A juicy, stuffed Turkey Cheeseburger (known as a Juicy Lucy) is delicious and easy! Instead of topping your turkey burger with cheese, the cheese is stuffed in the center so it stays melted and gooey.
Turkey Juicy Lucy
I love a good turkey burger on the grill in the summer, especially with cheese and all the toppings. These turkey burgers stuffed with cheese are simple to make, just two ingredients – ground turkey and cheese, not counting salt and pepper. Serve it on a bun or a lettuce wrap and top it with your favorite burger toppings.
Why You Should Stuff Your Burger
I love eating turkey burgers and cheeseburgers, so I’m all about this turkey juicy lucy! Grill them, air fry them or cook them on a skillet or grill pan. A little cheese might escape while cooking, but that’s totally fine! Even my husband who prefers a traditional beef cheeseburger, loved them. Check out my tiktok video here.
There are a few reasons why you might want to stuff your burger like a Juicy Lucy:
- Melty, gooey cheese center: This is the star of the show! The cheese melts throughout the patty, creating a delicious burst of flavor. Regular cheese on top can’t compete with that!
- Surprise factor: Biting into a Juicy Lucy and seeing that molten cheese core is a fun surprise!
- Classic Midwestern experience: If you’re ever in Minneapolis, the birthplace of the Juicy Lucy, trying one is a must-do for any burger enthusiast. But if you’re not, now you can make them yourself.
The not-so-bad downside:
- Messy to eat: Get the napkins ready for some cheese that dribbles as you bite in. It’s all part of the Juicy Lucy experience!
How To Make a Juicy Lucy
Here’s the step by step instructions and a video (see exact recipe in the recipe card below):
- Fold each slice of cheese into quarters to create 4 short stacks.
- Divide the ground turkey into 8 equal balls then flatten into 1/4 inch thick patties.
- Place a stack of cheese in the center of 4 patties and top with the remaining 4 patties. Pinch the edges to seal, then push the up the sides so they are an even thickness. Season both sides with salt and black pepper.
- Place patties and oiled grill and cover, cook about 6 minutes per side over medium heat, or until the center is cooked through. Transfer to buns with toppings and be sure to let it cool before biting into the center so you don’t burn your mouth.
Cheese Options for Turkey Cheeseburgers
Because the cheese is stuffed in the burger, it melts best. Play around with different cheese options. Anything that melts would be great such as Swiss cheese, Fontina, Colby-Jack, Mozzarella, Havarti, etc.
Helpful Turkey Cheeseburger Tips and Variations
- For perfect ground turkey cheeseburgers – be gentle when working the turkey mixture, just like meatballs, overworking can make them tough.
- Juiciest turkey burgers – You need a little fat, avoid the leanest 99% ground turkey breast meat, I prefer the 93% for the juiciest burger.
- Swap the protein – use ground beef, buffalo, lamb or chicken if you prefer.
- Go Keto – leave the bun out and serve it over a bed of lettuce or make a lettuce wrap.
Turkey Cheeseburger Toppings
Top your stuffed turkey cheeseburgers with your favorite toppings! Some suggestions are:
- shredded lettuce
- avocado or guacamole
- red onions
- pickled onions
- caramelized onions
- sauteed mushrooms
- ketchup or mayo ketchup
- mustard
- BBQ sauce
- special sauce
- bacon
What are your favorite burger toppings?
Serving Suggestions:
- You can go the traditional route and serve this turkey cheeseburger with sweet potato fries, French fries, or onion rings.
- For side salads try this Potato salad, macaroni salad, Italian Pasta Salad or corn salad.
- For low carb side dish options try this grilled asparagus, creamy cucumber salad, coleslaw, cabbage slaw, or this green salad.
How to Freeze Stuffed Turkey Cheeseburger
Turkey cheeseburgers are perfect for meal prep because you can freeze them raw. Store them in the freezer in a zip-locked bag with pieces of parchment in between so they don’t stick together. Then when you’re ready to serve them, thaw them in the fridge overnight and cook them according to the instructions.
Once cooked, leftover turkey burgers will last up to 4 days refrigerated.
More Turkey Burger Recipes To Try
- Greek Turkey Burgers with Feta
- Juicy Turkey Burgers with Zucchini
- Naked Turkey Bruschetta Burger
- Buffalo Turkey Cheeseburgers
- Classic Turkey Burger Recipe
Juicy Lucy (Stuffed Turkey Cheeseburgers)
Ingredients
- 4 slices part-skim cheddar cheese slices, or 2% American cheese (0.7 ounces each)
- 1 pound 93% lean ground turkey
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- black pepper, to taste
- 4 hamburger rolls, I use Martins whole wheat 100 calorie potato rolls
- 4 Iceburg lettuce, leaves
- red onion, sliced into rings and separated
- ripe tomatoes, sliced
- sliced pickles
- ketchup and mustard, optional, or your favorite condiments, if desired
Instructions
- Set grill to medium heat. Clean and oil the grates.
- Fold each slice of cheese into quarters to create 4 short stacks.
- Divide the ground turkey into 8 equal balls then flatten into 1/4 inch thick patties.
- Place a stack of cheese in the center of 4 patties and top with the remaining 4 patties. Pinch the edges to seal, then push the up the sides so they are an even thickness. Season both sides with salt and black pepper.
- Place patties and oiled grill and cover, cook about 6 minutes per side over medium heat, or until the center is cooked through. Transfer to buns with toppings and be sure to let it cool before biting into the center so you don't burn your mouth.
