Pesto Turkey Sliders

See how easy it is to make pesto turkey sliders using ground turkey for a quick dinner or for party bites.

Making ground turkey meals is one way to get a family dinner on the table easily. This delicious turkey burgers will become a family favorite. Sometimes, we just make them regular-sized instead of sliders.

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Pesto Turkey Sliders

You can make this recipe quickly and easily…do not worry, you don’t have to make homemade pesto for these turkey sliders. I often use store bought pesto (from Aldi or Trader Joe’s). It’s an easy alternative.

If you have a great pesto recipe that you love to make, feel free to sub it in for the store-bought stuff! 

Can I use a different kind of cheese? 

Yes! Mozzarella was a great option, but Swiss or provolone would be good choices as well. You can use whatever you have on hand or whatever your family enjoys.

Can I substitute ground beef?

Typically, you can switch out ground turkey and ground beef in most recipes. You probably could do that here, but I find that basil pesto matches so nicely with the turkey flavor.

If you’d prefer a regular beef slider, try these copycat Chili’s big mouth bites.

What’s the difference between ground beef and turkey?

Typically, ground turkey has a lower fat content, which means a drier texture compared to ground beef burgers or sliders. That’s why I like to add moisture with ingredients like pesto or spinach.

Turkey also has a milder taste than beef, which not everyone enjoys. To offset that, add lots of seasonings to the meat mixture and then lots of toppings to enhance the overall flavor.

What do you need to make pesto turkey sliders? 

• pesto
• 1 egg
• quick-cooking oats
• 93% lean ground turkey
• sliced mozzarella cheese
• slider buns

What are quick-cooking oats?

I usually keep old fashioned oats in the house, for our favorite oatmeal cookies. If you don’t want to buy the quick-cooking version, you can just take the larger-pieced old-fashioned oats and chop them a little in a food processor or blender. My kids prefer not seeing the big pieces of oats in their burgers.

How to make ground turkey sliders: 

1. Mix first three ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Add in ground turkey and mix with your hands.
3. Form slider-sized patties
4. Cook on a nonstick pan or griddle for a total of about 14 minutes, turning approximately every 4 minutes.
5. Add cheese on top and cook for one more minute.

Can I prep these turkey sliders in advance? 

You can definitely prep these turkey sliders in advance. They’re perfect to heat up for a quick dinner or for lunches throughout the week.

I love having a batch on hand for the summer when the kids can put them together on their own for lunches. These also travel well for when we have swim meets and practices. 

Another great option for sliders are turkey sloppy joes. You can use the slider buns for a party or get-together, or use regular-sized hamburger buns for a family dinner.

More easy dinner ideas

• Easy Recipe for Salmon Patties
• Slow Cooker Ground Beef Chili
• Ground Beef Pasta with Creamy Tomato Sauce Story
• One Pot Tuna with Noodles Recipe

Printable Pesto Turkey Sliders Recipe: