I wish there was a cool story behind today's recipe, but it's as simple as this:
I saw pretzel buns at Walmart and thought, "I need a recipe on the blog with those pretzel buns!"
A quick search on Google showed me there weren't many recipes for the phrase "burgers with pretzel bun," and the recipes that did show up all had the "beer/cheddar cheese" theme.
That's great and all, but I don't drink and I don't want to copy everyone else.
So my recipe for BLT Chicken Burgers is not only unique, it's the best one on the internet for burger recipes with a pretzel bun!
It's easy to make: the burgers are made in the air fryer and everything else is cold prep. All you need is 30 minutes!
It's so flavorful: the combination of the BLT flavors with the addition of honey mustard, avocado, and spicy cheese on a salty pretzel bun really make these burgers THE BEST.
It's perfect for summer: fire up the grill and make this BLT burger recipe at your next BBQ or family gathering. You can toast the buns and crisp the bacon on the grill while the burgers cook!
It's packed with protein: each burger has over 40g of protein!
It's allergen friendly: the chicken burger patties are naturally gluten free, dairy free, and egg free, and the entire recipe is easily dairy free and egg free!
It's macro friendly: this means the ratio between carbs, fats, and protein is balanced. It helps stabilize your blood sugar levels and keep you fuller longer.
Believe it or not, this step is actually way easier than you think.
You know why?
There's no breadcrumbs or eggs needed!
Just combine the ground chicken, almond flour, honey mustard, and seasonings in a large bowl.
If you're squeamish about raw meat, I highly recommend using this kitchen tool - it's amazing for making fine ground meat but also mixing raw ground meat with other ingredients for recipes like burgers and meatballs.
After the burger ingredients are mixed well, divide into four portions and shape into patties the size of your hamburger bun. The thickness doesn't matter as much as the diameter does.
PRO TIP: spray your hands with cooking spray before shaping the chicken burgers. This will prevent the raw meat from sticking to your hands!
If you're prepping for later, place each patty between pieces of parchment paper, then seal in a ziploc bag. If not, proceed to step 2!
I wrote this recipe to make the chicken burgers in the air fryer, but you can make them with whatever appliance you have.
Here's how to make BLT chicken burgers 4 ways:
My favorite way to make these burgers. Spray the basket with cooking spray, then lay the chicken patties in an even layer. Don't let them overlap! Cook for 8 minutes, adding the cheese at the 6 minute mark (ie when there's 2 minutes left on the timer). No need to flip the burgers!
Line a sheet pan with foil then top with a cooling rack. Place the patties on the cooling rack and bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F. Remove, add the cheese, then broil until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
I recommend using a cast iron skillet here, but a regular skillet will work too. Spray the skillet with cooking spray, the cook the patties on medium high heat for about 5-8 minutes on each side or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Add the cheese about 2 minutes before the chicken is done.
Cook on medium high heat for 5-8 minutes on each side or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Add the cheese about 2 minutes before the chicken is done.
While the chicken is cooking, get your toppings ready.
Prepare the bacon according to package instructions. If you're using the grill, throw it on there with the chicken!
You can also toast the pretzel buns on the grill or the stove. It's not required, but I love a good toasted hamburger bun.
Chop the lettuce and slice the tomatoes. Mash the avocado and divide into four portions.
To assemble the burgers, layer the lettuce on top of the bottom pretzel bun, then stack on the chicken patty, cooked bacon, mashed avocado, sliced tomatoes, and honey mustard. Place the top hamburger bun on top and dig in!
Yes, but unfortunately that means you'll either have to replace the pretzel bun with another gluten free hamburger bun or make your own gluten free pretzel buns. The chicken patties are naturally gluten free, though!
Yes! Just omit the pepper jack cheese.
Sure! You can use a pound of beef, turkey, or pork. I recommend sticking with a very lean protein though to keep the macros the same. Ideally your protein would be between 93%-98% lean.
Yes! You can prepare the chicken patties up to 48 hours in advance, but I would only prep the toppings a few hours in advance.
After shaping the chicken patties, place each patty on parchment paper and store in an airtight container in the fridge until you're ready to cook.
The beauty of this recipe is that it's a blend of a classic cafe sandwich and a traditional American burger, so there are so many delicious options.
Here are some of my favorite side dishes for BLT Chicken Burgers:
I know you'll love these BLT Chicken Burgers from the first bite. They are packed with flavor, so easy to prepare, and made with wholesome ingredients too!
Be sure to leave a star rating and review below if you try the recipe so other readers know how you liked it! You can also tag me on social media @kapaicooking so I can see your creation!
The classic cafe sandwich meets American burger. These BLT Chicken Burgers have avocado, pepper jack cheese, and honey mustard inside with a pretzel bun on top. You can also make them on a grill, in the oven, on the stove, or in the air fryer!
*I like this brand because it's sugar free and fat free. I get mine at Walmart! You can use any honey mustard you like.
**Swiss cheese would also be a great choice for these burgers!
***See blog post for instructions for using the grill, the stove, or the oven.
Nutrition facts are a calculated estimate of one burger, including the pretzel bun and all the toppings.
Serving: 1 burger / Calories: 660 / Fat: 30.1g / Saturated fat: 5.8g / Carbohydrates: 51.1g / Fiber: 6.5g / Protein: 42.8g
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