Smashed Avocado-Chicken Burgers

By Yasmin Fahr

Updated April 20, 2022

Smashed Avocado-Chicken Burgers
Dane Tashima for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne.
Total Time
25 minutes
Rating
5(3,076)
Comments
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These zippy chicken burgers are loaded with ginger, garlic, cilantro and scallions for fresh flavor and some textural crunch. The secret ingredient is a little mashed avocado that’s added to the ground chicken before cooking, which keeps the burgers tender and light. A citrusy soy mayonnaise is used both inside the patties and slathered on top. (Fish sauce could be used in place of the soy. Decrease the amount and adjust to taste.) Kewpie is a Japanese mayonnaise made with rice wine vinegar and egg yolks rather than distilled vinegar and whole eggs, but you can just as easily use your preferred mayonnaise. Fresh jalapeños offer a satisfying crunch when biting into the burger, though pickled ones could be used for extra acidity.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • ⅓cup Kewpie or other mayonnaise
  • 1teaspoon soy sauce
  • 1lime, cut into wedges
  • Kosher salt
  • 1packed cup cilantro leaves and tender stems, roughly chopped, plus more for serving
  • ¼cup mashed, ripe Hass avocado (from about ½ avocado; slice the other half for serving) (see Tip)
  • 2scallions, light green and white parts only, thinly sliced
  • 3large garlic cloves, grated or minced
  • 1(2-inch) piece ginger, grated or minced (about 2 teaspoons)
  • ¼to ½ teaspoon red-pepper flakes, according to taste
  • 1pound ground chicken, preferably dark meat
  • 2tablespoons neutral oil, such as canola oil, or ghee
  • 4brioche or burger buns, lightly toasted
  • Butter lettuce or other tender lettuce, for serving
  • 1jalapeño, thinly sliced, for serving (optional)
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

500 calories; 31 grams fat; 6 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 12 grams monounsaturated fat; 12 grams polyunsaturated fat; 28 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 4 grams sugars; 30 grams protein; 594 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a small serving bowl, combine the mayonnaise and soy sauce. Season with the juice of 1 lime wedge and salt as needed.

  2. Step 2

    In a medium mixing bowl, use a fork to mash and thoroughly combine the chopped cilantro, mashed avocado, scallions, garlic, ginger, red-pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon of the soy-lime mayonnaise. Add the chicken and gently combine. Form into 4 large balls.

  3. Step 3

    Heat a large (12-inch) cast-iron or heavy skillet over medium heat until very hot, 1½ to 2 minutes. Add the neutral oil or ghee, then add the chicken meatballs, spacing them out in the pan. Use a metal spatula to press them until they form ½-inch-thick patties. Cook without moving for 3½ to 4 minutes, until a deep golden crust has formed and they easily release from the pan. Flip the patties using the spatula and cook until done with a nice crust on the other side, about 3 minutes more. If the patties need more time, cover the pan and cook for 1 to 2 more minutes, adjusting the heat as needed to avoid scorching.

  4. Step 4

    Squeeze a lime wedge over the patties and serve sandwiched between the buns topped with lettuce, a healthy slathering of the lime-mayonnaise, avocado slices, jalapeño slices if using, and cilantro sprigs, if desired. Serve with the remaining lime wedges and mayonnaise on the side.

Tip
  • Resist the urge to add more than ¼ cup mashed avocado to the ground chicken, as the burgers will get too soft and fall apart during cooking.

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Ratings

5 out of 5
3,076 user ratings
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Comments

Squirrel Butler

Hmmmm....so it's NOT an Avocado-Chicken Burger, it's a Turkey-No Avocado Burger.... Maybe, that's a different burger? Jes' sayin'.....

Megan S

So many delicious flavors in this burger. I am going to downsize them into meatballs next time and serve as an appetizer with the soy mayo as dipping sauce!

Peter F

Great! Finally a tasty chicken burger! Well, we used ground turkey as that's all we had and didn't even have avo and it was still so good. Don't skimp on the ginger. Tastes a lot like dumpling fillings. This one's moving right to the front of our weekly rotation.

Lawrence

Made for 4 as written + 1/4 cup panko. Was about to fry these when we learned neither kid was coming home for dinner. Wrapped the meatballs and put them in the fridge, got carry out sushi and watched Rooster. They were delicious the next day. Might have stumbled on a culinary secret by resting them overnight or maybe not. But in any case, I recommend all the above with a good Oregon Pinot Gris.

Amanda

We only had lean ground chicken in my store which may explain everything. I also must have missed some salt, because they needed more pop to bring out all the fillings. I was surprised it didn’t shine but head my mistakes and I bet these are divine! Adding fried jalapeño (cooked in the pan with the burgers ) was a definite win!

Jessica

Whole family loved this! Nice hard sear in the cast iron, and topped with homemade pickled jalapeños. My husband isn’t generally excited about non-beef burgers but he said we can make these anytime. We did oven roasted sweet potato “fries” as a side and it was a great combo

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