Crispy Chicken Burger

It's suprisingly easy to make an awesome Crispy Chicken Burger at home. Tender on the inside and crispy on the outside with a hint of spicy heat, you'll find yourself making this over and over again.

We ate a lot of fast food growing up. My brother and I both involved in a lot of activities, and both my parents worked along with trying to run their own small business. Going through the drive-thru and eating in the car from one place to another was often the only way we'd get dinner. I don't think there should be any shame in that.

These days, there are a lot fewer demands on my time, so I have the luxury of being able to cook dinner most nights. On top of that, there's a severe lack of delicious drive-thru fast food where I live. But since having learned to cook, I find that eating out, even at decent restaurants, doesn't stack up to what I could make myself. There are very few places where I can get a burger better than I can make at home, and I'm grateful to have the time and resources to do just that.

What makes this Crispy Chicken Burger so awesome?

This Crispy Chicken Burger definitely stacks up to anything you could get at a restaurant or fast food joint. And you'll definitely save money cooking at home. These burgers are juicy and tender with a seriously crunchy exterior. They're beautifully seasoned with a hint of spice from the buttermilk and hot sauce brine.

I love to serve these on a soft brioche bun with spicy mayo. You can add all your favorite toppings like shredded lettuce and even acidic pickles if that floats your boat. Serve them with oven fries or potato salad. And make sure to bring plenty of napkins. Everyone is absolutely going to love them.

Magical Properties of Hot Sauce

In both food and magick, a little goes a long way when it comes to spicy ingredients like hot sauce. When working with any type of chilli pepper, whether it's on fresh, dried, powdered or sauce form, just a dab will do you. It has explosive, fiery energy and can be used to clear obstacles and open roads. Hot sauce can also be used for protection and banishing. Think of it like an energetic ring of fire. When adding hot sauce in your kitchen witchcraft, you can ask it to burn away all blocks and negative energy from your path or your space.

Be sure to check the Kitchen Magick page for the magical properties of other ingredients in this reicpe.

Ingredients

Here's everything you'll need to make this recipe. The full details are in the recipe card below.

• Chicken - boneless skinless breast is my preference, but thighs could work as well
• Buttermilk
• Hot sauce - your personal favorite or whatever you have on hand
• Salt and pepper
• Flour - plain or all-purpose
• Dried herbs - oregano, sage, and thyme
• Spices - garlic granules, onion powder, mustard powder, smoked paprika
• Baking powder
• Vegetable oil
• Burger buns - I love brioche
• Mayonnaise - with some more hot sauce added in if you like
• You favorite toppings - lettuce, onion, pickles, whatever you like

Tips for making this Crispy Chicken Burger

This recipe does have a few steps, but it's all pretty simple. A bit messy perhaps, but it's totally worth it. You need to start by pounding your chicken to about a half-inch thickness. I place the chicken breast between two sheets of parchment paper and pound it with a rolling pin. Anything heavy and unbreakable will do.

In a sealable container, even a zip top bag, you'll mix together buttermilk, hot sauce, salt and garlic powder, then soak your chicken in this for at least two hours. Overnight is fine. Do this the night before or the morning if needed. The longer the chicken soaks in the buttermilk brine, the more tender and flavorful it will be.

Then all that's left to do is dredge and fry. Heat about an inch of oil in a skillet, mix up your herbs and spices with your flour and baking powder, and use tongs to coat your buttermilk soaked chicken in the flour. Get a good thick coating on there before easing it into the hot oil. You'll cook it about 3 minutes per side. The timing will depend on the thickness of your chicken.

Then let it rest and drain on a wire rack while you assemble your buns. I like to mix mayo and hot sauce for a bit of a kick, but you can just use plain mayo if you don't like it spicy. Add all your favorite condiments and veg, pop your juicy chicken inside, and enjoy. You'll be sad when it's gone.

This Crispy Chicken Burger will undoubtedly become a regular part of your dinner rotation. It's even better than eating out.

Looking for more awesome chicken recipes? Try this Chicken & Goat Cheese Pasta or some spicy Buffalo Chicken Tacos.

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Recipe slightly adapted from Sugar Salt Magic.