This recipe focuses on moisture management - balancing fat, liquid, and gentle handling keep lean ground chicken juicy on the grill or stovetop.
Looking for a lighter alternative to beef burgers? This juicy chicken burger recipe is the answer. Ground chicken makes a healthy chicken burger that’s still full of flavor when seasoned with garlic, scallions, and smoked paprika. Perfect for summer BBQs, grilled chicken burger nights, or an easy chicken burger recipe for weeknight meals.
Why This Chicken Burger Works
American cooking is about food that performs. This chicken burger solves the most common problem with ground chicken—dryness—by relying on technique instead of tricks. The result is a burger that cooks evenly, stays juicy, and works on a grill or stovetop without babysitting.
What Makes This Chicken Burger Different
This is not a “healthy swap” or a dressed-up gourmet burger.
It’s a straightforward American chicken burger built for reliability. The seasoning is balanced, the structure holds, and the method prioritizes moisture and texture over flash.
How to Keep Chicken Burgers Juicy
The key to a good chicken burger is moisture management. Ground chicken is lean and unforgiving, so success depends on protecting moisture from mixing through cooking.
This recipe does that by:
- Mixing gently to avoid tightening the meat
- Adding internal moisture to protect texture
- Cooking over moderate heat
- Never pressing the burger while it cooks
Once you understand this approach, the same logic applies to meatballs, sliders, and other lean ground proteins.
Ingredient Tips for the Best Chicken Burgers
- Ground chicken: Lean and mild, but dries out easily if mishandled
- Moisture addition (oil, mayo, yogurt, or panade): Keeps the burger juicy without making it heavy
- Aromatics: Add flavor and natural moisture
- Salt: Seasons and firms structure when added just before shaping
Each ingredient is chosen to support texture first, flavor second.
Juicy Chicken Burger Recipe
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground chicken 93% lean
- 2 tablespoon mayonnaise or full-fat Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ cup scallions or chives finely sliced
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil for cooking
For Serving
- 4 brioche burger buns toasted
- Optional toppings: lettuce tomato, red onion, pickles, cheese, sriracha mayo
Instructions
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, mayonnaise (or yogurt), panko, egg, garlic, scallions, smoked paprika, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Mix gently just until combined. Do not overwork the mixture.
- Divide into 4 equal portions and shape into loose patties, slightly wider than the buns.
- Heat olive oil in a cast iron skillet or grill pan over medium heat.
- Cook patties for 5–6 minutes per side, until cooked through and lightly browned. Do not press the burgers while cooking.
- Rest briefly, then serve on toasted brioche buns with desired toppings.
Notes
Kitchen Tools You’ll Need
- Mixing bowl
- Digital scale for even patties
- Cast iron skillet, grill pan, or grill
- Thin spatula
Nothing specialized required.
Recipe Notes and Easy Variations
- Add herbs or spices without increasing early salt
- Change aromatics to adjust flavor without altering structure
- Use the same mixture for sliders or meatballs with identical technique
How to Store and Freeze Chicken Burgers
- Raw patties:
Shape patties and wrap each one individually in parchment or plastic wrap. Place wrapped patties into a FoodSaver or vacuum-seal bag, seal, and freeze flat. Freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before cooking. - Cooked burgers:
Cool completely, wrap individually, then vacuum seal. Freeze up to 2 months. Reheat gently in a covered skillet or low oven to preserve moisture. - Do not refreeze once thawed.
Lean ground poultry loses texture quickly.
Why this works: Vacuum sealing prevents freezer burn and oxidation, which is critical for lean proteins.
How to Serve Chicken Burgers
- Toasted buns or buttered rolls
- Crisp lettuce or shaved onion
- Simple sauces like mustard, aioli, or yogurt-based spreads
- Serve with fries, slaw, or pickles
Keep it balanced and unfussy.
Why Chicken Burgers Are a Classic American Staple
American cuisine prioritizes speed, practicality, and consistency. This chicken burger reflects that tradition—food designed to work in home kitchens, diners, and backyard grills where reliability matters as much as flavor.
Tips & Variations
• For extra juicy chicken burgers, add grated zucchini to the mix.
• Swap smoked paprika for Cajun seasoning for a spicy chicken burger.
• Use Greek yogurt in place of mayo-based sauces for a healthy chicken burger topping.
• Meal prep tip: freeze uncooked patties between parchment squares.
• Make it low-carb: serve in lettuce wraps instead of brioche buns.
Serving Suggestions
These easy chicken burgers are delicious with sweet potato fries, classic American potato salad, or a fresh corn salad. For BBQ season, serve alongside ribs, coleslaw, and grilled veggies.
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