Spinach Swiss Turkey Burgers

I recently bought a cast iron skillet and have been going burger crazy with that thing.  In all the cooking shows I watch I always see these chefs use a cast iron skillet to sear their burgers or other meat and it always looks so delicious.  I had to get one for myself!

I don't eat red meat, but a turkey burger cooks just as well on the cast iron and let me tell you, this sucker was DELICIOUS!  And it was all inspired by a humble bag of nearly forgotten frozen spinach.  

It was one of those nights where I was trying to concoct a meal out of what I had in the house already.  I love when this comes together into something tasty that will definitely be making another appearance in our meal rotation.  Even better, this came together with less than 10 ingredients!

Ingredients:

• 1 pound lean ground turkey (I use 93% lean)
• 1 bag chopped frozen spinach, thawed with all the water squeezed out
• Swiss cheese, diced (I had leftover cubes of Swiss cheese and just diced them into small pieces.  I used about 1/4 cup but feel free to use more or less.)
• 1 large or 2 medium onions, sliced
• Balsamic vinegar
• EVOO
• S&P
• Garlic salt (approx. 1 Tbsp.)
• Burger buns (whatever kind you like - I had straight up classic white buns in the house so that's what I used here.)

Instructions:

• Pre-heat a cast iron skillet over medium high heat.  Drizzle with some EVOO.
• In a large bowl, mix together the ground turkey, Swiss cheese and spinach (make sure you squeeze out all the excess liquid!)
• Season with S&P and garlic salt.
• PRO TIP: You can start light on the seasonings, then cook off a teeny tiny quarter sized burger to taste for seasoning.  If you need more, add to the raw mixture.  If you're happy with the seasoning, move on to the next step.
• Form 4 burgers and add to the skillet all at once.  Cook approx. 6 minutes on one side before flipping.
• PRO TIP: If the burger doesn't pull up from the pan easily when you go to flip it, it's not time to flip it yet.  Give it another minute.
• Flip burgers and cook until 165 degrees in the middle.  Approx. 5 more minutes depending on thickness of your burgers.
• PRO TIP: If you're not used to cooking turkey burgers, you need to cook them ALL THE WAY.  There is no "medium rare" with ground turkey.  That burger's gotta be at 165 internal temp.
• While the burgers are cooking, heat a large skillet over medium with a drizzle of EVOO in the pan.
• Add your sliced onions, season with S&P and cook until soft and light brown in color.  
• Add a tablespoon or so of the balsamic vinegar and turn onions to low.
• When your burgers are done, slap those babies on a bun and top with the caramelized balsamic onions and enjoy!
• PRO TIP: No cheese needed on the top of the burger because you have melty Swiss cheese running through that whole thing.

You never know what tasty meal you might be able to cook up if you just take a little time to check out your pantry or a forgotten corner of the freezer and try something new.  Be creative!  Food doesn't need to be formal or serious or have a bunch of complicated ingredients.  Food can be fun, casual, messy and make you smile.  If a burger won't do that, I don't know what will!