Sweet & Spicy BBQ Bacon Hawaiian Turkey Burgers
I first shared this recipe (and wrote this post) back in 2015 — yes, over 10 years ago. Back then, my love for burgers was apparently growing, “mainly due to Tony’s meat infatuation” (haha).
Since then, I’ve created plenty of delicious burger recipes, but I recently came back to these sweet and spicy BBQ bacon Hawaiian turkey burgers with grilled pineapple and remembered JUST how delicious they were. I know people often complain that turkey burgers aren’t as juicy or delicious as beef, but you know I don’t mess around when it comes to grilling up a juicy burger.
You’ll add spicy BBQ sauce straight to the patty before cooking for extra moisture, and top with savory bacon, pepper jack cheese, and grilled pineapple for a unique, Hawaiian-inspired flavor. Grill them or pan-fry them — however you do it, just get them on your dinner menu before summer ends!
Ingredients in these Hawaiian turkey burgers
These burgers are SO flavorful that I think they compete with some of my favs in Chicago (and we know our burgers). The best part? The ingredient list is incredibly simple:
- Ground turkey: we’re using lean ground turkey (I prefer 93%) to make the patties.
- For the burger mixture: you’ll mix BBQ sauce, diced onion, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper into the patty mixture.
- Bacon: crispy, salty, savory bacon on top? Yes, please.
- Cheese: I like to add a kick of heat to the burgers with pepper jack cheese slices.
- Pineapple: we’re grilling the pineapple rings for each burger to add a sweet, slightly caramelized element to pair with the savory burgers. Even if you don’t like pineapple on pizza, I bet you’ll LOVE it on these burgers.
- Hamburger buns: I like to use hearty, whole grain buns that can hold everything up, but you can use any buns you’d like, including gluten-free! Hawaiian rolls would also make the perfect buns — you’ll just need to make the burgers smaller (or find large rolls).
- Extra toppings: add extra BBQ sauce, for good measure, plus a little zip from sliced red onion.
Customize your BBQ turkey burgers
- Swap your meat. You can, of course, use ground chicken instead, or make a more “traditional” burger with ground beef.
- Choose your BBQ flavor. I love using a spicy BBQ sauce, but you can use mild, a sweeter sauce, or any BBQ sauce you have on hand.
- Pick your cheese. Instead of pepper jack, feel free to use your favorite cheese. Sharp cheddar cheese, provolone, or swiss would all be delicious. Keep the burgers dairy-free by simply omitting the cheese.
Looking for more gluten-free options?
As I mentioned, you can use your favorite gluten-free buns, but you could also serve these burgers over rice or quinoa for a sweet and spicy burger bowl! Otherwise, keep them grain-free as well by enjoying them without a bun, in a collard leaf, or in a big lettuce wrap.
Our favorite BBQ sides
Get more of my side dish recipes here!
Grill or pan-fry these burgers
Yes, you can make these Hawaiian burgers on your grill or skillet with oil on the stovetop! For both methods, cook the burgers on medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes per side, and add the cheese in the last minute of cooking.
Be sure to FULLY cook chicken and turkey burgers until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees F. No medium-rare here!
Storing tips
I recommend storing the patties separately from the toppings. Let them cool to room temperature, then store them in airtight glass containers in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Freeze these burgers for later
- Freeze before cooking: shape your burgers and place them in an airtight, freezer-friendly container or bag. If you’re stacking the burgers, I’d recommend putting wax or parchment paper in between the layers so that they don’t stick together. Freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, you can either let them thaw in the fridge before cooking or cook them directly from frozen – you may just need to cook them a bit longer from frozen.
- Freeze after cooking: let your burger patties cool completely before placing them in airtight, freezer-friendly containers or bags. As I mentioned above, put wax or parchment paper in between the layers of burgers if you’re stacking them. Freeze them for up to 3 months. To reheat, let them thaw in the fridge before reheating in the microwave or on the stovetop for a couple of minutes on each side. You can also reheat these directly from frozen on the stovetop.
Our fav burger-making tools
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More summer dinners you’ll love
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I hope you love these BBQ bacon Hawaiian turkey burgers! If you make them, be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked them.
The
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day
Sweet & Spicy BBQ Bacon Hawaiian Turkey Burgers
by
Flavorful, juicy BBQ bacon turkey burgers with a Hawaiian-inspired twist from a slice of sweet grilled pineapple. Use your favorite BBQ sauce, add a kick of heat from pepper jack cheese, and grill or pan-fry these Hawaiian burgers for the ultimate summer dinner!
Ingredients
- Burgers
- 4 to 8 slices bacon, depending on how much you like bacon
- 1 pound lean ground turkey (or sub ground chicken)
- 3 tablespoons BBQ sauce
- ¼ cup diced onion
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 4 fresh pineapple slices, ½ inch thick
- 4 slices pepper jack cheese
- Avocado oil, for frying
- Serving
- 4 whole grain or gluten-free hamburger buns
- Sliced red onions
- Extra bbq sauce
Instructions
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Cook the bacon: Place the bacon on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer, put it into a cold oven, and then heat the oven to 425°F Allow the bacon to bake in the oven for 15 to 25 minutes, or until crispy to your liking. Remove it from the oven and transfer the bacon to a plate lined with paper towels.
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Prepare the burgers: In a large bowl, add the ground turkey, bbq sauce, onion, garlic, cayenne pepper and salt and pepper. Use clean hands to mix until well combined. Divide into 4 equal portions and shape into ½-inch thick patties.
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Cook the burgers:TO GRILL: Preheat the grill to medium-high heat (about 400°F). Brush the grates with avocado oil to prevent sticking. Transfer the patties to the hot grill and cook until a meat thermometer inserted into the center reads 165°F, 4 to 5 minutes per side. During the last minute of cooking, add a slice of cheese onto each burger patty and allow it to melt.
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TO PAN-FRY: Warm 1 tablespoon of avocado oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, carefully transfer the patties onto the pan. Sear until golden-brown crust and a meat thermometer inserted into the center reads 165°F, 4 to 5 minutes per side. During the last minute of cooking, add a slice of cheese onto each burger patty and allow it to melt.
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Grill the pineapple: While the burgers are cooking, grill the pineapple slices until browned, turning once; about 3 to 5 minutes per side.
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Assemble the burgers: Place the burgers on buns, top each burger with a strip or two of the cooked bacon, then top with grilled pineapple slices, drizzle with extra bbq sauce and top with a red onion slice. Makes 4 burgers.
Recipe Notes
Burgers can be frozen for up to 3 months; fully cook burgers, allow them to cool completely, wrap in plastic wrap then place in airtight containers or freezer friendly ziploc bags.
Nutrition
Serving: 1burger (with whole grain bun & toppings)Calories: 724calCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 38gFat: 41gSaturated Fat: 13gFiber: 7gSugar: 16g
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by: Eat Love Eats
This post was originally published on August 13th, 2015, the recipe and photos were updated on August 17th, 2026, and the post was republished on August 18th, 2026.
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