Name: Ultimate Healthy Turkey Caprese Burger
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 Cup Basil; 1/4 Cup Oine nuts; 1/4 Cup Parmesan cheese (grated); 2 Cloves Garlic; 1/4 Cup Olive oil; 1 Tsp Salt; 1/2 Cup Homemade mayo; 3 Lbs Ground Turkey; 2 Tsp Salt; 1 Tbsp Ground black pepper; 7 Slices Fresh mozzarella; 1 Whole Beefsteak tomato (sliced); 7 Whole Buns (sliced); 1 Tbsp Olive oil

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If you’re anything like me, you’ve got a handful of go-to recipes that you rotate through your busy week. Let me introduce you to one that’s about to become a permanent fixture in your meal plan: the Ultimate Healthy Turkey Caprese Burger.

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The layers of flavor

This burger is everything. It’s juicy, flavorful, and just indulgent enough without weighing you down. What really takes it over the top? Homemade pesto. Pesto only takes a few minutes to make. Trust me—once you try this version, store-bought pesto just won’t cut it anymore. The fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, parmesan, and olive oil blend into a bold, herby punch that wakes up the lean turkey patty and brings everything together. I made mine into a aioli by making fresh mayonnaise.

Ultimate Healthy Turkey Caprese Burger Caprese | burgerrecipe | pesto

Let’s talk layers. Mozzarella—preferably fresh—melts over the burger for that rich, gooey goodness we all crave in a burger – a mozzarella and tomato burger. Then, a thick slice of ripe tomato adds the perfect amount of acidity, balancing the richness of the meat and cheese. Nestle all that in a soft bun with plenty of the pesto aioli. And you have a healthy turkey burger recipe.

What is Caprese, Anyway?

The Caprese salad—insalata caprese—hails from the island of Capri in southern Italy. Traditionally made with sliced tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, olive oil, and salt, it’s the ultimate celebration of simple, high-quality ingredients. Named after its place of origin, it also happens to mirror the colors of the Italian flag: red, white, and green.

The Burger’s Roots

The burger, on the other hand, is a bit more globally tangled. Its modern form—ground meat patty served in a bun—evolved in the United States in the late 19th to early 20th century. While there’s some debate about who served the “first” hamburger, it’s generally agreed that German immigrants brought over the concept of minced beef (à la Hamburg steak), and Americans took it from there, slapping it between slices of bread and eventually a bun. The result? A cultural icon.

Where Classic Meets Creative

This Ultimate Healthy Turkey Caprese Burger is where Italian tradition meets American comfort food—fresh, vibrant, and totally crave-worthy. Whether you’re grilling outdoors or searing on a cast iron skillet, it’s an easy recipe with gourmet payoff. Serve it with a simple arugula salad or some crisp roasted potatoes, and you’ve got a dinner that feels upscale but fits your Tuesday night schedule.

Make this once, and I promise—it’ll end up in your rotation.

The cast of characters.

Creating the turkey caprese burger

The Ultimate Healthy Turkey Caprese Burger plated.