These Ground Chicken Burgers are brimming with juicy flavor. Thousands of people make my Air Fryer Turkey Burgers because they’re just so darn good and tender. Now I’ve pulled all the tricks from my science degree in food to give you the juiciest chicken burger recipe ever, too. Grill or stovetop, get ready to fall in love!
Table of Contents
- Why You’re Going to Love This Ground Chicken Burger Recipe
- What’s a Chicken Burger Made of? Gather Your Ingredients
- How to Make This Ground Chicken Burgers Recipe: Easy Step-by-Step Directions
- How to Serve Homemade Chicken Burgers
- Choose the Perfect Side Dishes
- How to Make Chicken Burgers Ahead (Plus Storage Tips)
- Expert Tips and Tricks For Juicy Chicken Burgers
- How Do You Keep Ground Chicken Burgers From Falling Apart?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Other Juicy Burger Recipes You Won’t Want To Miss
- Ground Chicken Burgers Recipe
Why You’re Going to Love This Ground Chicken Burger Recipe
Friends, you are minutes away from the flavorful, succulent, juicy chicken burger of your dreams, just bursting with savory goodness. Packed with tender onions, aromatic garlic, a kick of spice, and an array of simple seasonings, this isn’t your average backyard burger. It’s a lean, mean, ground chicken dream (well, not mean actually, it’s very nice).
These healthy burgers are the perfect combo of tender, juicy, and flavorful. Goodbye fear of dry chicken burgers, these ones are dripping with moisture.
I love to make them in bulk for meal prep and eat them for lunch all week.
What’s a Chicken Burger Made of? Gather Your Ingredients
Before we dive into our delicious recipe, let’s take a look at the cast of characters that make up these juicy ground chicken burgers:
- Ground Chicken: This is the star of our show. You can use lean ground chicken (like ground chicken breast), or ground chicken thigh (my preference if you can find it). Either makes for an easy, lighter alternative to beef.
- Fresh or Panko Breadcrumbs: They help to bind our ground chicken patties and keep our chicken burgers moist.
- Milk: Helps to moisten the breadcrumbs, creating a tender, juicy chicken burger.
- Olive Oil: Used for cooking onions and also provides a touch of rich, savory flavor.
- Minced Onion: Cooking the onion first brings out the natural sugars, which in turn hold onto more moisture making for a super-juicy burger. It also adds a subtle sweetness and texture to our ground chicken burgers. Don’t be tempted to swap in onion powder. The onion has a more important role here than just flavoring.
- Coarse Salt: I’ve measured and tested to make sure your burgers will be perfectly seasoned!
- Minced Garlic: To add a subtle punch of flavor we all know and love. It’s just tastier than garlic powder (but you can swap that in if you prefer).
- Mayo: Keeps the chicken burgers juicy and adds a creamy element.
- Minced Fresh Parsley or Dried Parsley: Brings freshness and color to our chicken patties.
- Cayenne Pepper: If you like a bit of heat, this one’s for you!
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper: More seasoning to make our chicken burger sing.
- Large Egg: The binding agent in chicken burgers that holds our patties together.
How to Make This Ground Chicken Burgers Recipe: Easy Step-by-Step Directions
Time to roll up your sleeves and get to the fun part! Here are the step-by-step directions to make a chicken burger at home that will keep you coming back for more.
- Soak the Breadcrumbs: This is your first step in preparing these easy ground chicken burgers. The breadcrumbs will absorb the milk and help to keep the patties moist. Do it in a large mixing bowl and then you can just add the other ingredients without dirtying extra bowls.
- Sauté the Onion and Garlic: This brings out their sweet, aromatic flavors, which will permeate through the ground chicken burger.
- Combine the Onion and Garlic with the Breadcrumb Mixture: The bread will help to spread the onion and garlic flavor throughout the patties.
- Add the Remaining Seasonings and Mayo: This will ensure that every bite of your chicken burger is packed with flavor.
- Mix in the Egg and Ground Chicken: Be sure to mix the ground chicken mixture gently to keep your patties tender and juicy.
- Shape Your Patties: Forming them with a gentle touch ensures they remain tender and moist after cooking.
