Quick and Crunchy Chicken Patties

Unlock the secret to perfectly crispy on the outside, incredibly juicy on the inside, and beautifully seasoned chicken patties with this remarkably easy recipe. These ground chicken patties are quickly pan-fried to achieve a delightful texture and fast cooking time, making them an ideal choice for any busy weeknight or a relaxed weekend meal. Versatile and delicious, they can be enjoyed in countless ways: as hearty burgers, fun sliders, wrapped in warm tortillas, or crumbled over fresh salads. Forget dry, bland chicken – these patties are set to become a staple in your culinary repertoire, delivering maximum flavor with minimal effort.

Why You’ll Love These Easy Chicken Patties

These chicken patties aren’t just another ground chicken recipe; they’re a culinary revelation. Many ground chicken dishes can suffer from dryness or an unappealing texture, but this recipe masterfully avoids those pitfalls. We’ve crafted a method that ensures each patty is exceptionally juicy on the inside, perfectly seasoned to tantalize your taste buds, and boasts an irresistibly crisp exterior from pan-frying. Here’s why they deserve a spot on your dinner table:

• Unbeatable Flavor and Texture: Say goodbye to dry, bland chicken. Our secret combination of ingredients, including mayonnaise and a careful pan-frying technique, guarantees patties that are incredibly moist and tender. The light breading provides that sought-after crispy, golden-brown crust, creating a delightful contrast with every bite.
• Incredibly Versatile for Any Meal: The adaptability of these chicken patties is truly remarkable. While fantastic on their own as a standalone protein, they shine in various culinary applications. Serve them as classic chicken burgers on a toasted bun with your favorite toppings, or transform them into miniature sliders for a crowd-pleasing appetizer. They’re also excellent crumbled into pasta dishes, wrapped in warm pitas with fresh veggies, or sliced over a vibrant spinach salad. For a complete meal, pair them with tender air fryer broccoli and perfectly roasted fingerling potatoes. The possibilities are endless!
• Perfect for Meal Prep and Freezing: These chicken patties are a dream come true for meal preppers. They freeze beautifully, allowing you to prepare a batch ahead of time and have delicious, homemade meals ready whenever hunger strikes. Simply follow the mixing and forming steps, then arrange the raw patties on a baking sheet and freeze them for about an hour until firm. Once frozen, transfer them to a sealable freezer bag, placing a square of parchment paper between each patty to prevent sticking. They’ll keep for up to 3 months, giving you convenient access to a quick and healthy protein source. This strategy ensures you only take out the exact number of patties you need, minimizing waste and maximizing convenience.

Expert Tips for Crafting the Perfect Chicken Patties

Achieving restaurant-quality chicken patties at home is easier than you think with these expert tips. From ensuring optimal juiciness to exploring creative flavor variations, these insights will help you master this versatile dish:

• Mastering Cook Time with a Meat Thermometer: Ground chicken cooks surprisingly fast, so precise timing is crucial to prevent overcooking and maintain juiciness. While visual cues are helpful, an internal meat thermometer is your best friend. Chicken patties are perfectly cooked when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). Using a thermometer ensures they are safe to eat and prevents them from drying out, allowing you to pull them off the heat the moment they’re ready.
• Unleash Your Creativity with Flavor Variations: One of the most exciting aspects of this recipe is its adaptability to different flavor profiles. Don’t hesitate to experiment!
  • Cheesy Patties: Mix in a quarter cup of shredded Parmesan, cheddar, or feta cheese into the chicken mixture for a delightful cheesy twist.
  • Veggie-Packed Patties: Finely chop vegetables like jalapeños (for a touch of heat), mushrooms, spinach, or zucchini and incorporate them into the mixture. This not only adds flavor and nutrients but also keeps the patties extra moist. Remember to squeeze out excess moisture from watery vegetables like spinach or zucchini before adding them.
  • Herb Enhancements: Beyond parsley, consider adding other fresh herbs like dill, cilantro, chives, or oregano to complement your chosen flavor profile.
  • Spice It Up: Introduce a pinch of cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, or a dash of your favorite chili powder for an extra kick.
• Alternative Cooking Methods: Baking and Air Frying: While pan-frying delivers exceptional crispness, you have other fantastic cooking options:
  • Baking: For a hands-off approach, bake the chicken patties. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Arrange the formed patties on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for approximately 20-25 minutes, flipping them halfway through to ensure even cooking and browning. Always use a meat thermometer to confirm they’ve reached 165°F (74°C).
  • Air Frying: Achieve a similar crispy texture with less oil by air frying. Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Lightly spray the patties with cooking oil and place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring not to overcrowd. Cook for 12-15 minutes, flipping them halfway, until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
• The Chilling Advantage for Superior Patties: For even better, more cohesive, and juicier chicken patties, refrigerate the prepared patties for at least 30 minutes (or up to a few hours) before cooking. Cooking them from a chilled state, rather than room temperature or warm, helps them hold their shape more effectively, preventing crumbling. The cooler temperature also allows the flavors to meld and contributes to a juicier end product by slowing down the cooking process slightly, giving the proteins more time to set.
• The Importance of a Hot Skillet: Before adding your patties to the oil, ensure your skillet is adequately hot. When you add the oil, it should shimmer almost immediately. If the skillet isn’t hot enough, the patties will simply absorb the oil, leading to a greasy and less crispy result. A properly heated skillet creates a searing effect, quickly forming that desirable golden-brown crust and locking in the juices.
• Choosing the Right Oil: Opt for a neutral oil with a high smoke point for pan-frying. Good choices include avocado oil, grapeseed oil, canola oil, or refined sunflower oil. These oils can withstand the medium-high heat required for crisping without burning or imparting unwanted flavors.

