Easy Grilled Chicken Burgers

If you love Nando’s, you’ll love these juicy grilled chicken burgers. Topped with lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and spicy mayo, they are the most delicious, easy dinner and a guaranteed crowd pleaser.

Grilled chicken burgers

Ingredients needed

Unlike ground chicken burgers that require chicken patties made with ground chicken (or ground turkey), bread crumbs, etc. these juicy chicken burgers need only a handful of ingredients and can be made in a fraction of the time. The chicken is marinated in an aromatic mixture of olive oil, garlic, lemon and spices. What goes on the burger is completely up to you.

  • Chicken. I used chicken breasts but boneless chicken thighs can be substituted.
  • Marinade: Olive oil, fresh garlic cloves, lemon juice, herbs and spices.
  • For the burgers: Burger buns, sliced cheese (American cheese, Cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack, etc.), lettuce, sliced tomatoes, thinly sliced red onions and spicy mayo are our go-to’s. Avocado, crispy bacon, pickled jalapeños, pickled cucumbers, even grilled pineapple slices will all be delicious too.

Marinated chicken for chicken burgers

How to make chicken burgers (summary)

  1. Marinade the chicken: Place the chicken breasts on a chopping board in front of you and carefully slice each breast in half, creating two thin cutlets. Place the chicken in a dish or large bowl suitable for marinating. To make the marinade, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, smoked paprika, herbs, chilli flakes/red pepper flakes, salt and black pepper. Pour over the chicken and mix, making sure each piece of chicken is completely coated. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to marinade for at least 30 minutes but up to 24 hours in the refrigerator.
  2. Grill the chicken: Heat an outdoor grill or grill pan over medium high heat. You can use a large skillet on a stovetop too, if preferred. Add the chicken and cook for 2-3 minutes per side (depending on the thickness of the chicken) until golden brown on both sides and cooked through. Remove from the heat and allow to rest for 5 minutes.
  3. Assemble the burgers: Toast the hamburger buns then top with spicy mayonnaise, lettuce leaves, the grilled chicken and any burger toppings of your choice. Serve immediately.

Can I make this ahead?

The chicken can be marinated for up to 24 hours ahead of cooking. The toppings can be prepared a few hours ahead. The chicken is definitely best served cooked fresh so I wouldn’t suggest cooking to far in advance.

What to serve with chicken burgers

Any of your favorite burger sides will work well with chicken burgers. Fries, potato wedges and potato salad are all good options. Macaroni salad, potato crisps and grilled corn are all delicious too.

  1. Easy oven baked fries
  2. Creamy curried macaroni salad
  3. Easy spicy garlic baked potato wedges
  4. Grilled Corn on the cob with hot honey butter

Juicy grilled chicken burgers with lettuce, tomatoes and cheese

Burger recipes

  1. Cheesy Jalapeño Grilled Turkey Burgers
  2. Bacon cheese burgers
  3. Lamb burger with tzatziki
Grilled chicken burgers

Grilled chicken burgers

4.80 from 20 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Chicken burger, Chicken burger recipe, Grilled chicken burgers
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Marinating time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Calories: 406kcal
Author: Alida Ryder
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken breasts

For the marinade

  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
  • 4 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 2 tsp mixed dried herbs
  • 1 tsp chilli flakes
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper

For the burgers

  • 4 burger buns
  • spicy mayonnaise
  • lettuce
  • sliced cheese
  • sliced tomatoes
  • sliced onion

Instructions

  • Place the chicken breasts on a chopping board in front of you and carefully slice each breast in half, creating two thin cutlets.
  • Place the chicken in a dish or large bowl suitable for marinating.
  • To make the marinade, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, smoked paprika, herbs, chilli flakes/red pepper flakes, salt and black pepper.
  • Pour the marinade over the chicken and mix, making sure each piece of chicken is completely coated.
  • Cover with plastic wrap and allow to marinade for at least 30 minutes but up to 24 hours in the refrigerator. 
  • Heat an outdoor grill or grill pan over medium high heat. You can use a large skillet on a stovetop too, if preferred.
  • Add the chicken and cook for 2-3 minutes per side (depending on the thickness of the chicken) until golden brown on both sides and cooked through.
  • Remove from the heat and allow to rest for 5 minutes.
  • To assemble the burgers, toast the hamburger buns then top with spicy mayonnaise, lettuce leaves, the grilled chicken and any burger toppings of your choice.
  • Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 406kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 101mg | Sodium: 1470mg | Potassium: 543mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 633IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 254mg | Iron: 1mg