How to Make Chicken Burgers
There is not much more to making a chicken burger than there is to making a beef burger, but there are a few little things to pay attention to. First of all, there’s the ground chicken. You can buy ground chicken or you could grind your own using a meat grinder or a food processor. Store-bought ground chicken tends to be a little wetter than beef, so you need to add something to help absorb that excess liquid. In this recipe for zesty chicken burgers, that ingredient is breadcrumbs. The breadcrumbs not only help to absorb excess liquid, but they also help to bind the patty together, along with an egg.
Seasoning Chicken Burgers
Another significant difference between chicken and beef burgers is flavor. Chicken burgers need some extra ingredients to add flavor to the patty. Here we add scallions, sriracha sauce, cayenne pepper and a little garlic to give the burgers some zest! The patties will be relatively wet when you shape them, so make sure you pop them into the refrigerator to chill for 20 to 30 minutes. This will make them easier to manage.
How Long to Cook Chicken Burgers
Unlike beef burgers, where you can cook the meat to different degrees of doneness, chicken burgers need to be cooked all the way through. On an electric griddle set to 350˚F, this will take about 10 minutes per side, depending on how thick you make the patties. The same time holds true for a skillet on medium heat on the stovetop. Don’t be tempted to turn up the heat – that will just cause the burgers to get too brown on the outside before the inside is fully cooked.
Toppings for Chicken Burgers
Of course you can top these burgers any way you like, but I think chicken burgers deserve something a little different from the traditional beef burger toppings. Lettuce and tomato are a given, but topping these zesty chicken burgers with a cool cucumber slaw not only adds flavor, but also adds texture to the sandwich. It’s pretty too! These burgers would also be tasty with the whipped feta spread from these chickpea burgers or just a little tzatziki.
What to Serve with Chicken Burgers
Of course, the perfect accompaniment for any burger is a plate of French fries. You can make your own in the air fryer very easily. You could also serve this with a little potato salad or a green salad with a simple vinaigrette if you’re looking for something lighter. Or…. you could just go for it and enjoy the zesty chicken burger and cool cucumber slaw solo. It’s a filling meal!
I would love to make these burgers, but there is no way I can eat cucumber. Will the burger be ok without i? Maybe just cabbage and carrot slaw?
Sure, Vicki. You could just put any slaw on this and they will be tasty. Try the slaw from this chicken sandwich recipe: https://bluejeanchef.com/recipes/air-fried-chicken-sandwich/
This was amazing and definitely a twist on the traditional burger. The cucumber slaw was the hit of this recipe combined with the season ground chicken. Absolutely delicious and will be making again.
Can you cook the chicken patty I. The oven. If so why temperature and how long
Thank you!
You can try baking them in the oven at 400°F for about 20 minutes.
I intend to try this chicken burger but I have a question about beef burgers. I know you are Canadian so what’s with Americans eating their hamburgers rare, medium or well done. We are always told a burger should be at 160°F to be safe to eat. I really enjoy your recipes. I’m not a great cook but I’m a great reader of recipes and then I make the same old things. Ha
You are correct, the USDA does mandate that ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. If you grind your own beef, it would be safer to eat at lower temperatures.
I’d like to try your chicken burger but spices are an issue for me. Do you have any suggestions for seasoning that is not spicy?
The sriracha sauce and cayenne pepper give these burgers a little kick. You can omit them both and use any spices you like instead. Try some dried thyme or oregano and season it with ground black pepper. You could also add a little Worcestershire sauce instead of the sriracha.
Ea t to add, used chicken breast ground in my food processor.