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Welcome to my taco obsession and it’s spillage into every type of food that I make! This recipe was a successful experiment in how tacos can transform into the most incredible burger.  This easy Taco Chicken Burger Recipe is flavorful, moist, and all together taco-licious.  It is chock full of smokey taco seasonings, cilantro, and scallions.  Then on top you’ve got all the taco fixings you need… melty cheese, creamy guacamole, tomato, lettuce, and chipotle mayonnaise!  I mean, c’mon, you’ve got to try this!

You know what else is great about these burgers?  You can make a double batch and freeze them raw individually.  Once frozen, you can combine them in an airtight container and store for up to 4 months in the freezer.  Want more freezer hacks?  Click here to get my printable cheat sheet with 10 Freezer Hacks to make easy dinners!

HEALTHIER BURGERS!

We all want to indulge a little during the summer, especially when it comes to grilling and eating outside.  But, indulging doesn’t have to be unhealthy.  You can have a fantastic treat that’s good for you too!  It’s all about balance.  And that’s just what we have here.  

For starters, I’ve replaced the higher calorie beef with very lean white meat chicken.  Next, I added tons of flavor with seasonings and fresh cilantro and scallion to the lean chicken so that you don’t miss anything.  Now, I did add cheese to the top of this guy, but it’s about balance, right?  Lettuce, tomato, and Guacamole are the balance.  The Guacamole has avocado and we all know the health benefits of avocados!  They are loaded with vitamins, nutrients, and minerals.  They have protein, fiber, and heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids.  And they contain more potassium than a banana!  Here are two more recipes with avocado:  Roasted Cumin Carrots with Avocado Crema and Zippy Pineapple Salsa with Avocado and Red Peppers.

Quick note!  This post contains affiliate links, which means I earn a commission (at no extra cost to you) if you purchase from them.  This commission is what helps me keep this blog afloat :).  But, I also share these links because I have used the products, genuinely love them, and want you to know exactly what I used. 

EQUIPMENT NEEDED

The only thing you really need for this recipe is something to cook the burgers on. Ideally, this would be a grill of some sort, either outdoor or stovetop grill. If you don’t have a grill available, you can sear the burgers in a hot skillet or frying pan. Cover them to finish cooking through or put in the oven.

PREP-AHEAD FOR YOUR TACO CHICKEN BURGER RECIPE

We are all extremely busy and making dinner during the week can be overwhelming. Here are steps you can prepare in the day(s) ahead. (See full recipe below)

Start by mixing the mayonnaise and chipotle powder in a bowl, cover, and store in the fridge.  

Moving on to Taco Chicken burger itself.  I love to add fresh cilantro and scallions to it.  You can go heavier or lighter, but this is really the perfect amount in the recipe.  Next, add in the spices and seasonings: Chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, chipotle chili powder, salt.

Stir to combine and then divide into 6 equal parts using a knife or fork.  Once divided, then start to form them into patties.  You can do this a day ahead of cooking.

Can I use store bought taco seasoning? 

Sure can!  However, I would say to test cook a teaspoon of the burger mixture before adding the salt.  Many taco seasonings already have a fair amount of salt in them and if you add more, it could end up being incredibly salty.  To test, just add the teaspoon of mixture to a skillet to cook.

How do I freeze the burgers?

You can freeze the raw patties individually and then store them airtight in the freezer.  This is done easily on a sheet pan in the freezer.  Once frozen, transfer to an airtight container.  You can also store in the fridge or freeze using aluminum foil or parchment paper cut into patty-size squares to separate the burgers and then stack, seal and freeze them. 

They will last for up to 4 months in the freezer.  You need to defrost them in the fridge for 24 hours before cooking.

COOK YOUR TACO CHICKEN BURGER RECIPE 

When you are ready to cook the burgers, you can make the guacamole.  This unfortunately, is not a step that can be done in advance as the avocado starts to oxidize and turn brown once exposed to air.  

How long does it take to cook the burgers?

The burgers take about 5 minutes per side on an outdoor hot grill. 

On a stovetop grill or in a skillet you will want to first get a good sear on both sides for about 2 minutes each.  Then cover the burgers to finish cooking through, about 4-5 minutes.  You can use aluminum foil to cover.

For any method, you want to ensure that the internal temp reaches 165 F degrees.

Assemble your burgers: top with cheese, guacamole, tomato,lettuce, and then chipotle mayo on the top bun! 

ENJOY!  😍 Carrie