’re living in Colorado, then there’s always that possibility of a freak spring snow. For everyone else though, you’re probably good to go. Memorial Day is also this month which for most of us is the first holiday of the spring and summer season that requires a good barbecue and get together with friends and family. To celebrate this month of all things burgers I joined up with a group of bloggers who will all be sharing creative and delicious burgers throughout the month of May. The creator of this epic month of burger goodness is Kita at Girl Carnivore, be sure to check out her amazing burger! My contribution to #BURGERMONTH are these mouthwatering Green Chile Turkey Burgers with Guacamole and Pickled Red Onions!
If you’ve been following my blog for a while you’ve probably picked up on the fact that I LOVE anything made with green chiles! Born and raised in Arizona and now living in Colorado, roasted green chiles are in my blood. One of my favorite times of year is late summer when the roasted Hatch green chiles are available. Last year I stocked up on them at our local farmers market and froze them so I’d have them available all year round. If you’ve ever smelled green chiles roasting in one of the big chile roasters you know the peppery charred smell is intoxicating and one you don’t forget!
I’m sure you get the picture by now that I’m a little obsessed with them. To add to my obsession, the only obvious thing to do was make these green chile turkey burgers for burger month. The burger itself is lean thanks to the turkey, but what it lacks in fat it makes up for in flavor. The star is the roasted green chiles, which can easily be replaced with canned green chiles if you aren’t fortunate enough to have a bag in your freezer. There is also a good amount of cumin, chili powder and a little cilantro.
Every burger needs some awesome toppings and since I went Southwest with mine, pepper Jack cheese, guacamole and pickled red onions were a must! I shared the recipe I use for guacamole, but I know everyone has their own preference so feel free to use this or your own favorite recipe. If you’re like me and don’t care for the strong flavor of raw onions, give this super easy quick pickled version a try. It sweetens them up and mellows out the intense flavor. As if the turkey burger recipe isn’t fantastic enough on it’s own, there are also giveaways going on all month long. Check out all the awesome prizes and enter for your chance to win below!
Green Chile Turkey Burgers with Guacamole and Pickled Red Onions
Ingredients
Green Chile Turkey Burgers
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1/2 cup diced roasted green chiles or canned green chile
- 1/4 cup grated onion
- Juice of half a lime
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro (omit if you don't like cilantro)
- 2 teaspoons chile powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
- Kosher salt and black pepper to taste
- Pepper Jack cheese for topping the burgers
- 4 buns, toasted or grilled
Guacamole
- 1 avocado
- 2 tablespoons diced red onion
- 2 tablespoons diced roasted green chiles or canned green chiles
- Juice of a lime
- 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
- Hot sauce to taste (optional)
- Kosher salt to taste
Pickled Red Onions
- 1 red onion, thinly sliced
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/3 cup apple cider or red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- Kosher salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
Pickled Red Onions
- In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the water, vinegar, honey, salt and pepper.
- Add in the red onion, cover with plastic wrap and let it sit at room temperature for an hour.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Guacamole
- Scoop the flesh of the avocado out and into a large bowl.
- Add in the remaining ingredients and use a potato masher or back of a fork to mash into the desired consistency.
- Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Green Chile Turkey Burgers
- Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
- In a large bowl stir together the green chiles, onion, lime juice, cilantro and spices.
- Add in the ground turkey and use your hands to combine everything being careful not to overwork the meat.
- Form the mixture into 4 patties.
- Oil the grill grates then place the patties on and grill for approximately 3-4 minutes per side or until cooked all the way through.
- During the last minute of cooking top the burgers with pepper jack cheese.
- Serve the burgers on toasted or grilled buns topped with guacamole and pickled red onions.
- American Lamb Board – (4) ALB prize boxes 5 lbs of ground lamb, an apron and a meat thermometer
- Cabot Cheese – (4) Cabot Cheese Legacy Gift Box – 2 each Farmhouse Reserve, White Oak & Alpine Cheddar – 1 each New York Vintage & Seriously Sharp & 1 Wine Bottle Opener
- Cassabella – Week 3 – 1 Chop ‘N Prep™ Cutting Board with 4 Cutting Mats
- Certified Angus Beef – (4) CAB prize grilling accessory kit, $50 VISA card, and a George Motz Hamburger America cookbook.
- Char-Broil – (4) Char-Broil Performance 780 Charcoal Grill
- Cowboy Charcoal – (4) Hardwood Lump Charcoal, a variety of wood chips and some of Cowboy’s new BBQ sauces.
- Cuttingboard.com – (4) Olive Wood Carver Board
- Dreamfarm – Week 2 – Big Vebo
- Grill Master Club Subscription Grilling Box – (4) curated grill sample boxes
- KitchenIQ -Week 1 – V-etched Container Grater
- Swissmar – Week 4 – Glow 7PC Fondue Set
Thanks to Certified Angus Beef, Char-broil, KitchenIQ, Cabot Cheese, Grill Master Club, American Lamb Board, Cowboy Charcoal and CuttingBoard.com for the awesome grill prize packages!
oh my! This sound sooo good!! Yummo!!!
Holy smokes does that look amazing!! I am so glad I came up with an avocado free guac recipe (I am allergic to avocados :( sad I know), so I can cram this gorgeous burger in my face hehe!!
Thanks Bobbi! I’ll have to check out your blog for this avocado free guac, I’m intrigued!
Those flavors look outrageous, Danae! I can’t wait to try them. Pickled onions are always a favorite…but add the green chiles and I think it’ love!
Thanks Camilla! I heart green chiles! :-)
LOVE all of these flavors~
Thanks Carrie!
This is my kind of burger! I’m all for topping burgers with guacamole!
It’s a very good thing! Thanks Jessica!
THAT cheese and guac alone is making me weak at the knees! Looks absolutely sensational Danae!
Haha! Don’t fall! ;-)
I love an egg on my burgers!
An egg would put this burger over the top! :-)
Yummm, Danae! A Turkey Burger with that guac and the cheeeeese? A million times yes!!
Thanks Colleen!
I love grilled onion and bell pepper on my burger but I think now I will try guacamole, the pic looks sooooo good.
Thank you! Grilled onions would be a great sub if you don’t want to do the pickled onions, but the guacamole is a must! :-)
I can’t wait to try this. I shouldn’t look at delicious food at this time of night…haha
I’m the same way Marshie! Thank you!
I love this burger Danae! The flavors are fabulous and the pop of acid from the picked onions is the perfect balance. Great choice for #BurgerMonth!
Thanks so much Jane!
These burgers are going to save my life this summer!
They are a life saver Maria! ;-)
As a southern California girl (currently living in AZ), these are all of my favorite flavors. Love it!
Thanks Allison! I think anyone who’s lived or lives in the Southwest has a love for this combination of flavors!
Best looking turkey burger I’ve seen in a long time.
Thanks Renee!
I love avocado with everything, especially with burgers!
It’s so good on this burger Lisa!
Boy does this look like the best way to celebrate Burger Month–and I love green chiles as well :) So good!
Thanks Kristen! Green chiles are the best!
Fabulous burger, Danae! I love a turkey burger more than a beef burger and those pickled onions… love! I could eat pickled onions on everything!!
Thanks Paula! I’m with you, I prefer turkey burgers as well. I’m new to pickled red onions, but I’m totally hooked on them now!