Happy (almost) 4th of July! I have a standout burger recipe for your Independence Day cookout. Mark and I have already made these Stuffed Bacon Turkey Burgers several times this summer, and they’ve quickly become a new favorite.
A plain turkey burger can sound bland, but when you mix in smoky bacon, stuff the patties with cheese, and top them with caramelized onions and a creamy avocado ranch dressing, the result is pure burger bliss.
I developed this recipe a few weeks ago but waited to share it in time for July 4th — prime cookout season. The Dairy-Free Avocado Ranch Dressing I posted earlier this week pairs perfectly with these burgers and adds a bright, tangy finish.
We kept these burgers dairy-free by using Miyoko’s Kitchen dairy-free cheese. It’s rich and creamy and shows up at many health food stores. If you find it, it’s worth trying. You can also use any cheese you prefer or substitute avocado pieces for a cheese-free option.
We happened to use Miyoko’s Sun-Dried Tomato Garlic flavor, which added great depth, but any cheese works. Avocado also makes a creamy filling if you want to avoid cheese altogether.
Grill prep and caramelized onions
Set your grill to medium-high heat while you prepare the burgers and start the onions. The secret to great caramelized onions is patience: slice the onion into rings, cook on medium until translucent, then reduce to low and let them slowly caramelize for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Keep an eye on them while you build the patties.
While the onions cook, blend up a batch of Dairy-Free Avocado Ranch Dressing and chill it until serving. Cut uncured bacon into small pieces and mix with ground turkey and spices in a large bowl. The mix makes six patties, but you can shape them to your preferred size.
Form the patties, then place a portion of cheese in the center of each and pinch the edges closed so the filling stays inside. Once sealed, they’re ready for the grill.
My husband Mark is the grill master in our house, and he grills these to perfection. Cook the burgers about 5 minutes per side with the lid closed, flipping once. When cooked through, remove them from heat and let them rest a minute before slicing to reveal the melty center.
We served the burgers on romaine hearts with sliced tomato, avocado, caramelized onions, and a drizzle of the Dairy-Free Avocado Ranch Dressing for a fresh, satisfying bite.
For an easy side, I served these with Jackson’s Honest Sweet Potato Chips cooked in coconut oil and lightly salted—crispy, slightly sweet, and dangerously good. But the burgers are the star: juicy from the turkey and bacon, creamy from the cheese or avocado, sweet from the onions, and bright from the avocado ranch.
These burgers make a big, messy, glorious bite and are a perfect addition to any 4th of July menu. Enjoy them with friends and family—and happy Independence Day!
- For the Burgers:
- 1.25 lbs ground turkey
- 6 slices uncooked bacon
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 3 ounces cheese of choice (dairy-free optional)
- For the Toppings:
- 1 large sweet onion, sliced
- 1 large tomato, sliced
- 1 avocado, sliced
- Romaine or iceberg lettuce leaves
- Dairy-Free Avocado Ranch Dressing
- Place sweet onion slices in a lightly oiled skillet and cook over medium heat until translucent and lightly browned, then reduce heat to low and let caramelize for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Prepare Dairy-Free Avocado Ranch Dressing and set aside.
- Cut bacon into small pieces. Combine bacon, ground turkey, and spices in a bowl and mix well with your hands.
- Form the mixture into 6 patties. Separate each patty into two halves, fill with about 1/2 ounce of cheese or avocado, then reform the patties and seal the edges.
- Grill burgers over medium-high heat with the lid closed for about 10 minutes total, flipping once halfway through (about 5 minutes per side), until cooked through.
- Serve burgers on lettuce leaves with tomato, caramelized onions, avocado, and Dairy-Free Avocado Ranch Dressing.
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