Pesto Burgers Recipes

PESTO HAMBURGERS

Steps:

• Shape beef into four 3/4-in.-thick patties. Season with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, cook patties over medium heat until meat is no longer pink, about 5 minutes on each side. , Top each burger with a slice of cheese, 2 tablespoons pesto and pepper strips. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until cheese is melted, about 2 minutes. Serve on buns.

PESTO TURKEY BURGERS

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat.
• Mix together ground turkey, pesto, garlic, feta cheese, 1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt, and breadcrumbs in a bowl until evenly blended. Form into 4 patties.
• Grill pesto burgers until no longer pink in the center, about 5 minutes per side. Sprinkle with seasoned salt halfway through cooking.

PESTO BURGERS

Steps:

• Combine beef, pesto, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, salt and pepper. Mix together thoroughly and shape into 6 patties.
• Grill burgers to desired doneness. Top with cheese slices just before burgers finish cooking.
• Serve burgers on onion rolls with the mayonnaise, tomatoes and onion.

PESTO CHICKEN BURGERS

Steps:

• Toss the cut-up bun with 3 tablespoons water in a large bowl; set aside 1 minute. Add the chicken, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste; mix with your hands until combined. Form into four 3/4-inch-thick patties. Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the almonds and cook, stirring, until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes. Set aside 1 tablespoon almonds for the salad; transfer the rest to a blender along with the oil from the pan. Do not wipe out the skillet. Increase the heat under the skillet to medium high. Add the chicken patties and cook until no longer pink, 7 to 8 minutes per side. Meanwhile, add the whole tomato to the blender and process until smooth. Add the basil and 1/4 teaspoon salt; pulse until almost smooth. Add the parmesan; pulse until combined. Season with salt and pepper. Serve the burgers on the buns; top each with a spoonful of pesto and a tomato slice. Toss the remaining pesto with the arugula, the reserved 1 tablespoon almonds and the lemon juice; serve with the burgers.

PESTO-STUFFED PORTOBELLO BURGERS

Steps:

• Carefully remove the stems from the portobellos and scoop out the gills using a spoon. In a large bowl, toss the portobellos with 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt, pepper, crushed garlic and chopped basil. Marinate for 30 minutes.
• Heat remaining oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the portobellos (in batches if necessary), rounded side down, and cook 7 minutes. Flip the mushrooms over and cook another 5 to 7 minutes. The mushrooms should be releasing liquid. Flip over again so the cavity is up, and spread a heaped tablespoon of pesto in each cavity. Cook another 2 minutes, until the mushrooms are tender and juicy and the pesto is warm. The mushrooms will release more liquid into the pan, then the liquid will evaporate. Serve on hamburger buns if desired.

PESTO TURKEY BURGERS

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat.
• Mix together ground turkey, pesto, garlic, feta cheese, 1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt, and breadcrumbs in a bowl until evenly blended. Form into 4 patties.
• Grill pesto burgers until no longer pink in the center, about 5 minutes per side. Sprinkle with seasoned salt halfway through cooking.

TUSCAN BURGERS WITH PESTO MAYO

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise and 2 tablespoons pesto; cover and chill until serving. In a large bowl, combine the pancetta, pepper, salt and remaining pesto. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into four patties., Brush onion and tomato slices with oil. Grill onion over medium heat for 4-6 minutes on each side or until crisp-tender. Grill tomato for 1-2 minutes on each side or until lightly browned., Grill burgers, covered, over medium heat for 5-7 minutes on each side or until a thermometer reads 160° and juices run clear., Top burgers with mozzarella cheese. Grill 1 minute longer or until cheese is melted. Spread cut sides of rolls with pesto mayonnaise; top with burgers, onion, tomato and arugula.

PESTO BURGERS (LIGHT)

Steps:

• Mix the beef, bread crumbs, green onion, basil, 1/4 cup of pesto, egg and garlic by hand and shape into 5 burgers.
• Grill or sauté until done, about 7 minutes per side.
• Serve the burgers with the remaining 1/4 cup of pesto.

PESTO CHICKEN BURGERS

Steps:

• In a food processor, puree basil, spinach, garlic, walnuts, oil, and 1 tablespoon water. Season pesto with salt and pepper.
• Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. Combine 1 tablespoon pesto, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and chicken and form into 4 patties. Clean and lightly oil hot grill. Brush tomatoes with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill patties, covered, 4 minutes. Flip patties and top with cheese. Add tomatoes to grill and cook, flipping once, until tomatoes are lightly charred and burgers are opaque throughout, 4 minutes.
• Assemble sandwiches in focaccia with pesto, burgers, and tomatoes.