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Spicy Chicken Burgers perfect grilled or in the air fryer! Bursting with flavor and dressed with an easy chipotle aioli you will love.
Chicken burgers are one of my favorite summer meals. They are always so easy to customize and they bring back memories of camping, traveling and hiking!
Why Make Spicy Chicken Burgers
This easy recipe comes with advantages! Other than being insanely delicious there are a few reasons I love to make them.
- Easy to make ahead. Just patty them up on a plate and store in the fridge until you’re ready to light up the grill.
- They can be made on the grill or in the air fryer! They come out delicious no matter which way you choose to cook them.
- Meal Prep Friendly. Reheat them with ease in the microwave, air fryer or on the skillet!
- Low Carb. They don’t have bread crumbs mixed in so they are low carb & gluten free! Just wrap them in lettuce for a healthier option.
Ingredient Notes
Let’s go over a few key ingredients you need and why! All other ingredients and measurements can be found in the recipe card towards the bottom of this post.
Ground Chicken. To keep these burgers really easy and forgiving, use ground chicken. It’s easy to patty and it holds all the flavors throughout.
Hot Sauce. I go for Frank’s Red Hot But please use any hot sauce you love!
Seasonings. You will need: salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, chipotle powder, chili powder, onion powder. Most goes into the chicken burger but some will also go into the chipotle aioli.
Oil. I use a neutral flavored olive oil. I mix some right into the patties to keep them moist.
Recipe Variations & Substitutions
- Ground Chicken. Ground turkey will work great in place of the ground chicken, I have had it with both!
- Hot Sauce. If you are serving kids or need a mild flavor, you can omit the hot sauce. Additionally, you can add some extra for more heat.
- Mayonnaise. This is to make the aioli. You can omit the aioli if needed.
Steps To Make This Recipe
Are you ready to cook things up? There are a few simple steps to follow. You can cook these Spicy Chicken Burgers on the grill or in the air fryer!
Mix The Chicken Burgers
Step One. In a large mixing bowl, add the ground chicken, hot sauce, minced garlic, 1 tsp oil and the spicy chicken burger seasonings (photo 1). Mix together well, I use my hands here!
Step Two. Form burger patties. I tend to make 4-5 large burgers. Try to make them all the same size so they cook evenly (photo 2).
Let’s Cook!
Step Three. For The Air Fryer: Cook on 370º for about 12-14 minutes until they are cooked through.
For The Grill: Cook on medium to high, preheated grill until no longer pink in the center. About 5-6 minutes per side. Internal temperature should be 165º.
Step Four. Mix up the Chipotle Aioli. Whisk the lemon, garlic seasonings and hot sauce into the mayonnaise. Taste as you go, add more seasonings as desired.
Step Five. Let’s dress the burgers. I like to add them to a toasted bun (or I serve them over a lettuce and wrap them up for a low car option!). Add your favorite toppings and drizzle the chipotle aioli over. Enjoy!
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can freeze these for up to 2 months.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t over cook the burgers! Use a digital thermometer to check internal temps to prevent getting a dry burger.
- Make it healthier: wrap it up in a lettuce wrap, skip the aioli or make the aioli with plain greek yogurt instead.
- Refrigerate or freeze leftover patties! They are great reheated at a different time.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, use turkey burger is desired, they are similar in flavor and baking times.
Yes! They are great on the stovetop. Just add 1 tsp of oil to a skillet or pan and cook them on medium heat for about 6-7 minutes each side.
Recipe Pairings
These grilled chicken burgers pair great with my Corn Salad, Or Beetroot and Feta salad if you want to really load up the veggies.
You can pair it with my Simple Green Salad for a more light side dish, or go all out with Deviled Egg Potato Salad.
I have so many great BBQ Side Dishes I love, check out this article for more ideas.
Other Summer Dinner Ideas
Spicy Chicken Burgers
Equipment
- mixing bowl
- whisk
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground chicken , or ground turkey
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper, *see notes
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- ½ tsp salt
- 2-3 Tbsp Franks Red Hot Sauce , or any hot sauce!
Chipotle Aioli
- ⅓ cup mayo
- 3 Tbsp fresh lemon, squeezed
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 2 tsp chipotle powder
- 1-2 tsp Franks Red Hot Sauce , or any hot sauce of choice!
Optional Toppings
- sesame seed buns
- fresh sliced tomatoes
- spicy pickles
- red onion slices
- lettuce
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, add the ground chicken, hot sauce, minced garlic, 1 tsp oil and the spicy chicken burger seasonings. Mix together well, I use my hands here!
- Form burger patties. I tend to make 4-5 large burgers. Try to make them all the same size so they cook evenly.
- For The Air Fryer: Cook on 370º for about 12 -14 minutes until they are cooked through.For The Grill: Cook on medium to high, preheated grill until no longer pink in the center. About 5-6 minutes per side. Internal temperature should be 165º
- Mix up the Chipotle Aioli. Whisk the lemon, seasonings, garlic and hot sauce into the mayonnaise. Taste as you go, add more seasonings or hot sauce as desired.
- Let's dress the burgers. I like to add them to a toasted bun (or I serve them over a lettuce and wrap them up for a low car option!). Add your favorite toppings and drizzle the chipotle aioli over. Enjoy.
Notes
- Don’t over cook the burgers! Use a digital thermometer to check internal temps to prevent getting a dry burger.
- Add any toppings of choice you prefer!
- Make it healthier: wrap it up in a lettuce wrap, skip the aioli or make the aioli with plain greek yogurt instead.
- Refrigerate or freeze leftover patties! They are great reheated at a different time.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Excellent combination of flavors.
Hi! I am so happy to hear this. Enjoy!
I made mine EXTRA HOT! and it did not disappoint. Deliciously healthy and a smash hit with friends.