Ground Chicken Burgers

These ground chicken burgers are packed with bold flavor. With chopped fresh cilantro, a hint of heat, and a tangy, creamy yogurt spread, these chicken burgers will become a new favorite weeknight dinner.

Lighter than traditional beef burgers, this chicken patty recipe is loaded with big, vibrant flavor. Savory garlic, fresh cilantro, and just a bit of chili paste are added to the patties. Topped with bright, tangy yogurt, lemon, and mint sauce, these are the best grilled ground chicken burgers you’ll find.

Mix up burger night with these flavorful burgers, turkey burgers or even make a vegetarian zucchini fritter burger! Dress them up with the perfect homemade brioche bun and maybe try homemade bbq sauce instead of the yogurt spread.

Professional tips for making the best ground chicken burgers

• Keep a close eye on your burgers. Chicken can overcook easily as it is a lean meat. Be sure to keep an eye on your burgers and test them for doneness with an instant-read thermometer to ensure they are removed from the heat when they have reached 165°F.
• Don’t skip the preheating. To achieve the best grill marks, an ideal sear, and to keep the patties from drying out, be sure the pan is hot, not medium heat, before adding the patties.
• Keep the patties from sticking. Ground chicken has a lower fat content than other ground meats, so preheating and oiling the grill pan before adding the patties will keep them from sticking. Letting them develop a brown crust before moving will also help.

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Ingredients

• Ground Chicken: I like to use lean ground chicken for this recipe, but not too lean. I recommend either using 85/15 and 90/10 for this dish. If you get a family sized pack, you could also make some Healthy Chipotle Chorizo Chicken Tacos and Chipotle Chili!
• Roasted Red Chili Paste: I recommend using 2 teaspoons of roasted red chili paste, which you can usually find with other Thai ingredients at your local grocery store. While you’re hanging out in that section, pick up the ingredients for some Easy Thai Peanut Chicken Noodle Stir Fry! If you are sensitive to spicy food, you can use 1 teaspoon of chili paste or omit it entirely.
• Cilantro
• Kosher Salt & Black Pepper
• Garlic: You will need 3 medium garlic cloves for this recipe. If you don’t have access to fresh garlic, you can use about 3 tablespoons of jarred chopped garlic.
• Buns: Pick the buns of your choice for this dish. I used a brioche bun and it was fabulous! You could even choose your favorite gluten-free variety!
• Greek Yogurt: I used 2% Greek yogurt for this recipe. It is thicker than regular yogurt.
• Mascarpone: My secret ingredient is mascarpone cheese in this recipe. I used a combination of mascarpone and Greek yogurt in the spread because the mascarpone adds a smooth, creamy texture and cuts some of the tartness from the yogurt and lemon.
• Lemon Zest: You know from my Lemon Roasted Chicken that I like to use fresh lemon zest for my chicken recipes. Be sure to only use the yellow part of the lemon and not the white part (the pith) is bitter.
• Lemon Juice
• Mint
• Carrots
• Cucumber: You will also want to use 1 medium cucumber for this recipe. You can either use an English cucumber or a regular slicing cucumber.
• Rice Wine Vinegar: Be sure to use unseasoned rice wine vinegar for this recipe. If using seasoned rice wine vinegar, leave out the salt and sugar listed below.
• Sugar: Just a hint of sugar balances the saltiness and acidity of the salad. I would not omit this ingredient. If needed, you could replace the sugar with a bit of honey.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Variations

• Breadcrumbs: Add some bread crumbs to the ground chicken mixture for a more firm texture to your burgers.
• Different Ground Meat: You can swap the ground chicken in this recipe for ground turkey, or another ground meat, like ground beef or ground lamb. You can also experiment with ground meat, like ground chicken breasts, that you process yourself.
• Different Toppings:  Try melting a slice of cheese on the burger patties in the last minute or two of cooking. You can use any good melting cheese, like cheddar cheese, mozzarella, or jack. Other favorite toppings include lettuce, mayo, red onion, dijon mustard, and tomato. I’ve even seen restaurants serve it with an egg or worcestershire sauce on top!
• Different Spices: You can experiment with using spices like onion powder, smoked paprika, oregano, or Italian seasoning in place of the cilantro and chili paste in the burger.

How to make burgers with ground chicken

Use these instructions to make the perfect ground chicken burger every time! Further details and measurements can be found in the recipe card below!

Form and cook chicken patties

Step 1: Heat your grill pan over medium-high heat. Cover the bottom of another cast iron skillet with 2 sheets of aluminum foil. 

Step 2: While the grill pan heats up, mix together the chicken, chili paste, cilantro, salt, pepper, and garlic in a medium bowl. Form mixture into 4 equal patties.

Step 3: When the grill is hot, brush with olive oil (or a vegetable oil of your choice) and place patties on the grill pan. Place large skillet on top of patties, foil side down, trying to distribute the weight evenly. 

Step 4: Set your timer for 5 minutes. Flip the burgers, take off one layer of the foil on the skillet, then place the skillet back on the patties. Cook for an additional 5 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Step 5: Move the patties to a plate and cover with foil to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Make yogurt spread

Step 6: In the base of a Nutribullet, mini food processor, or blender, add all of the ingredients. Blend until smooth.

Step 7: Taste and adjust any ingredients as desired. 

Step 8: You can also make this in a bowl with an immersion blender. Be sure to mince your mint leaves as finely as possible first if using this method.

Prepare a carrot & cucumber salad

Step 9: Shave the carrot and cucumber with a mandoline or vegetable peeler.

Step 10: In a large bowl, toss in enough rice wine vinegar to coat; sprinkle with salt and sugar to taste.

Step 11: Let marinate in the refrigerator until you are ready to eat. This can be made the day before if you wish. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Before You Go

I hope you enjoyed this professional chef-tested recipe. Check out our other delicious, chef-developed chicken recipes such as Foolproof Grilled Rosemary Chicken!