Juicy Honey Mustard Chicken Burger

If you ask me, honey mustard chicken burgers are a stroke of genius.

This sandwich takes the classic burger up a notch with a homemade honey mustard sauce that adds just the right balance of sweet and tangy. Juicy chicken breast meets crispy lettuce and fresh tomato slices on a toasted bun.

The trick is in the marinade – a simple mix of honey, Dijon mustard, and a few basic seasonings that really lets the chicken soak up all that good flavor. A quick cook on the grill or stovetop is all it takes to get that nice golden outside.

It’s a family-favorite that’s easy enough for weeknight dinners but good enough to serve at your next backyard cookout.

honey mustard chicken burger
Image: theamazingfood.com / All Rights reserved

Why You’ll Love This Chicken Burger

  • Quick weeknight dinner – These burgers come together in just 25-40 minutes, making them perfect for busy evenings when you want something homemade but don’t have hours to spend in the kitchen.
  • Healthier alternative – Made with lean chicken mince instead of beef, these burgers are a lighter option that doesn’t sacrifice flavor – perfect if you’re watching your red meat intake.
  • Restaurant-quality taste – The combination of parmesan cheese in the patty and the homemade honey mustard sauce creates a burger that tastes like it came from your favorite gourmet burger joint.
  • Customizable – You can easily adjust the seasonings, toppings, and sauce to match your family’s preferences, and even make extra sauce to use on other sandwiches during the week.

What Kind of Ground Chicken Should I Use?

For chicken burgers, you’ll want to look for ground chicken that’s labeled as 93% lean – this gives you just enough fat content to keep your burgers juicy without being greasy. Regular ground chicken breast alone can make for dry burgers, so if that’s what you have, try mixing in a tablespoon of olive oil to add moisture. Ground chicken thigh meat is another great option, as it naturally has more fat and flavor than breast meat. Just make sure your ground chicken is fresh and hasn’t been frozen multiple times, as this can affect the texture of your finished burgers.

honey mustard chicken burger
Image: theamazingfood.com / All Rights reserved

Options for Substitutions

This burger recipe is pretty adaptable and you can make several swaps based on what you have in your kitchen:

  • Chicken mince: Turkey mince works perfectly as a substitute with similar cooking times. If using turkey, add an extra tablespoon of oil to the mix since it’s typically leaner than chicken.
  • Panko crumbs: Regular breadcrumbs or crushed crackers work just fine. You can even use gluten-free breadcrumbs if needed – just make sure they’re not seasoned.
  • Parmesan cheese: Any hard cheese like pecorino or aged cheddar can work here. If using a stronger cheese, you might want to reduce the amount by about 2 tablespoons.
  • Brioche buns: Regular hamburger buns, potato rolls, or even sourdough rolls are good alternatives. Just make sure to lightly toast them like you would the brioche.
  • Swiss cheese: Feel free to use provolone, Havarti, or even American cheese – any mild, melty cheese will do the job nicely.
  • English mustard: Dijon mustard makes a good substitute, though you might need an extra teaspoon since it’s not as strong as English mustard.
  • Cos lettuce: Any crispy lettuce works here – iceberg, romaine, or even baby spinach leaves can step in.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking

The biggest challenge when making chicken burgers is preventing them from becoming dry and crumbly – the secret is to avoid overworking the meat mixture when combining ingredients, as this can make your patties tough and dense. Another common mistake is pressing down on the patties while they’re cooking, which squeezes out all those tasty juices – instead, let them cook undisturbed for about 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown. To ensure your burgers stay juicy and cook evenly, make a small dimple in the center of each patty with your thumb before cooking, as this prevents them from puffing up in the middle. For the best results, let your patties rest for 3-5 minutes after cooking before assembling your burger, and toast those brioche buns lightly to prevent them from getting soggy from the honey mustard sauce.

honey mustard chicken burger
Image: theamazingfood.com / All Rights reserved

What to Serve With Honey Mustard Chicken Burgers?

These tasty chicken burgers pair perfectly with classic sides that complement their sweet and tangy flavor profile. French fries are always a crowd-pleaser, but sweet potato fries add a nice twist that matches really well with the honey mustard sauce. For a lighter option, try a simple coleslaw dressed with apple cider vinegar – the crunch and tang balance out the rich burger nicely. If you’re feeding a crowd, put out some potato chips or a bowl of mixed greens with ranch dressing on the side, and you’ve got yourself a complete meal that everyone will love.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: If you’ve got leftover cooked chicken burgers, place them in an airtight container and pop them in the fridge for up to 3 days. I recommend storing the patties separately from the buns and toppings to keep everything fresh and prevent sogginess.

Make Ahead: You can shape the raw patties up to 24 hours in advance – just place them on a parchment-lined plate, cover with plastic wrap, and keep them in the fridge. The honey mustard sauce can also be mixed up to 5 days ahead and stored in an airtight container in the fridge.

Freeze: These patties freeze really well! Place uncooked patties on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag. They’ll keep for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to cook, thaw them overnight in the fridge.

Warm Up: To reheat cooked patties, warm them in a covered skillet over medium-low heat for 3-4 minutes per side, or until heated through. You can also microwave them, but they might not stay as juicy. Add the cheese during the last minute of heating so it gets nice and melty.

Preparation Time 10-15 minutes
Cooking Time 15-25 minutes
Total Time 25-40 minutes
Level of Difficulty Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

  • Calories: 2500-2800
  • Protein: 140-160 g
  • Fat: 150-170 g
  • Carbohydrates: 180-200 g

Ingredients

  • 1 pound chicken mince
  • 1/2 cup panko crumbs
  • 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon honey (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon white pepper (adjust to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 tablespoon olive or canola oil
  • 1/2 cup full-egg mayonnaise
  • 4 tablespoons honey
  • 4 teaspoons english mustard
  • 4 brioche buns
  • 4 slices swiss cheese
  • 12 sweet pickle slices, drained
  • 4 leaves of cos lettuce, thinly sliced or whole
  • 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

Step 1: Prepare and Toast the Burger Buns

Begin by slicing your burger buns and toasting them under a hot grill until they achieve a golden brown color.

Toast both sides of the buns to enhance their texture and flavor.

Once they’re toasted, set them aside to cool.

Step 2: Make the Burger Patties

Heat up a large skillet on medium-high heat in preparation for cooking the patties.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, add all your burger ingredients and mix them thoroughly using clean hands until they are well combined.

Divide the mixture into 4 equal portions and form them into balls.

Flatten each ball with the palm of your hand so they’re slightly bigger than your burger buns, taking into account that they’ll shrink as they cook.

Step 3: Cook the Burgers

Add oil to your frypan and lay down the burger patties.

Cook each side until they are golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 75°C / 165°F, which should take about 4-5 minutes per side.

At the 2-minute mark after flipping the patties, place a slice of cheese on top of each one.

Add 1 tablespoon of cold water into the frypan and cover it with a lid.

This will steam the cheese, allowing it to melt perfectly over the patties.

Step 4: Assemble the Burgers

Spread mayonnaise evenly on the bottom half of each toasted bun.

Place 4 pickles on top of the mayonnaise, followed by the cooked chicken burger patty.

Stack lettuce and sliced red onion over the patty for a fresh crunch.

Finish by spreading BBQ sauce on the top half of the bun.

Sandwich everything together and serve your burgers hot!

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