Turkey burgers with roasted eggplant

A lean alternative that isn’t dry.

If you’re big on burgers but are trying to skip the beef, try turkey. Lean ground turkey meat has less fat than ground beef — and stands strong as a good source of protein.

While turkey burgers tend to be dry, this recipe has three moisture-keeping ingredients: onions, ketchup and Worcestershire sauce. Plus, the Mediterranean toppings are so tasty you won’t miss the mayo and cheese. If you like extra crunch, add cucumber slices.

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 medium eggplant, sliced
1 pound lean ground turkey
1/2 white onion, finely grated (about 2 tablespoons)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons ketchup
3/4 teaspoon salt (plus more to taste)
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper (plus more to taste)
1 red onion, sliced
1 tomato, sliced
1 cup hummus
4 whole wheat hamburger buns

Directions

Step 1

Heat oven to 450° F. Grease baking sheet with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Place eggplant slices on baking sheet in a single layer, and brush slices with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Season with salt and pepper and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until soft and golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

Step 2

In a large bowl, mix together ground turkey, grated white onion, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Shape mixture into 4 patties, each about 1/2 inch thick.

Step 3

In a large, nonstick frying pan over medium-high, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the patties and cook about 5 minutes on each side or until they reach an internal temperature of at least 165° F.

Step 4

Place each patty on a bun and top with eggplant, red onion, tomato and hummus. Serve and enjoy.

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Page Last Updated: 4/30/2025