This Pineapple Turkey Burger is an excellent choice to impress your guests for casual entertaining, and it's easy enough for a busy weeknight dinner too. Ground turkey, mixed with smoky roasted Green Chile Pineapple Salsa and melting Pepper Jack cheese on top, it just doesn't get any better! 
A Pineapple Turkey Burger is always fun for a casual party in the summertime.
Sweet, smoky and a little bit spicy, they're always a hit and everyone will be asking you for this delicious recipe.
And they're fairly fast to get on the table, so they work well for busy weeknights too.
Ingredients for Pineapple Turkey Burgers
There are two main elements to this absolutely scrumptious burger. Juicy turkey and sweet and smoky pineapple salsa.
- ground turkey
- salt, black pepper
- Pepper Jack cheese
- avocado
- lettuce
- hamburger buns
- Green Hatch Chile Pineapple Salsa
How to Make them
(More detailed instructions are in the recipe card below.)
- Make the pineapple salsa recipe (link below in recipe).
- Add the turkey to a large bowl, and mix in ⅔ cup of the salsa, and the salt and pepper.
- Shape into 4 burgers and place them on a large plate.
- Coat the bottom of a large sauté pan with olive oil and place it over medium-high heat. When it's hot, add the burgers. Sauté until the bottoms are nicely browned, about 3 minutes, then flip them and reduce the heat to medium-low. Continue cooking just until the turkey is cooked through, about another 5 minutes.
- Turn off the heat, distribute the slices of cheese between the burgers, cover the pan and let the cheese melt.
- Toast buns, add a lettuce leaf and the remaining salsa to the bottom buns and top it with a cheese-topped burger. Then divide the avocado slices between them and close the burger with the top of the bun.
Recipe Tips and Substitutions
- The burgers can be made with a store bought pineapple salsa to save time, and you can even use another fruit salsa. Mango or papaya would also be fun.
- I make these burgers in a cast iron skillet, but you can also use a grill. Just handle them carefully as they might be a bit more fragile than other burgers because of the salsa.
Can you make Pineapple Turkey Burgers ahead?
- You can make the salsa up to two days ahead of time, keeping it in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator.
- They can be shaped the the night before you want to make them, and they are at their best when they're cooked as close to serving time as possible.
- Leftovers can be stored, wrapped well, in the refrigerator for a few days, and they can be frozen for up to a month.
More Scrumptious burger recipes:
Pineapple Turkey Burger Recipe
This Pineapple Turkey Burger is an excellent choice to impress your guests for casual entertaining, and it's easy enough for a busy weeknight dinner too.
*Please note that the prep time does not include the time it takes to make the Pineapple Salsa, which can be made up to two days ahead.
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 cup Pineapple Salsa (click here for recipe), (divided)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- a few turns freshly ground black pepper
- olive oil for the pan
- 4 of your favorite hamburger buns
- 8 ounces Pepper Jack cheese, (thinly sliced)
- 4 large leaves of lettuce (any variety), (washed, dried)
- 1 small ripe avocado, (thinly sliced )
-
Make the pineapple salsa, if you haven't already.
-
Make the turkey mixture. Add the turkey to a large mixing bowl, and mix in ⅔ cup of the salsa and the salt and pepper.
-
Shape the burgers. Shape the turkey into 4 burgers and place them on a large plate. (Handle them carefully, as the mixture will be somewhat fragile.)
-
Cook the burgers. Coat the bottom of a large sauté pan with olive oil and place it over medium-high heat.
When the pan is very hot, add the burgers. You should hear a sizzling sound — if you don’t -- wait! You won’t get a nice caramelization and “crust” on the burger if it’s not hot enough. Sauté until the bottoms are nicely browned, about 3 minutes, then flip them over and reduce the heat to medium-low. Continue cooking just until the turkey is cooked through, about another 5 minutes.
-
Assemble. Turn off the heat, distribute the slices of cheese between the burgers, cover the pan and let the cheese melt.
Toast buns.
Add a lettuce leaf and evenly distribute the remaining ⅓ cup of salsa to the bottom buns and top them with a cheese-topped burger. Then divide the avocado slices between them and close the burger with the top of the bun and serve!
Calorie count is only an estimate.
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sippitysup
I am craving this combination. It hits all my "sweet" spots. GREG
valentina
Right!? 😀
Julie | Bunsen Burner Bakery
This looks AMAZING. I don't like burgers, I really don't like turkey - and yet I'm ready to reach through my computer and grab this and take a big bite. That hatch chile salsa sounds incredible - I am always on the look out for hatches and yet I can't seem to find them in the area. So, so sad.
valentina
Hi Julie, Wow, that's the most awesome compliment ever. Thank you! Maybe I'll turn you into a turkey lover. 😉 Here's a list of stores selling Hatch chiles all over the country -- hopefully there's one near you! https://www.melissas.com/Articles.asp?ID=4172 🙂
Manju | Cooking Curries
I love hatch chillies and I can imagine how the heat will go so well with the pineapple salsa in the burger. So good!
valentina
Thank you! Hope you try it! 🙂
David
My mother used to put pineapple in her meatloaf and it was wonderful. It kept the meat really moist. So why not on a burger?
valentina
Oh I love the sound of that. Next time I make meatloaf, I'm adding pineapple for sure. Thank you!
Tina Jui | The Worktop
I need to get my hands on some hatch chiles after seeing this post! Looks like such a hearty burger.
valentina
Thanks so much. Hope you do! 🙂
Sally - My Custard Pie
Admit to a slight chilli addiction so this is right up my street. Could you substitute other meats for the turkey? Not into anything that's not freerange and it's hard to get high welfare turkey here all year round. Gorgeous pics.
valentina
Hi Sally! Yes -- I actually was thinking this would be great with salmon. (Pulse the salmon in a food processor and then add the salsa. You might need to add an egg to hold it together and use a bit less of the sauce and salsa.) Enjoy!
Bintu - Recipes From A Pantry
Love the combination of turkey and chiles. Healthier for you too than burgers made with beef.
valentina
Thank you! Hope you try them! 🙂
Amanda Mason
This looks so divine and I'm now very interested in the "not ketchup"! Super catchy!!
valentina
Thanks, Amanda! All of the Not Ketchup flavors are great -- I especially like the Cherry Chipotle. 🙂
Brian Jones
Now that looks like my kinda burger, the relish on it sounds heavenly!
valentina
Thanks, Brian! Enjoy!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy
That pineapple salsa sounds epic! I would want to put it on everything, especially burgers!
valentina
Hope you try it! 🙂
Luci
Oh I love the idea of a fruit-based spicy salsa! Brilliant!
valentina
Thanks so much, Luci!
Jemma
This looks like one epic burger! I love the sound of the pineapple salsa.
valentina
Thanks so much, Jemma. Delicious on everything! 🙂