Cheddar Ranch Chicken Burgers are tender, juicy, and loaded with bold flavors from both ranch mix and sharp cheddar cheese mixed right into the patties. This is an easy 30 minute dinner recipe that you’ll love making time and time again. These patties also reheat perfectly and are great for making ahead of time!
Next time you’re craving a burger but not the beef, make yourself some Turkey Burgers or Grilled Salmon Burgers.
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Wanna know a secret? Ground chicken burgers are much more flavorful and juicy than beef burgers! Plain beef burger patties can be dry and typically need an addition of veggies and sauces for added moisture. Chicken burger patties, on the other hand, are very juicy all by themselves.
These are certainly not your ordinary burgers, and I think that’s a good thing. There’s so much flavor in these burger patties from the ranch seasoning and cheddar cheese! Ranch goes so well with both cheddar and chicken, and when I add some crispy bacon and Homemade Ranch Dressing, the burgers are just out of this world!
While these cheddar ranch chicken burgers make a seriously satisfying weeknight dinner with the family, they also double as a great backyard barbecue recipe! And if you don’t have a grill, no worries – you can easily make these chicken burgers on your stove top as well. More info on that below!
PRO TIP: Make the Ranch Dressing a little thicker so it’s easier to spread on the bun. So try adding a little less buttermilk.
Ingredient Notes
Ground Chicken – Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly and frequently when handling raw ground chicken!
Bread Crumbs – I like to use plain bread crumbs that have no additional flavors.
Ranch Seasoning Mix – This is a key ingredient that really sends these patties over the top! If you have any left over, use it by making my favorite Instant Pot Buffalo Ranch Shredded Chicken and thank me later.
Garlic – Make sure to use fresh garlic only. Paste or pre-minced garlic doesn’t give quite the right flavor.
Onion – Finely diced onions add both moisture and flavor to the chicken burgers.
Cheddar Cheese – For the best consistency and flavor, I highly recommend freshly grating/shredding cheddar cheese right off the block.
See recipe card for complete information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Cheddar Ranch Chicken Burgers
Prepare the ingredients. Mince the onion as small as you can and then smash and mince the garlic. Add all of the ingredients to a mixing bowl (1).
Mix to combine. Combine all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix until everything is incorporated throughout (2).
Form the patties. Cover a baking sheet or a large cutting board with parchment paper and shape the burger patties (3). You want to shape all of the patties before starting to cook so that the burgers cook at the same time.
Cook the burgers on your stove top. Preheat a large pan over medium heat and add oil. Cook burgers for 6-8 minutes on each side, depending on the size of the burgers.
How to Grill Chicken Burgers
Spray them. Make sure to spray the burger patties with oil on both sides before adding them to the grilling basket.
Prepare the grill. Set the coals the far away from the grill grate so the burgers don’t cook too fast on the outside.
Grill the patties. Cook for about 5-6 minutes on each side, depending on the size of the patties.
PRO TIP: Raw chicken burger patties are quite soft, so I recommend using a vegetable grilling basket with a finer grate to cook the burgers on the grill.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Make sure to get ground chicken that’s gluten-free. Some brands add vinegar to their ground chicken so make sure the packaging states that the meat is gluten free. There are vinegars that are not gluten free. You can ask your butcher if they are able to grind chicken to order or get a brand that does not have added ingredients.
When mixing the burgers, use gluten-free breadcrumbs. Depending on the brand of breadcrumbs, you may need to add a couple extra tablespoons. Judge if you need to add more or not after the ground chicken mixture is mixed.
Make sure the ranch seasoning mix you’re using is also gluten free.
An egg will act as a binder for all of the other ingredients. Think of it as the glue that holds the patties together! Other good binders include bead crumbs, milk soaked bread, mayonnaise, and mustard.
The choice is yours! Some of my favorite toppings for these burgers include ranch dressing and crispy bacon. You could always add a slice of cheddar cheese if you’re craving even more cheesy goodness, of course! Feel free to get creative.
How to Freeze Chicken Burgers
To freeze raw chicken burgers, mix the ingredients together and shape the burger patties. Place the patties on a rimmed baking sheet covered in parchment paper and place in the freezer for about 2 hours.
Once frozen, stack patties in twos with sheets of parchment paper in between and place them inside a freezer bag. You can freeze all burgers at the same time or portion them into several smaller freezer bags. Get the air out of the bags, seal, label, and freeze for up to 3 months.
