Ever since the invention of a chicken burger, people have been debating if it is a real burger. Some say that because it has no beef in it, it cannot be called a burger. Others say that because meat isn’t central to its composition and flavor, so why should we call them burgers? This article will explore both sides of this debate as well as offer some insights on how to cook the best chicken burgers possible.
So is a chicken burger a burger? A chicken burger qualifies as a burger, but not a hamburger. You can use many types of meat to cook a burger. You can make a burger with ground chicken, turkey, buffalo, beef, or pork. But you can’t call it a hamburger unless you make it with beef.
I agree with Southern Living that “Ground chicken can be your secret weapon to flavorful, yet lean burgers perfect for quick and easy weeknight dinners.”
The Chicken Burger Defined
You make a chicken burger just as you would a hamburger, except instead of ground beef, you use ground chicken. Chicken provides a healthier meat choice that offers a hearty amount of protein, but fewer calories and fat.
A four-ounce serving of chicken, the amount you would use to make a quarter-pound burger, has only 9.2 grams of fat, but 19.6 grams of protein. At 162 calories for a four-ounce serving, it provides one of the healthiest meat choices for a burger.
You can prepare ground chicken in the same manner as you would making a beef burger. You still add salt and pepper, as well as one whisked egg and a dash of Worcestershire sauce to the ground meat to flavor it.
Cook your chicken burgers on the grill in the same manner as you would a hamburger or a steak burger, except that you must fully cook them. Only the cut of meat has changed.
Video: Akis’ Chicken Burger Patties
Everything else remains the same about the burger, too, including turning it into a cheeseburger by adding a slice of melted cheese. You still serve it on a bun with the same vegetables, including pickles, onions, lettuce, tomato, and jalapenos if you like a spicy burger. You serve it topped with the same condiments as usual – ketchup, mustard, horseradish.
Although you use chicken, you still call it a burger, just not a hamburger. That you save for beef.
[Suggested table of information: Compare the calories, fat, and protein of each ground meat as compared to chicken.]
Recipe to Try: Ground Chicken Burgers
Caveats For Chicken Burgers
While chicken sandwiches populate many restaurant menus, they typically feature a boneless chicken breast or thigh as a patty. The cook either bakes or fries this patty, which does get served on a similar type of bun, but that doesn’t make it a burger.
It is also a chicken sandwich, but not a burger if you make a chicken salad sandwich or a BBQ chicken sandwich. Even if you mince the BBQ or serve it hashed as a brisket, you haven’t made a burger. You made a chicken sandwich.
“Ground chicken can be your secret weapon to flavorful, yet lean burgers perfect for quick and easy weeknight dinners.” – Southern Living
Other Factors To Consider
If you dine out, your chicken burger will likely contain fillers like breadcrumbs. It might get mixed with soy granules.
If you purchase pre-made chicken patties, you also receive chicken blended with other ingredients. Some of those ingredients take away health benefits, such as white flour, corn, and rice flour.
Your best option for a chicken burger remains to purchase raw ground chicken meat. This lets you flavor and shape your own patties. You can even spice the meat to make your chicken into breakfast sausage patties, which you can also use for sliders (miniature burgers).
Frequently Asked Questions
How can you cook chicken burgers?
You cook chicken burgers in the same manner as you cook hamburgers. You can fry them in a pan, bake or broil them in the oven, or grill them over an open fire or on a charcoal or propane grill.
How long should you cook a chicken burger?
You need to make sure to cook the chicken fully but not overcook it. When cooking in a pan, it takes about ten minutes on medium heat to fully cook a chicken burger. When baking the burgers, cook them in a 375F oven for 20 minutes. If you use a recipe, always follow its instructions on temperature and time.
Can chicken burgers be pink in the middle?
You should never leave your chicken burgers pink in the middle. Unlike beef, you cannot serve a chicken burger partially raw, which is what that pink in the middle means. When cooking chicken, every patty gets cooked to a well-done status.
What do you serve with chicken burgers?
You can serve chicken burgers with the same side dishes that you would a beef burger. These burgers go great with French fries, coleslaw, baked beans, or a side salad.
