Copycat Trader Joe's Chili Lime Chicken Burgers are a zesty, fresh twist on basic burgers. Switch up burger night with this craveable recipe!
A couple of weeks ago I was cleaning up old posts here on IGE and came across a Trader Joe’s night dinner including Chicken Chili Lime Burgers, which my husband and I had loved at the time.
I remember wanting to recreate them at home 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 I was able to use the ingredient list to create a burger we 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!
Copycat Trader Joe’s Chili Lime Chicken Burgers
Start by adding 1lb ground chicken to a large mixing bowl. I recommend ground chicken with 5% fat so the burgers stay nice and juicy, though you can 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.
Next, heat a skillet or grill pan over high heat. Chili Lime Chicken Burgers are more of an indoor grill vs outdoor grill burger. 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!
These easy chicken burgers are truly satisfying, totally filling, and I love the contrast between the creamy, cool guacamole, and the sizzling burgers. I hope you enjoy!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb 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
- 1/2 lime
- 4 slices pepper jack cheese
- 4 buns, toasted
For the Lazy Girl's Guacamole:
- 1 avocado
- garlic salt
- 1/2 lime
Directions
For the Chili Lime Chicken Burgers:
- Combine chicken, green onions, bell pepper, cilantro, garlic, salt, red pepper flakes, and lime juice in a large bowl. Mix until just combined then form into 4 patties and spray each side generously with nonstick spray.
- Heat a large grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat then cook burgers for 3-4 minutes a side, or until cooked through. Place a slice of cheese on top of each burger then cover with a large lid and allow cheese to melt. Remove burgers to a plate then tent with foil and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Place each burger on a toasted bun then top with Lazy Girl's Guacamole.
For the Lazy Girl's Guacamole:
- Mash all ingredients together with a fork.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
The flavor on these were AMAZING! However, mine turned out a bit dry… anything I can do to boost the juiciness? Or is this just the cost of using ground chicken?
I’m so glad to hear it, Erin! I recommend using ground chicken (which includes white and dark meat,) instead of ground chicken breast. They’ll come out more juicy and tender that way. :)
I love your Chili Lime Chicken Burger, but I need the nutritional count. Do you have it?
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
Hi Cyndi! I wrote this recipe before I was diagnosed with CD. I would recommend a Canyon Bakehouse bun instead!
Do you think these could be made in the oven? What temperature and cooking time would you recommend?
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!
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!
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
These were so awesome and flavorful! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
You have some really great recipes. Not a lot of fat, cholesterol etc. I like that.
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.
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.
I tried these today and my hubby and I both loved them. Wish we could find those “thin buns” you mention. Did you get them from Trader Joes?
Karen
Just made these for the second time last night….seriously, such an easy, delicious warm weather dinner. LOVE! Wouldn’t change a thing in the recipe.