These cilantro lime chicken burgers are juicy, flavorful, and made with ground chicken. Shredded yellow onion keeps the patties moist without any egg or breadcrumbs. Ready in 15 minutes. Gluten-free, dairy-free, and low-carb.
Juiciest Ground Chicken Burgers At A Glance
- ✅ Recipe Name: Cilantro Lime Ground Chicken Burgers (15 Minutes!)
- 🕒 Ready In: ~15 minutes
- 👪 Serves: 4 burgers
- 🍽 Calories: ~172 per patty
- 💪 Protein: ~20g with burger
- 🥣 Main Ingredients: Ground chicken, shredded yellow onion, fresh cilantro, lime juice and zest, garlic powder
- 📖 Dietary Info: Gluten free, dairy free, low carb, keto-friendly, high-protein
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: Shredded yellow onion melts into the meat as it cooks, so the patties stay juicy without egg, breadcrumbs, or mayo. Grill, stovetop, or air fryer, and they're done in 15 minutes.
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I am a burger person. I have pineapple teriyaki chicken burgers and stuffed chicken parmesan burgers on this blog, and I still come back to this one most.
For a while I was buying the Trader Joe's chili lime chicken burgers on repeat. I loved the flavor, but I wanted a homemade version with simple ingredients and more protein per patty. So I started making my own.
The problem was dryness. Ground chicken is lean, and my first batches came out dry every time. Adding an egg or breadcrumbs would have fixed it, but that would mean losing the gluten-free and low-carb part. Shredded yellow onion turned out to be the answer. It melts into the meat while the burgers cook and keeps them juicy on its own.
I love serving them with these air fryer sweet potato wedges.
Jump to:
- Juiciest Ground Chicken Burgers At A Glance
- Why You'll Love These Cilantro Lime Chicken Burgers
- Are Ground Chicken Burgers Healthy?
- Ingredients You'll Need
- Substitutions and Variations
- How to Make Cilantro Lime Ground Chicken Burgers (Step-by-Step)
- Tips for Juicy Chicken Burgers Every Time
- How Long to Cook Ground Chicken Burgers
- Toppings and What to Serve With Them
- How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat
- Ground Chicken Burgers FAQs
- More Healthy Ground Chicken Recipes You'll Love
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why You'll Love These Cilantro Lime Chicken Burgers
- Juicy without the fillers: Shredded yellow onion keeps the patties moist, so you skip the egg, breadcrumbs, and mayo that most chicken burger recipes rely on.
- Ready in 15 minutes: Five minutes to mix and shape, 10 to cook.
- 20 grams of protein per patty: No bun required to hit that number.
- Grill, stovetop, or air fryer: All three work, so use whatever you already have out.
- Naturally gluten-free and dairy-free: There are no breadcrumbs to swap out. Use a lettuce bun to keep them low carb.
- The lime actually comes through: Juice and zest together, so it does not disappear into the meat the way lime juice alone does.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
So juicy!!!! Love this flavor. I grilled mine at its perfect
- Sammy
Are Ground Chicken Burgers Healthy?
Yes. A patty made with 93% lean ground chicken has about 172 calories and 20 grams of protein, compared to roughly 290 calories for the same size beef patty with the same protein. These stay light because there is no egg, breadcrumbs, or mayo holding in the moisture. The onion does that job.
How you serve them matters more than the patty. A lettuce bun keeps them low carb. A brioche bun with cheese is still a good protein-forward dinner, just a different meal.
| Per 4 oz patty | Ground chicken (93% lean) | Ground beef (80/20) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | ~172 | ~290 |
| Protein | ~20g | ~20g |
| Total fat | ~9g | ~23g |
| Saturated fat | ~3g | ~9g |
Ingredients You'll Need
These cilantro lime chicken burgers use seven simple ingredients, plus salt and pepper. Here is what each one does and why it is in there.
- Ground Chicken: I use 1 pound of 93% lean. Anything leaner dries out fast, and anything fattier makes the patties hard to shape. It is the same ground chicken I use for my Greek chicken meatballs.
