Description
Delicious and healthy chicken spinach burgers made with lean ground chicken, fresh spinach, mozzarella cheese, and pesto. These flavorful burgers are easy to prepare and perfect for a quick lunch or dinner served on whole wheat buns with your favorite toppings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb. lean ground chicken (about 90% lean)
- ½ cup chopped fresh spinach
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tablespoon pesto
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
For Cooking
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
For Serving
- Whole wheat burger buns
- Desired toppings (see notes)
Instructions
- Mix Ingredients: Add ground chicken, chopped spinach, mozzarella cheese, pesto, garlic, salt, and black pepper to a medium bowl. Using a fork and then your hands, mix until just combined.
- Form Patties: Divide the mixture into 4 equal parts and form burger patties that are about ½ inch thick.
- Heat Pan: Heat a large non-stick pan over medium-high heat and add canola oil.
- Cook Burgers: Add burgers to the pan and cook over medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes. Then flip and continue cooking until done, about 5-6 minutes more. Keep an eye on the temperature and reduce heat if burgers start to burn. If adding sliced cheese, do so when flipping to allow it to melt as they finish cooking.
- Rest and Serve: Let the burgers rest for a few minutes before serving. Add desired toppings and enjoy your chicken spinach burgers!
Notes
- Use lean ground chicken labeled between 90% and 93% lean for better flavor; super lean (99%) is less flavorful.
- You can make your own ground chicken by pulsing raw chicken breasts in a food processor until broken down.
- Serving with extra melted mozzarella and a dollop of pesto enhances the flavor.
- Add extra Italian flair with sun-dried tomatoes or fresh basil as toppings.
- These burgers are made on the stove but can also be cooked on a grill if preferred.
- Serve in regular buns or as lettuce wraps for a low-carb or gluten-free option.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 burger
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg
