It was nearly 70 degrees yesterday you guys – total flip flop weather, and I could not have been happier! It actually started to show signs of warming up over the weekend after what has felt like the longest winter on record. By the time April rolls around I am more than ready to get outside and start grilling again, so even though it was only in the 50’s on Sunday we uncovered the grill and did just that! Nothing fancy, just some chicken for me and sausage for Shane but it was just so nice to be outside enjoying the sunshine without a heavy winter coat on π And of course, I didn’t mind the super simple clean-up one bit. Bring on summer, I’m ready!
I had these chicken burgers on the menu on Saturday night, and had given some thought to trying them outside on the grill. I even made homemade burger rolls that afternoon because I was so excited about the prospect π The day got away from us though and it was too dark by the time we were ready to eat, so instead we cooked them on our grill pan inside. The recipe is so super simple I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but we absolutely loved these burgers!
The burgers are made with ground chicken that’s been mixed with a garlic-rosemary mayonnaise. Rather than use all regular mayo, I did a mixture of half light mayo and half nonfat Greek yogurt, which helped keep these on the light side (175 calories each without the bun). The rosemary gives them tons of flavor, and the “mayo” mixture keeps them moist. There’s nothing worse than a dry, flavorless ground chicken burger! Just a word of warning – the burger mixture is going to seem super wet and sticky when you make it and you’re going to be tempted to add bread crumbs. I promise you don’t need them, the burgers will hold together once you get them in the pan, and all that moisture ensures they stay juicy!
Chicken Burgers with Garlic-Rosemary Mayonnaise
adapted from Giada De Laurentiis (via FoodNetwork.com)
{Note: If you want extra mayonnaise to spread on the burgers/rolls when serving, just double the mayo recipe and use only half in the burgers themselves.}
Garlic-Rosemary Mayonnaise
1/4 cup light mayonnaise
1/4 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1 garlic clove, minced
Burgers
garlic-rosemary mayonnaise (full quantity from above)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 lb ground chicken
4 burger buns (homemade, if you want)
lettuce, tomato, mayo, etc (for serving)
Set a grill pan over medium to medium-high heat. Spray with nonstick cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, rosemary, and garlic until well combined. Add the salt, pepper, and ground chicken and use your hands to gently mix together. (The mixture will be very wet and sticky – that’s what you want. You can make the mixture ahead of time and refrigerate for a few hours to make it slightly easier to shape, but that’s optional.)
Divide the mixture into 4 equal portions, and shape each into a 3/4-inch thick patty. Transfer to the grill pan, and cook the burgers for about 6 minutes per side, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center registers 165 F.
Serve on toasted buns with lettuce, tomato, extra mayo or your favorite burger toppings!
Makes 4 burgers
70 DEGREES!!! I am so jealous, it is snowing right now and we are expecting a lot. I am not excited!! You are so lucky!
Oh and these look beautiful!
I love the “mayo”, Tracey! And the burgers look wonderful. It’s the season for burgers, for sure and I love the flavors you put into this one!
These sound fantastic! I’ve used ground chicken instead of turkey a few times recently and I like it a lot. It’s not quite grilling weather for us yet, but hopefully one of these days!
Wao,,,, it looks very tasty,i love chicken burgers.
I may need to change my menu plan for the week after seeing these. I have something set in the slow cooker for dinner tonight, but rest assured these are happening asap once the leftovers from tonight’s meal are gone. I happen to have some rosemary lying about too π
Yay for sunshine and flip flops and delicious burgers like these!!
Love the mayo! I definitely want to make these soon. And by make them I mean I want my husband to make them for me. π
What is up with winter this year? It just can’t seem to take a hint. I envy your recent encounter with 70 degree weather – and these chicken burgers! (The garlic-rosemary mayonnaise is calling to me.)
I am LOVING this warm weather….and to celebrate it I made bean burgers so we must have kind of been on the same wavelength. I usually don’t go for mayo but that garlic-rosemary flavor is calling to me!
You have so many simple but delicious sounding recipes! I can’t believe you made your own buns. They had to make these burgers even better!
Oh how I wish I had a grill! These look so wonderful! Nothing better than a good cookout when it warms up!!
These burgers look delicious and just in time for grilling! I use ground chicken several times a week and am always looking for new ways to prepare it. Its warm enough in St. Louis this week for me to fire up the grill and try these. π
As soon as I saw the post’s title, I immediately thought of GIADA! Thanks for lightening up her recipe- I’m going to make these tomorrow and let you know how they turned out π
It’s starting to get hot here too. It’s going to be 80 degrees again, and I own one skirt and one pair of shorts. I think I may need to go shopping soon, because I’m going to die in this lovely heat.
Tasty looking burgers! π
We love chicken burgers around here. The rosemary in the burger is such a great idea, I love rosemary and chicken together!
These burgers were great, I can’t wait to have them again! Thanks for making them!
Garlic rosemary mayo, wow! This sandwich is to die for π
This mayo sounds fabulous! I will have to try making it with Vegenaise and using it to top homemade veggie burgers! Yum :).
Bookmarking these! I, too, just made a recipe for chx burgers (but subbed turkey) that blew me away. As a small thank you for the wonderful recipes I’ve made (and posted!) from your site, I highly recommend these jalapeΓ±o cheddar chicken burgers with guacamole(yum!). Very moist and juicy and totally delish: http://www.fransfavs.com/2013/07/jalapeno-cheddar-chicken-burgers-with-guacamole/