Chicken Burger with juicy chicken patties like my Ukrainian grandma used to make. Grill into a burger or pan fry as small patties and serve naked with quinoa and salad.
No matter what you do, it will be the best chicken burger you ever tried!
My Grandma’s Chicken Patties
This ground chicken burger recipe will knock your family’s socks off! And the best part is that homemade chicken patties are:
- Low in sodium, lean and yet juicy.
- Super easy to make in your blender or food processor.
- Not too delicate for the grill and can be pan fried.
Growing up in Ukraine my grandma made the best smaller size chicken patties. We used to say they are like spitz – highly addictive. That’s why this recipe makes 24. But if you want to make chicken burger patties, just shape them twice bigger.
My absolute favourite way of eating “naked” chicken patties is with whole wheat spaghetti and ketchup. They also taste great cold. My kids love them and I can guarantee yours will too!
Ingredients and Substitutions
This chicken burger recipe contains literally 5 main ingredients. Remember, grandma was cooking. 🙂
- Chicken: I am using 2 lbs of chicken breasts because I always have them. You can save time (not money) and buy ground chicken. Chicken thighs work – not more juicy because grandma used secret ingredient to keep even breast juicy. Keep on reading.:)
- Bread: A slice of bread soaked in water for a few seconds and then squeezed helps to hold the patties. I suspect it also helped to stretch meat further and make them softer. I think you can omit it if you want. Although, if grilling I wouldn’t.
- Egg: Egg is a binder. If you use bread and have an egg allergy or are out of egg, you should be good.
- Onion and garlic: So grated onion is grandma’s secret ingredient – it makes even chicken breast patties juicy, not to mention flavorful. Today we can pulverize onion, garlic, egg and bread in seconds. She would have loved that!
How to Make Ground Chicken Burgers
- Grind chicken: Add cubed chicken in a food processor or high speed blender until it resembles ground chicken. Work in batches and then transfer to a large mixing bowl.
- Process egg, onion, garlic, soaked and squeezed bread, salt and pepper until well combined.
- Mix everything together: To the bowl with ground chicken add pulverized mixture of egg, bread and veggies and using your hands, mix well. It will smell heavenly!:)
- Preheat grill or skillet while you are forming patties. They will sizzle as soon as they touch the skillet.
- Form any size patties: Tennis ball – for a burger; somewhere between golf and tennis ball size – for “naked” patty. Then flatten.
- Pan fry or grill for about 4-5 minutes per side. It is time to flip when white edges appear and patty is brown on the bottom. Please note that second and third batches will take less time to cook as the skillet (grill) will be hotter.
We Like to Eat Chicken Patties like This:
For “naked” burger, serve hot ground chicken patties with a side grain plus cucumber tomato salad. Chicken patties also taste very good cold!
If you go for a burger, then use traditional fix ins plus funky ones like mashed avocado (or salsa guacamole) and prepared mustard. OMG!
How to Make Ahead, Reheat and Freeze Chicken Burgers
First of all, cold patties taste amazing! That is when we ate them like spitz. I honestly think also due to the lack of a microwave. You can refrigerate patties for up to 5 days.
To reheat, place on a hot skillet, add a splash of water, cover and simmer for 5 minutes. This way patties heat through and do not dry out like in the oven.
Cooked chicken patties freeze amazing-ly!! Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw on a counter in under a few hours or in the fridge overnight. You could reheat them from frozen by using same skillet method above, just will take twice longer.
Want to make ahead? You can freeze uncooked chicken patties on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Then transfer into a Ziploc bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Cook from frozen following the recipe plus 5 minutes.
More Healthy Burger Recipes
- Salmon burgers with mango slaw.
- Turkey burger with zucchini instead of breadcrumbs.
- Turkey sliders are low carb lettuce wrapped.
Ground Chicken Burger Recipe
Chicken Burger Recipe with juicy chicken patties like my Ukrainian grandma used to make. Grill into a burger or pan fry as small patties and serve naked with quinoa and salad. No matter what you do, it’s THE BEST chicken burgers.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 12 burgers (24 "naked" patties) 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stove or Grill
- Cuisine: Ukrainian
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless and skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cubed
- 1 egg, large
- 1/2 small onion, cut in chunks
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 slice of bread (I use sprouted whole grain)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Ground black pepper, to taste
- 3 tbsp oil, for frying
- Prepared mustard
Instructions
- In a food processor or high speed blender, add chicken and process until ground. Work in batches and transfer to a large mixing bowl.
