Hopdoddy’s Turducken Burger Is Thanksgiving On A Bun

Impatient Thanksgiving fans can tuck into holiday flavors early at Hopdoddy Burger Bar with its annual nod to season’s most festive meal. This year, it’s a limited time “turducken” (turkey, duck and chicken) burger available through November 22 at both Houston locations (4444 Westheimer and 5510 Morningside). Inspired by the poultry trifecta of the same name, the meat patty is a blend of antibiotic- and hormone-free ground chicken, duck and turkey.

The burger patty goes on top of seasoned, tempura-fried green beans (which, remarkably, stay crispy to the last bite) and French’s Crispy Fried Onions to emulate a classic green bean casserole. A cranberry compote— made from blending fresh cranberries with sugar, fresh-squeezed orange juice and red wine until thick and spreadable—is a sweet, tangy counterpoint.

All of that goes on top of a “stuffing bun” prepared daily in-house. Celery, onion, rosemary, sage, and parsley are baked into the dough. The burger is served with a small bowl of silky gravy for dipping. The gravy isn’t made in house, but it’s still appealing. The finished sandwich, with its stack of seasonal ingredients, is a towering display of edible holiday glory.

For those unfamiliar with turducken, it is an ambitious dish that involves stuffing a deboned chicken inside a duck that is in turn stuffed inside a turkey. Then, the whole thing is baked. The exact origin of turducken is unclear (The late Cajun chef Paul Prudhomme claimed to invent it in the 1970s—and even offered cooks who accomplished the feat a Turducken Graduate Certificate—but there are many detractors to his claim.)

The seasonal white chocolate cranberry shake doubles as drink and dessert. Photo courtesy of Hopdoddy Burger Bar

However, most can agree it makes a show-stopping centerpiece that pulls together flavors of each unique bird that coexist in a single bite. Hopdoddy’s burger brings together this combination in a convenient handheld package.

 

Local manager Chris Hill recommends pairing the burger with a side of the new sweet potato fries that come with chipotle aioli and the seasonal white chocolate cranberry shake, which doubles as dessert.

 

“Stuffing Buns” incorporate traditional ingredients and are available for Thanksgiving pre-order. Photo courtesy of Hopdoddy Burger Bar

Though the burger special only runs through November 22, customers can buy the buns by the half-dozen—perfect for filling with the inevitable Thanksgiving leftovers. The buns are available for pre-order online from November 13 to 19 and may be picked up November 20 to 22. Orders must be placed at least 24 hours in advance and the cost is $6 for six buns. Hopdoddy is closed on Thanksgiving Day.

Diners should visit Hopdoddy for lunch or early dinner for the best chances at trying one. Due to the preparation involved, only 75 Turducken Burgers are made per day at each location and these are not available on the happy hour menu. The turducken burger won’t be around long, so interested diners ought to trot on over before it flies the coop.

 

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