Make the most delicious juicy turkey burger sliders on Hawaiian rolls in under an hour with simple, whole food ingredients! This recipe is hit at every party and great for game day watch parties or tailgating.
And if you enjoy this recipe, you'll love my BBQ chicken sliders made in the crockpot!
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Why You'll Love this Recipe
Juicy and Flavorful - These are not boring turkey burgers. They are moist and filled with savory flavor on golden buttery buns and the sweet grilled pineapple sets everything off.
No Grill Required - You certainly can make them on the grill but I developed this recipe indoors on a grill pan so you can make them year-round!
Perfect for Parties - I don't really watch any sports but love to host and these lil sliders are always a hit at game day watch parties. They're small but filling so won't need to make a ton to keep your guests satiated.
And if you're looking for more game day recipes, check out my peanut butter chicken wings, grilled guacamole or deviled egg dip!
What You'll Need for this Recipe
Ground turkey gets a bad rep for dryness but I use a blend of 85 and 93 percent lean to make for more moist patties.
Pineapple gets sprinkled with ginger then grilled for sweet, spiced, smoky flavor and extra juiciness in the sliders. You can use fresh cut pineapple or pineapple rings.
Check out the recipe card below for full ingredients list, measurements, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions!
Substitutions & Variations
Mayonnaise adds moisture and serves as a binder in this recipe but you can substitute with Greek yogurt, if you like.
Onion - Use whichever kind of onion you like, I just absolutely recommend grating them for the best results. More on that below!
Double Patties - Sometimes I like to stack the sliders for extra filling protein.
Sauce - Add ketchup, mustard, hibiscus barbecue sauce or whatever you want as sauce for your slider burgers.
Lettuce Wraps - Want to skip the buns, these slider patties fit nicely into little lettuce wraps so you can serve and enjoy with different dietary needs.
If you like bun-less sliders, try my healthy burger salad bowl!
How to Make Homemade Turkey Burger Sliders
Step One: Mix up the turkey burger patty ingredients, cover and chill.
Step Two: Meanwhile butter and toast the Hawaiian rolls on a sheet pan in the oven until golden brown.
Pro Tip #1: Chilling the turkey mixture allows the flavors to meld together and makes it firmer so it's easier to form into patties.
Pro Tip #2: To make cutting the buns for sliders without separating them very easy, remove the buns from packaging then use a knife to carefully slice the entire group of buns horizontally while gently holding it in place with your hand over top.
Step Three: While your buns toast and the turkey chills, cut lettuce into pieces that will fit on the sliders.
Step Four: And cut the pineapple, as well, sprinkle with ground ginger and grill.
Step Five: Form the chilled meat mixture into patties about 2 ½ inches across.
Step Six: Cook the patties on preheated grill pan or skillet.
Pro Tip #3: When you flip the patties, be sure to gently press them down to spread out the meat and help them cook evenly.
Step Seven: To assemble each slider, add a piece of lettuce to the bottom bun, followed by a patty, pineapple, then the top bun.
Pro Tip #4: Use a toothpick to hold the sliders together just be careful to remove them before eating.
The best turkey burger sliders pair perfectly with my crispy baked sweet potato fries so go ahead and add them to your menu!
Top Tips for Juicy Turkey Sliders
- Use a mixture of fat contents, which will create more moisture in the patties as the fat melts during cooking than using only very lean turkey.
- Grate the onion into your ground turkey mixture instead of chopping it. This creates a smoother patty texture, with more consistent flavor and allows the onion to release more of its moisture into the patties.
- Add mayonnaise or Greek yogurt for an extra dose of fat that helps hold the patties together.
- Flip then press the patties to spread out the meat. This will help them cook more evenly and reduce cooking time.
- Don't overcook turkey burger sliders! Use a meat thermometer to check temperature and stop cooking once they reach 165 degrees Farenheit.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can prepare turkey burger slider patties up to three days in advance. I don't recommend toasting the buns in advance.
Remove the buns from packaging then use a knife to carefully slice the entire group of buns horizontally while gently holding it in place with your hand over top. This will create separate groups of top and bottom buns you can then separate.
Store refrigerated in an airtight container for up to four days. Remove pineapple and lettuce before reheating then add back when serving.
