My Crispy Chicken Burgers are a 10 out of 10. The combination of crispy outside and tender middle, then served on a soft bun with my tangy sauce, is kind of a revelation. While it is spectacular on a bun, it would be equally delicious served in a bowl or salad with greens. The panko-covered patty has such a wonderful texture, and it’s a little bit of a surprise when you bite into it perfectly and taste the sauce. 

one hand holding the finished chicken burger

Saucy Creations: Elevate Your Crispy Chicken Burgers with a Spicy Twist

Super light, this sauce is fabulous in a salad or on a bowl, so use your imagination. It was so fun to create this sauce out of what I had in the fridge. To build a sauce, I love starting with mayo, adding a hot sauce component, then pickles and vinegar or lemon. You can absolutely customize your sauces daily. 

ingredient shot
Shot of ingredients for burger ready for assembly

The Perfect 10: My Fabulous Crispy Chicken Burger Recipe

Scrolling through Instagram, I saw a recipe for Crispy Chicken Burgers that used cornflakes on @iramsfoodstory and I loved the idea of doing it with panko. Just on a lark, I asked my Instagram followers what they thought was inside the chicken burger, and no one guessed! You might expect panko with crab cakes, but not with a chicken burger. It’s such a delicious twist!

adding egg to chicken
Add the egg to the chicken
portioning and shaping chicken patties
Portion and shape the chicken patties
Chicken patty in panko
Cover the patties in panko
Cooking the patties
Cook the patties
sauce ingredients
Mix the ingredients for the sauce
adding onions to burger
Assemble & Enjoy!

Crunchy Chicken Bliss: The Unexpected Joy of Panko Coating

You might expect to have a chicken breast on a sandwich, and you might expect to have chicken burgers, but a chicken burger coated with crunchy deliciousness is not something you see every day, and it’s amazing. 

finished chicken burgers on cutting board

After you make this fabulous Crispy Chicken Burgers, leave a comment and let me know what you think.  If you’re looking for more inspiration, sign up for our Friday Favorites newsletter, and follow along on Pinterest, Instagram, and TikTok to join in all the fun!

Print
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one hand holding the finished chicken burger

Crispy Chicken Burgers

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 6 reviews
  • Author: Teri Turner
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 5 servings
  • Category: Sandwiches
  • Method: Fried
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe

Ingredients

For the burgers:

  •   1 ½ pounds ground chicken breast
  •   2 teaspoons salt
  •   ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  •   ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  •   ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  •   1 large egg, beaten
  •   1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
  •   1 cup olive oil, or preferred frying oil
  •   5 burger buns
  •   Mild cheddar cheese, sliced
  •   Lettuce
  •   Tomatoes, sliced
  •   Marinated red onions, optional

For the sauce:

  •   ½ cup mayo
  •   ¼ cup finely diced cornichons
  •   1 tablespoon ketchup
  •   1 to 2 teaspoons sriracha
  •   ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  •   Pinch of kosher salt

Instructions

  Make the chicken patties.  

  1.   Preheat the oven to 300°F. Prepare a  sheet pan lined with parchment paper and a sheet pan lined with a wire rack.
  2.   In a large mixing bowl, add the ground chicken and sprinkle the salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and pepper over the chicken. Mix the spices into the chicken and add the beaten egg and mix until well combined. 
  3.   Divide the chicken mixture into 5 even parts and shape into ¾-inch thick patties, roughly the size of your buns. 
  4.   In a wide shallow bowl, add the Panko breadcrumbs and coat the chicken patties with crumbs. Place the crusted chicken patties on a sheet pan and put in the fridge for 30 minutes.  

Make the sauce.  

  1.   In a small bowl, add the mayo, cornichons, ketchup, sriracha, garlic powder, and salt. Mix well and set aside.  

Cook the chicken patties. 

  1.   In a large nonstick frying pan, heat 1 cup of olive oil over medium to medium-high heat for  2 minutes. Add two or three chicken patties and shallow fry for 3 minutes until deeply golden and crispy. Flip the patties. Continue frying for 3 more minutes until deeply golden and crispy. Remove the patties from the pan and place on the rack-lined baking sheet. Top the patties with a slice of cheddar cheese and keep cooking in the oven for 10 minutes or until cooked through. Repeat with the remaining chicken patties.  

To Assemble your burgers. 

  1.   Toast your buns until golden brown. 
  2.   Take your bottom bun and spread a tablespoon of the sauce and top with one or two lettuce leaves (don’t forget to salt them!). Put the chicken patty on top and spread another tablespoon of the sauce. Add a few sliced tomatoes and as many marinated onions as you’d like. Close with the top bun and repeat with the remaining burgers. 
  3.   Serve right away and enjoy! 

Notes

Note: if you like larger or smaller burgers, you can divide into four or six portions.  


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Turn Up The Flavor With Teri’s Sensational Spicy Chicken Burgers