Buffalo Chicken Burgers

It's spring!  I think!  We're expecting a snow storm tomorrow but it's still spring!  Yeaaahhh sooooo... it doesn't really feel like spring YET, but that doesn't mean you can't have a dinnertime burger BBQ inside your house.  You can even wear your bikini as you cook!  If you're a crazy person.  Moving on.

If you love buffalo sauce (like most of my friends) then you will LOVE these burgers.  The other night I was going to make this salad, but I do it so often, I thought I'd try and change it up a bit and make it in burger form.  GOOD IDEA, if I do say so myself.  These burgers were juicy, and spicy, yet completely balanced with the cooling addition of blue cheese and avocado.  I loved them, a lot.  

*Recipe note: do yourself a favor and buy grated carrots at the market.  NO one likes to grate carrots, unless of course you're the type of person that likes to wear their bikini while they cook, in which case you are mental in the head.  Happy Spring!  

Buffalo Chicken Burgers

(Makes 4 burgers, or 8 sliders)

Printable Recipe

1 lb. ground chicken

3 T olive oil, divided

1/3 cup diced onion (about 1/2 of a medium onion)

1/3 cup diced celery (about 2 stalks)

1/3 cup grated carrots

1 egg

1/2 cup panko bread crumbs (add more if burger mixture is too sticky)

1/3 cup blue cheese crumbles

1 heaping T chopped fresh parsley

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/2 cup bottled buffalo sauce, plus more for topping

Whole wheat buns

Burger Toppings (see below)

Heat 1 T of olive oil over medium heat in large skillet.  Add onion, celery and carrots.  Season slightly with salt and pepper, and sauté until vegetables have softened, about 8 minutes.  Set aside and let cool.  In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, egg, panko, blue cheese crumbles, parsley and salt and pepper.  Add cooled vegetables.  Stir until burger mixture is combined.  Form into four patties.  Heat remaining olive oil in same skillet over medium-high heat.  Add burgers, and cook approximately 8 minutes per side.  Remove burgers, reduce heat to medium, and add buffalo sauce.  Return burgers to pan, and cook in sauce for 1 minute per side.  Serve burgers on whole wheat buns and top with desired toppings.    

            

My toppings: romain lettuce, sliced tomatoes, red onions, avocado and blue cheese crumbles...

I like to add extra buffalo sauce to my burger, as well as a tiny bit of blue cheese dressing.  Yup.  

Also, Buffalo Deviled Eggs for Easter time.