Spicy Buffalo Chicken Burgers Recipe

Closeup of a spicy Buffalo chicken burger, shingled slightly on a plate to show the patty and toppings.

Serious Eats / Yvonne Ruperti

Charge up your chicken burgers with a serious dose of hot sauce. Cool the fire with the celery-blue cheese mayo.

July 2013

Recipe Details

Spicy Buffalo Chicken Burgers Recipe

Prep 5 mins
Cook 15 mins
Active 20 mins
Chilling Time 30 mins
Total 50 mins
Serves 4 burgers
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Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup milk

  • 1/8 teaspoon salt

  • 1/3 cup plain fresh breadcrumbs (see note)

  • 24 ounces ground chicken

  • 1/2 cup hot sauce (such as Tabasco), divided

  • 4 tablespoons (2 ounces) unsalted butter, melted and cooled

  • 2 ounces blue cheese, crumbled

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise

  • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil

  • 4 hamburger buns

  • 2 stalks celery, finely chopped (about 2/3 cup)

  • Iceberg lettuce for garnish, optional

  • Tomato for garnish, optional

Directions

  1. Stir milk and salt into bread crumbs in a medium bowl to moisten. Add chicken, 1/4 cup hot sauce, and butter, and mix gently with fingers until just combined (don't overmix). Chill until slightly firm, about 30 minutes. Shape into four patties that are just wider than the buns.

  2. Stir blue cheese into mayonnaise; chill until ready to serve. Heat 1 teaspoon vegetable oil in skillet (see note) over medium heat until shimmering. Add patties and cook until cooked through (155°F or 68°C), about 3 to 4 minutes per side, basting the second side with the remaining hot sauce as they cook. Transfer to a plate and wipe out skillet with paper towel.

  3. Return skillet to heat and toast the flat sides of the buns in the empty pan. Serve the burgers with the blue cheese mayo, sprinkle with the chopped celery, and lettuce and tomato if desired.

Notes

Flavor and juiciness was a priority with these burgers, so I added butter to the mix. To make the breadcrumbs, I pulsed a slice of white bread. I tested these burgers on a grill, grill pan, and flat skillet; ultimately, I found that a flat skillet or cast iron pan is the best tool to accommodate the soft texture of the raw burger patties.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
742 Calories
53g Fat
27g Carbs
39g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 742
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 53g 69%
Saturated Fat 18g 89%
Cholesterol 190mg 63%
Sodium 1527mg 66%
Total Carbohydrate 27g 10%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 39g
Vitamin C 23mg 117%
Calcium 206mg 16%
Iron 3mg 18%
Potassium 1105mg 24%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)