- Cook Chicken Burgers: Whether you’re making grilled chicken burgers or pan-cooking them, make sure to oil the grill grates or pan and cook your ground chicken to a safe internal temperature.
- Let the Burgers Rest: A few minutes of patience will help to redistribute the juices, resulting in a flavorful, juicy chicken burger.
How to Serve Homemade Chicken Burgers
Now that your chicken burger patties are cooked to perfection, it’s time to bring on the buns!
Whether you’re into classic hamburger buns, fancy artisan rolls, or even low-carb lettuce wraps, the choice is all yours. I personally love to serve them with this soft Turkish Bread and some yogurt sauce.
I also love to chop up the cooked chicken patties as protein for my lunch salads.
Slather on some creamy Avocado Crema, tangy BBQ sauce, dijon mustard, mayo, Lemon Yogurt Sauce and top with fresh, crunchy lettuce, ripe tomatoes, and crisp onions. And hey, why not add a slice of gooey, melty cheddar cheese while you’re at it?
Choose the Perfect Side Dishes
Looking for the best buddies to accompany your chicken burgers? How about the best macaroni salad or my favorite creamy potato salad recipe? Perhaps a refreshing Couscous Salad with Lemon Dressing or baked Butternut Squash Fries? And let’s not forget the diner classics like crispy onion rings.
How to Make Chicken Burgers Ahead (Plus Storage Tips)
Want to get a head start on dinner? Easy-peasy! Mix up your ground chicken patties and store them in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet covered in plastic wrap. Keep them like this in the fridge a day ahead.
If you want to freeze them, freeze them like this in a single layer before packing them into a freezer bag. Cook from frozen on low heat.
If you find yourself with leftovers, store cooked chicken burgers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet or in the microwave when hunger strikes again.
Expert Tips and Tricks For Juicy Chicken Burgers
And finally, here’s the secret sauce to making the best chicken burgers:
- Cook the Onions: Softening the onion as a first step breaks it down to its natural sugars. Those sugars bind water, which locks moisture into your burgers. Secret ingredient alert!
- Don’t Overmix: Mix your ingredients just until they’re combined. Overmixing can lead to tougher burgers.
- Patty Size Matters: Keep your patties even in size so that the outside doesn’t dry out before the middle is cooked.
- Use a Meat Thermometer: Internal temperature is the most accurate way to tell doneness and helps prevent overcooking. Don’t walk away from the grill and check the doneness frequently. Cook ground chicken to a safe internal temperature of 165ºF.
- Let ’em Rest: After cooking, give your burgers a rest before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute, giving you a more flavorful burger
How Do You Keep Ground Chicken Burgers From Falling Apart?
Keeping ground chicken burgers from falling apart is a common question and I have some great tips:
- Wet your hands: Use dampened or lightly oiled hands to shape the patties to prevent the mixture from sticking to your fingers (helping them hold their shape from the start).
- Add more crumbs: Chicken varies in moisture (and tends to release more if it’s been frozen), so if you’re finding it extremely wet and struggling to form patties, add 1/4 cup more bread crumbs. Remember, they’ll firm up in step 4 so don’t go overboard. Too many bread crumbs will dry out the burger.
- Use Parchment Paper: Place formed patties onto parchment paper. If you find them difficult to handle, you can actually cut the paper around the burgers and then use the parchment to help you transfer them to the grill or pan. Place them parchment-side up right on the cooking surface and then peel the paper off after. Easy breezy.
- Chill Before Cooking: This helps to firm up the patties and makes them less likely to fall apart during cooking. Just 20 minutes in the fridge or 10 minutes in the freezer makes a huge difference,
- Avoid Flipping Too Frequently: Once the burgers are on the grill or in the pan, resist the temptation to move or flip them too often. Let them cook undisturbed until they lift easily, which means the underside has set and they’re ready to flip. Only flip them once if possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers! Here are some common curiosities about making the perfect ground chicken burgers:
Absolutely! This recipe is versatile and can be made with ground turkey, pork, or even a lean ground beef. Just remember, each type of meat has a different fat content and flavor, so your burgers might come out a bit differently.
