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Ben and I have a new addition to our household: a real, grown-up grill! It was just delivered last week, and my immediate reaction was to plan two BBQ dinners, two nights in a row. On the menu for both: Teriyaki Burgers with Grilled Pineapple.

Hawaiian Teriyaki Burgers with Grilled Pineapple and Onion on top

Since my friends are coming over at six, and I have exactly ZERO prep work done, my plan is to make a double batch of the teriyaki burger patties, cook half tonight, then keep the rest in the refrigerator for tomorrow.

Work once, eat twice. I like this strategy.

For the rest of the menu, we’ll be having this Grilled Corn Salad (FAVE), sliced watermelon, and my favorite blackberry crisp for dessert. Nothing is fussy. Everything is delicious. Isn’t summer food the best?

Hawaiian Teriyaki Burgers with grilled pineapple, Onion, and a sweet and savory teriyaki burger sauce on wooden board

Although our grill is new, this household is no stranger to burgers, like a Blue Cheese Burger, and especially burgers made with ground chicken and turkey. I love that they are leaner than beef burgers and, if done properly, can be just as satisfying.

If your experience with turkey burgers up to this point has been bland patties that are more reminiscent of a hockey puck than a juicy burger worth of its bun, these Teriyaki Burgers will change your mind. They’re sweet and tangy, plenty moist, and sure to please even the staunchest of red meat eaters.

Hawaiian Turkey Burgers with Teriyaki burger sauce topped with fresh parsley

Key Tips for Teriyaki Burger Success

ONE: It all starts with the meat. Choose ground turkey that is free of hormones, antibiotics, and preservatives. It’s worth it!

Ingredients for teriyaki burgers uncooked

TWO: Amp it up! Ground turkey is ultra mild on its own, which makes it an ideal canvas to showcase a wide range of flavors. Season your ground turkey generously and don’t be afraid to experiment.

In honor of summer, I gave these Teriyaki Burgers a Hawaiian-inspired twist: lots of fresh ginger and pineapple, and a homemade teriyaki burger sauce that is first mixed into the patties for moisture and flavor, then brushed on the outsides as a glaze.

THREE: Make ’em moist! Avoid overcooking at all costs. I use this instant-read digital meat thermometer and pull them off at the exact moment the burgers reach 160 degrees F. The FDA says 165, but by the time the burgers have rested a few minutes (another key part of keeping them moist), they are safe to eat.

Healthy Hawaiian teriyaki burger on bun topped with grilled pineapple

FOUR: Pile on the fixins. Once you have your juicy patty, it’s time to load it up! I topped the Teriyaki Burgers with grilled pineapple and red onion. The pineapple caramelizes on the grill, and its sweet flavor is a delicious counterpoint to the savory teriyaki sauce.

Easy Teriyaki Burgers with Grilled Pineapple topped with homemade sauce

These turkey burger tips also apply to ground chicken, so if that’s your preferred protein, feel free to swap it into any ground turkey burger recipe.

Now that we’ve mastered the moist turkey burger basics, it’s time to put them into action.

More Favorite Turkey and Chicken Recipes

Recommended Tools to Make This Recipe

  • Silicone basting brush (love that you can just toss it in the dishwasher)
  • Small whisk (perfect for stirring the teriyaki sauce)
  • THIS is the grill we just purchased. Such an investment! My father-in-law owned an earlier version of this same model for 17 years, so I’m feeling confident that it will be worth it.
  • No grill? No problem! Try this indoor grill pan.

Teriyaki Burgers with Grilled Pineapple

4.69 from 22 votes
Hawaiian teriyaki burgers. Moist, juicy chicken or turkey burgers topped with a sweet and tangy teriyaki burger sauce, grilled pineapple, and onion.

