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Grilled California Chicken Burgers on a white sheet.

Grilled California Chicken Burger

Chef Jenn
This Grilled California Chicken Burger is stacked with juicy chicken, smoky ham, grilled avocado, melty jack cheese, and a bold chipotle mayo. Perfect for summer cookouts or weeknight grilling!
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine American, Californian
Servings 4 servings
Calories 771 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the Burgers

  • 4 hamburger buns
  • 2 chicken breasts tenderloins removed
  • 4 leaves green leaf lettuce washed or shredded
  • 1 avocado ripe, but not too soft
  • 1 tomato thickly sliced
  • 4 slices deli smoked ham sliced
  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 4 slices of Jack cheese

Burger Seasoning

  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon cracked black pepper
  • ½ tablespoon brown sugar
  • ½ tablespoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder

Chipotle Mayo:

  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon chipotle powder
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 1½ teaspoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 small garlic clove finely minced

Instructions
 

  • Mix all chipotle mayo ingredients in a bowl. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
  • Combine all burger seasoning ingredients in a small bowl.
  • Slice the chicken breasts in half horizontally. Brush with 2 tbsp oil and rub with seasoning.
  • Slice avocado into ½ cm slices and brush with remaining 1 tbsp oil.
  • Preheat grill to medium-high. Grill avocado 3–5 minutes per side. Grill ham slices 1 minute per side.
  • Lower grill to medium. Grill chicken 5–6 minutes per side or until 165°F internal temp. Add cheese in the last minute. Remove and let rest.
  • Toast the hamburger buns on the grill for 2 minutes, until golden.
  • Assemble burgers, spread 2 tbsp chipotle mayo on each bun. Layer with grilled avocado, cheesy chicken, ham, tomato, lettuce, and top bun.

Notes

Chef Jenn’s Tips

  • Grill-safe thermometer forks are a must if you’re grilling often—they’re fast and make temperature checks simple.
  • Don’t skip grilling the avocado—it adds a buttery, smoky depth you can’t get any other way.
  • Prep your chipotle mayo up to 3 days ahead and store it in the fridge.
    Let the chicken rest after grilling to keep it juicy and flavorful.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 771kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 41gFat: 53gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 21gMonounsaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 119mgSodium: 2716mgPotassium: 965mgFiber: 6gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 1993IUVitamin C: 13mgCalcium: 324mgIron: 4mg

A Note on Nutritional Information

Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed.

Keyword California burger, grilled chicken sandwich, summer grilling
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