Juicy Chicken Burgers
Juicy Chicken Burgers are a healthy and delicious weeknight meal that come together in under 30 minutes. Say goodbye to dry and flavorless chicken!
Juicy and flavorful chicken patties topped with melted swiss served on a toasted bun with grilled onions, lettuce, tomato. The perfect alternative to a grilled beef burger!
Table of Contents
The Best Juicy Chicken Burgers
This has been a summer of trying to eat a bit healthier and as much as I love a grilled burger, I’ve been working on healthier swaps for some of my favorite foods.
These juicy chicken burgers are so full of flavor and they stay moist and juicy after cooking! The chicken patties have zero breadcrumbs or egg fillers making them light, fresh, and gluten-free.
If you’re looking for a healthy weeknight dinner, these juicy chicken burgers definitely fit the bill! Serve them up alongside these homemade potato wedges or baked sweet potato fries.
Add these burgers to your weekly dinner rotation–you’re going to love them!
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
Healthy – Healthy doesn’t have to meal flavorless, ever! These chicken burgers are low in fat, full of protein, and still taste delicious. They’re perfect for swapping in when you’re looking to cut back on red meat.
Quick & Easy – This whole recipe comes together in just about 30 minutes with minimal prep! Juicy chicken burgers are the definition of an easy weeknight dinner.
Minimal Ingredients – You only need a handful of ingredients that you likely already have in the fridge to get these chicken burgers together. Plus, they’re easy to customize with your favorite toppings!
How to Make Juicy Chicken Burgers
Because the burgers are soft due to the lack of fillers, I prefer cooking these in a cast iron skillet or on a grill pan to avoid them falling apart.
Tools Needed
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Ground chicken. If I can find it, I try to find dark meat ground chicken since it has a little bit more fat.
- Grated onion. Grating the onion on a box grater also adds moisture to the ground chicken.
- Mayonnaise. The secret ingredient and trick to moist and juicy chicken burgers is just a hint of mayo.
- Dijon mustard. Dijon mustard adds a savory flavor and helps keep the burgers juicy.
- Worcestershire sauce. I always add Worcestershire to any burger recipe to add that savory umami flavor.
- Liquid smoke. This is an optional ingredient, but I think it adds a smokiness that simulates the flavor you get from grilling.
- Garlic powder. A hint of garlic powder adds so much flavor.
- Buns. Brioche burger buns are my favorite here but use your favorite. Swap in gluten-free buns to keep this recipe gluten-free.
- Cheese. I think swiss really complements the chicken, but you can use any cheese you like!
- Toppings. I like mayo, grilled onions, tomato, and lettuce but you can use your favorite here.
The Process
- Mix the burgers. Combine the ground chicken, onion, mayo, dijon, Worcestershire, liquid smoke, garlic powder, and salt and pepper together. Mix gently by hand until just combined and all the ingredients are evenly mixed.
- Shape the patties. Divide the mixture into 4 and shape into patties with a depression in the middle. Place the shaped burgers on a plate or small baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Transfer the burgers to the freezer for 15-20 minutes, until firmed up.
- Cook the burgers. Heat a grill pan or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Let the pan preheat for about 5 minutes. Add a bit of neutral oil. Once the oil is hot, cook the burgers for about 5 minutes per side, until browned. Add the cheese after flipping the burgers so that it has time to melt. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the burgers are cooked to 165 F.
- Grill the onions. Remove the burgers from the skillet or grill pan and use the same pan to cook the onions for 4-5 minutes per side, until soft and browned. Season the onions with salt and pepper.
- Build the burgers. Toast the buns and top with the juicy chicken burgers and grilled onions and any other desired toppings.
Juicy Chicken Burgers Tips & Tricks
Juicy chicken burgers are such a delicious and easy recipe to throw together any night of the week. Here are all my tips & tricks for making perfect burgers every time:
- Look for dark meat ground chicken. Dark meat has a little bit of extra fat and keeps the burgers ultra-juicy.
- Don’t overmix the burgers. I always mix the burgers by hand since it lets me incorporate all the ingredients quickly without over-mixing. Over-mixing can lead to tough burger patties.
- Freeze the patties briefly. Because we’re not using any egg or breadcrumbs to keep the patties juicy, they’re a little delicate. I like to freeze them briefly just to firm them up a bit before cooking.
- Don’t overcook. Overcooked burgers will definitely make them dry no matter what we add to the burger mix. This is where a thermometer comes in handy! Cook the patties just until 165 F and no further!
- Don’t skimp on toppings. A good burger is all about all the toppings so go all in! Lettuce, tomato, cheese, grilled onions, avocado, and condiments like mayo, ketchup, and mustard–the more the merrier!
Storage Instructions
Juicy chicken burgers store well making them ideal for meal prep! After cooking the burgers, let them cool to room temperature.
Store any leftover burgers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheat juicy chicken burgers by warming incrementally in the microwave until warmed through. Alternately warm them in a skillet with a lid over low heat until warmed through.
Juicy Chicken Burgers the perfect recipe for an easy weeknight dinner, meal prep, or any backyard BBQ. They’re an easy and healthy option for replacing beef in your burgers. If you do give them a try, be sure to let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. Be sure to subscribe to my weekly newsletter and never miss a new recipe! You can also snap a photo & tag @JENNYGOYCOCHEA on Instagram. I LOVE hearing about & seeing your SMF creations!
More Summer Grilling Recipes to Try
Authentic Carne Asada
Grilled Lemon Herb Chicken
Grilled Chicken Wings
Beer Can Chicken
Wisconsin-style Beer Brats
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Juicy Chicken Burgers
Ingredients
Chicken Burgers
- 1 lb ground chicken, dark meat if possible
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
- 1/4 yellow onion, grated
- 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke (optional)
- kosher salt
- freshly cracked pepper
- 1/2 yellow onion, cut into rings
- 4 slices swiss or cheddar cheese
- 4 brioche burger buns
Toppings
- butter leaf lettuce
- sliced tomato
- mayonnaise
- mustard
- ketchup
- sliced avocado
Instructions
- Mix the burgers. Combine the ground chicken, onion, mayo, dijon, Worcestershire, liquid smoke, garlic powder, and salt and pepper together in a mixing bowl. Mix gently by hand until just combined and all the ingredients are evenly mixed.
- Shape the patties. Divide the mixture into 4 and shape into patties with a depression in the middle. Place the shaped burgers on a plate or small baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Transfer the burgers to the freezer for 15-20 minutes, until firmed up.
- Cook the burgers. Heat a grill pan or cast iron skillet over medium heat. Let the pan preheat for about 5 minutes. Add a bit of neutral oil. Once the oil is hot, cook the burgers for about 5 minutes per side, until browned. Add the cheese after flipping the burgers so that it has time to melt. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the burgers are cooked to 165 F.
- Grill the onions. Remove the burgers from the skillet or grill pan and use the same pan to cook the onions for 4-5 minutes per side, until soft and browned. Season the onions with salt and pepper.
- Build the burgers. Toast the buns and top with the juicy chicken burgers and grilled onions and any other desired toppings.
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