Buffalo Zucchini Chicken Burgers (SO juicy!)

These burgers were one of my personal favorites from a few summers ago because, well…your girl really loves a good burger makeover. My mom had been visiting when we decided to make these healthy buffalo zucchini chicken burgers paired with grilled sweet potato fries (Japanese sweet potatoes are my latest obsession!).

Truthfully, Mom and I couldn’t stop raving about how good these burgers were. Nice and juicy from the shredded zucchini, a little spicy thanks to buffalo sauce, and of course, topped with all the thangs: creamy avocado, zesty red onion, extra buffalo sauce, and maybe even a little ranch for dipping.

Add these crowd-pleasing burgers to your Fourth of July menu — they’re a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!

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Ingredients in buffalo zucchini chicken burgers

These healthy buffalo chicken burgers are made with super simple ingredients that keep them juicy and incredibly flavorful. Don’t forget about the toppings! Here’s what you’ll need to make them:

• Ground chicken: feel free to use 93% ground chicken or ground turkey.
• Zucchini: shredded zucchini will give these burgers the perfect amount of moisture, plus a boost of veggies and fiber.
• Buffalo sauce: feel free to use medium or hot buffalo sauce.
• Yellow onion: for added depth and a little crunch in the burgers.
• Spices: we’re adding garlic powder, cumin, salt & pepper for extra flavor. The ultimate burger spices!
• Cheddar cheese: I like topping these buffalo chicken burgers with sharp cheddar cheese slices, but feel free to use any cheese you’d like! A spicy habanero cheddar would be delicious.
• Optional for assembly: your favorite hamburger buns (gluten-free if you’d like), more buffalo sauce, avocado, butterhead lettuce & red onion for crunch.

Customize your zucchini chicken burgers

The options are endless in terms of toppings, so feel free to add things you like!

Can I cook them on the stove?

Nothing beats a burger fresh off the grill (get all of our tips & tricks for grilling perfect burgers here!), but you can absolutely make these on the stovetop if you don’t have a grill. Here’s how:

1. Add 1/2 tablespoon olive oil to a nonstick skillet or griddle.
2. Cook burgers over medium heat for 4-5 minutes per side, or until no longer pink.
3. Burgers are done when a meat thermometer reaches 165 degrees F.

Tips for making zucchini chicken burgers

• Be sure to use 93% lean ground chicken or turkey. Anything higher (like 99%) will not be very juicy.
• Squeeze out all of the excess moisture from your zucchini after shredding so that it doesn’t add too much moisture to the burger patties.

Storing tips

Store any leftover burgers in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Simply reheat in the microwave.

Freezer-friendly buffalo chicken burgers

• Freeze before cooking: shape your chicken burgers and place them in an airtight, freezer-friendly bag or container. If you’re stacking the burgers, I’d recommend putting wax or parchment paper in between the layers so that they don’t stick together. Freeze for up to 3 months. To reheat, you can either let them thaw in the fridge before cooking or cook them directly from frozen – you may just need to cook them a bit longer from frozen.
• Freeze after cooking: let your chicken burger patties cool completely before placing them in airtight, freezer-friendly containers or bags. Put wax or parchment paper in between the layers of burgers if you’re stacking them. Freeze them for up to 3 months. To reheat, let them thaw in the fridge before reheating in the microwave or on the stovetop for a couple of minutes on each side. You can also reheat these directly from frozen – I recommend doing so on the stovetop.

Our fav burger-making tools

Check out our fav kitchen tools here.

What to serve with buffalo chicken burgers

Get more of my favorite summer BBQ recipes here!

I hope you love these buffalo zucchini chicken burgers! If you make them, be sure to leave a comment & a rating so I know how you liked them.

The
Ambitious Kitchen
Cookbook

125 Ridiculously Good For You, Sometimes Indulgent, and Absolutely Never Boring Recipes for Every Meal of the Day

Buffalo Zucchini Chicken Burgers

byby :Monique Volz of AmbitiousKitchen.com

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 6 minutes minutes

Total Time 21 minutes minutes

ServesServes 4 servings

Juicy buffalo zucchini chicken burgers with delicious spices, zucchini, and buffalo sauce added right to the patty. These flavorful, easy zucchini chicken burgers come together in under 30 minutes and stay together without any breadcrumbs. Add your favorite burger toppings and enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 pound 93% lean ground chicken (or sub ground turkey) — do not use 99%
• ½ cup shredded zucchini, squeezed of excess moisture with a paper towel (from ½ of a medium zucchini)
• 2 tablespoons hot or medium buffalo sauce
• ¼ cup very finely diced yellow onion
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon cumin
• ½ teaspoon salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 4 slices sharp cheddar cheese
• For assembly:
• 4 hamburger buns of choice, toasted if desired
• 4 tablespoons buffalo sauce, for topping
• 1 large avocado, sliced
• Butterhead lettuce
• Sliced red onion

Instructions

• Preheat grill to medium high heat (about 400 degrees F). Brush the grates with olive oil to prevent sticking.

• Make the chicken burgers by adding the ground chicken/turkey, shredded zucchini, buffalo sauce, onion, garlic, cumin, salt and pepper to a large bowl. Mix with your hands until evenly combined. Divide into 4 equal portions and shape into 1/2 inch patties.

• Grill over medium-high heat (around 400 degrees F) for 6-8 minutes per side or until burgers are cooked through and a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees F. During the last few minutes of cooking the chicken burgers, add a slice of cheddar cheese on top of each burger patty; cover the grill for about 1 minute while the cheese melts.

• Place the onion on the bottom of the bun, then the burgers, top with a little bit of extra buffalo sauce, avocado and lettuce. Serve immediately. Great with sweet potato fries or fresh fruit!

Recipe Notes

To keep these burgers dairy-free: use your favorite dairy-free cheese slices or simply omit the cheese.
To keep them paleo or grain-free: omit the cheese and use a lettuce wrap instead of a whole grain bun.
To store: store any leftover buffalo zucchini chicken burgers in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-4 days. Simply reheat in the microwave.
Check the full post for freezing instructions and more ways to customize your burgers!

Nutrition

Serving: 1burger with whole grain bun + toppingsCalories: 502calCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 37gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 8gFiber: 10gSugar: 1g