Fresh and zesty Easy Chili Lime Chicken Burgers (Trader Joe’s Copycat) are packed with finely chopped vegetables, lime juice, and seasonings. The southwestern flavors go perfectly in a lettuce wrap or on a salad to keep this recipe keto-friendly!
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Trader Joe’s is notorious for inspiring some of my favorite meals and snacks, such as Cauliflower Gnocchi, Keto Crackers, and Everything Bagels. Therefore, it’s no surprise that I’m sharing these copycat Easy Chili Lime Chicken Burgers next!
Light, juicy, and zesty, a batch of these copycat Trader Joe’s chili lime chicken burgers should be kept in your freezer at all times. Furthermore, they’re easy to prepare ahead of time and freeze beautifully. They’re delicious whether you eat them on a bun, a protein-packed salad, or tucked into fajitas or a vegetable wrap.
These naturally gluten-free and keto chicken burgers are filled with finely chopped vegetables, lime juice, and seasonings to infuse tangy southwestern flavors. I topped my patties with avocado, tomato slices, and cilantro but you could add even more, like a fresh avocado salsa or a slice of pepper jack cheese. Most importantly, you’ll end up with juicy burgers that bring fresh and bright flavors to any summer meal!
Chili lime chicken burger ingredients
- Ground chicken – Ground chicken burgers pair well with the tang and spice in this southwestern recipe. Unlike beef or pork, the meat is tender and lean with just a little bit of fat to give each bite a boost of flavor and moisture.
- Veggie filling – Mixing minced green onion, bell pepper, cilantro, and garlic with the ground meat gives these burgers texture and lots of fresh flavors.
- Lime juice – The acid in the fresh lime juice and zest will add a nice balance to these burgers.
- Seasonings – All you need is salt and red pepper flakes to give the burgers just a hint of spice.
- Burger toppings – Like avocado, lime juice, tomato slices, and cilantro. Feel free to add more if you wish! Melted cheese, guacamole, avocado salsa, queso fresco, pico de gallo, or corn and peach salsa would all go well with the burgers.
How to make Trader Joe’s chili lime burgers
- Form the chicken burgers: Mix the ground chicken, green onions, red bell pepper, cilantro, garlic, salt, red pepper flakes, and lime juice together in a bowl. Form the mixture into 4 patties.
- Cook the burgers: Add olive oil to a pan. Sear the burgers in a skillet for 2 and a half minutes per side on medium-high heat.
- Assemble everything together: Toss salad with olive oil, lime juice, and salt. Add to a plate, place burger patties, sliced avocado, and tomatoes. Sprinkle with cilantro and a squeeze of the remaining lime.
- How to enjoy these chicken burgers: You can eat them on a bun, over a salad, on a low-carb keto bagel, rice, cauliflower mash, or in a wrap.
Can I use turkey instead of chicken?
You can make this recipe with ground turkey instead of chicken if you want. Turkey is naturally lean, meaning it can sometimes turn out dry or bland. I recommend using ground dark meat from turkey thighs and drumsticks, which have more fat and flavor than white meat.
How to serve chili lime chicken burgers
You can’t go wrong with these chicken burgers on a good ol’ fashioned hamburger bun. Pair them next to baked asparagus, Mexican street corn salad, and grilled shrimp skewers for a healthy meal. They were made to be served at a summer barbecue or weeknight dinner!
Most importantly, the flavors in these burgers are so versatile. Cook them, slice them, or add the burgers to a brussels sprouts salad for extra protein. They’re a quick and easy solution when you need filling for a sandwich or lettuce wrap, and go so well topped on a grain bowl!
Double or triple the batch to bring to your next backyard cookout. They’re a gluten-free, dairy-free, and keto-friendly option that will make everyone happy.
Can I make the burgers ahead of time?
Yes! You can easily prepare and shape the burgers and then freeze them for later. Here’s how it’s done:
- Combine the ground chicken, green onions, red bell pepper, cilantro, garlic, salt, red pepper flakes, and lime juice in a bowl. Shape into 4 equal sized patties.
- Flash freeze the burgers in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- When they’re frozen, add a piece of parchment paper between each patty and transfer them to a sealed freezer bag. Remove as much air as possible, seal, and label the bag with the date.
- Lastly, when it’s time to cook, defrost the burgers in the fridge and cook according to the recipe instructions.
More fresh summer recipes
Don’t go to the family barbecue empty handed! These fresh recipes were made to be eaten under the summer sun:
If you try these Easy Chili Lime Chicken Burgers, please leave me a comment below or tag me on Instagram @lenaskitchenblog! I would love to know what you think.
Easy Chili Lime Chicken Burgers (Trader Joe’s Copycat)
Ingredients
Chili Lime Chicken Burgers
- 1 pound ground chicken
- ¼ cup green onion finely chopped
- ¼ cup bell pepper finely diced
- 2 tbsp cilantro finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ large lime juiced
- ¾ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tbsp olive oil for cooking
Salad
- 3 cups mixed greens divided
- 1 avocado sliced
- ½ lime
- salt to taste
- 2 tbsp cilantro finely chopped
- 2 tomatoes sliced or chopped
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine the ground chicken, green onions, red bell pepper, cilantro, garlic, salt, red pepper flakes, and lime juice. Mix thoroughly to combine.
- Divide in 4 balls. Using wet hands, form the balls into 4 equal flat patties.
- Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a pan. Pan sear over medium-high heat in a skillet for 2 ½ minutes on each side, until cooked through.
- Toss salad with olive oil, lime juice, and salt. Add to a plate, place burger patties, sliced avocado and tomatoes. Sprinkle with cilantro and a squeeze of remaining lime.
- You can eat them on a bun, over a salad, on a low carb keto bagel, rice, cauliflower mash, or in a wrap.
Notes
- Combine the ground chicken, green onions, red bell pepper, cilantro, garlic, salt, red pepper flakes, and lime juice in a bowl. Shape into 4 equal sized patties.
- Flash freeze the burgers in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- When they’re frozen, add a piece of parchment paper between each patty and transfer them to a sealed freezer bag. Remove as much air as possible, seal, and label the bag with the date.
- When it’s time to cook, defrost the burgers in the fridge and cook according to the recipe instructions.
You can make this recipe with ground turkey instead of chicken if you want. Try to use ground dark meat rather than white meat so the burgers have a little more fat and lots of flavor.
Michelle
Absolutely delicious and better than the TJs version. Topped with melted pepper jack cheese. Placed it on the salad and YUMMY!!! Served with a baked yam recipe on Pinterest.
Stacy
One of our favorites – easy and so delicious! We like to have them on a toasted brioche bun with red onion, butter lettuce, and a smear of sriracha mayo – alongside a bowl of roasted red pepper soup. I believe getting a good char on both sides is key to the burger’s deliciousness!
Lindsey
Super easy to make, I added a little of Tajin seasoning to the burgers and omitted the cilantro (thanks soap gene). Definitely would not buy Trader Joe’s again after having these!
Enna Davydenko
So easy and yummy! And healthy!