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 1 hour

Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients
  

FOR THE BURGERS:

  • 1 pound 93% lean ground turkey
  • 1/4 cup whole wheat panko bread crumbs
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh garlic about 3 cloves
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
  • 4 rings canned pineapple reserve juice for teriyaki sauce below
  • 1 red onion cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
  • Whole wheat hamburger buns for serving

FOR THE TERIYAKI SAUCE:

  • 1/4 cup reserved pineapple juice from canned pineapple above
  • 1/2 cup  low-sodium soy sauce
  • 2 tablespoons  rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic about 1 clove
  • 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

Instructions
 

  • Prepare the teriyaki sauce: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the reserved 1/4 cup pineapple juice, soy sauce, rice vinegar, honey, garlic, and ginger. Cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, remove the lid and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. While you wait for the sauce to boil, whisk the cornstarch and 1 tablespoon water together in a small bowl to create a slurry. Once the sauce is boiling, add the slurry, then stir to combine. Cook for 1 additional minute, until the sauce begins to thicken. Remove from heat.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the ground turkey, panko, garlic, ginger, black pepper, cilantro, and 3 tablespoons teriyaki sauce. Mix just until combined, and be careful not to compact the meat. Shape into four 3/4-inch-thick patties. Place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
  • Set aside some of the remaining teriyaki sauce for serving, reserving the rest for grilling. Preheat the grill to medium high and lightly oil the grates. Grill the rings of pineapple and red onion slices until caramelized and tender, about 3 minutes per side for the pineapple and 4 minutes for the red onion. Grill the burgers for 4 minutes on the first side, flip, then brush with  sauce. Grill 4 minutes, then flip again and brush the other side with sauce. Continue cooking until the burgers are cooked through and reach an internal temperature of 160 to 165 degrees F, about 10 minutes total. Remove to a plate, cover, and let rest 5 minutes. If desired, grill the buns.
  • Serve the burgers inside of the buns, brushed with reserved sauce and topped with grilled pineapple and red onion.

Nutrition

Serving: 1patty with 1 pineapple ring, 1 thick onion slice, and a light brushing of extra teriyaki sauceCalories: 254kcalCarbohydrates: 25gProtein: 23gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 91mgFiber: 2gSugar: 13g

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Erin Clarke

Hi, I'm Erin Clarke, and I'm fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food that's affordable, easy-to-make, and best of all DELISH. I'm the author and recipe developer here at wellplated.com and of The Well Plated Cookbook. I adore both sweets and veggies, and I am on a mission to save you time and dishes. WELCOME!

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56 Comments

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  1. Congrats on the grill purchase – Weber is the best! We started out with the old fashioned kettle style and have since graduated to the gas version. My husband grills all year round and absolutely swears by Weber.
    We’re in the process of redoing our front porch and in doing so, we’re making provisions for our grill to be camouflaged because this is the best place for us to use it – out of the weather and close to the kitchen. In fact we’ll be replacing our present one with it’s newer model in the near future only because we want an upgrade, not that this one isn’t working. Webers are true workhorses! P.S. This being a food blog: these sandwiches look so juicy and tasty; also colorful.

    1. Thanks, Chris! It sounds like your front porch remodel is shaping up to be a great one. I’m glad to hear another thumbs up for Weber!

    2. Agreed on Weber. Survived 19 years, 3 moves, year round and gave it to a good home when I downsized. Bet they are still enjoying it!

  2. I love that turkey! We buy it too! And this means i get to come over too right? yay for new grill!

  3. I absolutely love the flavors and the big grilled pineapple rounds on these burgers- I bet they were amazing!

  4. Hooray for a grown up grill! Lol. I don’t know what I would do without mine. I’m grilling all Summer long. Love the pineapple on here. It’s one of my favorite burger toppings!

  5. I followed the recipe and I wasn’t that impressed. Most of my guests thought they great.4 stars

    1. Hi Lois, I’m sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy the burgers—I know it’s disappointing when a new recipe doesn’t turn out to be for your tastes. Thanks for reporting back, and I’m glad that your guests were able to enjoy them.

  6. I’m a fan of any kind of burger, and these look like they would not disappoint. I think the sweet pineapple on top is a great addition!

  7. We made this recipe over the weekend and it was a hit! Such a great combination of flavors and toppings. Even my beef loving husband went back for seconds!5 stars

    1. Sue, I’m happy to hear you both enjoyed the recipe! Thanks so much for giving it a try and sharing how it went!

  8. Oh. My. Gosh.  Inhaling one of these right now as I type. I cannot believe how good they are (well, yes I can, your recipes are always delish.) The grilled onion and pineapple really take it over the top!  Fortunately for me, my hubby is out of town so I get to eat on these the rest of the week. 5 stars

    1. YAY Anna, I’m so glad to hear you’re enjoying the burger! Thanks so much for reporting back. :)

  9. We just had these for dinner – loved ’em!! Had them with grilled corn on the cob and fresh watermelon juice. I think I’ve got a new favorite summer dinner! :)5 stars

    1. I am so happy to hear that! Thank you so much for trying the recipe and letting me know how it came out for you!

      1. We wound up making them two nights in a row :) Last night with homemade rice pilaf and leftover corn on the cob. Seriously, SO good!!5 stars

  10. Do you think the teriyaki sauce can be made ahead of time? Things get a little crazy around supper time.

    1. Definitely Hunter! Just store it in the refrigerator until you are ready to make the burgers. You can actually shape and refrigerate the burgers a few hours ahead too.

