Chicken Burger Recipe

Close-up of a sandwich with grilled chicken and cheese on a bun on a dark surface

Juicy Chicken Burgers

These homemade Chicken Burgers are juicy, flavorful, and a great alternative to a traditional beef burger. Ground chicken is combined with red onion, green bell pepper, panko breadcrumbs, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, and a simple blend of seasonings before being formed into thick patties and cooked on the grill or smoker. The combination of Maple Smoked Sea Salt and Maple Smoked Peppercorn adds a subtle wood-smoked flavor that works especially well with chicken without overpowering it. Serve the burgers on toasted brioche buns with your favorite toppings—and don't forget the Homemade Burger Sauce.

Print Recipe

Quick Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: Approximately 12–18 minutes, depending on thickness and cooking method
Total Time: Approximately 30 minutes
Servings: Approximately 6 burgers, depending on patty size

Featured Smoked Seasonings

Maple Smoked Sea Salt

Maple Smoked Sea Salt provides the salt the chicken needs while adding a subtle layer of wood-smoked flavor throughout the burger.

Maple Smoked Peppercorn

Freshly ground Maple Smoked Peppercorn adds peppery bite and another layer of smoke that complements the mild flavor of ground chicken.

Together, these two seasonings help turn a relatively mild protein into a burger with much more depth of flavor.

Why You'll Love These Chicken Burgers

Chicken burgers have a reputation for being dry or bland. They don't have to be. This recipe builds flavor and moisture directly into the patty rather than relying entirely on toppings afterward. The mayonnaise helps add moisture, the Worcestershire provides savory depth, panko helps hold everything together, and the onion and green pepper bring additional flavor and texture. Best of all, these burgers work beautifully on either the grill or smoker. And once they're topped with Homemade Burger Sauce, you've got a completely different burger experience from the traditional beef version.

Ingredients

2 lbs ground chicken
½ red onion, finely diced
½ green bell pepper, finely diced
¾ cup panko breadcrumbs
2 tbsp mayonnaise
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp Maple Smoked Sea Salt
1 tbsp Maple Smoked Peppercorn, freshly ground
1½ tsp garlic powder
1 tsp brown sugar
Brioche buns, for serving
Desired burger toppings

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1 — Prepare the Vegetables

Finely dice the red onion and green bell pepper. Keeping the pieces relatively small helps distribute them evenly throughout the burgers and makes the patties easier to form.

Step 2 — Combine the Ingredients

Place the ground chicken into a large mixing bowl.
Add the diced red onion, green bell pepper, panko breadcrumbs, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, Maple Smoked Sea Salt, freshly ground Maple Smoked Peppercorn, garlic powder, and brown sugar.
Mix thoroughly until everything is evenly distributed.

Step 3 — Form the Patties

Divide the chicken mixture into your desired portions and form into patties.
Smokehouse Tip: Don't make the patties too thin. Ground chicken will shrink as it cooks, so slightly thicker patties tend to produce a better finished chicken burger.

Step 4 — Cook

Cook the chicken burgers on a preheated grill or smoker.
Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the patties and the temperature of your grill or smoker, so use temperature rather than time alone to determine doneness.
Chicken burgers must reach an internal temperature of 165°F.

Step 5 — Build Your Burger

Place the cooked chicken burger on a brioche bun and add your favorite toppings.
For an especially good combination, finish it with our Homemade Burger Sauce.

🔥Smokehouse Kitchen Tips

Keep them thick. Thin chicken patties can shrink considerably and are easier to overcook.
Finely dice the vegetables. Large pieces of onion or pepper can make the patties harder to hold together.
Use a thermometer. Ground chicken needs to reach 165°F, but continuing to cook well beyond that temperature can dry out your burgers.
Don't press the burgers while cooking. Let the heat do the work rather than pressing moisture out of the patties.
Try the smoker. If you already have the smoker running, chicken burgers are an excellent candidate for it. The mild chicken picks up smoke particularly well.
Toast the brioche buns. A lightly toasted bun adds texture and helps keep the sauce from immediately soaking into the bread.

Cooking Science

Chicken burgers behave differently from traditional beef burgers because ground chicken is generally much leaner. That's part of the reason this recipe includes mayonnaise. The added fat helps compensate for the lean protein and contributes to a juicier finished burger. The panko breadcrumbs absorb some of the moisture in the mixture while also helping bind the ingredients together. That becomes particularly useful when you're adding diced onion and bell pepper to ground chicken. Browning also matters. When the surface of the burger gets hot enough, a series of reactions between amino acids and sugars—commonly known as the Maillard reaction—creates many of the roasted and savory flavors we associate with a properly cooked burger. That's another reason not to constantly move or press the patties. Give the surface time to cook and develop flavor.

What to Serve With Chicken Burgers

Chicken Burgers work with many of the same sides you'd serve with traditional burgers.

Try them with:

And, of course:

Homemade Burger Sauce

This is one of the best recipe pairings we've developed for the library. The creamy, tangy burger sauce complements the smoky chicken without covering up its flavor. Get the Homemade Burger Sauce Recipe

How to Store

Store leftover cooked chicken burgers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
For best quality, use them within 3–4 days.
Reheat gently until the burgers reach 165°F internally. Avoid excessive reheating, which can dry out the chicken.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I keep chicken burgers from falling apart?

Panko breadcrumbs help bind the mixture, while forming relatively thick patties makes them easier to handle. Finely chopping the onion and bell pepper also helps.

Why add mayonnaise to chicken burgers?

Ground chicken can be relatively lean. Mayonnaise adds fat and moisture to help keep the finished burgers juicy.

Can I grill chicken burgers?

Absolutely. These burgers work very well on the grill.

Can I smoke chicken burgers?

Yes. Chicken burgers are also excellent on the smoker, where the mild chicken can take on additional wood-smoked flavor.

What temperature should chicken burgers reach?

Ground chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Check the center of the thickest portion of the patty with an instant-read thermometer.

What toppings are good on a chicken burger?

Lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese, pickles and Homemade Burger Sauce all work well. You can also change the toppings depending on the flavor profile you're after.

What sauce goes well with chicken burgers?

Our Homemade Burger Sauce is an especially good pairing and is the sauce we recommend with this recipe.

Final Thoughts

Chicken burgers don't have to feel like a substitute for a "real" burger. Done properly, they're their own thing. The combination of ground chicken, fresh vegetables, Worcestershire, mayonnaise, Maple Smoked Sea Salt, and Maple Smoked Peppercorn creates a juicy burger with plenty of savory and smoky flavor. Put it on a toasted brioche bun, add your favorite toppings and a spoonful of Homemade Burger Sauce, and you've got an easy meal worth adding to the regular dinner rotation.

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