Bang Bang Chicken Burgers

Dinner tonight is our healthy Bang Bang Chicken Burgers! These high-protein chicken burgers are PACKED with flavor thanks to some simple seasonings and punchy bang bang sauce. You’ll love this quick and easy dinner!

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE a classic beef burger, but I only want one every once in a while. These chicken burgers, though? I want them ALL the time.

Packed with around 30 grams of protein per serving and easy enough for a weeknight, these Bang Bang Chicken Burgers are a win all around!

While you may recognize bang bang sauce from restaurant faves like crispy bang bang chicken or bang bang shrimp, this sweet, tangy, spicy mayo sauce is just as delicious on these flavorful chicken burgers. The combination of flavorful, juicy chicken burgers with the creamy sauce gets me every time!

It’s the perfect recipe to make for a summer cookout, but this easy recipe is so simple, you can mix it up any night of the week. Here’s all you need to get started on this delicious dinner…

Gather Your ingredients

• Ground Chicken Breast. I prefer the flavor of ground chicken breast (rather than ground chicken, which can be a mix of white and dark meat). If you can’t find it at your grocery store, you can make your own by grinding boneless, skinless chicken breast in a food processor.
• Gluten-Free Breadcrumbs. Next up is some gluten-free breadcrumbs to help bind the mixture together. I often use homemade gluten-free bread crumbs, but store-bought gluten-free panko also works!
• Bang Bang Sauce! These yummy burgers get their name from using bang bang sauce! This sweet and spicy sauce is a one-two punch of flavor (hence the name!). We’ll mix a little into the burgers, then dollop more on top at the end for serving. Ours is made from mayo, sweet chili sauce, sriracha sauce, fresh lime juice, and maybe a touch of honey or salt. 
• Fresh Cilantro. For brightness and freshness. If you’re cilantro-averse, you can skip it or use some fresh parsley or fresh basil instead.
• Green Onion. Sliced green onions add a bit more color and a lovely savory note.
• Garlic. A must in these flavorful burgers! I prefer the flavor of fresh garlic cloves to garlic powder here.
• Kosher Salt & Black Pepper. To balance the flavors.
• Your Favorite Toppings! Then, you’ll just need your favorite burger toppings to serve. (I’ve got some ideas for you below!)

How To Make Bang Bang Chicken Burgers, Step By Step

As always, you can find the full recipe with ingredient amounts, detailed instructions, and tips in the recipe card below.

First, Make The Bang Bang Sauce

1. Combine. In a small bowl, combine mayo, sweet chili sauce, 1 Tablespoon sriracha, and the honey.
2. Whisk until smooth and well blended.
3. Taste & Adjust. Taste the sauce and add more sriracha, lime juice, honey, or a pinch of salt, to taste. (Store leftover sauce in an airtight container or jar in the fridge 3-5 days.)

Next, Make The Chicken Burgers

1. Combine. In a large mixing bowl, combine ground chicken, bread crumbs, 2 Tablespoons bang bang sauce, cilantro, green onion, garlic, salt, and pepper. Use a fork or clean hands to gently combine until just evenly blended, trying hard not to over-mix or overly compact the burger mixture. 
2. Divide & Shape. Divide the burger mixture into 4 and gently shape each into a burger patty. I like to shape mine just larger than the size of my hamburger buns, since they’ll shrink a little when cooked. 
3. Pan Cook. Then, cook burgers in a large skillet with a drizzle of oil over medium heat 5-7 minutes per side, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. (Depending on the material of your pan, you may need to flip the burgers more frequently to avoid burning.)
4. Or Air Fry! Alternatively, you can cook these burgers in the air fryer at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
5. Serve & Store. Enjoy burgers warm on buns or in lettuce wraps with additional bang bang sauce and your favorite burger toppings. Store leftover burgers in an airtight container in the fridge 3-4 days or freeze up to 2 months.  

Serving Tips & Suggestions

Another thing to love about these Bang Bang Chicken Burgers? They’re remarkably versatile! Try serving them as…

• Traditional Burgers! Serve them on gluten-free hamburger buns with traditional toppings, like lettuce, tomato, and red onions, or add your favorite burger toppings to mix things up!
• Burger Bowls. Make a burger salad or burger bowl by serving these bang bang burgers on a bed of lettuce with tomato, cucumber, and onion, then drizzle with bang bang sauce instead of dressing. It’s a great lower carb option!
• Lettuce Wraps. Speaking of which, you can also swap the buns out for a fresh, crunchy lettuce wrap! I find iceberg lettuce leaves and crisp butter leaves work best for these!.
• Meal Prep. This healthy chicken burger recipe also works GREAT for meal prep! You can pack it with rice and cilantro lime slaw or broccoli along with some extra bang bang sauce.

FAQ + Tips And Tricks For The Best Bang Bang Chicken Burgers

Bang Bang Sauce. We use our bang bang sauce recipe, which allows for about 1 Tablespoon of sauce to go in the burger patty recipe and plenty left for serving. You’ll likely have leftovers, which you can serve on grilled chicken, add to sandwiches, or drizzle on egg roll bowls. If you want less sauce, you can halve the recipe! 

Ground Chicken Breast. I prefer the flavor of ground chicken breast (rather than ground chicken, which can be a mix of white and dark meat). If you can’t find it at your grocery store, you can make your own by grinding boneless, skinless chicken breast in a food processor.

Gluten-Free Breadcrumbs. You can use homemade gluten-free bread crumbs or store-bought crumbs here. Not gluten-free? Feel free to use regular panko instead!

Can I Grill These Burgers Instead? Maybe! Chicken burgers have a tendency to stick, so if you want to grill them, I recommend a greased flat-top grill (like a Blackstone) rather than a traditional grill with grates.

Recipe Card

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