Tender, smoky BBQ Chicken Burgers are infused with flavor and loaded with your favorite barbecue toppings – plus, they’re ready in minutes!
A PERFECT recipe is fast & easy, budget-friendly, and so absolutely mouthwatering you crave it all the time! Enter our sweet, tangy, homemade BBQ Chicken Burgers! Featuring seasoned ground chicken infused with cheddar cheese and barbecue sauce topped with coleslaw, pickled onions, more cheese, more sauce and served on a soft, whole wheat bun. Oh my!
Is it a Sandwich or a Burger?
If this sandwich started with a chicken breast patty or even pulled chicken, it would be a proper chicken sandwich. But THIS recipe is burger all the way! We start with fresh ground chicken and form it into patties loaded with garlic, onion, paprika, BBQ sauce, and shredded cheddar so that every single bite is spectacular!
In addition to classic lettuce & tomato toppings, like on a beef hamburger, this BBQ chicken burger is topped with tangy coleslaw, pickled onion, smoky sauce, and cheddar cheese, making it a barbecue classic!
Other Recipes to Serve with BBQ Burgers
- Cowboy Caviar is a fresh, crunchy, Tex-Mex appetizer or side that’s absolutely amazing with barbecue dishes – just add tortilla chips!
- Cinnamon Sugar Sweet Potato Fries with Brown Butter Marshmallow Glaze are just fabulous – as a sweet side dish, snack, or even dessert!
Ingredients
Chicken: Ground chicken breast is going to make juicy, tender chicken burgers!
Patties: For super flavorful patties, we’re infusing the ground chicken with grated cheddar cheese, BBQ sauce (homemade or your favorite store brand), paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt & pepper. YUM!
Bun: Whole wheat burger buns add a layer of nutty flavor to these burgers! Of course, you could use any bun you like!
Toppings: These beautiful burgers are topped with pickled red onions, more BBQ sauce, cheddar cheese slices, lettuce, and tomato slices. I also highly recommend stopping them with coleslaw (mayo or vinegar-based). So good!
How to Make Barbecue Chicken Burgers
STEP ONE: In a mixing bowl, combine the ground chicken with some of the cheese and BBQ sauce and the seasonings: paprika, onion & garlic powder, salt & pepper. Combine thoroughly but don’t overmix.
STEP TWO: Divide the chicken mixture into 4 equal portions and then form the portions into patties a little wider than the buns. (They’ll shrink as they cook.)
STEP THREE: Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken patties and cook for 6-7 minutes. Flip them over and then cook another 5-6 minutes until the centers are cooked through.
STEP FOUR: Build the burgers on the whole wheat buns by adding a smear of BBQ sauce, a slice of cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, and pickled red onions. You can also top them with a spoonful of coleslaw (trust me on this!). This burger will steal the show!
Tips for Success
- The difference between chicken burgers and beef burgers is that it’s absolutely essential to make sure the chicken burgers are well done – cooked to 165 degrees F throughout.
- The bright, tangy slaw really complements the BBQ chicken, but if you’re not a fan of coleslaw, it’s not required.
- The slaw can be a mayo or vinegar-based slaw, or even a ranch slaw – they’re all tasty!
- Instead of pan-frying these burgers, light up the grill! But cook over a medium-high heat so as not to burn the edges.
- Other buns, like Brioche or Hawaiian, can elevate this sandwich to gourmet status!
- You can substitute smoked paprika for the regular paprika.
Can You Freeze BBQ Chicken?
There are 2 ways to freeze these barbecue chicken burger patties. The first is, if you are starting with very fresh ground chicken, follow the first step of the recipe – infuse them with all the seasonings, sauce and cheese, form them into patties, then double wrap each one with plastic and foil and freeze for up to three months. Thaw overnight before grilling or skillet frying. The second way is to completely make and cook the patties and let them cool before transferring to an airtight container (or wrap) and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating in the skillet.
Are Chicken Burgers Healthier than Beef Burgers?
Both chicken patties and beef patties are high in protein for building muscle and a great source of iron for healthy blood. But the average chicken patty contains 150-200 calories, while the average beef patty contains 200-280 calories (depending on the fat content of the ground beef) making chicken a healthier choice.
Remember that the toppings you use play a huge part in whether a burger or sandwich is truly “good for you.” Mustard has almost no calories, while mayo has many. Fresh veggies like lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickle all add loads of nutrition and flavor with virtually no calories, while bacon and cheese can really add up. Moderation is the key!
Other Finger-Lickin’ BBQ Chicken Recipes
- Italian Chicken Burgers
- Barbecue Chicken Poppers
- Honey BBQ Chicken Wings
- Grilled Barbecue Chicken Salad
- BBQ Chicken Dip
- Cheesy BBQ Chicken Quesadillas
- Crockpot Honey BBQ Pulled Chicken
*This post originally posted on 06/13/2017.
Ingredients
Chicken Patties
- 1 pound ground chicken breast
- ¼ cup cheddar cheese shredded
- ¼ cup BBQ sauce homemade or store-bought
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
For Serving
- 4 whole wheat burger buns
- 4 slices cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup BBQ sauce
- Lettuce
- 4 slices tomato
- Pickled red onions
- Coleslaw (optional)
Instructions
- Add the ground chicken, 1/4 cup cheddar, 1/4 cup BBQ sauce, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to a large mixing bowl. Using your hands, mix everything together until well combined.
- Divide the ground chicken mixture into 4 equal portions. Then form each portion into a patty a little wider than the burger buns.
- Heat the canola oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken burger patties for 6-7 minutes. Flip the patties and cook another 5-6 minutes, until cooked through (internal temperature of 165 degrees F).
- Smear a bottom bun with 1 tablespoon of BBQ sauce and place a slice of cheddar cheese over the sauce. Top with a tomato slice, some lettuce, and a chicken burger patty. Add the coleslaw (if using) and as much pickled red onion as you like onto the burger before adding on the top bun.
Tracey says
Just made these tonight, after purchasing some ground chicken, without a recipe ready. Easy ingredient list. Consistency of ground chicken is rather revolting, and a bit soupy after mixing, so I threw in about 1/4 panko crumbs for peace of mind. Also added in a small amount of finely chopped onions. Topped off with a slice of provolone, was delicious. This recipe is definitely a keeper. Thanks for sharing!
Aubrey Cota says
HAHA ground chicken isn’t always super fun to work with but I’m so glad you persevered and ended up with a yummy result! Thank you Tracey, keep up the good work and please feel free to look around and find more happy opportunities.
Annie J. says
Coleslaw on a burger? That’s some seriously good stuff right there and a strangely underrated burger topping. Glad that you know the secret.