Pesto Chicken Burgers

These delicious pesto chicken burgers are incredibly juicy and full of flavor! They can be cooked on the grill or stovetop, and are so easy to prep. Made with just a handful of simple ingredients, you definitely have to try out these burgers this summer! {Gluten-free, dairy-free, keto-friendly and low carb}

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Juiciest Chicken Burgers

The warm weather is here, and for us, that means grilling and cookouts! These easy pesto chicken burgers are flavored with this homemade Dairy-Free Pesto, which adds the most incredible flavor and results in a nice, juicy burger!

The olive oil from the pesto seeps through the burger, giving it an almost crispy exterior. It can also help prevent the burger from sticking to the grill.

These burgers are so easy to make and will be sure to impress your friends and family. You’d never guess they consist of only a few simple ingredients.

Serve them alongside some of this Cucumber Noodle Salad and your other favorite BBQ sides!

For more healthy burgers, be sure to try these Chicken Feta Burgers, Chicken Parm Burgers, Chicken Avocado Burgers and Worcestershire Sauce Burgers too!

Why You Need to Try This Recipe

Easy: These burgers are made with a few simple ingredients and take no more than 10 minutes to prep. They are ready to serve in 20 minutes, making them perfect for an easy weeknight meal.

Healthier: If you are looking to cut down on red meat, these chicken burgers are a great substitution! Lower in saturated fat but still high in protein. Without a bun, they’re also low carb and gluten-free.

Make ahead: These burgers can be made ahead of time, perfect if you are planning to include them as part of a bigger feast. They are also freezer-friendly. Be sure to keep reading for freezer notes!

Ingredient Notes

Ground chicken: This is the perfect high-protein base for these burgers. Ground turkey is a great swap if needed.
Basil pesto: I used homemade dairy-free pesto, but you can also use storebought or another type of homemade pesto.
Almond flour: If you don’t have this on hand, whole wheat or gluten free bread crumbs will work, too.
Salt & freshly ground black pepper

A chicken pesto burger without the top bun on the toppings

How To Make Pesto Chicken Burgers

Preheat the grill to medium high. In a large bowl, combine the ground chicken, pesto, almond flour, salt and pepper.

Ingredinets for the chicken pesto burgers in a glass bowl

Mix until combined.

The burger ingredients mixed together in a glass bowl

Form mixture into four patties that are about half an inch in thickness. You may wish to put a slight dent in the center to prevent the burger from puffing up when grilling.

Four chicken patties before being cooked

Place the burgers on the grill and cook for 5-6 minutes per side.

Four chicken pesto burgers stacked on top of each other.

Expert Tips

Make up a batch of the pesto in advance to save time, or use store-bought for a super quick and easy meal!

Make sure you don’t overcook the burgers as they will dry out. Cook until burgers reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Mix the ingredients together with your hands. It may be a little messy but it will ensure that everything is really well combined. You can coat your hands with a little bit of oil to prevent the mixture from sticking to your hands.

Storage & Reheating Guidelines

Once cooked, store the leftover burger patties in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can reheat them by microwaving them for a couple of minutes, popping them back on the grill, or warming them on the stovetop.

You can also freeze the raw burger patties and grill them later! I prefer to thaw them before grilling, but you can even cook them straight from frozen.

Recipe FAQs

Can you cook these burgers on the stove?

Yes! If you don’t have a grill, just add a little oil to a grill pan or skillet on a medium-high heat. Cook on both sides until brown and cooked through.

Can you make chicken burgers ahead of time?

Yes, you can mix together the burger ingredients and keep covered in the fridge for up to a day ahead of cooking. Similarly, you can form the patties and keep them in an airtight container with the layers separated by parchment paper.
If you have any leftover cooked burgers, they will keep in the fridge for up to four days and can be reheated in the oven or on the stove top.

Can you freeze chicken pesto burgers?

You can freeze these burgers either from a raw or cooked state. If cooking from an uncooked frozen state, place on the grill and cook until the burgers reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Defrost frozen cooked burgers in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Overhead shot of the toppings on the burger

Suggested Burger Toppings

These burgers can be served warm on a bun, over a salad, or wedged between two tomato slices for a lower carb option.

When serving them as a burger, I recommend topping them with additional pesto and a sprinkle of feta cheese. You can of course top them with any of your favorite things, including:

Fresh tomato slices
Bacon bits
Fresh mozzarella cheese
Fresh lettuce
Arugula

What to Serve with these Burgers

I like to serve these burgers with a couple of side salads, or some homemade fries or sweet potato fries! These recipes will all work really well paired with these Italian-inspired burgers:

Variations

Use breadcrumbs: If you don’t have almond flour, you can sub in regular or gluten-free bread crumbs.
Add extra flavor: The fresh pesto really packs these chicken patties with tons of flavor, but you can always add more! Stir in some grated Parmesan cheese, finely minced red onion, garlic, or finely diced green onions.
Make ’em spicy: Add 1-2 teaspoons of red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.

Two pesto chicken burgers on a grey tray.

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