These boldly seasoned BBQ chicken burgers are loaded with your favorite barbecue flavors or can be customized with your favorite ingredients.
This BBQ chicken burger recipe is a leaner alternative to classic burgers and chicken patties. Unlike chicken patties, chicken burgers don't have a breaded coating and are loaded with additional seasonings for added flavor.
Best of all, chicken burgers are a healthier alternative to greasy beef patties. Ground chicken is typically considerably leaner than ground beef used for burgers.
I use my favorite barbecue seasonings as the primary flavoring for these burgers, similar to my popular BBQ dry rub. It adds a deep flavor balanced by a touch of sweetness.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Lean ground chicken - You can substitute ground turkey.
- Plain breadcrumbs - Breadcrumbs are added for moisture (like when making chicken meatloaf) and texture, but those can be omitted to fit dietary needs.
- Large egg
- Worcestershire sauce
- Brown sugar - Sugar can be left out to make these patties healthier.
- Salt
- Smoked paprika
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder - You can substitute minced garlic cloves.
- Mustard powder - You can substitute yellow mustard.
- Ground black pepper
- Cayenne pepper
- Olive oil
Ground chicken burgers can be enjoyed with your favorite toppings, just like a regular hamburger. However, because of the tenderness of the ground chicken burger patty, it is important that you purchase light and airy hamburger buns to serve this on. An overly dense bun will overwhelm the texture and flavor of the burger. Personally, I recommend toasted brioche buns, however, potato buns are great too.
How to make them
Using a large bowl, combine ground chicken with all of the remaining ingredients. Then divide the ground chicken mixture into three equal portions, and flatten them into patties.
TIP: Ground chicken can be a bit sticky to work with, so there are better ways to form your burger patties than pressing when your hands. Instead, I recommend using lightly oiled wax parchment paper, the bottom of a plate, or both in tandem. This will keep your hands clean while making more even patties, and the oil will prevent the meat mixture from sticking!
Add vegetable oil to a large skillet set over low heat, then add your chicken burger patties. Cover the skillet and cook, flipping the patties every few minutes to prevent burning, until the interior of the burger reaches 165 degrees when tested with a digital thermometer. This will take approximately 10 minutes. A slice of cheese should be added on top of the burger a couple of minutes before it finishes cooking.
Serve your juicy chicken burgers on a toasted brioche bun with barbecue sauce and your favorite burger toppings.
Customize this recipe
I enjoy eating my chicken burgers with homemade BBQ sauce, red onions, and green lettuce. However, there is no need to limit yourself to these options. Try these chicken burger toppings combinations as well:
- Cheddar cheese, bacon, and ranch dressing.
- Sliced avocado, red onion, and cilantro.
- Blue cheese, Franks Red Hot Sauce, and balsamic vinegar.
BBQ Chicken Burgers
Equipment
Ingredients
Ground Chicken Burger
- 1 pound lean ground chicken
- ¼ cup plain bread crumbs
- 1 egg (beaten)
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon mustard powder
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper to taste
- 1 dash cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil (or as needed)
Serving
- 3 brioche buns (lightly toasted)
- 3 slices smoked cheddar cheese
- sliced red onion (as needed)
- 3 leaves green leaf lettuce
- ¼ cup BBQ sauce
Instructions
- Add all ingredients for the ground chicken burgers in a bowl and mix to combine.
- Divide the mixture into three equal balls and press firmly to flatten them into patties slightly wider than your buns. Tip: Using a flat bottomed plate works well, add oil to the bottom of the plate to prevent sticking.
- Heat a large nonstick skillet over low heat and add cooking oil, then add the patties, (cooking in batches if needed) and cover. Flip the patties every few minutes to prevent burning. Patties are done cooking when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Add cheese when patties have almost finished cooking.
- Place chicken burger patties on a toasted brioche bun with lettuce, red onion, and BBQ sauce and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutritional Information
This recipe was originally published June 7, 2019.
SkinnyMike
So simple...so easy. I do kick it up a notch with 2 Tbl Buffalo sauce (my own). They are a family favorite. About to find out if they are a crowd favorite. Thanks for the recipe!
Elizabeth
This is a family favorite! Thank you for giving us something new to make! These ingredients blend so well together. Kudos!
Lolo/les petits secrets de lolo
Humm, ce burger au poulet me tente bien !
Buster Monasmith
Are these patties glute free, will a gluten free but work.
Fox Valley Foodie
There are breadcrumbs in the patty, which will contain gluten. You can omit the breadcrumbs if needed though, or purchase gluten-free breadcrumbs.