- Yellow Onion: Shred it on a box grater instead of chopping. The grated onion releases moisture into the meat as the burgers cook, which is what keeps them juicy without an egg or breadcrumbs.
- Cilantro: Finely chopped and fresh. Dried cilantro will not work here.
- Lime: You need both the juice and the zest. The zest is where the flavor actually lives, so do not skip it.
- Garlic Powder: Better than fresh garlic in these. Fresh burns on the grill before the patty finishes cooking.
- Red Chili Flakes: Optional, for a little heat. Leave them out if you are feeding kids.
- Salt and Black Pepper: For seasoning.
Scroll to recipe card for quantities!
Substitutions and Variations
- Ground turkey: Swaps in one-to-one. Use 93% lean, and everything else stays the same. It is the same swap I use for my air fryer turkey burgers.
- White or sweet onion: Both work in place of yellow. Skip red onion here; it is sharper raw and does not melt into the meat the same way.
- Parsley or basil: If you are one of those people who tastes soap in cilantro, either one works. The flavor goes a different direction, but the burgers are still good.
- Make it spicy: Add a finely diced jalapeño or bump the chili flakes to a full teaspoon.
- No bun: Serve over a salad, in a lettuce wrap, or with a fried egg on top for breakfast. I love it on this Mediterranean dense bean salad.
How to Make Cilantro Lime Ground Chicken Burgers (Step-by-Step)
These ground chicken burgers come together in one bowl in about 5 minutes, then cook in 10. Here is exactly how I make them.
- Step 1: Add everything to one bowl. Combine the ground chicken, onion, cilantro, lime juice, lime zest, garlic powder, red chili flakes, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl.
- Step 2: Mix until just combined. Use your hands and stop as soon as everything is evenly distributed. Overworking ground chicken makes the patties dense instead of tender.
- Step 3: Form 4 patties. Shape them about ¾ inch thick and set them on a plate lined with parchment. Damp hands keep the mixture from sticking to you.
- Step 4: Cook until golden and 165°F inside. Heat a skillet to medium with olive oil and cook 6 to 7 minutes per side, until the center reaches 165°F.
Tips for Juicy Chicken Burgers Every Time
- Grate the onion; do not chop it: Chopped onion sits in the meat as chunks and makes the patties fall apart. Grated onion disappears into the mix and releases its liquid as the burgers cook, which is what keeps them juicy.
- Do not overmix: Mix with your hands until the ingredients are just combined and then stop. Overworking ground chicken makes the patties dense and tough instead of tender.
- Use a thermometer and pull them at 165°F: Ground chicken goes from juicy to dry in about a minute. Checking the temperature is the difference, and it beats guessing by color every time.
How Long to Cook Ground Chicken Burgers
On the stovetop, 6 to 7 minutes per side over medium heat. On the grill, 5 minutes per side at 375 to 400°F with the lid down. In the air fryer, 11 to 13 minutes at 360°F, flipping halfway. They are done when the center reaches 165°F.
Toppings and What to Serve With Them
My go-to is a toasted bun with guacamole, sliced tomato, and red onion. The avocado plays off the lime, and the tomato keeps everything from feeling heavy.
Toppings I like:
- My 4-ingredient guacamole or sliced avocado: The best pairing with cilantro and lime.
- Pepper jack or cotija: Add it in the last minute of cooking and cover the pan or grill so it melts.
- Pickled red onion: Cuts through the richness and adds crunch.
- Chipotle mayo or Greek yogurt ranch: A little sauce goes a long way here.
- Butter lettuce and tomato: Keeps it classic.
Best sides:
- Air fryer sweet potato cubes: The sweetness balances the lime and chili, and they cook while the burgers rest.
- Grilled corn and avocado salad: Cool and crunchy against a hot patty. My most-made side for these.
- Watermelon feta blueberry salad: Cold, juicy, and salty from the feta. The best thing next to these off the grill in summer.
