Smashed Turkey Burgers with Old Bay Fries and Special Sauce

These smashed turkey burgers are all about texture-crispy, craggy edges achieved by pressing ground turkey into thin patties in a hot pan. Topped with gooey white cheddar, caramelized onions and a tangy special sauce, they’re sandwiched in soft potato buns. Serve with Old Bay-seasoned fries for a crowd-pleasing dinner.

The secret to the perfect smash is a hot pan and a firm spatula press. Don’t worry if the patties aren’t perfectly round; those irregular edges turn delightfully crispy. This recipe delivers juicy, flavorful burgers with minimal fuss.

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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

4 teaspoon (tsp) Cooking OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) SaltView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

teaspoon (tsp) Black PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon (tsp) SugarView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Adjust rack to top position and preheat oven 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 large, preferably 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. Meanwhile, in a second small bowl, combine mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard and as much remaining Old Bay Seasoning as you like. Set aside. Form ground 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 to desired doneness, 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 on the side 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; cook to your desired doneness.

What can I substitute for Old Bay seasoning?

You can use a mix of celery salt, paprika, black pepper and cayenne pepper as a substitute.

How do I store leftovers?

Store burgers and fries separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in a pan or oven to restore crispiness.