Description
Spicy chili lime chicken burgers showcase zesty Mexican-inspired flavors with a refreshing avocado salsa. Herby, tangy patties paired with creamy salsa offer a perfect balance of heat and coolness for summer grilling.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (1 pound) ground chicken
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil (plus extra for cooking)
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tsp lime zest
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs (or almond flour for low-carb)
- 1 tbsp chopped cilantro (optional)
- 1 ripe avocado, diced
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, diced
- ¼ cup red onion, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1 tbsp cilantro, chopped
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 4 burger buns (or lettuce wraps for low-carb)
- ½ cup shredded lettuce or arugula
- Extra lime wedges
Instructions
- Patty Preparation: Combine ground chicken with lime zest, chili powder, and herbs, mixing thoroughly until seasonings are evenly distributed and mixture becomes cohesive.
- Chilling and Prepping: Form uniform patties and refrigerate to firm up, while simultaneously preheating grill or skillet with a light olive oil coating at moderate temperature.
- Cooking Process: Grill patties meticulously, ensuring each side develops a golden crust and internal temperature reaches 165F, approximately 5-6 minutes per side, flipping only once to maintain juiciness.
- Salsa Creation: Craft fresh avocado salsa by gently mixing diced avocados, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro, dressing with lime juice and delicately seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Burger Assembly: Toast buns lightly for added crispness, layer with crisp lettuce, place perfectly cooked chicken patty, and top generously with vibrant avocado salsa.
- Finishing Touch: Garnish with lime wedges, allowing diners to customize their flavor experience and add a bright citrusy accent to the dish.
Notes
- Chill Patties for Firmness: Refrigerate the chicken mixture for 15-30 minutes before shaping to help patties hold together and prevent crumbling during cooking.
- Check Internal Temperature: Use a meat thermometer to confirm chicken reaches 165°F, ensuring food safety without overcooking and maintaining juicy texture.
- Prevent Sticking: Lightly oil grill or skillet and avoid moving patties too much to create a perfect golden-brown crust and prevent breaking.
- Customize Salsa Consistency: Dice avocados just before serving to prevent browning and adjust chunkiness based on personal preference for a fresh, vibrant topping.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg