The Best Juicy and Crispy Chicken Burgers Recipe - Home & Plate (2024)

January 25, 2024

Loaded with shredded zucchini and squash, this chicken burger recipe is full of flavor and juicy. It’s a healthy alternative to beef burgers.

Give beef a break and serve up juicy ground chicken burgers instead.

It’s summer and we’ve been eating a lot of beef.

While hamburgers and steaks on the grill are typical summer fare, I like to use up my bounty of homegrown gourds to make the most flavorful and delicious chicken burgers you could ever imagine.

Sometimes it’s nice to switch things up when you want a break from red meat!

These burgers are just as juicy as traditional burgers but with zero guilt.

If you are looking for a way to reduce your beef intake, lower your fat consumption and eat more vegetables, then this is the recipe for you.

Plain ground chicken burgers are boring, lack flavor and dry out quickly.

Summer squash and garden zucchini are shredded and mixed with Panko breadcrumbs for an inventive burger that’s juicy and full of flavor.

Seared to golden perfection and baked to finish, I like to top these chicken burgers with a slice of Vermont white cheddar cheese and a dollop of spicy sweet jam.

Here are the simple ingredients that you’ll need from the grocery store.

Ingredients

• Ground chicken. If you can’t find ground chicken then ground turkey is a delicious alternative. One pound will yield at least four burgers.
• Zucchini and yellow squash. Both of these gourds are full of moisture and flavor and are the secret to the best ground chicken burger. Make sure it’s thick enough to hold in your hand to shred.
• Onion. I like to use sweet Vidalia but yellow or red onion works just as well.
• Egg. One small egg is just enough to help bind the ingredients and to keep the burgers from falling a part while cooking.
• Panko bread crumbs. This helps provide a binder with the egg to keep the burgers formed. It also helps keep the ground chicken from become too sticky to work with.
• Cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper.Adding a dash of heat adds so much flavor to these patties but not so much to be overpowering.
• Cheese. I love white cheddar as a topper for my burger but Swiss and mozzarella cheese are great alternatives.

How to make these delicious burgers

This great recipe is simple to make and can be on the table in under 30 minutes.

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Shredding the zucchini and squash, using an old fashioned cheese grater or small food processor.
3. Mix together with the ground chicken, spices, egg, onion and breadcrumbs.
4. Mold the chicken mixture into chicken burger patties.
5. On medium to medium-high heat in a skillet, sear the patties for three to four minutes a side in a little olive oil.
6. Once the patties are golden, transfer the patties to a baking sheet and bake in the oven for 8 minutes.
7. Add a slice of cheese to the top of each patty and bake for two minutes longer.
8. Serve on your favorite hamburger buns with your favorite toppings.

Tips for juicy burgers

Select ground chicken or turkey with a higher fat ratio. This will provide added moisture during cooking.

Do not over cook chicken burgers.

For the best chicken burger, use a meat thermometer. The internal temperature of the burger should be 165 degrees.

Not a fan of zucchini or squash, use chopped mushrooms instead.

Add worcestershire sauce and Dijon mustard for added flavor.

Can you cook burgers in an air fryer?

Yes. Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees and air fry for 8 minutes after pan searing them.

What toppings are best on chicken burgers?

Try a variety of toppings to your burger.

• Avocado slices and fried crispy bacon
• Tzatziki sauce or bbq sauce
• Cheddar, mozzarella or Swiss cheese
• Chipotle mayonnaise or garlic aioli.
• Sweet honey jam, fig spread or fruity jalapeño jam adds the best flavor.
• Lettuce and tomato. Try a lettuce bun. Skip the cheese and buns and serve on lettuce leaves with a dollop of your favorite jam.

Love zucchini? Be sure to try these great recipes

• Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
• Easy Blueberry Zucchini Bread
• Fresh Zucchini Parmesan Stacks

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