Uppity Chicken Burgers with Basil Pesto
- michel1492
- Jun 16
- 2 min read
Juicy grilled chicken burgers topped with fresh basil pesto create a lighter alternative to traditional beef burgers without sacrificing flavor. Uppity Chicken Seasoning brings together herbs and spices that complement the richness of the pesto while allowing the natural flavor of the chicken to shine.
Bloom Classification
Light Bloom (Low Intensity)
Best Medium: Olive Oil
Why the Bloom Works
Briefly warming Uppity Chicken Seasoning in olive oil before incorporating it into the chicken helps distribute the herbs and spices more evenly throughout the meat. The result is a more flavorful burger with better seasoning in every bite.
Ingredients
For the Burgers
1 pound ground chicken (454 g)
½ cup finely chopped onion (80 g)
1 tablespoon Uppity Chicken Seasoning (9 g)
1 tablespoon olive oil (15 ml/14 g)
4 hamburger buns, split and toasted (320 g)
For the Basil Pesto
2 cups packed fresh basil leaves (50 g)
1 clove garlic (5 g)
¼ cup chopped walnuts (30 g)
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (25 g)
¼ teaspoon salt (1.5 g)
¼ cup olive oil (60 ml/55 g)
½ teaspoon Uppity Chicken Seasoning (1.5 g)
Optional Toppings
Tomato slices (120 g)
Lettuce leaves (20 g)
Thinly sliced red onion (60 g)
Method
Prepare the Pesto
Place basil, garlic, walnuts, Parmesan, salt, and Uppity Chicken Seasoning into a food processor.
Pulse until finely chopped.
With the processor running, slowly drizzle in olive oil until smooth.
Refrigerate until needed.
Bloom the Seasoning
Warm 1 tablespoon olive oil in a small skillet over low heat.
Add 1 tablespoon Uppity Chicken Seasoning.
Stir for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Remove from heat and cool slightly.
Prepare the Burgers
In a large bowl, combine ground chicken, onion, and bloomed seasoning mixture.
Mix gently until just combined.
Avoid overmixing.
Overworked ground chicken can become dense and tough.
Divide mixture into four equal portions.
Form into patties approximately ¾-inch thick.
Cover and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
Grill the Burgers
Preheat grill to medium heat.
Grill burgers for 5 to 6 minutes per side.
Cook until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
Remove from grill and rest for 3 minutes.
Assemble
Spread 2 tablespoons basil pesto on the bottom half of each bun.
Add a chicken burger.
Top with lettuce, tomato, and red onion if desired.
Spread additional pesto on the top bun.
Serve immediately.
Best With
Pasta salad
Grilled zucchini
Watermelon wedges
Fresh fruit salad
Iced tea
Blooming Notes
Ground chicken benefits from gentle handling even more than beef.
Chilling the patties before grilling helps them hold their shape.
Basil pesto can be made a day ahead and refrigerated.
Extra pesto makes an excellent spread for sandwiches and wraps.
At Oak City Spice Blends, we believe chicken burgers deserve as much attention as their beef counterparts. Uppity Chicken Seasoning and fresh basil pesto create a burger that is bright, savory, and perfect for warm-weather grilling.
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