- Return blender to its base, add egg, onion and garlic.
- Quickly soak bread in water, squeeze well and add to the blender along with salt and pepper. Process until well combined and add to the bowl with ground chicken meat. Using your hands, mix well.
- Preheat large ceramic non-stick skillet or grill on medium heat and swirl some oil to coat (spray the grill).
- Form into a ball size of a tennis ball for a burger or somewhere between golf and tennis size for “naked” patty, then flatten.
- Pan fry or grill for about 4-5 minutes per side (grills vary). It is time to flip when white edges appear and patty is brown on the bottom. Please note that second and third batches will take less time to cook as the skillet (grill) will be hotter.
- Serve hot assembled in a burger or with a side grain + salad. They also taste very good cold and pictured sauce is prepared mustard.
Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days or freeze leftovers for up to 3 months.
Reheat: Place patties in a hot skillet with a splash of water, cover and simmer for about 5 minutes. You can do the same with frozen, just will take twice longer.
Freeze Uncooked: Lay patties on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, freeze completely and transfer to a large Ziploc bag. Cook from frozen following recipe’s instructions + 5 minutes.
Notes
- You can use 2 lbs of ground chicken to save time.
- You can skip bread but then don’t skip the egg. Also feel free to use 1/2 cup breadcrumbs or quick oats instead.
- You can omit egg but don’t omit the bread then.
- Pureed fresh onion makes patties juicy, so I do not recommend to use onion powder instead.
Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating in the comments.
By far, this is the most delicious chicken burger that I have ever made. It was so juicy and bursting with flavor. In addition, I did not feel guilty about eating this. Fantastic burger. Thanks for the recipe!
★★★★★
I am thrilled to hear this Michelle!
I used coconut flout in place of the bread. Not sure just how much you would use as a substitute ingredient. Great tasting burger
★★★★★
I normally don’t like burgers, but my family and I absolutely loved these! Thanks so much for sharing this recipe!
★★★★★
Yay! So happy to hear this Viktoria!
This recipe was fast and delicious. We ate the whole batch and could have eaten more. Next time I’ll double the batch. It would be excellent to nibble on as a snack also.
Thanks for the recipe. I’ll be back to this site.
★★★★★
That’s great to hear Mary! Please don’t be shy to leave a comment and star review for any recipes that you try 🙂
I made these chicken burgers today. Thanks for the recipe.
You are welcome Clem!
What is the orange condiment on the sandwich? Looks really good like guacamole, pickles and a santa Fe sauce?
It’s prepared mustard.
Hi …in ur notes u said that dont have 2 put the bread but have to put the eggs right.So i just skip the soaking the bread and adding it to the blender part is it??
Yes, you just skip the bread all together. And treat them gently then when frying. 🙂
Just stumbled across your recipe and made it this evening…Awesome! Loved it! Wish I could post a pic of how the patties I made turned out. Thank you for this lovely recipe, Olena!! 👍🏼♥️
★★★★★
Hi Valonka! Thank you for the positive feedback. You can post any pics on facebook or instagram with #ifoodreal
The bread helps bind the burger together.
Hello this is really simple but can i know what is the bread 4. The part when you say soak the bread n add 2 blender???
To hold patties together. You can use breadcrumbs or quick oats too.
Hello am i suppose 2 add the soaked bread into the blender with the chicken,eggs n onion.
Yes, you do! In step 2!
Yes.
Came across this one while looking for good recipes for the next bbq with the homies, great burgers Inshallah
Yummy
★★★★★
So happy to hear you loved this recipe, Veronica!
Tasty & delcious ?, i made it at dinner ,without eggs because i’ve allergy& i added garlic powder instead of fresh garlic ,my daughter loved it so much?❤️ & ate with basmaty rice ,salade , all i want to know how can i make a light healthy bun ?
★★★★★
Yay! Light healthy bun…How about this one?
I made these tonight and they were amazing. I don’t eat bread so I made rice and sautéed spinach. This will be a constant in our kitchen!
