These pesto chicken burgers use left over chicken as a tasty way to use left overs or breathe new life into roast chicken. You can also easily make pesto burgers using ground chicken, and we’ll show you how.

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Can’t think of anything for dinner and all you have is tired left over chicken breasts?

Take those boring leftovers and make them into pesto chicken burgers with virtually no effort.

But the best part? You will add a whole lot of flavor to leftover night.

Of course, if you want a more traditional pesto burger, you can use ground chicken to make a juicy and well-seasoned burger quickly and easily.

Ingredients and kitchen supplies for pesto chicken burgers

Here’s what you need for pesto chicken burgers:

Chicken – You can use left over rotisserie chicken or roasted chicken, shredded and deboned. Alternatively, for a more traditioinal pesto burger, you can use ground chicken.
Egg – This helps to bind everything together.
Breadcrumbs – Breadcrumbs help to absorb the juices, resulting a in a more tender pesto chicken burger.
Garlic cloves – The garlic helps give the pesto burgers a bit of a spicy bite to them.
Fresh basil leaves – For added fresh flavor, basil leaves are a must.
Dry seasonings – You will want to have dry basil, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper on hand.
Parmesan cheese – Parmesan cheese helps bind the burgers together and adds some extra flavor to the pesto burgers.
Pesto sauce – They wouldn’t be pesto burgers without pesto sauce. Use your own homemade pesto or lemon pesto sauce or get store bought if you prefer.
Slices of cheese – We use provolone or mozzarella cheese to top the pesto chicken burgers, but you could use a different type of cheese if you prefer or omit it altogether you monster.
Fresh lemon juice – You add this to mayo to make an optional topping.
Mayo – Mayo is used for a fresh lemon aioli topping, or you can omit it altogether.

Kitchen supplies for pesto chicken burgers include:

How to make pesto chicken burgers

Though there are two ways to make pesto chicken burgers, they vary only slightly.

Here’s how to make pesto burgers.

1. Mix the ingredients together

In a large mixing bowl, combine all the ingredients for the burgers.

You can use a large spoon or use your hands to do the mixing.

Make sure to fully mix the ingredients together to create a consistent mixture.

As needed, add a bit more bread crumbs if the mixture is too loose to form the pesto burgers.

2. Form pesto burger patties

You can vary the size a bit.

We tend to make about 4 large patties, but you can make slightly more, smaller patties.

Try to make them a consistent size and shape.

3. Cook the pesto chicken burgers

Heat a pan over medium heat with a small amount of oil or cooking spray.

For both types of pesto burger, sear each side by placing the patty into the pan and cooking for about 2 to 3 minutes.

Once it browns on one side, flip the burger and sear the other side.

If you are using left over, fully cooked chicken in your patties, reduce heat and cover the pan.

Allow them to cook for about 2 to 3 additional minutes or until they heat all the way through.

If you are using ground chicken, you will need to make sure the burgers completely cook through.

To do this, reduce heat and cook covered for about 20 to 30 minutes, flipping every few minutes to prevent burning.

Alternatively, you could place them in an oven set to 350 degrees F and cook for about 20 to 30 minutes.

In either case, you want the internal temperature to reach at least 165 degrees F before you stop cooking them.

You can add the cheese towards the end of the cooking process and allow it to melt or add it on top once you are ready to serve.

4. Make the mayo (optional)

As the pesto chicken burgers cook, make the mayo by combining the lemon juice and mayo in a separate bowl.

Spread the mayo onto the buns.

Serve the pesto chicken burgers with your favorite sides, such as air fryer sweet potato fries, chips, or homemade tortilla chips.

How to store pesto chicken burgers

Pesto chicken burgers are best served fresh when made, but you can either store leftovers or make ahead if you like.

To store in the fridge, place cooled pesto burgers into an airtight container.

They should last about 3 to 4 days in the fridge.

You can also freeze pesto burgers by placing them in an air tight container.

They should stay fresh in the freezer for about 6 months.

To serve, you can reheat the burgers in a microwave or gently heat them in a warm pan or oven.

Set your oven to 350 and allow them to heat through, which should take about 10 to 15 minutes.

Tips and tricks

If your burgers are too loose to make a patty, add a bit more breadcrumbs – a tablespoon at a time – until you can create patties. If they are two dry, add a tablespoon of pesto sauce at a time until they can hold together but do not feel dry.
Make sure to sear both sides of the patty to lock in the flavors.
When making pesto burgers using raw ground chicken, make sure to cook them to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees F. You can then add cheese on top or serve with your favorite toppings.
Pesto chicken burgers have a lot of flavor already. We recommend a lemon mayo or additional pesto sauce as a topping, but you can use your favorite burger toppings if you like.

What to serve with pesto chicken burgers

You can use store bought or homemade pesto sauce to make these pesto burgers.

Some sides that will work well with these pesto burgers include:

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