These Turkey Burgers with Caramelized Apples, Shallots, and Gruyère combine sweet golden apples, savory shallots, and nutty melted cheese for an easy, delicious fall dinner.
Turkey Burgers with Caramelized Apple
I originally made these turkey burgers with apples to serve on buns, but after trying them both ways, I preferred them without buns. I loved getting caramelized apples, shallots, and melted Gruyère in every bite without the bread getting in the way. Serve them with a simple arugula salad and roasted baby potatoes, or tuck them into buns if that’s more your style. For a more classic option, try my turkey burger recipe with your favorite toppings.
Why You’ll Love These Turkey Burgers with Apple
I go apple picking every fall, and I love coming home to experiment with new ways to cook with apples. These easy turkey burgers with apple slices, rosemary, thyme, and Gruyère are a cozy fall meal that comes together in about 30 minutes.
- High-protein: Lean ground turkey and Gruyère deliver 34.5 grams per serving.
- Juicy, never dry: 93% lean ground turkey provides the right amount of fat to keep them tender.
- Family-friendly: Serve them as a regular turkey burger without the caramelized shallots and apples for picky eaters.
Ingredients You’ll Need
I added Dijon mustard and fresh rosemary to these turkey burgers to elevate their flavor and complement the caramelized apples and shallots. See the recipe card below for exact measurements.
Turkey Burgers
- 93% lean ground turkey provides protein with little fat.
- Dijon mustard adds tang.
- Chopped rosemary for a savory flavor
- Kosher salt and black pepper for seasoning
- Egg and panko breadcrumbs bind the meat together.
- Grated Gruyère cheese: Sprinkle some on top and cook until melted.
Apples and Shallots
- Olive oil for sautéing
- Apple: Slice a sweet apple into thin slices. I used Golden Delicious apples, but Gala, Fuji, or Honeycrisp work just as well if you can’t find golden ones.
- Shallots are milder than onions and caramelize when cooked slowly over low heat.
- Thyme for freshness
- Kosher salt to bring out the flavors.
- Honey: Just a teaspoon for a little sweetness to balance the savory ingredients.
How to Make Turkey Burgers with Caramelized Apples
When mixing all the burger ingredients, be careful not to overmix, or the patties won’t be as tender and juicy when cooked. See the recipe card at the bottom for printable directions.
- Caramelize the shallots and apple: Add the oil, shallots, apple, thyme, and salt to a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 16 to 20 minutes, until the apples and shallots are tender. If they’re browning too quickly, add 1 tablespoon of water at a time to prevent burning. (I used 2 tablespoons of water when I made them.) Transfer the mixture to a bowl and stir in the honey.
- Make the burger patties: Add the ground turkey, Dijon, rosemary, salt, pepper, egg, and panko to a bowl and mix. Then divide the mixture into four portions and shape each into a patty.
- Cook the turkey burgers: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and spray with oil. Cook the patties for 3 minutes, flip, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cover. Cook for about 5 more minutes, then top with cheese. Cover and cook for another minute until the Gruyère melts. If you’re unsure if they’re completely cooked, check the temp with a meat thermometer–it should read 165°F.
- How to serve: Remove the burgers from the pan and top each with a quarter of the apple mixture.
Variations
- Meat: Replace ground turkey with lean ground chicken.
- Herbs: Feel free to use only one herb if you don’t want to buy both, or try them with sage.
- Panko: Substitute plain breadcrumbs.
- Cheese: Swap Gruyère with Swiss, white cheddar, or Brie. You can also use sliced cheese if you don’t have grated cheese.
- Shallots: Sub red onions for shallots.
- Sweetener: Swap honey for maple syrup.
Serving Suggestions
I enjoyed eating these turkey burgers without a bun. Below are some side dish ideas to pair with them. If you’d prefer to eat them as burgers, use your favorite buns and a little Dijon and mayo. They’d also be great over a bed of mixed greens with balsamic vinaigrette as a salad.
Vegetables
Rice and Potatoes
Storage and Reheating
- Make ahead: Mix and shape the patties, then refrigerate for up to 1 day in advance. You can also slice the shallots in advance and refrigerate them in an airtight container.
- Refrigerate the burgers and the sautéed apples and shallots in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: If frozen, thaw in the fridge first. Microwave for 30 to 60 seconds until warm.
More Ground Turkey Recipes You’ll Love
Ground turkey is a fantastic source of lean protein and is so easy to cook. I have over 100 ground turkey recipes. Below are five of my favorites.
- The Best Turkey Meatloaf Recipe
- Crockpot Turkey Chili (Kid-friendly)
- Ground Turkey Skillet with Zucchini, Corn, Black Beans, and Tomato
- Greek Turkey Burgers
- Turkey Picadillo
Turkey Burgers with Apple and Gruyère
Ingredients
For the Burgers:
- 1 pound 93% lean ground turkey
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- ¾ teaspoon finely chopped rosemary
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup plain panko, or gluten-free panko
- 1 cup grated gruyere cheese, or slices
For the Apples and Shallots:
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 medium sweet apple, such as Gala, cored and sliced thin, about 1 ½ cups
- 2 large shallots, sliced into rings, about 1 cup
- ½ teaspoon fresh thyme
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon honey
Instructions
- Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add the oil, shallots, apple, thyme and salt. Stir to combine. Cook, stirring occasionally until the apples and onions are tender, about 16 to 20 minutes. If the mixture starts to get too brown, add a splash of water, about 1 tablespoon at a time (I used 2 total). Transfer to a bowl and stir in the honey. Set aside.
- Meanwhile make the burger patties, add all of the ingredients to a mixing bowl. Mix well to combine evenly. With wet hands, form the mixture into 4 equal patties.
- Heat the large skillet over medium-high heat. Spray with oil and place the patties in the pan in an evenly layer. Cook for 3 minutes, then flip. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cover. Continue cooking until the burgers are cooked through, about 5 minutes then top with the gruyere cheese, cover until the cheese is melted, 1 minute more.
- Remove from the pan and serve immediately topped with the apple and shallot mixture.
Last Step:
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I didn’t feel like these needed extra toppings but feel free to add whatever you like. As far as condiments, you can use little dijon and mayo if serving on a bun.