Chimichurri Chicken Burgers

4.6
(5)

We fixed the chicken burger, and all it really took was stirring in a couple spoons of chimichurri sauce. No longer sort of dry and kind of boring, this is one of the best burgers you'll ever have.

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chicken burger with flecks of green herbs on brioche bun with veggie chips in background
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Prep Time:
20 mins
Cook Time:
10 mins
Freeze Time:
30 mins
Chill Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 30 mins
Servings:
4

If you showed up at a cookout where you heard they were making burgers, but once you got there you realized they were talking about chicken burgers, would you be excited or profoundly disappointed? That’s what I thought. Me too. When your mouth is ready for juicy and flavorful, something dry and bland just won’t do, which is why I was so thrilled with how these chimichurri chicken burgers turned out. They weren’t just comparable, but maybe even…better? Okay, that might be a stretch, but the fact that I was even having those thoughts is a great indication of just how much I enjoyed these. 

How to Make Chimichurri Chicken Burgers

You’ll find the full, step-by-step recipe below – but here are a few notes from the chef to get you started: 

  • Spiking the “ground” chicken meat with chimichurri not only made for an extremely tasty burger, but it also added a nice richness, which is not usually the case when cattle aren’t involved. 
  • Be careful not to overcook these, since they aren’t as forgiving as a fatty beef burger, and at a certain point they’ll become dry and chalky no matter what you’ve added. I think panfrying is best, although these can also be seared under a hot broiler. 
  • They might be a little fragile to place on the grill raw, unless you partially cook them in a pan first. I haven’t tested that, but I hope to soon, since I’ll definitely be making these again.

I really do hope you give them a try as well. Enjoy! 

More recipes: Try the latest and greatest recipes from Chef John!

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 4 servings

Chimichurri Sauce:

  • 1/2 cup Italian parsley leaves

  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves

  • 2 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves

  • 2 cloves garlic, sliced

  • 1/4 cup olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar

  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

  • 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes

Chicken Burgers:

  • 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

  • 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs (optional)

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1/3 cup mayonnaise

Directions

  1. To make chimichurri, chop herbs with a sharp knife until fine; add sliced garlic to the mixture. Continue chopping until mixture is very fine; transfer to a bowl. Stir in the 1/4 cup olive oil, white wine vinegar, the 1/4 teaspoon salt, black pepper, cumin, and red pepper flakes. Wrap and refrigerate until needed.

  2. To make burgers, place chicken thighs in the freezer until firm and half-frozen, about 30 minutes.

  3. Place thighs on a cutting board, and using a large sharp knife or heavy cleaver, chop until it resembles coarsely ground meat. (Alternatively, place chicken in a food processor; pulse on and off, scraping sides often, until texture resembles coarsely ground meat.)

  4. Transfer chicken to a bowl, add the 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 cup chimichurri sauce. Use a fork to mix thoroughly.

  5. Using damp hands, form chicken mixture into 4 equal-sized patties, about 1/2-inch thick. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 30 minutes.

  6. Stir together mayonnaise and  remaining chimichurri sauce to make spread for buns; refrigerate until needed.

  7. Remove burgers from the fridge; sprinkle both sides with breadcrumbs.

  8. Add olive oil to a large non-stick skillet and set over medium high heat. When hot, but before oil starts smoking, add burgers, and cook about 5 minutes per side, or until chicken is cooked through. An instant read thermometer inserted near the center should read 145 to 150 degrees F (63 to 65 degrees C).

  9. Let burgers rest for a minute or two. Serve on buns spread with chimichurri mayo and the fixings of your choice.

    chicken burger with flecks of green herbs on brioche bun with veggie chips in background

    Chef John

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

590 Calories
47g Fat
2g Carbs
42g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 590
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 47g 60%
Saturated Fat 9g 45%
Cholesterol 215mg 72%
Sodium 973mg 42%
Total Carbohydrate 2g 1%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 42g 84%
Vitamin C 13mg 14%
Calcium 40mg 3%
Iron 3mg 15%
Potassium 525mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.