I’m a pretty all-American girl, I like to think. I love running around barefoot in the summer, classic rock ‘n roll, a hot grill, and cool drinks. Summer is my season and I, admittedly, love to eat and drink my way through it.
I also, admittedly, like to remain relatively close to the same size at the end of the summer as I am at the start of the summer. That means a few trade offs. I (mostly) gave up beef burgers years ago. Turkey is where it’s at now. And I say this as a pretty picky eater. If I can be sold on a turkey burger, the rest of you should already be on this train.
With Memorial Day unofficially kicking off the summer this weekend, I’m ready to enjoy everything I love about the warm days ahead, minus a few unnecessary calories. So I hope you’ll join me in devouring a few of my Red, White, and Blueberry Turkey Burger Sliders.
The great thing about sliders is the automatic portion control. One or two of these little guys is all I need, and I still have plenty of room on my plate (and calories) for corn on the cob, potato salad, grilled fruit, and maybe even a little ice cream. I found the whole wheat slider buns at Kroger, but even small dinner rolls will work.
These tiny turkey burgers are inspired by the patriotic holidays of summer. The red comes from roasted red bell peppers. These were in the oven on 350 for about an hour. You can also place on your grill for a quicker roasting. I sliced off the tops, cleaned out the seeds, and diced.
The white comes from the feta crumbles. This creamy Greek-style cheese folds in to the turkey for a mild and tangy flavor. It also only adds about 23 calories per burger, almost half of what cheddar would. On the grill it doesn’t melt and ooze, but it’s perfect when you take that first bite.
The blue comes from blueberries. Yes, we’ve added a blueberry balsamic reduction to dress these burgers. One of summer’s best flavors is reduced over medium heat and the thick sauce adds a sweetness that complements the savory taste of the grilled turkey burgers. And it does so without hardly any calories, unlike mayo or ranch dressing.
6 ounces fresh blueberries
1/8 cup balsamic vinegar
2 packages Truvia
Muddle the blueberries over medium heat in a sauce pan until completely broken down and the juices start to bubble. Add the balsamic vinegar and Truvia. Watch closely to prevent burning and keep stirring until it thickens.
Whether you’re trying to be calorie conscious or simply want to grill to impress with something completely unique at your summer cookout, I assure you these turkey burgers will be a smashing success.
Red, White, and Blueberry Turkey Burger Sliders
1 pound ground turkey
1 red bell pepper, roasted and chopped
1/4 cup reduced-fat feta cheese
whole wheat slider buns
1 tsp. coriander
1 tsp. cracked black pepper
Add all ingredients in a bowl and fold until well combined. Form six to eight small patties. Place on a low-to-medium heat grill for about 5 minutes, then turn and cook about 3-5 more minutes. Place each patty on a slider bun and top with the blueberry balsamic reduction. Serve and enjoy!
Not including the bun, these little guys have 156 calories a piece! They also go pretty darn well with our Red, White, and Blue Sangria.
Also Try These Recipes
Roasted Tomatillo and Pineapple Salsa
All photos by Dana Shultz. Recipes by Brandi Koskie.