Crispy Smashed Turkey Burgers with Old Bay Fries and Special Sauce

These smashed turkey burgers are all about texture-crispy, craggy edges from pressing thin patties in a hot pan, topped with gooey white cheddar and sweet caramelized onions. A tangy special sauce ties it all together and it’s just as good for dipping the Old Bay seasoned fries on the side.

This recipe delivers big flavor with simple ingredients. The key is to flatten the turkey balls firmly in the pan to maximize browning. Don’t worry if they’re not perfectly round-those irregular edges turn into the best crispy bits. Serve on toasted potato buns for a satisfying meal that’s sure to impress.

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Ingredients

10 ounce Ground TurkeyView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

12 ounce PotatoesView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit OnionView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 cup White Cheddar CheeseView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon Old Bay SeasoningView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit KetchupView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon MayonnaiseView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 unit Potato BunsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 teaspoon Dijon MustardView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) SaltView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon (tsp) SugarView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 teaspoon (tsp) Cooking OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) Black PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Adjust oven rack to top position and preheat to 425°F. Wash and dry produce. Cut potatoes into ½-inch-thick wedges. Halve, peel and thinly slice onion.
2. Toss potatoes on a baking sheet with a drizzle of oil and half the Old Bay Seasoning (you’ll use more later). Season lightly with salt and pepper. Roast on top rack until browned and crispy, 20-25 minutes.
3. While potatoes roast, heat a large drizzle of oil in a medium nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and softened, 8-10 minutes. Add 1 tsp sugar and a splash of water; cook until onion is caramelized and jammy, 2-3 minutes more. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a small bowl.
4. In another small bowl, combine mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard and remaining Old Bay Seasoning to taste. Set aside. Form turkey into two equal-size balls; season all over with salt and pepper.
5. Heat a drizzle of oil in the same pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add turkey balls. Firmly flatten each ball with a spatula to create very thin patties. Cook 3-4 minutes per side. In the last 1-2 minutes, top patties with cheddar; cover pan to melt cheese. Remove from heat.
6. While patties cook, halve and toast buns. Divide buns between plates and fill with patties, caramelized onion and half the special sauce. Serve burgers with Old Bay fries and remaining special sauce for dipping.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use ground beef instead of turkey?

Yes, ground beef works well. The cooking time may vary slightly depending on fat content.

How do I prevent the patties from sticking?

Use a nonstick pan and enough oil. Let the patties cook undisturbed until a crust forms before flipping.

Can I make the special sauce ahead?

Absolutely. Store it in the fridge for up to a week.