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Ground chicken burgers stacked on a metal tray.
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Southwest Ground Chicken Burgers

This recipe for Southwest Ground Chicken Burgers turns lean ground chicken into juicy, flavorful chicken burgers with a Southwest twist. They're loaded with sautéed onions, diced green chiles and topped with a smoky burger sauce that will knock your socks off!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Resting/Freezing Time20 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Course: Main Course, Sandwich
Cuisine: American
Diet: Low Calorie, Low Fat
Keyword: ground chicken burgers, southwest ground chicken burgers
Servings: 6
Calories: 455kcal
Author: Valerie Brunmeier

Ingredients

Optional Toppings

  • Avocado
  • Sliced tomato
  • Green leaf lettuce

Southwest Burger Sauce

Instructions

  • Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over MEDIUM heat. Add the onion and saute for several minutes until tender and lightly browned. Remove the heat and set aside to cool for about 10 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, add the chicken, green chiles, cilantro, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to a large mixing bowl. Add the slightly cooled onions and mix just until combined (set the unwashed skillet aside). Form the mixture into 6 even sized balls on a foil-lined baking sheet and then flatten them into patties. Transfer the baking sheet to the freezer for about 20 minutes, until the burgers are firmed up a little but not frozen solid. This is an important step that helps the tender burgers stay intact while cooking.

For the Southwest Burger Sauce

  • Combine all the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Cook the Chicken Burgers

  • Spray the same skillet you used to cook the onions with nonstick cooking spray and place over MEDIUM heat. Add as many patties as you can fit (you may need to cook them in batches depending on the size of your skillet). Cook for about 6 to 8 minutes per side, or until browned and the internal temperature has reached 165 degrees F. in the center of the patties.
  • Reduce the temperature under the skillet to low, top each burger with a slice of pepper Jack, cover and cook for another 2 minutes or until the cheese has melted. Remove the skillet from the heat.

Alternate Grilling Instructions

  • Grill the ground chicken burgers on oiled grill grates over indirect heat for about 5 minutes per side. It's important to use a meat thermometer and pull them off the grill when they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
  • Serve on buns with burger sauce and optional toppings.

Notes

Make-Ahead Instructions
To make a day in advance, follow the recipe as directed to make the chicken burger patties then cover the baking sheet with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate them overnight.
Freezer Instructions
For longer storage, transfer the baking sheet to the freezer until the patties are frozen solid. Then, stack them with a small piece of parchment paper between each patty and transfer them to a freezer-safe plastic storage bag. Press out as much air as possible, seal and label the bag with the date, and freeze for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1burger | Calories: 455kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 148mg | Sodium: 1066mg | Potassium: 963mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 325IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 264mg | Iron: 3mg