Now that school is out and summer is officially right around the corner, it’s time to break out those grills folks! And have we got the perfect Chicken Burger for you to try out at your next outdoor cookout. Ground chicken, whole wheat breadcrumbs, onion, garlic, and fresh herbs combine to create these deliciously juicy Chicken Burgers.
We love to top these mouthwatering burgers with fresh arugula, crispy onions, buttery avocado, and creamy honey mustard. The beauty is that these chicken burgers pair beautifully with just about any topping you can think of.
Ingredients for Chicken Burgers
- Ground chicken – if given an option, use 93/7 lean ground chicken. 99 lean is a little too lean and will likely result in drier burgers.
- Whole wheat breadcrumbs – binding agent for the patties.
- Onion – yellow or white onion work wonderfully in this recipe, as they are a little sharper than red onion.
- Garlic cloves – for a hint of sharpness.
- Seasonings – fresh parsley, fresh chives, dried oregano, onion powder, salt and pepper round out the flavors of these burgers.
- Burger buns – we like to make our own hamburger buns to take these burgers to the next level.
- Optional toppings – we love topping these with onion, avocado, arugula, and honey mustard, but feel free to add cheese or other toppings of choice.
How to Make Chicken Burgers
Combine ground chicken, breadcrumbs, onion, garlic cloves, parsley, chives, oregano, onion powder, salt and pepper in a medium mixing bowl. Mix the ingredients together using your hands, being careful not to over-mix.
If you’re using a grill, preheat and prepare the grill as needed (this will vary depending on your grill).
Form the burger patties by dividing the chicken into 5 roughly equal parts. Roll the chicken into a ball and then gently flatten with your palm. Repeat for all patties.
If you’re using a grill, cover the patties with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour (this will help keep the burger together during grilling). If you’re using a frying pan or griddle, you can omit this step.
Grilling: Once the grill is hot, place the burgers on the grill and cook until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F, flipping about halfway through. Cook time will depend on the thickness of your burger and the type of grill, but in general it should take about 10 minutes total. This time estimate is based off of a Traeger wood pellet smoker/grill.
Frying/Griddle: Heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat and lightly mist with cooking spray. Once the pan is hot, add the burgers. You may need to split into two batches so as not to overcrowd the pan. Cook about 5 minutes on one side, then flip and cook another 5 minutes. The patties should have a nice browned appearance. Insert a meat thermometer and confirm the burger has reached an internal temperature of 165°F. If the burgers are not done, reduce heat to medium-low and cover and cook the burgers another 2 to 3 minutes. Check again.
Lightly toast the buns for about 30 seconds on the grill or in the hot frying pan. Transfer the burgers to the buns and assemble the burgers with your desired toppings, such as onion, avocado, arugula or butter lettuce, and sauce of choice (we highly recommend honey mustard). Enjoy!
We highly recommend pairing these burgers with our fluffy and buttery whole wheat burger buns.
Easy Burger Modifications
One of the best things about these Chicken Burgers is their versatility; they go with just about anything. Here are a few modifications you can make to switch things up.
- Cheese: cheddar, pepper jack, mozzarella, Gouda, Swiss, or white cheddar really elevate this burger
- Veggies/Fruit: add caramelized, pickled, or crispy onions, sauteed mushrooms, jalapenos, pickles, tomato, pico de gallo, green chilies, apple slaw, or pineapple rings
- Greens: arugula, spinach, butter lettuce, shredded romaine or iceberg lettuce, slaw
- Make it naked: go bun-less and add a side salad, pasta salad, fries, or mac and cheese
- Dressings: chipotle mayo, avocado crema, honey mustard, ranch (try our edamame ranch), red pepper jelly, garlic aioli, or good old ketchup and mustard
Chicken Burgers: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- How do you keep chicken burgers from falling apart – use a binder, like breadcrumbs or egg, to help keep the burger together when grilling. This recipe uses breadcrumbs.
- What is the internal temperature of chicken- chicken is safe to eat when its internal temperature is 165℉.
- Are chicken burgers healthier – it depends on the meat-to-fat ratio of the meat you’re using. For 93/7 lean ground beef vs ground chicken, the calories, fat, protein, and sodium content are very similar, with ground beef having slightly more saturated fat. However, fattier beef (like 80/20) will have more fat and ground chicken will be a healthier alternative.
- What is the difference between a chicken burger and chicken sandwich – a chicken burger uses ground chicken formed into a patty like a standard hamburger. A chicken sandwich is made with a whole piece of chicken that is either grilled or breaded and fried and served in a bun.
Let us know what you think about these Chicken Burgers by dropping a comment and/or rating below! We love to hear from you!
Check out these perfect burger pairings:
- Whole wheat burger buns
- Butternut squash burger
- White cheddar mac n cheese
- Citrus slaw
- Summer peach pasta salad
- Greek pasta salad
Chicken Burgers
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken
- ½ c whole wheat breadcrumbs
- ¼ c yellow onion, minced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 Tbsp fresh parsley, minced
- 1 Tbsp fresh chives, thinly sliced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp sea salt
- ¼ tsp coarse black pepper
- 5 burger buns (optional)
- toppings of choice: onion, avocado, arugula, and sauce of choice (optional)
Instructions
- Combine ground chicken, breadcrumbs, onion, garlic cloves, parsley, chives, oregano, onion powder, salt and pepper in a medium mixing bowl. Mix the ingredients together using your hands, being careful not to over-mix.
- If you're using a grill, preheat and prepare the grill as needed (this will vary depending on your grill).
- Form the burger patties by dividing the chicken into 5 roughly equal parts. Roll the chicken into a ball and then gently flatten with your palm. Repeat for all patties.
- If you're using a grill, cover the patties with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour (this will help keep the burger together during grilling). If you're using a frying pan or griddle, you can omit this step.
- Grilling: Once the grill is hot, place the burgers on the grill and cook until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F, flipping about halfway through. Cook time will depend on the thickness of your burger and the type of grill, but in general it should take about 10 minutes total. Frying/Griddle: Heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat and lightly mist with cooking spray. Once the pan is hot, add the burgers. You may need to split into two batches so as not to overcrowd the pan. Cook about 5 minutes on one side, then flip and cook another 5 minutes. The patties should have a nice browned appearance. Insert a meat thermometer and confirm the burger has reached an internal temperature of 165°F. You can also check by cutting the burger and ensuring the center is not pink. If the burgers are not done, reduce heat to medium-low and cover and cook the burgers another 2 to 3 minutes. Check again.
- Lightly toast the buns for about 30 seconds on the grill or in the hot frying pan. Transfer the burgers to the buns and assemble the burgers with your desired toppings, such as onion, avocado, arugula or butter lettuce, and sauce of choice (we highly recommend honey mustard). Enjoy!
Notes
- How do you keep chicken burgers from falling apart – use a binder, like breadcrumbs or egg, to help keep the burger together when grilling. This recipe uses breadcrumbs.
- What is the internal temperature of chicken- chicken is safe to eat when its internal temperature is 165℉.
- Are chicken burgers healthier – it depends on the meat-to-fat ratio of the meat you’re using. For 93/7 lean ground beef vs ground chicken, the calories, fat, protein, and sodium content are very similar, with ground beef having slightly more saturated fat. However, fattier beef (like 80/20) will have more fat and ground chicken will be a healthier alternative.
- What is the difference between a chicken burger and chicken sandwich – a chicken burger uses ground chicken formed into a patty like a standard hamburger. A chicken sandwich is made with a whole piece of chicken that is either grilled or breaded and fried and served in a bun.
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