Description
Savor the juicy, smoky BBQ Ranch Turkey Smash Burger featuring lean ground turkey patties smashed to perfection for a crispy crust and tender inside, layered with creamy ranch dressing, smoky BBQ sauce, fresh lettuce, tomato, and red onion on soft buns. A healthier, flavorful twist on classic smash burgers, perfect for quick weeknight dinners or weekend cookouts.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins & Dairy
- 1 lb ground turkey (93% lean)
- 4 slices cheddar cheese
Condiments & Sauces
- Ranch dressing (amount as desired for spreading)
- Smoky BBQ sauce (amount as desired for drizzling)
Produce
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
- Leafy lettuce (enough for 4 burgers)
- 1 large tomato, sliced thinly
Bread & Buns
- 4 hamburger buns, soft and sturdy
Seasonings & Cooking
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Cooking oil (canola or avocado oil), for searing
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients: Gather all ingredients, rinse the lettuce and tomato, slice the onion and tomato thinly, and set out ranch and BBQ sauce for easy access.
- Form the Turkey Balls: Divide the ground turkey into 4 equal portions and loosely roll each into a ball, avoiding packing tightly to keep patties tender.
- Preheat the Pan: Heat a cast-iron skillet or griddle over medium-high heat and add a light coating of cooking oil to create a perfect searing surface.
- Smash the Patties: Place each turkey ball on the hot skillet, then firmly smash down with a spatula or burger press until about ½ inch thick, ensuring crispy edges.
- Season and Cook: Immediately sprinkle salt and pepper over patties. Cook for 3-4 minutes on one side until browned and caramelized, then carefully flip.
- Add Cheese and Finish Cooking: Place a slice of cheddar cheese on each patty after flipping and cook another 2-3 minutes until fully cooked through and cheese is melted.
- Toast the Buns: While patties finish cooking, lightly toast the buns face-down in skillet or oven for 1-2 minutes for added texture and warmth.
- Assemble the Burger: Spread ranch dressing on bottom bun, add turkey patty, drizzle BBQ sauce on top, then layer lettuce, tomato, red onion, and top bun.
Notes
- Don’t overwork the meat to keep patties tender and juicy.
- Use high heat to achieve a crispy, caramelized crust.
- Smash meat quickly and firmly right after placing on the pan for best sear.
- Use a spatula with a thin edge to easily flip patties without tearing.
- Let patties rest a few minutes off heat to lock in juices before serving.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Pan-frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 burger
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: BBQ turkey burger, smash burger, healthy burger, turkey smash burger, ranch dressing burger
