A couple weeks ago I was cleaning up some old posts and came across a Trader Joe’s night dinner including Chicken Chili Lime Burgers, which I had loved at the time.
I remember wanting to recreate them at home at some point, and had even typed out the ingredient list from the package so I could come back later and have a shopping list all ready to go.
I’m so glad I did, because last night I came up with a recipe that both Ben and I liked even better than the original. I present to you a zesty twist on a TJ’s fave: Homemade Chili Lime Chicken Burgers. You’ve got to try these!
How to Make Copy Cat Trader Joe’s Chili Lime Chicken Burgers:
For four burgers, you’ll need 1lb ground chicken. I used ground chicken with 5% fat so my burgers would be nice and juicy, but you could use ground chicken breast for a slightly leaner alternative.
Next add chopped green onions, minced red pepper, and chopped cilantro.
Followed by minced garlic, salt, and red chili pepper flakes, which give the burgers even more zip.
The real hero, though, is the juice of half a lime. It give the burgers a real punch!
Mix all the ingredients together with clean hands, then form the mixture into 4 patties.
You can make these a couple hours ahead of time if need be, just make sure they sit at room temperature for 10 minutes or so before cooking.
Next, heat a skillet or grill pan over high heat. Chili Lime Chicken Burgers are more of an indoor grill vs outdoor grill type of burger, which is just as well because I found out last weekend that the grill Ben and I have been using for the past four years was recalled like 2 years ago for faulty, I don’t know, flame thingies (?) which could set the grill door (or whatever it’s called) on fire. Awesome!
At any rate, spray each side of the burgers very well with non-stick spray, then grill for 3-4 minutes a side, or until cooked all the way through.
When the burgers are nearly cooked on the second side, add a slice of Pepper Jack Cheese, then place a large pot lid on top to allow the cheese to melt.
While the cheese is melting, mix up a batch of Lazy’s Girl’s Guacamole – that’s just 1 avocado mashed with lime juice and garlic salt. The best!
Place the burgers onto a toasted bun then top with guac!
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Copy Cat Trader Joe’s Chili Lime Chicken Burgers
Description
Copy Cat Trader Joe's Chili Lime Chicken Burgers are a zesty, fresh twist on chicken for dinner!
Ingredients
- 1lb ground chicken
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 1/4 cup minced red bell pepper
- 2 Tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 lime, cut in half
- 4 slices pepper jack cheese
- 4 buns, toasted
- For the guacamole:
- 1 avocado
- garlic salt
- lime juice, to taste
Directions
- Combine chicken, green onions, bell pepper, cilantro, garlic, salt, red pepper flakes and juice of half a lime in a large bowl. Mix until thoroughly combined, then form into 4 patties and spray each side generously with non-stick spray.
- Heat a large grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Grill burgers for 3-4 minutes a side, or until cooked all the way through. Place a slice of cheese on top of each burger, then cover with a large pot lid, and allow to melt for about a minute. Remove burgers to a plate, tent with foil, and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Place each burger on a toasted bun then top with guacamole.
- For the guacamole: Mash all ingredients together with a potato masher or fork.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
Soooooo much better than I could have even hoped for! Satisfying, filling, and kind of spicy with a cooling touch from the fresh guacamole. Fantastic! I hope you enjoy!
Judy 07.31.2018
I love your Chili Lime Chicken Burger, but I need the nutritional count. Do you have it?
Cyndi 05.13.2018
Hello, I am going to try this, it looks so yummy but I have a question. What kind of bun do you have this on? I too have Celiac Disease and this looks like something my husband will really like also.
Thanks,
Cyndi
Kristin 05.14.2018
Hi Cyndi! I wrote this recipe before I was diagnosed with CD. I would recommend a Canyon Bakehouse bun instead!
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Sana 02.26.2017
Do you think these could be made in the oven? What temperature and cooking time would you recommend?
Rebecca 10.30.2016
I made this for dinner tonight…yum! And very easy. I just changed the guacamole though- I used garlic salt (2 for the price of 1 instead of salt and garlic powder) and the juice of the other half of the lime!
Jo Reeves 05.06.2016
These burgers were wonderful! I made them with 98% lean ground turkey and we did cook them on a charcoal grill. The combination of vegetables, lime, and seasonings made them so flavorful. Thanks for the great recipe!
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These were so tasty! I grinded up my own chicken in my food processor (8 ounces chicken breast and 8 ounces of thigh for flavor) and they were juicy and delish. I’ve never had the TJ version since I knew I could make it cheaper myself. Thanks for the copycat recipe
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These were so awesome and flavorful! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Jackie 09.13.2015
You have some really great recipes. Not a lot of fat, cholesterol etc. I like that.
rachel 03.18.2015
I’m wondering if anyone has frozen these? I’d like to make a big batch and freeze so I can grab them for a quick meal at a later date.
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Michele 01.22.2014
These are fantastic! The only thing I did differently was to sautee the veggies first to soften them up a bit. Thanks for the great recipe.