As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program, I received a sampling of Lay’s and Tostitos® Dip Creations™ to try. I received three different flavors: Tostitos Guacamole, Lay’s Country Ranch, and Lay’s Garden Onion. (I promise everything I say in this post is my honest opinion; I haven’t been paid or solicited to share a positive review!)
.
These Dip Creations are basically seasoning packets that you mix with sour cream to make quick and easy dips. They also came with some other serving suggestions, which I appreciated as a person who isn’t a big chips-and-dip fan. Instead of making dip, I decided to use the Country Ranch flavor as a mix-in for turkey burgers.
.
This was a great way to pack a lot of flavor into the burgers without slaving over my spice rack. Turkey burgers can be dry and flavorless (fat equals flavor and moisture, and 99% lean turkey doesn’t have a lot of it), but this was an easy way to get tons of flavor without heaping amounts of salt or cooking it in fat. It also did wonders to keep the meat moist (perhaps because it’s meant to end up as a creamy dip). I just mixed the seasoning packet with a pound of ground turkey and threw in some chopped veggies for additional nutrition and flavor, and grilled up the patties. They were delicious.
.

You’ll need a pound of lean ground turkey, a half-packet of Lay’s Country Ranch Dip Creations, and some veggies and/or fresh herbs. I used green onions, carrots, and fresh chives, but you can really use anything you want. Some peppers would be great, or some fresh dill to augment the ranch flavor. Just throw in whatever you have lying around!

First, measure out half of your seasoning mix, which is about half an ounce by weight. The reason I used half is because there are technically 16 servings in the package, and using the whole package in four burgers would have been a sodium overload. The sodium count isn’t fantastic, but it’s also not horrible, so you just need to watch how much you’re using if you’re using it in its concentrated powder form. There’s no fat and the calorie count is practically non-existent, so you’re getting a lot of flavor bang for your calorie buck. A little of this stuff goes a long way, too.

Mix your turkey with your seasoning, chopped veggies and herbs (I used 2 small carrots, grated, and about a half-cup of chopped green onion, along with about a tablespoon of fresh chive).

Just get in there with your hands and make sure everything is pretty evenly distributed. Form the meat mixture into a giant patty, then score it into fourths so you can make fairly even patties. I also weigh the patties as I create them to try to get them to approximately the same size. This not only keeps the nutrition information consistent, but it makes cooking easier—they’ll all cook in the same amount of time.

Preheat your grill (I used my Griddler, which is my favorite appliance ever). Spritz lightly with cooking spray (I use olive oil spray) to avoid sticking. Without fat to grease up the meat, you might need a little help to keep the patties from sticking, especially if you’re not using a nonstick surface.

Cook for about 5 to 7 minutes per side, or until no longer pink in the middle.

I melted some Muenster cheese on top as well—perfect.

Served with a couple onion slices and a squirt of ketchup atop a toasted homemade English muffin: so good! Full of ranch flavor and so juicy—not at all your average dry, boring turkey burger. You must try these!

Some final notes on the product: overall, I would definitely recommend Lay’s and Tostitos Dip Creations from a flavor standpoint. However, although the ingredients are touted as “all natural,” they’re not very impressive: maltodextrin, sunflower oil, corn sugar, gum arabic, and lactic acid are among them.
.
That being said, I don’t really have any reservations about using the rest of the samples I received. They’re tasty and a great flavor shortcut. I’m looking forward to trying Garden Onion dip (made with Greek yogurt instead of sour cream!). If you don’t have access to these products at your nearest grocery store or simply don’t want to use them, you can still make these burgers with some spices instead: onion powder, fresh or dried parsley, garlic powder or fresh minced garlic, and some dill would do nicely. Enjoy!
.
.
Country Ranch Turkey Burgers
Serves 4
.
1 pound 99% lean ground turkey
1/2 packet Lay’s Country Ranch Dip Creations
1/2 cup chopped green onion
2 small carrots, grated
1 tablespoon minced chives
.
Buns, for serving
Toppings: cheese slices, sliced onion, lettuce, tomato
.

In a mixing bowl, combine turkey, seasoning mix, chopped onion, grated carrot, and chives. Mix well. Divide into fourths and form equal patties. Grill 5-7 minutes per side, or until cooked through (no pink in the middle). Top with cheese or other toppings, serve on buns.