Other Delicious Chicken Recipes You’ll Love

• Marry Me Chicken
• Instant Pot Chicken Teriyaki
• Chickarina Soup
• Instant Pot Chicken Carnitas
• Everything Bagel Chicken with Scallion Cream Cheese Sauce (Keto)
• Baked Chicken Tacos
• Chicken Pesto Sandwich
• Best Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe (Restaurant Style)
• Creamy Garlic Chicken
• Boneless Chicken Wings
• Truffle Honey Chicken with Asparagus
• Jerk Chicken Alfredo
• Poppy Seed Chicken
• Easy Chicken Recipes for Dinners with Few Ingredients

Recipe By: Cheryl Malik

Easy, Crispy Chicken Patties

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

These chicken patties are easy to make, boast a wonderfully crispy texture, are incredibly juicy, and packed with flavor. They are versatile enough to be enjoyed in a salad, nestled in a bun, served with a side of fresh vegetables, atop a simple pasta dish, or simply all by themselves.

Cheryl Malik

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Yields: 6 patties

Equipment

• Medium shallow bowl
• Large mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Food-safe gloves (optional)
• Cookie scoop with release handle (for portioning)
• Large plate
• Large skillet
• Stovetop
• Spatula
• Internal meat thermometer
• Paper towels
• Wire cooling rack (optional, for extra crispness)

Ingredients

For the Breading

• ⅓ cup all-purpose flour (see Notes for alternatives)

For the Chicken Patties

• 1 large egg
• 1 pound ground chicken
• 3 scallions, chopped
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
• 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 3 tablespoons breadcrumbs (plain or seasoned, see Notes for alternatives)
• ½ teaspoon salt (more or less to taste)
• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (more or less to taste)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

To Pan-Fry the Chicken Patties

• 3 tablespoons neutral oil (plus more as needed)

Instructions

1. Pour the ⅓ cup of all-purpose flour into a medium shallow bowl and set it aside. This will be used for coating the chicken patties.
2. Crack the large egg directly into a large mixing bowl. Using a whisk, beat the egg thoroughly until it is well combined and slightly frothy.
3. To the bowl with the beaten egg, add the 1 pound of ground chicken, 3 chopped scallions, ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley, 3 tablespoons of mayonnaise, 3 tablespoons of breadcrumbs, ½ teaspoon of salt, ¼ teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper, and 1 teaspoon of garlic powder. For best results, use your hands (wearing food-safe gloves is optional but recommended) to gently mix all the chicken patty ingredients together until they are just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the patties tough.
4. Using a cookie scoop with a release handle, portion the chicken patty mixture into 6 equally sized scoops. One by one, quickly roll each scoop between the palms of your hands to form a smooth, uniform ball. Place each ball into the shallow bowl of flour you prepared earlier.
5. After shaping each scoop into a ball, roll it thoroughly in the flour, ensuring all sides of each chicken ball are evenly coated. Then, gently press each floured ground chicken ball into a flattened patty shape, about ¾ to 1 inch thick. Place the formed patties on a large plate and, ideally, refrigerate them for at least 30 minutes to help them firm up and hold their shape better during cooking.
6. When you are ready to cook, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 3 tablespoons of neutral oil to the skillet. Swirl or tilt the pan as needed to distribute the oil evenly across the entire surface. Continue heating the skillet until the oil is hot and shimmering, indicating it’s ready for frying.
7. Once the oil is hot, carefully place the prepared chicken patties into the skillet. Cook them in batches if necessary, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan. Overcrowding can lower the oil temperature and result in less crispy patties. Cook the patties undisturbed for 3 to 4 minutes, or until a beautiful golden-brown crust forms on the underside.
8. Once one side is golden brown, carefully flip the chicken patties over with a spatula. Continue to cook the patties on the remaining side for another 2 to 4 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) when checked with an internal meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the patty.
9. As each batch of chicken patties finishes cooking, transfer them to a plate lined with paper towels to allow any excess oil to drain off. For even crispier results, place a wire cooling rack over the bed of paper towels and transfer the chicken patties directly from the skillet to the wire rack. This allows air to circulate around the patties, preventing them from steaming and softening.
10. Repeat the cooking process with any remaining uncooked chicken patties. Once all chicken patties have been cooked to perfection, serve them warm and enjoy them as desired with your favorite sides or accompaniments.

Notes

• You can certainly make larger or smaller patties based on your preference. Just remember that altering the size and thickness of the patties will slightly change the cook time. Always use an internal meat thermometer to ensure they reach 165°F (74°C).
• Make it Keto: To adapt this recipe for a ketogenic diet, replace the breadcrumbs with an equal amount of finely crushed pork rinds. For the breading, substitute the all-purpose flour with almond flour or coconut flour.
• Make it Gluten-Free: For a gluten-free version, simply use certified gluten-free breadcrumbs and an all-purpose gluten-free flour blend for coating.

Approximate Nutrition Information for One Serving

Serving Size: 1 patty

Calories: 279 cal

Protein: 16 g

Fat: 20 g

Saturated Fat: 4 g

Trans Fat: 0.1 g

Cholesterol: 99 mg

Sodium: 335 mg

Potassium: 462 mg

Total Carbs: 10 g

Fiber: 1 g

Sugar: 1 g

Net Carbs: 9 g

Vitamin A: 320 IU

Vitamin C: 4 mg

Calcium: 29 mg

Iron: 2 mg

Nutrition Disclaimers

The number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.

Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.

To determine the precise weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the entire finished recipe, then divide the total weight (excluding the container) by your desired number of servings. The result will be the weight of one serving.