Garlic Turkey Burger Sliders with Cilantro Citrus Slaw

What reminds you most of summer? To me it’s the smell of burgers on the barbecue filling the air, sweaty sticky children staying up way past their bedtime and long hot days playing in the sun, followed by crisp cold sheets and the very best night’s sleep. We reached the mid 80’s here in Utah this week and I am dreaming of more summer days to follow. Let’s just hope it sticks around, Utah can be incredibly bipolar.

One of my favorite meals to prepare during the summer months are garlic turkey burger sliders. They are easy, delicious and feed an unexpected crowd on a whim, which seems to happen a lot with teenagers these days. My whole family loves this recipe (that rarely happens) and they ask for it weekly! I knew when I was asked to attend the Kroger  KIC “chopped style” competition in Cinncinati OH, these burger babies were coming with me!

What is KIC you ask?

KIC stands for Kroger Influencer Council. It’s a busy few days at Kroger headquarters, packed full of learning and brainstorming with fellow like-minded bloggers, executives and creatives. Each and every one of these humans are PURE GOLD and full of knowledge. I was beyond honored when I was asked to attend this year alongside each and every one of them.

We spent the day sampling new products (YOU GUYS so many delicious new products coming your way), got a front row seat to the new and improved online and digital experience and worked as a team to bring awareness to Kroger’s Zero Hunger Zero Waste initiative. Kroger has set a hefty goal to end hunger in our communities and eliminate waste within the company by 2025. Because when 1 in 8 Americans are experiencing food insecurity and over 40% of food produced in the U.S. is going uneaten, we have to do something. Using our platforms for good is something we are all extremely passionate about and I am beyond grateful to be working with a company dedicated to doing so much GOOD. I can’t wait to share more with you about this project, stay tuned for an opportunity to get involved.

Let’s get back to the kitchen…

We were able to order all of our ingredients in advance via Click List, why haven’t I done this before? So convenient. We had an incredible set up in Kroger’s innovated test kitchen, which was fully stocked with everything and anything you could possibly imagine. A true foodies playground. We were each given a category and several specifics to adhere to. Mine was main dish, healthy with a new skill. Sneaking veggies into my family has been a skill of mine for a decade so it was a no brainer to share it here and with all of you as well!

Guess what? I WON!! I told you these babies were good! Award winning good!!

Tips for the Perfect Turkey Burger

• You need a binder. I recommend adding breadcrumbs to the mixture before shaping. An egg works too.
• Sneak in hidden veggies to add moisture and nutrition. Turkey is a lean meat and lacks moisture on it’s own, rather than adding fat back into the burger mix, try adding zucchini and onions instead.
• Salt is key. Turkey is fairly bland on its own, it needs salt to boost its flavor.
• Handle with care. The more you mix your meat mixture the tougher it will get.

Can we talk about the slaw?

I love the color combination of green and purple cabbage with a pop of orange from the shredded carrot. Not only is it pretty but it adds the perfect addition of flavor and texture to this recipe. It’s KEY to finely shred the cabbage here, the thinner the better! Alternatively, you could use 1-2 bagged coleslaw mixes if you are short on time. But I highly recommend shredding it yourself for the best results.

My family loves these on potato slider buns but I like to enjoy mine over a big pile of slaw! Either way they are delicious!! Have I convinced you to make these yet? Leave me a comment and tell me if you do!

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Turkey Burger Sliders with Cilantro Citrus Slaw

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Servings 15 sliders

Calories 322 kcal

Author Shannon

Ingredients

• For the sliders
• 2 lbs Simple Truth organic ground turkey 
• 1/2 yellow onion finely diced
• 1 medium zucchini shredded
• 1/3 cup Kroger traditional breadcrumbs
• 2 tsp Simple Truth organic jalapeño hot sauce
• 3 large garlic cloves crushed
• 1-2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• Simple Truth organic sweet & spicy bbq sauce
• Slider burger buns we like potato but pretzel buns would also be yummy
• For the slaw
• 1 head green cabbage outer leaves removed 
• 1 head purple cabbage outer leaves removed 
• 2 cups carrots julienned 
• 1 bunch of cilantro stems removed and chopped
• 2 green onions finely sliced
• 2 limes juiced
• 1 lime zested and then juiced
• 1 cup Simple Truth organic mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp Simple Truth Organic  honey
• 1/4-1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4-1/2 tsp pepper

Instructions

1. For the slaw
2. In a small bowl combine mayo, lime juice, lime zest, honey, salt and pepper. Mix well and set aside.
3. Quarter the cabbage through the core, and then cut out the core. Cut each quarter crosswise in half and finely shred. I like to use my mandolin slicer on the thinnest setting for this. The thinner the better. You could also shred with a sharp knife.
4. Place the shredded cabbage in a very large bowl. Add the carrots, cilantro and green onion.
5. Pour 2/3 of the dressing over the cabbage mix, mix well. Clean hands work best for this step. If the coleslaw seems a little dry, add a little more dressing.
6. Serve immediately or let slaw sit in the refrigerator for about an hour to let the flavors mingle and allow the cabbage to soften a bit.
7. For the sliders
8. Preheat oven to 450.
9. In a medium bowl, using your hands combine the turkey, onion, zucchini, breadcrumbs, hot sauce, garlic, salt and pepper.
10. Form mixture into 3-4 inch patties about ¼ to ½ inch thick. Press your thumb down on the middle to give it a slight indent. I used a slider mold that works great for this. 
11. Place patties on a lightly greased or parchment lined sheet pan.
12. Bake the patties 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Drain any liquid from the dish if needed, turn patties, and continue baking 10 minutes, to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Remove from oven and allow patties to cool for 5 minutes.
13. Layer onto slider buns and top with bbq sauce and cilantro citrus slaw.
14. Devour.
15. *You can use gluten free breadcrumbs if needed and serve on top of slaw mix to enjoy GF.

Recipe Notes

Alternatively you could use 2 packages of pre made coleslaw mix but the finely shredded definitely stays on the sliders the best. 

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Kroger. The opinions and text are all mine.