Chicken burgers have become an increasingly popular alternative to traditional beef burgers. Their versatility, nutritional profile, and delicious flavor make them a go-to choice for backyard cookouts, weeknight dinners, or meal prepping. However, to enjoy safe and properly cooked chicken burgers, it’s important to understand the ideal internal temperature they should reach. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about cooking chicken burgers, from recommended temperatures to techniques for juicy patties.
Why Temperature Matters for Chicken Burgers
Temperature is arguably the most critical factor when cooking chicken burgers. Chicken requires thorough cooking to eliminate any harmful bacteria that may be present, such as Salmonella or Campylobacter. Undercooked chicken poses serious health risks, so adhering to proper temperatures isn’t just about achieving the best texture but also ensuring safety.
The safe minimum internal temperature recommended for chicken burgers by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is 165°F (74°C). At this temperature, any potentially dangerous pathogens are killed, making the chicken safe to eat. Color alone is not a reliable indicator, as ground chicken cooked to 165°F can still have a pinkish hue. Using a food thermometer is the best way to accurately gauge doneness.
Recommended Internal Temperatures
While 165°F is the USDA-established safe minimum, many chefs and cooking experts recommend slightly higher temperatures for best results when cooking chicken burgers:
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165°F (74°C) – Safe minimum temperature; chicken is fully cooked at this point but may be slightly pinkish
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170°F (77°C) – Provides tender, juicy burgers by retaining more moisture; chicken achieves ideal doneness
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175°F (79°C) – Burgers are fully cooked through with no pink coloration; great for those who prefer very well-done poultry.
For food safety, 165°F is perfectly acceptable, but cooking to around 170-175°F can maximize moisture and flavor. It comes down to personal preference. The key is using an instant-read thermometer to eliminate guesswork.
Proper Thermometer Use
While visual cues can provide some guidance, a food thermometer is the most reliable way to determine doneness for chicken burgers. Follow these steps for accuracy:
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Insert the thermometer probe into the thickest portion of the patty, taking care to avoid touching any bones.
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Wait 10-15 seconds after insertion to allow the temperature reading to stabilize.
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Verify the readout reaches the minimum 165°F or your target temperature.
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Check temperature towards the end of cooking time and again once removed from heat.
Investing in a high-quality instant-read digital thermometer can make monitoring temperatures easy. Dial-faced analog versions work too, though they can be slower and more difficult to read.
Cooking Methods
Chicken burgers can be prepared using various cooking techniques. The method you choose impacts cook times, but the end temperature goal remains the same. Here are some popular cooking options:
Grilling – A summertime favorite, grilled chicken burgers have irresistible smoky flavor. Preheat your grill to medium-high, around 375-400°F. Cook burgers over direct heat for 5-7 minutes per side.
Baking – For indoor or oven cooking, bake at 375°F until the internal temp hits 165-175°F, about 15-20 minutes. Use a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment.
Pan-Frying – In a skillet over medium-high heat, fry chicken burgers with a teaspoon of oil for 4-6 minutes per side. Watch the temperature closely.
Air-Frying – Modern air fryers provide a healthier fried taste. Cook at 375°F, flipping once, until done, about 10-12 minutes.
Slow-Cooking – For deeply flavored burgers, slow cook on low for 3-4 hours in a crockpot with sauce or gravy.
Tips for Juicy, Flavorful Chicken Burgers
Achieving optimal doneness temperatures is crucial, but proper technique also plays a key role in making chicken burgers juicy and packed with flavor:
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Use thigh meat – Chicken thighs have more fat and moisture than breasts. Opt for ground thigh or a thigh/breast blend.
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Add binders – Lightly mixing in breadcrumbs or egg helps bind moisture. Grated onions or cheese also introduce flavorful fat.
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Avoid over-mixing – Gently mix just until blended. Overworking the meat can lead to dense, rubbery burgers.
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Make indented center – Form patties with a slight divot in the middle to prevent puffing and promote even cooking.
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Brush with oil – Lightly coating patties with oil or melted butter seals in moisture during cooking.
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Allow resting time – Let cooked burgers rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow juices to redistribute.
Common Mistakes
It’s easy to commit some errors that’ll ruin your hard work crafting the perfect chicken burger. Here are a few pitfalls to avoid:
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Undercooking – Not verifying temperature with a thermometer can lead to undercooked, unsafe chicken. Always check!
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Pressing patties – Flattening burgers as they cook squeezes out juices, drying them out. Let them cook undisturbed.
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Rushing resting – Skipping resting time results in moisture loss as juices spill out when cut into too soon.
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Cooking frozen – Burgers must be fully thawed before cooking to ensure even heating to a safe internal temp.
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Reheating improperly – Microwaving leads to uneven reheating. Use ovens or stovetops to reheat burgers to 165°F.
Pairings & Serving Suggestions
Once perfectly cooked, chicken burgers deserve equally tasty accompaniments! Consider these ideas:
Buns: Brioche, potato, pretzel, Hawaiian rolls, or lettuce wraps
Cheese: Cheddar, Swiss, pepper jack, or bleu
Toppings: Avocado, caramelized onions, mushrooms, slaw, fried egg
Sides: Sweet potato fries, grilled veggies, side salad, or oven wedges
Sauces: Pesto mayo, barbecue, ranch, honey mustard, or chipotle aioli
Take your chicken burger experience over the top by getting creative with flavors, toppings, and bun choices to complement the star of the show!
