Skillet Turkey Reuben Burgers with Sauerkraut

Skillet turkey Reuben burgers are moist, tasty, and easy to prepare. Shredded onions are mixed with lean ground turkey and then finished with tangy sauerkraut and cheese and a smear of Russian dressing on top. It is a flavorful, juicy burger recipe that is perfect for busy weeknights and is sure to please everyone in the family.

Juicy reuben burgers are a great substitute for a traditional reuben sandwich, and they’re so easy to make at home. I love a good reuben, but sometimes I’m just not in the mood for all that heavy corned beef. That’s where these homemade turkey burgers come in – they have all the classic reuben flavors, but in a lighter, juicier burger form. And when you use homemade sauerkraut, you will get the health benefits of fermented sauerkraut

Here is what you will need

This is a brief summary of the ingredients needed to make this delicious recipe and a convenient shopping list from my Instacart affiliate link. For a printable recipe card with exact measurements and detailed instructions, scroll down to the recipe card section.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

How to make this delicious Reuben burger recipe

Prepare the ingredients: Shred the onions with a box grater. Heat olive oil in a cast iron skillet or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.

Ingredient notes and substitutions

The full list of ingredients to make this delicious burger recipe is above. Below are notes about some of the ingredients, along with ideas for substitutes.

Turkey – You can use either ground turkey breast or a blend of dark and white meat. Ground turkey breast is the leanest cut, but the addition of the onions to the meat, not only adds flavor to mild tasting turkey, but enough moisture so that the burger is not too dry for a lean turkey burger.

Ground turkey can be substituted with an equal amount of ground beef or ground chicken.

Sauerkraut – If you don’t have homemade sauerkraut on hand to make this recipe, look for sauerkraut that is fermented, and not the typical canned Sauerkraut that is on the supermarket shelves which has been pasteurized.

Fermented sauerkraut can usually be found in the refrigerator section of the supermarket. Fermented sauerkraut has more health benefits such as probiotics which are not in the pasteurized versions.

Onions – All-purpose yellow onion, sweet Vidalia onion or red onion are the best onions to use in this recipe. The recipe does not contain a lot of onions, but they add just the right flavor.

When the onions are shredded with a hand grater, they almost liquefy and add moisture and flavor to the burger. If you don’t have a hand grater, mince the onions as small as you can or chop them in a food processor.

Onions can be substituted with 1/4 teaspoon of onion powder.

Serving suggestions

Serve these healthy turkey burgers with a little bit of homemade Russian dressing smeared on slices of rye bread or a rye bun.

These juicy turkey burgers also taste great with a side of spinach salad, buffalo cauliflower bites, and homemade zucchini pickles or sweet and spicy refrigerator pickles.

Make-ahead instructions

These delicious turkey burgers are easy to make ahead of time. Mix the ingredients, shape at them into patties, and refrigerate for one day or freeze for up to three months. Cook from frozen or thaw in the refrigerator overnight before cooking them.

How to store leftovers

Leftover turkey burgers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days in an airtight container.

Reheat leftover burgers in a skillet, oven, or microwave, and add the sauerkraut and cheese.

Recipe variations

These flavorful turkey burgers are so versatile, feel free to adjust the ingredients to make your own version of tasty turkey reuben patty melts!

Open-faced burgers – Make a lower-carb version and serve them on top of a bun or bread without the top layer of bread.

Turkey Reuben sliders – Make the patties smaller and serve them on slider buns with a bit of dressing for a fun appetizer or party snack.

Turkey Reuben lettuce wraps – Go low carb and gluten-free; wrap your burger in lettuce leaves.

Spicy – Add a touch of heat and lots of flavor by mixing some chopped jalapenos or a dash of hot sauce into the patties before cooking them.

Quesadillas – Layer cooked ground turkey, onions, sauerkraut and swiss cheese between two tortillas and cook in a skillet until the cheese melts.

Caramelized onions – Add a spoonful of caramelized onions to the burgers with the sauerkraut and cheese.

Recipe FAQs

You might also like these recipes

• Spicy Jalapeno Cheeseburger
• Caramelized Onion Cheeseburger
• Balsamic Chicken Caprese Burger

Sign Up for Easy Recipes Straight in Your In-Box!