Not all tailgates need to be centered around big, fatty meats and greasy foods. Sometimes it's nice to lighten things up a little. If you are going to prepare a lighter tailgate, you should make sure the flavors are strong and spicy. This turkey burger is simple to make, as it only has three ingredients in the burger mix. It's also flavorful and packs enough punch to pull off at a tailgate.
John Thomas is the author of the Baltimore-based grilling and BBQ blog grilling24x7.com.
Chipotle turkey burgers
Makes six burgers
1 large sweet onion (diced)
2 pounds ground turkey
1 can chipotles in adobo sauce (4 tablespoons are needed)
6 slices of Pepper Jack cheese
6 burger buns
The day before the tailgate, dice the sweet onion and saute in a medium-heat pan with a little oil. Move the onions around often and cook until caramelized (about 35-40 minutes). Remove the onions from the pan. Puree the entire can of chipotles in adobo sauce in a food processor or blender. Mix the ground turkey with 4 tablespoons of the pureed chipotle mix. Add the diced onions and mix well. Form burger patties and store in a container to take to tailgate.
When you arrive at the tailgate, prepare the grill for medium heat. Because the meat is rather lean, it is wise to brush the grill grates with a little olive oil to help with sticking. Grill the burgers over direct heat for about 5-7 minutes per side. Flip the burgers and immediately place a slice of pepper jack cheese on top. When the burgers are almost finished, grill the burger buns for about 30 seconds to warm and toast them. Serve the burger with lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise and any preferred condiments.