  11. Hi, I’m looking to make this tonight for dinner! I was just wondering if the bun was included in the nutritional information?

    1. Sarah, it is not. The reason is that buns vary A LOT in their nutritional content. This is the burger as described in the nutritional info box. You can add on whichever bun you select.

  12. We had these Hawaiian burgers for dinner and LOVED THEM !!  I was able to make a sugar-free version of your teriyaki sauce that worked great. Loved the combination of flavors. Great healthy burgers!5 stars

  13. These were great. I accidentally made them too thick, so we had to overcook them a bit. Still SO good. 5 stars

    1. I’m so happy that you enjoyed the recipe, Kelsey! Thank you for sharing this kind review!

  14. Tried this recipe out on the grill last night and it was delicious! Sweet and tangy, it was a refreshing change of pace from our usual grilled burgers.5 stars

  15. Once again a great simple recipe that delivers great taste! I made the Teriyaki burger and the Italian burger. My family thoroughly enjoyed these. My picky eater daughter, said the Italian burger “slaps”. That is a high compliment from a teenager. Will try the others burgers soon. Trust me!5 stars

  16. Was trying this recipe out last night but we were interrupted by a trip to the emergency room. All will be OK. But as I sit here, with not much to do, I’m thinking about my sauce of all things. I put it in the fridge. Curious if I can reheat? Or is it best to start over? Absolutely love your recipes! Healthy and tasty! My calorie counter app always gives them an ‘A’!

    1. Hi Lisa, I hope everything is OK! I haven’t tried it myself, but I think you could definitely still utilize the sauce today. I hope you enjoy the recipe!

  17. I made these burgers tonight and WOW were they good! So juicy and flavorful. Grill cooking times were spot on. I will definitely be making these again. Thanks for the awesome recipe.5 stars

  18. These were so delicious. Everyone loved them, even our extra picky 2yr old and 6yr old who usually doesn’t like burgers! Super easy for a busy mom of two. Juicy and full of flavor, definitely not your standard, dry turkey burger. I forgot to buy cilantro so we didn’t use any but otherwise I made the recipe as directed and wouldn’t change a thing. These will be a regular in our rotation in the summer. We served with a little Mayo and mixed greens.5 stars

    1. Hi Katie! I am so HAPPY to hear that your whole family loved them! Thank you for this kind review!

  19. I love all of Erin’s recipes and I’ve made many (probably about 35-40), but for some reason this one was not what my personal taste buds desired. I used 1/2 of the garlic and gingerroot listed as I thought 1 tablespoon of each would be too potent in 1 lb of turkey. Turns out that even 1/2 Tablespoon each was still overly prominent for me. All I could taste was ginger and garlic, and the teriyaki sauce was too salty for me. I will cook the burger in my teriyaki sauce next time with no garlic and gingerroot in the burger. Sorry Erin, this is the first time I can say I didn’t care for the recipe. 1 out of 40+ makes you an excellent chef! Keep the coming!!2 stars

    1. I’m sorry to hear the recipe wasn’t to your taste, Sonya. I know it’s disappointing to try a new recipe and not enjoy it, so I truly wish it would have been a hit for you.

  20. I’ve been making this recipe for quite awhile now. Love it. Sometimes I use soy vey island teriyaki if I’m feeling lazy. We love putting pepperjack cheese on top too. Such a great meal. Thanks for this keeper.5 stars

  21. I made this burger last night and it was tasty. It was very moist. I loved the pineapple so dont skip that. A bit too salty for my taste. Do you have a recommendation to make it sweeter and less salty? I don’t think others will think it’s too salty. I did reduce the soy sauce to Jess than 1/2 c because I know I don’t like salt. It’s just me. Next time I will also decrease the amount of minced ginger.5 stars

    1. Hi Anne! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review! You could try to reduce the amount of soy sauce. Hope this helps!