Ranch Chicken Burgers

I recently found myself asking a package of ground chicken sitting in my fridge, "No offense, but how can I make you a tasty?!?"

Ground chicken has a lot going for it, such as its heart healthy nutrient profile- it's a lean protein, low in calories, saturated fat, and sodium per serving. This makes it a great choice to add to your dinner plate! Since it is a lean protein, it needs extra love and attention to avoid a dry finished product. So after some rummaging through my cabinets and a quick run to the grocery store, a Ranch Chicken Burger was created!

The diced mushrooms add extra veggies and a bit of texture, while the whole wheat bread crumbs help this lean meat hold its shape and adds a bit of fiber too!

Ingredients:

1 pound ground chicken
1/2 cup minced mushrooms
1/2 cup whole wheat bread crumbs
3 tablespoons Homemade Ranch Seasoning (see below for recipe)
Canola oil
Swiss cheese, sliced
Good quality bread or buns- I used a semolina loaf, sliced 3/4" thick
Mayonnaise
Lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and onion

Homemade Ranch Seasoning-

• 1/4 cup dried buttermilk powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon dried dill
• 1/2 teaspoon dried chives
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Note: the above mixture is more than needed for this recipe, so store the excess in a plastic bag or small mason jar.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Mix ground chicken, minced mushrooms, bread crumbs, and 3 tablespoons of Ranch seasoning together in a large bowl. Form into patties- 3" diameter and 1/2" thick. This recipe yields approximately 5 patties, each equaling 4.15 oz each.

Heat canola oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Once oil is shimmering, add chicken patties. Be careful not to overcrowd pan; you may need to cook in two batches.

Saute about 3 minutes per side, or until golden brown. Due to leanness of meat, it is important not to overcook to prevent dryness.

In the meantime, place bread slices on a cookie sheet and lightly toast in oven a couple minutes per side.

Once burgers are finished cooking, remove from pan and place a cheese slices on top. Remove bread from oven and spread with mayonnaise. Now the fun part...begin assembling your nutritious and delicious masterpiece! Enjoy : )