Taco Burger

This Taco Burger recipe features ground chicken with onions, peppers and cilantro, generously seasoned with taco seasoning. It's a healthy, homemade burger recipe prepared with very little effort, in the Air Fryer, Stove or an Outdoor Grill, then slathered with Sriracha mayo!

An Easy Mash-Up Burger Recipe

Tacos or burgers? This is a common question in our house come dinner time. My girls will say tacos, but hubby and I always vote for burgers. This dilemma led me to create one of my favorite recipe mash-ups yet - taco burgers!

Ground chicken gets an exquisite, pumped-up flavor from aromatic vegetables and taco seasoning to create a filling, satisfying, Mexican-spiced meal.

All that's missing is a large dollop of sriracha mayo on a toasted hamburger bun to round-out all those flavors. 🙂

Homemade Taco Burgers Inspired By Taco Bell

This easy taco burger recipe was inspired by the gone-but-never-forgotten Bell Burger from Taco Bell, which ran on their menu from the 1970s to the mid-1990s. But rather than their sloppy joe style burger covered in taco toppings, I prefer these homemade taco burgers because:

• Ground chicken creates a lean, clean, healthy foundation.
• Homemade or store-bought taco seasoning allows for ease and convenience.
• Burgers made at home allow for flexibility in spice level and flavor.
• The quality of ingredients is so much easier to control.
• Three cooking methods create a year-round burger recipe!
• Swapping lettuce wraps for the burger buns creates a crunchy, low-carb meal!

Ingredients - Notes & Substitutions

These simple taco burgers come together with only 7 ingredients including ground chicken, taco seasoning (store-bought or homemade), onions, peppers (both sweet + spicy), cilantro and high-heat cooking oil.

• Ground Chicken: My family and I prefer the flavor of white meat ground chicken, but dark meat or a mix of half-white, half-dark will also work. Look for ground chicken in the poultry section of grocery stores. Ground turkey or beef are great substitutes, which we will discuss in a bit.
• Taco Seasoning: I always have homemade taco seasoning in my spice cabinet (recipe below). I make enough to fit an 8-ounce jar. I also have packets of taco seasoning in my spice cabinet for those days when I am short on time and out of my homemade mix. The overall winner in our house is Trader Joe's Taco Seasoning Mix. You will need the whole 1-ounce packet for 1-pound of ground meat.
• Aromatics: A mix of onions and peppers adds volume and flavor to an otherwise plain patty, plus adds veggies to the meal. For a mild taco burger, remove the seeds and ribs from the serrano peppers before mincing.
• Condiments: A burger is never complete without a sauce to go with it - sriracha mayo compliments all those Mexican spices with it's sweet and spicy taste. I prefer to make it at home with this easy recipe, but you can also find it in the condiments aisle of your grocery stores.
• Toppings: I like to keep it simple with fresh, thick-cut tomato slices, but feel free to get creative! Create your own taco toppings bar with more suggestions below.

Taco Seasoning Made At-Home

I like to prepare a taco seasoning on those days when I have more time in the kitchen. This recipe makes 2 Tablespoons, the same amount found in a 1-ounce packet. Simply combine:

• 1 tablespoon Mexican chili powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon cumin powder
• ½ teaspoon Mexican Oregano
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne (optional)
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder

Cooking Tip: Double or triple the taco seasoning recipe and store in a cool, dark place (I put it in the back of my spice cabinet) for up to 3 months.

Step By Step Instructions

These chicken taco burgers require two bowls, a spoon and a touchless technique that prevents your hands from ever coming in contact with the ground meat (less to clean and sanitize).

Once the burger patties are prepped and individually portioned on parchment paper liners, the cooking time varies depending on the cooking method.

The outdoor grill is the fastest, but when the weather is not ideal, I keep it indoors. I cook my burger patties in two batches using the air fryer and stovetop methods to ensure maximum crispness.

Step 1. Make Patties

• In a large mixing bowl, add all the ingredients and mix well using a fork or spatula (Pic 1).
• Add about a teaspoon measure of the meat mix to a bowl or a plate and microwave on high for 12-15 seconds, or until the mix cooks through. Check for taste and make adjustments accordingly (Pic 2).
• Using a large spoon, roughly score the patty mix in the bowl into 4 portions, or more, depending on your preference (Pic 3).
• Line a baking sheet or cutting board with individual-sized parchment squares (see notes). Using the spoon, scoop out one portion and place it on the parchment liner (Pic 4).
• Fill a bowl with tap water. Dip the spoon in water and start shaping the patty, smoothing it into a round even-sized patty. If grilling it outdoors, gently press down the spoon in the middle, creating a small impression. This prevents the patty from puffing up in the middle. Skip this step if cooking in a skillet or oven or air fryer (Pic 5).
• Continue the same process with the remaining patties. Once ready, stack them together using a parchment liner to separate them (Pic 6). For cooking, use one of the following methods:

Step 2: Cook Burgers Using One of the Following Methods

1. Air Fryer Taco Burgers

• Grease the fryer basket with cooking spray or brush it with olive oil. Place 2 patties at a time. Slide the basket back in position and cook on 360°F for 8 minutes.

• Remove the basket, flip the burger patties and put it back in for another 5-6 minutes, or until the chicken cooks through.