To thaw the burgers, place the frozen patties on a plate, cover it, and slow-thaw it in the refrigerator. Or, you can pull the portioned bag out of the freezer and lay it in a place in the refrigerator.
More of the Best Burger Recipes
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Cheddar Ranch Chicken Burgers Recipe
Ingredients
Chicken Burger Patties
- 2 lbs ground chicken
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
- 1 oz ranch seasoning mix
- 3 garlic cloves smashed and minced
- 1/2 cup finely diced onion
- 1/2 cup finely shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
To Make Chicken Burger Patties:
- Combine all ingredients in the mixing bowl and mix until evenly incorporated throughout.
- Cover a baking sheet or a large cutting board with parchment paper and shape the burger patties. You want to shape all the patties before starting to cook so that the burgers cook at the same time.
- Preheat a large cooking pan over medium heat and add oil. Cook burgers for 6-8 minutes on each side, depending on the size of the burgers.
To Make Burgers:
- To make the burgers, you will need buns, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and ranch dressing. You can also add any other veggies you would like.
Video
Notes
- Gluten Free Notes: Make sure to get ground chicken that’s gluten-free. Some brands add vinegar to their ground chicken so make sure the packaging states that the meat is gluten free. There are vinegars that are not gluten free. You can ask your butcher if they are able to grind chicken to order or get a brand that does not have added ingredients.
When mixing the burgers, use gluten-free breadcrumbs. Depending on the brand of breadcrumbs, you may need to add a couple extra tablespoons. Judge if you need to add more or not after the ground chicken mixture is mixed.
Make sure the ranch seasoning mix you’re using is also gluten free. - Storing: store cooked chicken burgers in an air-tight food storage container, in the refrigerator. Properly stored, they will last 3-4 days.
Karen Laliberte says
Do you think I could bake them in the oven and if so how long? I’m cooking for a bunch of hungry guest, lol Thanks, Karen
Amy says
I made these tonight and they were delicious!
LyubaB says
Awesome! I am so glad you liked them!
Lindsey says
Hello, has anyone put these in the air fryer? If so, how long and what temp? Thanks!
LyubaB says
Hi Lindsey,
I am sorry I don’t have an air fryer so I can’t say for sure but I did a google search and it looks like you can place as many burgers that will fit in the air fryer, close it, and cook for 4 minutes. Flip and cook for an additional 4 minutes. I would definitely use a food thermometer to make sure they are cooked through.
Lucy says
I made this but instead the only different thing I did was I put in the spicy ranch seasoning but it was by accident and it was really good my family really liked it. We will be making this again.
LyubaB says
I would think the spicy one would be yummy as well, I am glad you and your family will still like it.
Ray says
Can I use something other than the ranch that has less sodium/salt in it
LyubaB says
Hi Ray,
You can omit the ranch but it won’t have the ranch flavor or you can make your own ranch seasoning and add as much or little salt as you’d like which would probably be best.
LyubaB says
I am late to the air fryer game and not familiar with it so I can’t advise you since I haven’t tried cooking raw meat in the air fryer. If you do try it I would suggest using a meat thermometer to make sure it’s cooked through. Sorry I can’t be more helpful.
Crystal Belcher says
Hi there! Do you think these could be made in the Air Fryer? Can’t wait to try them!
Jill says
These are AMAZING. The whole family loved them. Also very low WW points!
LyubaB says
Awesome! I am so glad you liked it!
Brittany says
These burgers so delicious! This recipe is a go-to recipe for my family. Thank you!
LyubaB says
Thank you, Brittany! I am so glad you liked them!
Renee says
I have ground turkey, will this work instead of chicken?
LyubaB says
Hi Renee,
You can use ground turkey but it will have a very different texture. Also after mixing the ingredients together you may have to add one or two more tbsp of bread crumbs to it. I hope that helps! Please let me know how they turn out!
Jane says
I make these and love them. Also make them using Italian dressing mix which are good too.
LyubaB says
Hi Jane,
Glad you liked them and that sounds good! Thanks for sharing!
Kelly says
If I don’t have the dry ranch mix pack, can I use ranch dressing?
LyubaB says
Sorry, your comment got put in my spam. I wouldn’t use ranch dressing since it’s would add of liquid. You could make your own ranch with 2tbsp of parsley, 1 tbsp of dill weed, a tsp of both onion powder and garlic powder, and one tsp salt and pepper to taste.