When I original created this recipe, it was spring. Currently, it’s nine days away from Thanksgiving, and the weather is wet and chilly. It may not feel like grilling weather, but I also am in Thanksgiving mode. Who couldn’t use a little more sage and cranberry in their meal? Whether you’re preparing to host 20 people, packing to travel for the holiday, or dreaming about the long weekend ahead, think about working this recipe into an upcoming dinner. All the Thanksgiving flavors, a lot less work.
The original post from May 2016
I am a fan of the flavors of Thanksgiving: cranberries, sage, turkey, and more. However, I’m not all that excited about the hours of prep and cleaning, especially when it’s dinner only for the three of us at home. Add to that, we are heading into warmer weather, so who wants to have the oven running for hours?
Thankfully I found a way to get all of those flavors into a dish that is cooked outside on the barbecue. This burger really tasted like Thanksgiving to me. Maybe it’s the sage, maybe it’s the cranberries. Whatever it is, the first bite made me think of a chilly November afternoon, although it actually was a warm spring evening.
I served the burger with simple garnishes: mayo, lettuce, and cheddar cheese. I think that other condiments could add to the flavor even more. Perhaps a cranberry-infused ketchup (Get my recipe here) or a garlic aioli would be a nice addition.
I used 93% lean ground turkey for this burger. While I could have gone leaner, I think it would have been too dry. There also was a less lean option, which may appeal to fans of a really juicy burger. I liked mine as is.
When you’re missing the feel of fall amidst the heat of summer, give this burger a try.
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus extra
- 1/4 cup sweet onion
- 1/4 cup celery, diced
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1/4 cup bread crumbs
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1 teaspoon dried sage
- salt & pepper
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat.
- Add onion and celery, and saute until tender, about 10 minutes.
- In a large bowl combine ground turkey, celery, onion, bread crumbs, cranberries, and sage.
- Mix well using hands.
- Season with salt and pepper; mix again.
- Divide and shape into 4 patties.
- Brush both sides of each burger with olive oil.
- Place on preheated grill, cooking approximately 4-5 minutes per side, until fully cooked.
- Serve with desired bun and toppings.
