Clean Eating Burgers: Avocado & Mozzarella Stuffed Turkey Burgers

So the theme for last week was "live like it's freaking spring even though Mother Nature is refusing to cooperate". So we had a classic spring/summer bbq meal (burgers) gone clean. These were awesome because 1) the toppings were INSIDE aka nothing can fall off the burger when you go in for that first bite- really why didn't a messy eater like myself start doing this years ago? 2) It tasted like summer; 3) It had avocado; 4) It's clean (clean like clean eating and also clean like no mess because the toppings are inside). Sidenote: things "grilled" on the stovetop taste like summer to us because our awesome apartment complex closes the grilling area at like 5 pm- really who is even home by 5 pm to use the grill?? And why can't we have alcohol at the pool?

K anyway here it is, enjoy- and I'd love some ideas of what else to cook INSIDE of my burgers- let me know how you do stuffed burgers!

Servings: 4
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground turkey, thawed ($3.99)
• 1 egg ($.10)
• 1/3 cup oats 
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese ($1.00)
• 1/2 avocado, diced ($.50)
• 1/4 large onion, minced ($.25)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin 
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder (we love garlic)

In a large bowl, mix your raw turkey with the minced garlic, oats, egg, crushed red pepper, ground cumin, and garlic powder (I used my hands for this- oddly liberating).

Using 2/3 of the raw seasoned turkey, form little turkey bowls and set on a plate. Evenly sprinkle the shredded cheese, avocado and onion on top of each "bowl". Make sure the avocado/mozzarella/onion are not on the edges of the patties so nothing oozes out in the cooking (can never be too careful with this stuff).

Using the other 1/3 of the turkey, form "lids" for your bowls and pinch the two sections (lid and bowl) of turkey together around the edges. DO NOT FORGET TO PINCH IT TOGETHER- again, you risk serious leakage during the cooking if you don't pinch it.

Heat a large non-stick frying pan over medium high heat. Put the burgers into the frying pan and flatten out as much as possible using a spatula (without letting anything ooze out of the edges of course). Cook over medium-high heat for about 7-10 minutes or until edges start browning. Flip the burgers and let them finish cooking for about 10 minutes- or until there is NO pink left anywhere on the patties.

Serve with Udi's Rolls (click the link for a $1 coupon too), or over lettuce, sauteed onions,  tomatoes...the possibilities are endless! I think next time I'm going to add jalapenos to the stuffing too?

What do YOU like on your burgers? I want more ideas for Clean (as in clean eating and clean to eat aka no mess) stuffings for my turkey burgers!

Linking up this week :

(PS my 3 Ingredient Crockpot Beans & Chicken is being featured today so go check out Delicious Dish Tuesday!!)