Sure thing! Preheat your air fryer to 360°F (180°C). Place your ground chicken patties in the basket, ensuring they don’t touch. Cook for about 15 minutes, flipping halfway, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Or just try my recipe for Air Fryer Turkey Burgers instead.
You bet! Just prepare your ground chicken patties and freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. They can be cooked straight from frozen—just add a few minutes to the cooking time.
No problem! You can switch out the breadcrumbs for a gluten-free option like gf pork rinds. And instead of serving on a bun, use lettuce leaves to create a tasty, low-carb chicken burger wrap.
The health factor of a chicken burger can depend largely on the specifics of the recipe and preparation. Generally speaking, chicken is a lean protein source that’s lower in saturated fat than beef, making it a healthier choice. However, the ultimate healthiness of your burger also depends on what you’re adding to it – such as the type of bun, condiments, toppings, and whether the chicken is skinless or not. Opting for whole grain buns, adding plenty of veggies for fiber, and using healthier condiments can keep your chicken burger on the healthier side.
Absolutely! You can grind your own chicken at home for burgers if you prefer. All you need is a food processor or a meat grinder. If you’re using a food processor, cut the chicken into chunks and then pulse until it’s ground. You can use a mix of both chicken breasts and thighs for a balance of lean meat and fat, resulting in a juicier and more flavorful burger. Just remember to handle raw chicken carefully and clean all equipment thoroughly to avoid cross-contamination.
Other Juicy Burger Recipes You Won’t Want To Miss
- Juicy Air Fryer Turkey Burgers: Healthier and tastier than ever, it’s a scrumptious twist on a classic favorite.
- Juicy Mushroom Burgers with Swiss: These burgers are picnic-perfect.
- Flaky Salmon Burgers: Insanely delicious and moist salmon burgers – because dry burgers are just fishy business!
Next reading: Check out my 39+ best Healthy Ground Chicken Recipes for more yummy ground chicken ideas!
Ground Chicken Burgers
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¾ cup fresh or panko breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup minced onion
- 1 ¼ tsp kosher salt
- 1 ½ tsp minced garlic
- 3 tbsp mayo
- 1 tbsp minced fresh parsley or 1 tsp dried
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- ¾ tsp ground black pepper
- 1 large egg
- 1 lb ground chicken
- Vegetable oil for cooking
Instructions
- In a large bowl, stir together breadcrumbs and milk; let stand to absorb.
- Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, then cook onion with ¼ tsp salt until softened, about 7 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about a minute more. Cool for a few minutes, then scrape into breadcrumb mixture.
- Stir mayo into the breadcrumb mixture, along with parsley, remaining salt, pepper, and cayenne.
- When mixture is cool to the touch, stir in the egg then the ground chicken. Use your hands to gently but thoroughly work the mixture together. Using oiled or slightly-dampened hands, form into 6 burger patties. It’ll seem quite soft at this point. Chill the patties for 20 minutes to firm up.
- If grilling: Preheat grill to medium-high heat and oil the grates. Grill the patties for about 6-7 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165ºF.
- If pan-cooking: Heat a tablespoon of oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the patties and cook for about 6-7 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165ºF.
- Let burgers rest for a few minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
The chicken burgers were delicious. The seasonings were perfect.
The only thing that I changed was to dredge them in Panko crumbs before frying. I served them with roasted vegetables.
Yay! So happy to hear it. Thanks, Lillie!
These chicken burgers are a game-changer for sure! So juicy and delicious – my family couldn’t get enough. You gotta try these!
I’m all about these ground chicken burgers now! The juiciness was unreal, and the tips in the recipe were a game-changer.
Just whipped up these ground chicken burgers and they rocked my taste buds! Super juicy and full of flavor, they’re a must-try.
Tried these chicken burgers and I’m amazed Jennifer! The flavor and juiciness are next level. A new favorite for sure.
Made these Ground Chicken Burgers last weekend and they’re seriously the juiciest burgers ever! Even better than the turkey ones I’ve been loving.
Delicious recipe, the whole family loved them.