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This BBQ Chicken Burger recipe produces the juiciest, tastiest chicken burger you will ever have! Studded with cheese, basted in barbecue sauce, and topped with creamy coleslaw, this burger is anything but boring or dry!
Looking for more delicious spins on chicken sandwiches? Check out my recipes for Chicken Torta, Chicken Shawarma Wraps, and Chicken Gyro.
My Favorite Chicken Burger Recipe
Chicken burgers, compared to classic hamburgers, have the reputation of being dry and flavorless.
But when seasoned and cooked properly, a flavorful, juicy chicken burger is not only possible, it's incredibly easy to achieve at home.
Made with ground chicken that's seasoned to perfection and basted in barbecue sauce, this recipe delivers chicken burgers that are ANYTHING but bland and boring. They are absolutely bursting with flavor!
But what truly makes this recipe unforgettable, though, are the pockets of melty cheese -- talk about a welcome surprise!
While lighter than most burgers, your taste buds won't feel like they're missing out with these juicy, cheesy BBQ Chicken Burgers. You'll want to make them again and again!
Happy Cooking! xo Kristen
Notes on Ingredients
- Ground Chicken: You can opt to purchase ground chicken (or ground turkey) sold at the store, which is often a blend of white and dark meat, or you can make your own ground chicken using my instructions below--it is super easy to do.
- Cheese: Rather than topping the burgers with cheese, I recommend adding cubed (or shredded) sharp cheddar cheese to the burger mixture itself, which helps to keep every bite juicy and flavorful.
- BBQ Sauce: I recommend using a thick, sweet, and tangy BBQ Sauce (that is deep red), which will pair well with the chicken, cheddar, and seasonings added. Use your favorite store-bought brand or homemade BBQ sauce.
- For Serving: I highly recommend topping the chicken burgers with creamy coleslaw for added texture and flavor. Another great option is to drizzle the burgers with my BBQ ranch dressing for grilled BBQ chicken salad. So good!
Money-Saving Tip
Make Your Own Ground Chicken
Instead of purchasing a package of ground chicken, you can make homemade ground chicken in minutes for a fraction of the cost using nothing more than a food processor! Simply place COLD cubed boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs into a food processor, and pulse 4-6 times, or until the chicken is broken down enough to form into patties.
How to Make BBQ Chicken Burgers
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the ingredient quantities and detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Combine ground chicken with seasonings. Season the ground chicken with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and paprika, along with a bit of your favorite BBQ sauce.
- Add cheese. Add cubed or shredded cheese to the seasoned chicken and gently fold into the meat.
- Form burgers. Divide the meat mixture into 4 equal portions and shape each portion into patties that are slightly larger than a hamburger bun. Gently place a thumbprint into the middle of each patty, which will help to prevent shrinkage and allow for even cooking.
- Cook Burgers. You can opt to grill, pan-fry, or smoke these BBQ Chicken Burgers. Find all the various cooking times in the recipe card.
- Baste with BBQ Sauce. Remove the burgers from the grill and brush with the barbecue sauce on both sides.
- Serve. Serve the BBQ Chicken Burgers on a bun with creamy coleslaw and additional BBQ sauce.
Key Tips for Juicy Chicken Burgers
Chicken burgers, compared to classic hamburgers, have the reputation of being dry and flavorless. That is not the case when it comes this BBQ Chicken Burger, thanks to a few key steps.
- Heavily season the chicken. Go beyond salt and pepper, and use both a sweet and smoky dry rub and barbecue sauce to ensure the chicken is well seasoned. No bland chicken here!
- Stuff with cheese. Instead of adding cheese to the top of the burgers, add diced or shredded cheddar directly to the raw meat. This will keep every bite juicy and flavorful!
- Baste with BBQ sauce. While the chicken burgers have been seasoned with barbecue sauce, don't stop there! Brushing the burgers with BBQ sauce after cooking, will help to ensure flavorful results.
- Serve with slaw. To add to the flavor, texture, and moisture, I HIGHLY recommend serving these BBQ chicken burgers with creamy coleslaw and additional barbecue sauce on a bun of your choice. Perfection!
Side Dishes for Chicken Burgers
- Grilled Corn on the Cob
- BLT Pasta Salad
- Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
- Baked Sweet Potato Fries
- Easy Baked Oven Fries
- Creamy Cucumber Salad
- Homemade Baked Beans
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
BBQ Chicken Burger
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken, dark or white meat
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ cup barbecue sauce, + more for brushing
- 2 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, diced into tiny cubes or shredded
- 1 cup homemade coleslaw, optional
- 4 buns
Instructions
- Heat grill to medium-high heat. Alternatively, heat a nonstick skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush the grill grates or pan with oil to keep the burgers from sticking.
- Place the ground chicken into a large mixing bowl and add 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¼ cup barbecue sauce, and 2 ounces sharp cheddar cheese (cubed or grated). Mix together until just combined and ingredients are evenly distributed, being careful to not overmix the chicken.
- Divide the meat mixture into 4 equal portions and shape it into patties that are slightly larger than the bottom of a hamburger bun. Place a thumbprint into the middle of each burger, to help prevent shrinkage and even cooking.
- Grill or cook for 5 minutes. Flip the burgers, and continue to cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the chicken burgers reach 162-165℉ (72-74℃).
- Remove the burgers to a plate and brush each side with additional barbecue sauce. Tent with foil and allow to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
- Serve the burgers on buns with coleslaw and additional BBQ sauce or as desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This post was originally published in 2017 and updated in 2025.
Yum!! These scream summer & we will be making them a lot! My kids love bbq chicken, so to add it in a burger is even better!
Love hearing your family enjoyed these burgers, Kristyn 🙂
I made these chicken patties for a family meal at the cabin. Everyone enjoyed them, even the grandchildren! My daughter asked for the recipe because it was such a big hit! We will enjoy again and again! The coleslaw was awesome with them as well! I liked that it didn't have mayo in it.
I am so glad your family enjoyed Annette! Thanks for sharing!
This was delicious! Looking to eat healthier and this is a great alternative to beef burgers!
So happy to hear you enjoyed Debbie!
These were so good for dinner. We will definitely make them again.
YAY!!! So glad you enjoyed Ashley!
My family loves burgers but I don't typically use a lot of red meat.These fit the bill!
So glad you could find a recipe to agree upon and enjoy!
Have you ever broiled these or used a cast iron skillet to cook them? Just curious...Thanks!
Hi Amy!
Yes, I have used a cast iron skillet many times and that works great. Just preheat over medium high heat and then cook 5-6 minutes per side or until burgers get to 165 degrees. I have not broiled, but that should work as well, just watch for carefully as the cheese or BBQ sauce can burn quickly
Thanks! Plan to try these soon😊
This burger looks amazing. Love the buns and the cole slaw topping!!
That looks so yummy! Thanks for the great recipe and for linking it up to Tasty Tuesdays at Creative K Kids. I pinned it to the Tasty Tuesdays Pinterest Board.