Juicy, tender, and full of tangy buffalo flavor, these buffalo chicken burgers
are a fun way to turn everyone’s favorite wing flavor into an easy weeknight dinner.
Pile them onto your favorite buns with cool ranch, blue cheese, crisp lettuce, and an extra drizzle of buffalo sauce, and you have a burger that’s hard to resist.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
There’s something especially good about a buffalo chicken burger hot off the grill. The chicken stays juicy, the buffalo sauce brings just the right amount of heat, and the celery, onion, and seasonings give every bite that familiar buffalo-chicken flavor.
The best part? These burgers are simple to make. Everything comes together in one bowl, and a quick 20-minute rest in the freezer makes the patties much easier to handle on the grill. Add your favorite toppings, grab some fries or a simple side, and dinner is ready.
For Buffalo Chicken Burgers
- Ground Chicken – the base of the burgers. Ground turkey can also be used if you prefer.
- Buffalo Sauce – brings the signature tangy, spicy buffalo flavor to the chicken.
- Celery – adds a little crunch and fresh flavor that pairs perfectly with the buffalo sauce.
- Onion – adds savory flavor throughout the patties.
- Shredded Butter – helps keep the chicken burgers juicy while they cook.
- Seasonings – round out the buffalo flavor and give the patties extra depth.
For Serving
- Hamburger Buns – use your favorite regular, gluten-free, or lettuce bun.
- Blue Cheese Crumbles – for a classic buffalo chicken combination.
- Ranch Dressing – adds a cool, creamy contrast to the buffalo sauce.
- Blue Cheese Dressing – another creamy option with plenty of tang.
- Green Onions – add a fresh bite and pop of flavor.
- Butter Lettuce – gives the burgers a crisp, fresh layer.
- Extra Buffalo Sauce – for anyone who wants even more buffalo flavor.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Start with the burger mixture
Add all of the burger ingredients to a bowl and mix until everything is fully combined.
Shape the patties
Form the mixture into 4 patties, making a small indent in the center of each one. Place the patties on a parchment-lined plate or sheet pan and freeze for 20 minutes.
This short freezer step is worth it. Ground chicken is softer than ground beef, and chilling the patties helps them hold their shape when they go onto the grill.
Fire up the grill
Cook the patties on a hot grill until their internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Once they’re cooked through, serve them on your favorite buns with plenty of buffalo-inspired toppings.
Expert Tips
A little care before the burgers hit the grill makes all the difference here.
- Oil your hands before shaping the patties. Ground chicken can be sticky, so a little olive oil makes the mixture much easier to work with.
- Don’t skip the 20-minute freeze. Chilled patties are easier to transfer and less likely to fall apart on the grill.
- Make the center indentation. It helps the patties keep a nice shape as they cook.
- Use an instant-read thermometer. Chicken burgers should reach 165°F in the center before serving.
- Keep the shredded butter. It melts into the chicken as the burgers cook, helping keep the patties moist rather than dry.
Recipe Variations
One of the nice things about these burgers is how easy they are to make your own.
For a different take, use ground turkey in place of the chicken. You can also adjust the heat simply by choosing a buffalo sauce that suits your taste.
When it comes to toppings, there’s plenty of room to play. Blue cheese crumbles give the burgers a classic buffalo-wing feel, while ranch adds a cool, creamy contrast. Butter lettuce, sliced green onions, and another spoonful of buffalo sauce are all welcome, too.
Storage & Reheating
Leftover buffalo chicken burgers make an easy lunch or dinner for the next few days. Store cooked patties in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use them within 3–4 days.
To reheat, warm the burgers gently in a skillet, oven, or microwave until heated through. Try not to overheat them, since chicken can lose moisture when reheated for too long.
Serving Suggestions
These burgers are made for a casual dinner with plenty of toppings and something crispy on the side. Serve them with your favorite burger buns, then add blue cheese, ranch, butter lettuce, green onions, or extra buffalo sauce.
For a simple weeknight meal, grilled sweet corn or grilled potato wedges would be right at home alongside the burgers.
If you’re serving them at a cookout, make it a bigger spread with creamy coleslaw, watermelon mint salad, or lemon pasta salad.
And don’t forget the fries. A pile of crispy fries alongside a buffalo chicken burger is always a good idea.
Recipe FAQs
1. How do I keep buffalo chicken burgers from falling apart?
Ground chicken is softer than ground beef, so the patties can be a little tricky to handle. The easiest thing you can do is shape them gently, make the small indent in the center, and freeze them for 20 minutes before grilling. This helps the patties firm up and makes them much easier to get onto the grill.
2. Do I really need to freeze the patties before grilling?
I definitely recommend it. The 20-minute freezer time helps the chicken patties hold their shape while they cook. You can move them straight from the freezer to the hot grill, which makes the whole process much easier.
3. How do I know when the buffalo chicken burgers are done?
A meat thermometer is the easiest way to know for sure. Cook the burgers until the center reaches 165°F. Since ground chicken can dry out if overcooked, checking the temperature is much better than guessing based on cooking time or appearance.
4. Can I use ground turkey instead of ground chicken?
Yes, you can definitely use ground turkey if that’s what you have on hand. The recipe works well with either one, so it really comes down to which you prefer or already have in the fridge.
5. What can I do if the chicken mixture is too sticky to shape?
Ground chicken can be quite sticky, and that’s completely normal. I recommend putting a little olive oil on your hands before forming the patties. It makes shaping them much easier without adding anything extra to the burger mixture. Once they’re shaped, place them on parchment and freeze for 20 minutes before grilling.
Buffalo Chicken Burgers
Ingredients
For the Buffalo Chicken Burgers
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1/4 cup celery, thinly sliced
- 1/4 cup white onion, grated with water squeezed out
- 2 tbsp butter, cold and cut into little chunks or shredded
- 1 tbsp buffalo sauce, homemade or store-bought
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic, minced
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- ground black pepper
For Serving
- Butter lettuce
- 4 hamburger buns of choice, lettuce bun, gluten-free, or regular
- Green onions, sliced (optional)
- Buffalo sauce, optional
- Ranch dressing, optional
- Blue cheese dressing, optional
- Blue cheese crumbles, optional
Instructions
- Combine the burger ingredients : Place all of the burger ingredients in a bowl.
- Mix : Mix everything together until fully combined.
- Shape and chill the patties : Form 4 patties, creating an indent in the center of each one. Place the patties on a parchment-lined plate or sheet pan and freeze for 20 minutes.
- Grill : Cook the patties on a hot grill until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
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Recipe Notes
Nutrition:
Calories: 339 kcal | Carbohydrates: 22 g | Protein: 24 g | Fat: 18 g | Saturated Fat: 7 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7 g | Trans Fat: 0.3 g | Cholesterol: 113 mg | Sodium: 731 mg | Potassium: 705 mg | Fiber: 2 g | Sugar: 3 g | Vitamin A: 204 IU | Vitamin C: 1 mg | Calcium: 60 mg | Iron: 3 mg