★★★★
Perfect size burger – chicken that is!! I/we (husband) do not eat red meat on a regular basis (only on occasion… anything in moderation is my moto) so these were the perfect solution to make with some of the chicken breast my husband bought on sale & are in the freezer now. I love the idea these can be frozen, too, and served with vegetables or salads. Don’t know why I never thought to dig out my Food Processor (new… still in the box) to ground Chicken… just use to the old fashion way of stove top grill or oven baking – guess I need to think outside the box, huh? But, then again, I got you/your website to help me thin outside the box!! 🙂 Thank you Olena for sharing your Grandma’s Chicken Patties recipe, and for all the other ideas you’ve encouraged me to try!
🙂 Glad to be pushing your outside your comfort zone – the only way to succeed.:)
brown both sides of the patty then cover the frying pan with lid add half a cup of water and steam until cooked.
Is it just me or does any one else notice the calorie count for this recipe has changed several times. When I first found this recipe it said 63 calories. Then it when to 67 calories and now it’s at 135 calories. I’m confused.
Before nutritional info was for 24 small patties, now 12 burger patties twice the size.
This chicken burger was very good. Thank you, Olena!
★★★★★
Thanks so much for your recipe. I followed the recipe (added a bit of spices) and it came out perfect! I am going to make them again today 🙂
You are welcome!
Is the chicken cooked before grinding it up or is it raw?
Raw.
How would you recommend ceaning out the blender after this? My Vitamix claims to be self cleaning with just hot water and soap…. but, chicken, you know. Suggestions?
Hi Faith. Yes. I usually do clean as the blender manufacturer recommends, to lose up the bits of chicken meat. And then scrub inside with dish cloth and soap. Only doing the clean cycle will not clean it enough.
I’ve just tried out your chicken patties and my husband and I loved them. So simple, quick and tasty! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
You are welcome, Sarah. You seem to be the only person cooking today – day 1 of the new president. 😀 I swear, the world has stopped. No action from any readers.
Just starting out on eating well and your site is amazing. could we use tzatziki for dipping? Our family really don’t like ketchup at all
Yes. For sure. Sounds wonderful! Enjoy!
This looks amazing, can’t wait to try it out! Such a simple recipe.
Simple at its simplest and bestest. Enjoy!:)
I just mixed this up in my food processor and CAN’T WAIT to cook it up.. it already smells amazing!!!
Thanks for a simple yet healthy & delicious recipe!
I’m so glad I shared my grandma’s recipe! I can’t believe people are eating fast food burgers but yet never make their own patties at home. Missing out big time! But not us. Enjoy!
Sounds amazing, any side dish suggestions to compliment these?
Oh, really anything. Quinoa, brown rice, whole wheat pasta, potatoes with skin on, buckwheat, whole wheat bulgur or couscous. All these are healthy starches. I like these patties with a bit of organic ketchup too.
Love your site.. Just a quick question… considering the bread, how can the carb content be so low? I’m eating low carb foods with great results, and I’d love to try this recipe, but the bread worries me! P.S. My cauliflower crust is baking in the oven as we speak – your cauliflower crust pizza is my favorite!!
Hey Alex. Glad to hear that.:) The recipe calls for only 2 slices of sprouted bread, 16g of carbs each, divided by 24 patties.:) Why are you worried about healthy complex carbs so much? You need to eat good carbs and not bad carbs. Good carbs are found in foods like brown rice, quinoa, oatmeal, buckwheat and sprouted bread. There is a big misconception about carbs. Don’t be scared about healthy carbs in moderation!:) Eat the chicken patties.:)
Retired and just starting to cook. Cooking for friends and family using them as Ginny pigs. So far having a great time. Your site is great. Like the clean/healthy cooking.
Had a good laugh.:) Enjoy! Cooking is so much fun!!!
Can you use already ground chicken?
Absolutely.
Could you use whole
wheat SLICE bread?
Of course!
This recipe sounds amazing. Can you use ground chicken?
Sure.
Would you fry the chicken first or mix all the ingredients and then fry the patties?
Mix all raw ingredients first and then fry the patties. So you just skip the step of grounding chicken yourself by buying ground one.
Your Chicken Patties are really awesome, I can’t wait to try them. Hope you are having a great Valentine Weekend and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Thank you Miz Helen!:)
This recipe is being featured on Miz Helen’s Country Cottage Full Plate Thursday.