Chicken Spinach Burger served face down on whipped feta is the Mediterranean twist on the dipped burger trend that nobody asked for, but everyone needs. Ground chicken, fresh spinach, mozzarella, chives, scallions, and oregano formed into juicy patties. Then cooked until golden, served on a toasted brioche bun with butter lettuce and tomato. It's placed face down into a pool of whipped feta so every bite of that burger is dragged through the creamiest, most garlicky feta sauce you have ever tasted.
Add the ground chicken, crushed garlic, chives, scallions, finely chopped spinach, shredded mozzarella, oregano, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, red pepper flakes, and olive oil to a large bowl. Mix with your hands or a fork until just combined. Do not overwork the mixture. Stop mixing the moment everything is evenly distributed.
1 lb ground chicken, 2 garlic cloves, ¼ cup fresh chives, ⅓ cup scallions, 2 cups fresh spinach, ½ cup shredded low-moisture mozzarella, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp red pepper flakes
Divide the mixture into 4 equal portions and shape each one into a patty roughly three-quarters of an inch thick. Place on a plate or sheet pan and transfer to the freezer for 10 minutes. Do not skip this step.
Make the whipped feta
While the patties are in the freezer add the feta, Greek yogurt, olive oil, garlic clove, dill, onion powder, black pepper, salt, and lemon juice to a food processor. Blend on high for about 60 seconds until completely smooth and silky. Scrape down the sides halfway through and blend again. Taste and adjust salt, lemon, and garlic as needed. Transfer to a bowl and garnish with Aleppo pepper or paprika if using. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
8 oz feta cheese, ¾ cup full fat Greek yogurt, ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil, 1 garlic clove, 1.5 tbsp fresh dill, ½ tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp black pepper, ¼ tsp salt, 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
Cook the burgers
Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Remove the patties from the freezer and add to the pan in a single layer. Cook undisturbed for 5 to 6 minutes until the bottom is deeply golden. Flip carefully and cook for another 5 to 6 minutes until the second side is equally golden and the internal temperature reads 165F on a meat thermometer. Do not press down on the patties during cooking. You will squeeze out all the moisture and end up with a dry burger.
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Toast the buns
Toast the brioche buns cut side down in the same pan with a little butter or olive oil until golden and slightly crispy. Alternatively toast them in the toaster if you are keeping things simple.
4 brioche buns
Assemble and serve
Layer butter lettuce and a tomato slice on the bottom bun. Place the cooked chicken patty on top and add the top bun. Cut the burger in half with a sharp knife. Place both halves face down into a generous pool of whipped feta spread on the plate. Serve immediately.
Nutrition facts are only estimates.StorageStore cooked burger patties in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Store the whipped feta separately in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat the patties in a skillet over medium low heat for 3 to 4 minutes per side or in the air fryer at 375F for 5 minutes. Avoid the microwave as it dries out the chicken. Assemble the burgers fresh each time rather than storing assembled. Uncooked patties can be frozen for up to 2 months, separated by parchment paper, and cooked straight from frozen over medium low heat.