Barbecue Turkey-Pineapple Cheeseburgers

Sneaked this one in just in time for Labor Day barbecues.

I'm not the biggest fan of turkey burgers, so you're getting quite a bit of seasoning in these guys.  That's also where the pineapple and bbq sauce came in.  If I'd gone teriyaki, I would have skipped the cheese.  Carl's Jr's version of a teriyaki burger uses mayo and sliced cheese.  Yuk, but I digress.  I'm going more for the flavor profile of a BBQ Chicken Pizza, but ground turkey was on sale.

If you want to be totally decadent, add some bacon strips to the assembly line.  I've been eating too much bacon lately and skipped it.  You'll also notice the side salad instead of chips or something.  I'm trying.

*1 lb ground turkey
1/4 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp dried garlic granules
1/4 tsp celery salt
1/4 tsp cumin
1/8 tsp pepper
*1/4 C chopped fresh cilantro or 2 tsp dried
1/4 C finely diced onion
*1 rib celery, finely diced
4 hamburger buns
4 slices cheese of choice or shreds
lettuce, if desired
4 rings canned pineapple
about 1/4 C bbq sauce

1.  Knead together turkey, seasonings, onion, and diced celery.  Chill at least 1/2 hour, for flavors to meld.  Note that there's no salt other than the celery salt.  Poultry generally has a saline solution in it, plus you'll be getting some in the sauce.

2.  Shape turkey mix into patties, keeping in mind they shrink up into a ball as they cook.  Make them flatter and wider than you want them.  Either grill or broil until core reaches 165º.  There is no such thing as a medium-rare turkey burger.  It must be fully cooked.

3.  While the burgers are cooking, toast the buns.  I did it with the cheese curds on it, because they tend to roll off things if they're not melted.  If you use shredded cheese, I recommend that route.  Or, if you like your burger cheese melted.

4.  To assemble the burger, place a bit of lettuce on the bottom bun, followed by the patty.  Add pineapple ring, drizzle with sauce, and top with cheese and top bun.  Serve immediately.

Difficulty rating  π