Enjoy the flavors of chicken parm in a healthier way with these Ground Chicken Parmesan Burgers! Ground chicken burgers are juicy, flavorful, and topped with marinara sauce, creamy mozzarella and fresh basil. They’re an easy dinner that’s ready in about 20 minutes!

Ground chicken burger with marinara, mozzarella and basil

I can’t believe football season is nearly over…I’m having a hard time remembering what life is like without it! We’re serious football fans, and really look forward to Game Day every week.

I make pulled pork or hamburgers often to enjoy during the game, but it’s nice to change things up with these Ground Chicken Parmesan Burgers. They’re light and juicy, and you really can’t beat the flavors of chicken parm can you?

The burgers are slathered with marinara sauce, then topped with melty mozzarella cheese and fresh basil for an irresistible twist on the classic.

Ground chicken burger with top bun removed

Why you’ll love this recipe:

  • Ground chicken burgers are juicy, flavorful and topped with homemade marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese and fresh basil.
  • Ground chicken is nice and lean, and is a great source of protein.
  • The burger patties may be prepped in advance and cooked up when you’re ready.  
  • Burgers are low carb and gluten-free — simply serve the burgers in a lettuce wrap or your favorite gluten-free bun.

Recipe ingredients

The ingredients for these chicken parm burgers include mostly pantry staples, and they can be swapped with items that you already have on hand.

Ground chicken burger ingredients

Ingredient notes

  • Ground chicken. The ground chicken is a lean source of protein that makes these burgers lighter than average. It can be swapped out with ground turkey or grilled chicken breast if you can’t find any at the store.
  • Marinara sauce:  I like to prep my homemade marinara sauce a few days in advance when I’m planning to make these burgers, and it’s a bonus if I have some stashed in the freezer! You can also use your favorite store bought brand to save time.
  • Mozzarella & parmesan cheese. Melty fresh mozzarella is ideal to make this reminiscent of classic chicken parm, but you may substitute it with your favorite cheese. The grated parmesan adds flavor and moisture to the chicken burgers as well.
  • Grated onion. The onion adds moisture and flavor to the chicken burgers, and grating it ensures that it cooks quickly. Chunks of chopped onion simply won’t become tender fast enough.
  • Italian seasoning. If you don’t have Italian seasoning on hand, substitute with dried oregano, thyme, rosemary or a combination.
  • Fresh basil. The basil adds freshness, flavor and a pretty pop of color, and I don’t recommend substituting it with anything else.

How to make ground chicken burgers

These ground chicken burgers are extremely easy to make, and the components may be prepped ahead of time to make this recipe go even more quickly.

Pro tip: Make the marinara sauce a few days in advance, and prep the chicken burgers a day ahead so that you can pop them into the skillet or the grill when you’re ready.

Full recipe instructions are in the recipe card below.

how to make ground chicken burgers
  1. Combine the ground chicken, parmesan cheese, grated onion, garlic, Italian seasoning and salt and pepper in a large bowl.
  2. Form the meat mixture into (4) burger patties.
  3. Cook the chicken burgers in a cast iron skillet or on the grill for about 4 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees. Top with the mozzarella cheese and allow to rest for 5-10 minutes.
  4. Place the burgers on your favorite buns topped with marinara sauce and fresh basil.
Ground chicken burgers in a cast iron skillet

FAQs

What is the difference between a chicken sandwich and chicken burger?

A chicken sandwich includes chicken breast, while a chicken burger is made with ground chicken.

How do you keep ground chicken moist?

Ground chicken is very lean, so adding fat and moisture is key to keeping it juicy. These ground chicken burgers include grated onion for moisture, and grated parmesan cheese for a bit of fat. Adding a bit of mayo or Greek yogurt to the ground meat is a great way to add moisture and fat as well.

How do I cook ground chicken without drying it out?

Be sure to add moisture and fat to the meat such as grated onion, cheese, mayo or Greek yogurt, but most of all do not overcook it. Cook to 160 degrees, then allow to rest for 5-10 minutes to ensure that it’s nice and juicy.

Serving suggestions

The sky is the limit when it comes to what to serve with these ground chicken parmesan burgers!

Recipe notes

  • Pro tip:  Prepare the marinara sauce up to a few days in advance or use your favorite store bought brand.
  • The burgers are low carb and gluten-free and may be served in lettuce wraps or your favorite gluten-free bun.
  • Prep the ground chicken burger patties 1-2 days in advance.  
  • Cooked burgers will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Ground chicken burger on a plate with a bite out of it

More burger recipes you’ll love:

If you try this recipe I’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment and rating below, and don’t forget to snap a photo and tag @flavorthemoments so I can see what you made!

Ground chicken burger with marinara, mozzarella and basil

Ground Chicken Parmesan Burgers

Servings: 4 burgers
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 8 minutes
Inactive Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 18 minutes
Ground Chicken Parmesan Burgers are juicy, flavorful and topped with marinara sauce, creamy mozzarella and fresh basil.  They're a healthier twist on the classic and are an easy, family-friendly dinner!
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Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup Homemade Marinara Sauce or store bought marinara
  • 1 tablespoon oil
  • 1 lb. ground chicken
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup grated onion
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt or 1/2 teaspoon table salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper to taste
  • 4 slices fresh mozzarella
  • 1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
  • 4 hamburger buns

Equipment

Instructions 

  • Place the ground chicken, parmesan, grated onion, garlic and Italian seasoning in a medium bowl and mix together gently with your hands until combined. Form into (4) burgers and season both sides with salt and pepper.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a cast iron skillet over medium heat , or preheat the grill to medium and oil the grates with the oil. Cook the burgers for 4 minutes per side or until an internal thermometer registers at 160 degrees.
  • While the burgers cook, heat the marinara sauce in the microwave in a heatproof bowl until warm.
  • Remove the ground chicken burgers from heat, top with a slice of mozzarella cheese, and allow to rest a couple of minutes until the cheese melts slightly.
  • Place each burger on the bottom bun and top with marinara sauce, fresh basil and the top bun. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

  • Pro tip:  Prepare the marinara sauce up to a few days in advance or use your favorite store bought brand.
  • The burgers are low carb and gluten-free and may be served in lettuce wraps or your favorite gluten-free bun.
  • Prep the ground chicken burger patties 1-2 days in advance.  
  • Cooked burgers will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1burger, Calories: 441kcal, Carbohydrates: 26g, Protein: 33g, Fat: 23g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 9g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 125mg, Sodium: 1299mg, Potassium: 814mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 494IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 316mg, Iron: 3mg

Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.

Course: Main Dishes
Cuisine: Italian
Author: Marcie
Keyword: chicken burgers, ground chicken burgers
All recipes and images © Flavor the Moments.
Did you try this recipe?Be sure to tag @flavorthemoments with the hashtag #flavorthemoments on Instagram so I can see what you made!

**This recipe was originally posted in April 2016. The photos have been updated to include step by step photos, and the text has been modified to include more recipe information.

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