2. Cooking Burgers on the Stove

• Heat a wide non-stick pan on medium-high heat. Wait for it to get hot, about 2-3 minutes, then add about a tablespoon of olive oil. Add the patties.

• Cook for 5 minutes, then flip and cook another 5 minutes, or until cooked through.

3. Outdoor Grill

• Heat a grill on medium-high heat (or 375°F). Place a large piece of aluminum foil and grease it with cooking spray or brush with olive oil. Place the taco burger patties on the greased foil. The foil ensures even cooking of the patty and prevents is from burning.
• Cook for 6-7 minutes on the first side, flip and cook another 6-7 minutes, or until it cooks through.

Step 3. Assemble Burgers

• Spread some butter or olive oil on your burger buns and lightly toast them in an air fryer, skillet or grill. Spread a generous layer of sriracha mayo, or your preferred condiment, on the top and bottom bun.
• Layer the burger patty followed by tomato slices and finally the top bun. Enjoy!

Serving Suggestions - Slather with Sriracha Mayo

All this chicken taco burger needs is a generous slather of sriracha mayo, fresh tomato slices and a toasted hamburger bun. Add some Homemade french fries and make it a complete meal.

Take It Up a Notch with a Toppings Bar

If you're feeling adventurous, feel free to set up an entire taco toppings bar with bowls of salsa, guacamole, shredded cheese and tortilla chips (which adds a wonderful crunch factor!).

Create a Low-Carb Meal with Lettuce Wraps

Alternatively, serve the burgers on lettuce wraps or your preferred low-carb bread for a delicious low-carb meal! This especially comes in handy for my hubby and I. For best results, use large, crunchy lettuce such as green leaf, romaine or butter.

Variations to Try - Chicken, Turkey & Beef

My family and I love the lean, tender goodness of ground chicken patties, but ground turkey is another great option. You can use ground breast meat or a mix of white and dark meat.

Ground beef is always a good alternative for an even juicier taco-hamburger mash-up. Purchase 1-pound of 80/20 ground beef for the best meat-to-fat ratio.

Recipe Tips & Notes:

• Ground chicken, turkey or beef all work well. My family loves ground chicken, but ground turkey or beef are great substitutes. As with all poultry, cook to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Allow the patties to rest for a few minutes before serving.
• Use store-bought or homemade taco seasoning. A 1-ounce packet (2 Tablespoons) is just the right amount of spice for every 1-pound ground meat. Purchase your favorite brand or combine 1 tablespoon Mexican chili powder, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon cumin powder, ½ teaspoon Mexican Oregano , ¼ teaspoon cayenne (optional) and ¼ teaspoon garlic powder.
• Cook two patties at a time using the air fryer or stovetop. This allows for enough space between the patties without overcrowding the basket or skillet. These two cooking methods take longer, but the extra effort is well worth it.
• Create a divet for grilled burgers. The ground meat will naturally puff in the center when grilled at such a high heat, which can lead to uneven cooking. Use the spoon and create a shallow impression in the center of the burger patties before grilling.
• Use a sheet of aluminum foil on an outdoor grill. The foil ensures the chicken burgers cook evenly without burning. Lightly grease it with cooking spray or olive oil to prevent sticking.
• Prep 8 parchment liners or buy pre-cut ones. This allows for a seamless, touchless patty approach.
• Double the recipe and freeze. This recipe can easily be doubled for easy meal prep. Score the mix into eight portions rather than four and prepare 16 parchment-liners. Stack with parchment-liners and place them in two plastic freezer storage bags. Seal tight, label, date and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Taco Burger FAQ

More Mexican Flavored Recipes From My Kitchen

• Bean Burrito | Instant Pot Burrito Bowl: A build-your-own burrito packed with fresh vegetables and Mexican spices that cooks quickly in the Instant Pot.
• Salsa Chicken Tacos: A three-ingredient chicken taco recipe made with store-bought taco seasoning and salsa in the Instant Pot.
• Instant Pot Carnitas (Mexican Pulled Pork): An easy dump and start pressure cooker recipe for juicy, tender, flavorful Mexican pulled pork.
• Instant Pot Black Bean Chili (Vegetarian & Vegan): Creamy black beans simmered with tomatoes, corn, peppers, fire-roasted green chilies and one secret ingredient.
• Black Bean Quesadillas: Crispy quesadillas filled with Tex-Mex spiced black beans, peppers, onion, corn and lots of cheese!
• Instant Pot Chicken Chili: Ground chicken, taco seasoning and creamy pinto beans creates a protein and fiber-packed meal.
• 20+ Delicious Cinco De Mayo Recipes: Quick and easy Mexican inspired Cinco De Mayo recipes with tons of flavor!

More Burger & Sandwich Recipes From My Kitchen

• Quinoa Veggie Burger: A delicious vegetarian burger patty made with quinoa, potatoes, peas, onions and Indian spices.
• Tandoori Chicken Sliders: Marinated-grilled chicken atop slider buns and slathered with a cilantro-chutney spread.
• Veggie Burger: Golden-brown black or pinto bean burger on a toasted burger bun slathered with sriracha mayo.
• Masala Chicken Burgers: Ground chicken mixed with classic Indian spices, cilantro and baby spinach cooked on the Stove, Grill, Oven or Air Fryer.

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