This isn’t a turkey burger recipe trying unsuccessfully to disguise itself as an all-beef patty. What fun would that be? Instead, these Thai turkey sliders take on a life of their own with creamy peanut butter, sweet carrots, toasty sesame oil, and a quick cilantro chili aioli. Just try these mini turkey burgers or lettuce wraps, and the next time someone whines, “Are turkey burgers really as good as beef?” you’ll confidently answer, “No, they’re better.” I promise!
Dairy-Free Thai Turkey Sliders with Quick Cilantro-Chili Aioli
This recipe was shared with us by Cara Lyons, a former food blogger, more than a decade ago. It was a favorite that she served for the Super Bowl every year. We’ve recently updated the recipe with more options and nutrition facts, and I have answers to some FAQs below.
Why Such Small Patties with the Lettuce Wraps?
Mini burger “bites” look far more appealing in lettuce wraps than a larger patty, and we find them easier to eat.
Can I Substitute Ground Chicken or Beef for the Turkey?
Yes, if you must, chicken or beef will taste delicious with the other ingredients in these sliders.
How Much Salt & Pepper Should I Add to the Meat?
You obviously can’t taste test the raw meat, so you do have to make a decision about the salt and pepper amount ahead of time. If you’re used to low salt, or your peanut butter is on the salty side, I would use just ¼ teaspoon salt. But if you prefer well-salted meat, use the full ½ teaspoon. With 8 ounces of meat, I typically use 3/8 teaspoon salt. But I like to use just ¼ teaspoon of black pepper. The larger amount of pepper is quite “peppery.”
What is Chili Garlic Sauce?
It’s a spicy red chili sauce that’s often from Vietnam, but has become a common condiment in North America. It’s a little different from sriracha due to the garlic and visible chili pepper seeds. You can usually at least a couple different brands of chili garlic sauce in the Asian section of most major supermarkets.
I Hate Cilantro. What Should I Use?
Honestly, you can just omit the fresh herbs if you aren’t a cilantro fan. I like to add just a small squeeze of honey to round out the flavor of the chili garlic aioli without cilantro.
Where Can I Get Dairy-Free Slider Buns?
Some store bakeries do make mini buns that happen to be dairy-free. But I prefer to make my own Dairy-Free Slider Buns. They’re easy, affordable, and are always popular. They also freeze well.
Special Diet Notes: Thai Turkey Sliders
By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, optionally egg-free, optionally gluten-free, optionally grain-free, nut-free, optionally soy-free, low carb, and can be keto friendly. Just be sure to use mayonnaise and slider buns (or lettuce) that suit your dietary needs.
For peanut-free sliders, you can substitute sunflower seed butter for the peanut butter.
Dairy-Free Thai Turkey Sliders
Ingredients
Method
- Put the ground meat, carrot, scallion, peanut butter, 1 teaspoon chili sauce, ginger, salt, pepper, and sesame oil in a medium bowl, and stir until the ingredients are incorporated.
- Form the turkey mixture into 16 to 20 miniature sliders patties (for lettuce wraps) or 8 mini patties (for buns).
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and spray lightly with cooking spray.
- Cook the patties for about 3 to 6 minutes per side, or until cooked through.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, cilantro, and remaining 1 to 2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce, to taste. If needed, add a little water to thin the mixture.
- Serve the burgers on slider buns or in bibb lettuce leaves and top with the cilantro-chili mayo. If using buns, I also recommend topping the patties with a little sliced cabbage, veggie slaw mix, sprouts, or crisp lettuce to add freshness and a slight crunch to each bite.
Nutrition
Notes
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Serve with Spring Rolls for a Healthy Appetizer Night!
