Diving into the world of burgers, a burger with chicken stands out as a delightful twist on the classic, combining the succulence of chicken with the traditional burger format. This comprehensive guide, inspired by the praised Chicken Burgers from Cooking Thin and rated highly with 4.5 out of 5 stars over 60 reviews, promises to deliver an engaging journey from marination to the final assembly.
With chapters dedicated to mastering the perfect chicken patty recipe, achieving that irresistible crunchy chicken burger coating, and the ultimate guide to assembling a chicken cheeseburger that melts in your mouth, this article is your ticket to creating a homemade chicken burger that rivals any restaurant offering.
Marinating the Chicken
Ingredients and Preparation
Chicken Selection: Opt for 93% lean ground chicken or pounded chicken breasts to ensure juiciness without the meat drying out during cooking. If using whole breasts, wash and slice them evenly to prepare for marination.
Marinade Mix: Combine buttermilk with spices such as fine sea salt, garlic powder, and sriracha for a spicy kick. For a milder option, mix buttermilk with lemon juice, smoked paprika, and a touch of brown sugar.
Additional Flavorings: Enhance the marinade by adding optional spices like all spice powder or pepper powder. Fresh herbs can also be incorporated for an aromatic touch.
Marinating Process
Combining Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix the ground chicken with breadcrumbs, onion, egg, and garlic. Season with Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper to enhance flavour and aid in binding the patties.
Marinating Time: Place the chicken in the marinade ensuring it is fully submerged. Cover and let it rest in the refrigerator. For ground chicken, a minimum of 15 minutes is essential, but whole breasts should marinate for at least 4 hours overnight, allowing the flavors to fully penetrate.
Preparation for Cooking: After marination, remove the chicken from the mixture and let excess liquid drip off. This ensures a perfect surface for the crunchy coating to adhere in the subsequent frying stage.
Tips for Effective Marination
Ensuring Even Flavor Distribution: Use a whisk to thoroughly mix the marinade before adding the chicken. This helps in evenly distributing the spices and flavourings.
Marination Duration: For deeper flavour infusion, especially when using whole chicken breasts, marinating overnight is recommended. However, if pressed for time, ensure at least a 4-hour marination.
Hygiene: Always marinate in the refrigerator to prevent bacterial growth and ensure food safety.
Preparing the Crunchy Coating
To achieve that perfect crunch for your chicken burger, we'll start by mixing our dry ingredients. In a large bowl, combine 3/4 cups of all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup of cornstarch, and a mixture of spices including 1 teaspoon each of paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Add 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper for a bit of heat, along with 1 teaspoon of black pepper and 1/2 teaspoon of salt for seasoning. This blend of flour and spices ensures each bite is packed with flavour.
Step-by-Step Coating Process
Prepare the Wet Mixture: In a separate bowl, beat one egg with 2 tablespoons of water. This mixture will help the dry ingredients adhere to the chicken, creating a more robust coating.
Dredge the Chicken: After the chicken has been marinated and drained of excess liquid, coat each piece first in the flour mixture, ensuring it is completely covered. Then, dip it into the beaten egg mixture.
Final Coating: For an extra crispy texture, roll the chicken in Panko bread crumbs mixed with the remaining flour mixture. This step is crucial as it adds an additional layer of crunch.
To enhance the texture further and add a unique twist, consider incorporating finely crushed tortilla chips into your bread crumbs. Additionally, drizzling a couple of tablespoons of the marinade into the flour mixture before coating the chicken can introduce small lumps in the breading, which fry up to be deliciously crispy. Lastly, allow the coated chicken to rest for about 5 minutes before frying. This resting period helps the coating to set, ensuring it doesn't fall off during frying.
Frying the Chicken
Setting Up for Frying
Prepare the Oil: Heat vegetable or canola oil in a Dutch oven or large saucepan to a steady 180°C/350°F. These oils are preferred due to their high smoke points, ensuring a safer frying experience without compromising the oil's quality.
Oil Quantity: Make sure the oil is deep enough to cover the chicken pieces completely. This ensures even cooking and a uniformly crispy exterior.
Frying Process
Coating and Frying: Once the oil reaches the desired temperature, coat the marinated chicken evenly in the dredge mixture we prepared earlier. Carefully place the chicken in the hot oil, frying for about 4 minutes on one side until golden and crunchy. Then, flip the chicken and continue to fry for an additional 2-3 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 75°C/165°F.
Batch Frying: Avoid overcrowding the pan to maintain the oil temperature and ensure each piece cooks evenly. It might be tempting to fry all at once, but patience here pays off with perfectly cooked chicken.
Post-Frying Steps
Draining the Oil: After frying, transfer the chicken pieces to a wire rack set over a sheet of paper towel. This setup helps to drain excess oil while keeping the chicken crispy.
Resting: Let the chicken rest for a few minutes after frying. This not only helps in cooling down but also allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring a moist bite every time.
By following these steps, you'll achieve a beautifully crispy and golden chicken burger that's cooked perfectly on the inside.
Assembling the Burger
Preparing the Burger Build
Toast the Buns: Start by slicing your burger buns and toasting them lightly on a pan. This not only improves the texture but also prevents the buns from becoming soggy once the other ingredients are added.
Layering the Ingredients: On the bottom half of each bun, place a freshly cooked chicken patty. Follow this by layering lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and optionally, onions for an added crunch.
Adding the Sauce: Whisk together a creamy sauce using mayonnaise or hung curd, mustard, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil. Generously spread this sauce over the tomatoes to infuse the burger with moistness and flavour.
Customizing Your Burger
Choose Your Toppings: Feel free to customize your chicken burger with a variety of toppings such as pickles, avocado slices, or even a slice of melted cheese for those who love a gooey texture.
Bun Selection: Opt for classic hamburger buns, or if you're looking for a lighter option, go for a lettuce wrap that cradles all the delicious burger components without the extra carbs.
Final Assembly
Completing the Stack: After adding all your preferred toppings and sauce, cap it with the top half of the bun. Press down gently to ensure everything stays in place.
Serve Immediately: Enjoy your perfectly assembled chicken burger right away to savor the crunch of the coating and the freshness of the toppings.