You can freeze turkey burger patties for sliders either uncooked or cooked but to prevent them drying out, it's better to freeze uncooked. To do this, shape the patties and freeze on a parchment-lined sheet pan, spaced out at least one inch apart. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer safe bag or airtight containers to keep for up to three months.
More Favorite Turkey Recipes
I hope you'll enjoy these turkey burger sliders on Hawaiian rolls with your crew soon and very soon. And sharing is caring so be sure to pin this easy Super Bowl recipe for later and follow me over on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
Ultimate Turkey Burger Sliders on Hawaiian Rolls
Equipment
- 1 knife
- 1 mixing bowl
- 1 grill pan or skillet
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground turkey
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ white onion grated or finely diced
- 4 ounces cello mushrooms diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced or chopped
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise or full fat Greek yogurt
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- sea salt to taste
- 16 King's Hawaiian rolls
- 6 tablespoons butter melted
- 1 head green leaf lettuce
- 8 pineapple rings
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- Using a kitchen spoon or your hands, combine turkey, Worcestershire sauce, onion, mushrooms, garlic, mayonnaise, chili powder, black pepper, and sea salt in a large bowl until well mixed. Cover and place in fridge for at least 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, slice the King's Hawaiian rolls in half horizontally then place on prepared sheet pan. Brush with melted butter and bake for about 12 minutes or until golden brown.
- While rolls toast, cut lettuce into pieces that will fit on each slider.
- Place grill pan on stove top over medium heat and spray with oil. Cut pineapple rings into halves and sprinkle each piece with ground ginger then place on heated grill pan and cook for about three minutes each side.
- Add more oil to pan then remove ground turkey mixture from fridge and form into 16 patties, about 2 ½ inches across and two inches thick.
- Place a few patties on pan and cook for about four minutes then flip and gently press to flatten to about one inch thickness. Continue cooking for about five minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 165 degree Farenheit. Repeat until all patties are cooked.
- Assemble each slider starting with bottom bun, lettuce, patty, pineapple, then top bun.
Notes
- Use a mixture of fat contents, which will create more moisture in the patties as the fat melts during cooking than using only very lean turkey.
- Grate the onion into your ground turkey mixture instead of chopping it. This creates a smoother patty texture, with more consistent flavor and allows the onion to release more of its moisture into the patties.
- Add mayonnaise or Greek yogurt for an extra dose of fat that helps hold the patties together.
- Flip then press the patties to spread out the meat. This will help them cook more evenly and reduce cooking time.
- Don't overcook turkey burger sliders! Use a meat thermometer to check temperature and stop cooking once they reach 165 degrees Farenheit.
Stephanie Whindleton says
Hands down, this was the BEST recipe I’ve ever had for turkey sliders. My DH and adult children were amazed as well. I even shared it with my coworkers. When asked if I came up with this lovely idea myself, I wanted to lie lol but couldn’t. I provided the recipe and your website. Thank you so much for a phenomenal recipe. I can’t wait to try more of your recipes!!!!
Jazzmine Woodard says
Thanks for your feedback, Stephanie, and I'm SO glad you and your loved ones enjoyed these sliders! Hope you find more to love here soon.
Mila Buckley says
Turkey burgers are so underrated, and I love how well seasoned yours are! These will be perfect for a July 4th picnic!
Charla says
Thanks for providing that background info on the recipe. I don;t think I've ever made turkey burgers only beef. I want to try this recipe!!
Jazz says
You won't even notice a difference!
Aaron Oliver says
These look delicious! I'd never think to put greek yogurt in a hamburger mixture! Does it help maintain the juices? Definitely want to give this recipe a try!
Jazz says
Hi, Aaron! Yes, the Greek yogurt helps maintain moisture--much like mayo would.
Erika | Black Girls Who Brunch says
YUM! I love the play on Hawaiian rolls, a favorite of mine. I'll be checking out the burger recipe though! I am interested in the flavor the Greek yogurt adds to it!
Jazz says
The Greek yogurt adds moisture but not much flavor. Think of it like how you would add mayo to a burger mixture.
JAYNE RAIN says
Looks delicious! I am going to try one! Thanks.
Katrina Adams says
I love turkey burgers and these sound delicious!!! Can’t wait to try!!
Shanika says
Wow, these sliders look great! I love the grilled pineapples and everything! Saving this to give it a try!