Dinner tonight is BBQ Cheddar Chicken Burgers! These juicy chicken burgers are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and loaded with delicious, savory flavor!

gluten-free bbq chicken burger on a white plate with sweet potato fries in the background

I LOVE burger season! Truth be told, we eat burgers all year long, but they just hit different when the weather warms up, don’t you think? Paired with some potato salad or watermelon fruit salad (or some crispy sweet potato fries!) it just feels RIGHT. Right?

All I know, is that it’s definitely the case for our new favorite: these BBQ Chicken Cheddar Burgers. YUM! They’re just in time for memorial day, 4th of July and all your summer bbqs!

This protein-packed dinner is light, fresh, and so tasty! From the crispy exterior, to the barbecue flavor, to the melted cheddar cheese, these easy chicken burgers are packed with delicious flavor in every single bite.

This great recipe starts with simple ingredients. Let’s take a look…

ingredients for bbq cheddar chicken burgers

Simple Ingredients To Start

Ground Chicken Breast. I make ground chicken burgers rather than using whole chicken breasts. I prefer the classic burger texture of using ground meat, and ground chicken breast is light and lean.
Cheddar Cheese. For the best flavor, I recommend at least a medium cheddar cheese or sharp cheddar cheese. For even more pronounced flavor, you can use aged cheddar cheese or white cheddar cheese. (We’ve tried them with lots of varieties with great results!) You’ll use grated cheese in the burger mixture and cheddar cheese slices for the tops of the burgers.
BBQ Sauce. Adding some barbecue sauce to the chicken burger mixture adds a smoky-sweet flavor. So good!
Gluten-Free Breadcrumbs (Maybe). For more stable structure, you can add 2 Tablespoons of gluten-free bread crumbs. This is optional, so feel free to skip it if you avoid grains.
Salt & Pepper. These simple seasonings add big flavor!
Chipotle Chili Powder. Another magic ingredient. I love the smoky bite of a hint of chipotle chili powder. The amount I’ve listed won’t make these burgers spicy, but you can absolutely use more if you want a bit of kick!

Ground Chicken VS Ground Chicken Breast

One quick note here is that we prefer ground chicken breast to regular ground chicken for a chicken burger recipe. Primarily this is because ground chicken breast is leaner and has a more neutral flavor since it’s made just from white meat chicken breast.

Ground chicken can include meat from other areas, like chicken thighs, which can give it a meatier flavor. You can use whichever works best for you! I can find ground chicken breast at Kroger, Sprouts, Whole Foods, and occasionally at Thrive Market. (Get 40% off your first Thrive Market order with our link)

How To Make BBQ Chicken Burgers, Step By Step

Combine. In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, grated cheddar cheese, BBQ sauce, breadcrumbs (if using), salt, chipotle chili powder, and black pepper. Gently stir with a fork or your hands until just combined. Try not to overwork or overly compact the mixture, which can lead to toughness.
Divide & Shape. Next, divide the ground chicken mixture into 4 equal portions. Use slightly damp hands to gently shape each section into a burger patty of even thickness. (I make mine about the size of my burger buns, 3 1/2-4 inches wide) The meat mixture will be fairly sticky, so keeping a small bowl of water close by to dip your fingers into can make it easier to work with.
Cook The Burgers. Working in batches so you don’t overcrowd the skillet, heat a little oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add 2 chicken patties at a time, and cook 5-7 minutes for the first side. You’ll be able to see that the burger turns opaque about halfway up, and the bottom will be browned when it’s time to flip. Carefully flip the burgers. (Watch the heat while the burgers cook, as chicken burgers brown more quickly than regular beef burgers. It’s better to cook longer on lower heat than to try to rush it by cranking the heat up and burning the burgers.)
Top With Cheese. When the burgers are flipped, add 1 slice of cheese to the cooked side of the burger, and continue cooking another 4-6 minutes, or until the burger is cooked through and the middle of each burger has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Set the cooked burgers aside on a clean plate and repeat this process with the remaining 2 burgers. Enjoy right away on buns or in lettuce wraps with additional BBQ sauce (or BBQ ranch!), lettuce, tomato, pickles, or onion slices.

pouring bbq sauce on a healthy chicken cheddar burger

Toppings To Try

Let’s be honest. One of the best parts of any kind of burger is the toppings! Just like with a classic beef hamburger or our Buffalo Chicken Burgers, these easy BBQ chicken burgers are so fun to dress up with delicious toppings. You can mix and match your favorites, but some of our favorite chicken burger toppings are:

BBQ Sauce – Like our homemade BBQ sauce! This adds more barbecue flavor to your burger.
Lettuce. I like crisp or fresh lettuce, like romaine, green leaf, or butter lettuce.
Tomato. Big thick slices, for me!
Onion. Red onions add lovely color!
Pickles. Dill forever, but bread & butter can work, too
BBQ Ranch. If you prefer a creamy burger sauce.
Caramelized Onions – SO GOOD with BBQ sauce and cheddar cheese. Get a tutorial in our onion dip post!

As for hamburger buns, you can use your favorite. We’re gluten-free, so we usually use Trader Joe’s gluten-free hamburger buns, but Udi’s and Canyon Bakehouse also make some. Or, skip the bun and go for a lettuce wrap (my favorite!)

Gluten-Free BBQ Cheddar Chicken Burger topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, cheddar cheese, and bbq sauce

FAQ + Tips And Tricks For The Best BBQ Chicken Burgers:

Can You Cook These On The Grill? Maybe! Chicken burgers have a tendency to stick, so if you want to grill them, I recommend adding the optional breadcrumbs to give them more structure (you can increase them up to 4 Tablespoons, if needed)

Tips For Leftovers. Leftover chicken burgers will keep in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days. For food safety, BBQ chicken burgers should not be out at room temperature longer than 2 hours (or 90 minutes in hot weather!).

Can I Use Turkey Instead? If you like the flavor, ground turkey can absolutely work here instead. I just prefer the more neutral flavor of ground chicken breast.

⭐ Don’t forget to leave a star review and comment below when you make our BBQ Cheddar Chicken Burgers recipe. I can’t wait to hear how it goes!