Jalapeño Chicken Burgers

I will gladly bite into a classic beef burger at your next barbecue. At my house, however, you’re more likely to find my favorite turkey burgers or, these days, a couple Jalapeño Chicken Burgers smoldering away on the grill.

This healthy chicken burger recipe offers the full experience (bun, toppings, deliciously messy hand-held food) with a new flavor profile to switch up your summer cookout or spice up a weeknight meal.

Spiked with hot pickled jalapeños and fresh cilantro, grilled chicken burgers are more than just a healthier burger alternative—they’re worth savoring in their own right.

How to make chicken burgers on the grill

Smash the ground chicken into patties before refrigerating (rather than smashing them on the skillet), forming them into 1/2-inch-thick patties with a thumbprint-sized divot in the center (this helps ensure they won’t puff up on the grill).

Keep the uncooked patties in the fridge for as long as you can (at least 10 minutes and up to 2 days); they’ll hold together better if they’re chilled.

Brush and oil the grates before grilling to ensure that the patties don’t stick to the grates.

Cook for about 3 minutes per side on a medium-high grill.

Can I use ground turkey or ground beef instead?

While I love discovering recipes and uses for ground chicken, this would also be great with ground turkey. I wouldn’t use ground beef here; its richness and flavor won’t improve with these add-ins. 

A few tips for the best Jalapeño Chicken Burgers

• Stir the spices and mix-ins in a large bowl before adding the ground chicken. Mix until thoroughly combined, but don’t overwork the patties.
• A well-oiled ice cream scoop (especially the kind with the easy-release swiper) is the best tool for creating evenly-sized patties. If you don’t have one, use an oiled ⅓ cup dry measuring cup.
• Use a spatula to smash the rounds into patties as soon as they hit the hot skillet. Lightly wet or oil the spatula so that the patties don’t stick to it. 
• Double this recipe if you’d like freezer-friendly leftovers! The average adult can eat two of these in one sitting (per my…research).

Print Recipe

Jalapeño Chicken Burgers

5 Stars4 Stars3 Stars2 Stars1 Star (10 votes, average: 4.80 out of 5)

Dinner – American

By Samantha – Serves: 4

Prep Time: 25 minutes – Cooking Time: 15 minutes – Total Time: 40 minutes

This recipe makes a healthy burger alternative that just so happens to be delicious in its own right. Try it for a quick weeknight meal, or throw it on the grill for a backyard BBQ or summer cookout.

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons granulated garlic
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• Kosher salt
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons chopped hot pickled jalapeño
• 1/8 of a small onion, finely chopped or grated (2-3 tablespoons)
• 1/4 cup cilantro or parsley, finely chopped
• 1 pound ground chicken
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided, plus more for greasing
• Sliced cheese, optional (Cheddar is great here)
• Burger buns, for serving
• Suggested toppings: lettuce, tomato, red onion, avocado seasoned with a squeeze of lime

Instructions

1

To a large bowl, add granulated garlic, cumin, paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, mayo, jalapeño, onion, and cilantro. Mix to combine. Add chicken and mix with a fork or your hands until well-combined.

2

Lightly coat a large plate with non-stick spray or oil. Using a lightly oiled 1/3 cup dry measuring cup, form mixture into about 6 mounds (no need to form them into patties just yet), place on a plate, and chill, uncovered, for at least 10 minutes and up to 2 hours (this step will help keep them firm). If chilling for more than 2 hours, cover with plastic and chill up to 2 days.

3

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium. Working in 2 batches, transfer the chicken into the skillet and use a spatula to press them into patties (you can lightly grease the spatula to avoid sticking). Cook, until browned, about 3 minutes. Be sure to use one spatula for pressing the raw patties and a different spatula for flipping the cooked ones. Turn and add a slice of cheese if using. Cook on the second side until burgers are fully cooked, 2-3 minutes more. Let them rest for about 5 minutes before putting them into a bun, adding toppings, and biting into juicy goodness.

Nutrition

• 451 Calories

Notes

For grilling directions, please see paragraph within blog post. -- Double this recipe if you’d like freezer-friendly leftovers! The average adult can eat two of these in one sitting.