The Takeaway on Cooking Chicken Burgers
Perfectly cooked chicken burgers start with understanding the right internal temperature. Heating chicken patties to a minimum of 165°F eliminates safety concerns while higher temps up to 175°F lend added moisture. Monitoring temperatures with a food thermometer is highly recommended. Combine this knowledge with flavor-building techniques, and you’re sure to have a juicy, delicious chicken burger everyone will love.
Why you’ll love this recipe
- So delicious: No boring chicken burgers here! The chicken patties are perfectly seasoned and have add-ins to keep them moist and tender.
- Versatile: I’m sharing plenty of cooking tips, so you can have success whether you want to make these on the stovetop or a grill! Satisfy that burger craving, no matter the season!
- Quick and easy: These are fast and effortless to make! You can have a thick, satisfying burger ready in just about 20 minutes.
This chicken burgers recipe is simple and straightforward. We’re using basic ingredients that will give these burgers SO much delicious flavor. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Ground chicken: I recommend using 93% lean ground chicken (or turkey), so that the patty still has a bit of fat content to stay plenty juicy. Avoid the extra lean ground meat because it’s much more likely to dry out.
- Add-ins: This recipe uses a mix of onion, breadcrumbs, egg, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, Dijon mustard and salt & black pepper that gets combined with the chicken. All of these seasonings and extras will give the burgers tons of flavor, moisture and help hold them together.
- Buns: Feel free to use any hamburger buns you’d like (even gluten free). Another option is to wrap your burger in lettuce for a low carb option or you can serve them as a protein added to salad greens. I like Pepperidge Farm Bakery Classics Buns. But if I’m really feeling fancy, we use fluffy brioche buns. Yum!
- Toppings: Use any favorites – lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions, cheese, avocado, mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup. And don’t forget the burger sauce for major deliciousness!
One of the best things about making burgers is that you can easily change them up to your taste preferences and include what you have on hand. Here are some options:
- Stovetop burgers: If you can’t or don’t want to grill your burgers, try cooking them on the stove. Simply add 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil to a cast iron skillet or nonstick skillet or grill pan and place it over medium heat. Once your pan is hot, cook your burgers for 3-5 minutes per side until they’re no longer pink in the center.
- Ground meat: Make your patties with any favorite ground meat. Aside from chicken or turkey, you can try using beef, lamb, pork or bison.
- Cheeseburger: I typically use cheddar cheese or American cheese, but some other tasty options are pepper jack, Colby, blue cheese, Swiss or feta cheese.
- Toppings: Pick your favorite buns or use lettuce wraps, and add some fresh produce like tomato, lettuce, red onion, avocado or even cilantro, or keep them simple with ketchup and mustard, secret sauce, or mayo.
- 1 pound ground chicken (ground turkey works great too)
- 1/2 medium onion, diced very fine
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 4 hamburger buns
- Optional toppings; such as lettuce, tomato, cheese, avocado, red onion, mayo, ketchup and/or mustard
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- Place the ground chicken, onion, breadcrumbs, egg, Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, Dijon, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Stir to combine (I use my hands). Do not over-mix the ingredients because you’ll run the risk of ending up with a tough burger.
- Shape the chicken mixture into 4 patties. Press your thumb into the center of each patty to create a divot, so that when they cook, they stay flat and don’t puff up. Preheat an outdoor grill, indoor grill pan or skillet on the stove to medium-high heat.
- Cook burgers for 4-6 minutes per side, or until completely cooked through and when internal temperature of 165ºF is reached.
- Once fully cooked, place the burgers on the buns, add toppings as desired, then serve. Or serve in a salad.
- If you don’t think your patties are firm enough for the grill, place them in the freezer for 10-15 minutes.
- Bring the heat of the grill up to about 450ºF. Cook burgers until the internal temperature is 165ºF.
- Make sure that your grill grates are clean and well oiled so that your burger doesn’t stick.
- Be patient and let your burger cook for at least 4 minutes before flipping. If you flip your burger too early, they might fall apart.
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When you’re craving a junior chicken but don’t want to go to McDonald’s
FAQ
What temperature are chicken burgers done at?
Ground chicken is fully cooked when the center of the thickest burger reaches 165°F (74°C), per FoodSafety.gov.
What is the temperature of a cooked chicken burger?
| Category | Temperature |
|---|---|
| Beef, veal and lamb | |
| Poultry including chicken, duck and turkey | |
| Frozen raw breaded chicken products, for example, nuggets, fingers, strips, burgers | 74°C (165°F) |
| Ground poultry, for example, burgers, meatballs, sausages | 74°C (165°F) |
Is 145 okay for a burger?
Anyone can use a meat thermometer and make a perfect burger. You don’t have to temp every burger, just temp a range of burgers throughly the grill. For a normal burger, medium in US is pretty normal (140-145F) and for children or pregnant woman well done is recommended (160-165F).
How do I know when chicken burgers are done?
Form mixture into eight patties. Cook on the preheated grill until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 5 to 6 minutes per side.Nov 22, 2024