How to Store, Freeze, and Reheat
These burgers are best hot off the grill, but they keep well and are one of my favorite things to meal prep.
- Storing: Cool the burgers to room temperature, then keep them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Freezing: Freeze cooked patties in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. You can also freeze them raw with parchment between each one and cook straight from frozen, adding a few extra minutes per side.
- Reheating: The air fryer is best at 350°F for 3 to 4 minutes. The oven works too at 350°F for 5 to 10 minutes.
Ground Chicken Burgers FAQs
Usually too much moisture or not enough binding. Chopped onion is the most common culprit, since the chunks create weak spots in the patty. Grate it instead. If the mix still feels loose, chill the patties for 15 minutes before cooking.
Not in this recipe. The shredded onion holds the patties together and keeps them moist, which is what the egg and breadcrumbs are usually doing. It also keeps these naturally gluten-free.
165°F in the center. Ground chicken dries out fast past that, so check early rather than adding time by guess.
Yes. Cook them at 360°F for 11 to 13 minutes, flipping halfway, until they reach 165°F. It is the same method I use for my air fryer chicken burgers.
About 20 grams per patty, with roughly 172 calories. That is at 4 patties per pound of ground chicken and does not include a bun or toppings.
The patties are, at about 2 grams of carbs each. Serve them on a lettuce bun or over a salad to keep the whole meal low carb, since a regular bun adds roughly 25 grams on its own.
More Healthy Ground Chicken Recipes You'll Love
If you loved these cilantro lime chicken burgers, here are a few more recipes to try next:
Did you make this recipe?
If you make this recipe, be sure to comment and rate it down below. Also, don't forget to tag me @healthfulblondie on Instagram and use the hashtag #healthfulblondie so I can see your delicious creation and share it with my followers!
📖 Recipe
Cilantro Lime Ground Chicken Burgers
Ingredients
Ground Chicken Burgers:
- 1 lb ground chicken, 93% lean
- ¼ cup yellow onion, shredded on a box grater
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- ½ teaspoon lime zest
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ to 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Optional Toppings:
- 1 batch guacamole
- Tomato, red onion, lettuce, cheese
Instructions
- Grate the onion: Add the ground chicken to a large mixing bowl. Shred the yellow onion on a box grater directly over the chicken.
- Season: Add the cilantro, lime juice, lime zest, garlic powder, red chili flakes, salt, and pepper.
- Form the patties: Gently mix with your hands until just combined, then form 4 equal-sized patties. Do not overmix.
- Stovetop: Heat a non-stick skillet or grill pan to medium with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Cook 6 to 7 minutes per side, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Grill: Heat the grill to medium-high, 375 to 400°F, and grease the grates. Cook covered for 5 minutes per side, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Air fryer: Cook at 360°F for 11 to 13 minutes, flipping halfway, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Assemble: Serve on a toasted bun with guacamole, tomato, lettuce, red onion, or toppings of your choice.
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe tested and developed by Tati Chermayeff, creator of Healthful Blondie. A former Division I rower, Ironman triathlete, and recipe developer based in Austin, TX, Tati creates high-protein and healthy recipes that actually taste like the real thing.
Daphne says
Deliciously flavorful!
Tati Chermayeff says
Thank you, Daphne! Flavorful is exactly what these burgers are all about. So happy you enjoyed them!
Sammy says
So juicy!!!! Love this flavor. I grilled mine at its perfect
Tati Chermayeff says
Hi Sammy! Juicy is the goal with ground chicken, so I'm thrilled yours turned out that way. Sounds like you nailed the grill too! Thank you so much for the kind review!
Teah Amos says
I made these cilantro lime chicken burgers on Saturday night and they turned out fantastic. I added a little McCormick Montreal Chicken seasoning to it, used sliced pepperjack and topped it with lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, avocado and red onion served on a whole wheat bun. Healthy and delicious, first time ever using ground chicken for a burger!
Tati Chermayeff says
Hi Teah, thank you for leaving this 5 star review! I am so happy you enjoyed these burgers! Your toppings sound absolutely delicious.