Spicy chicken patties are a really simple, easy recipe and can be used for wraps, salads, sliders, with a sauce or even alongside some eggs for breakfast. Paleo, gluten-free and whole 30-approved, these patties will become a new favorite!
I'm freshly back from Costa Rica and wow, you guys... it was an amazing time!
Here are the highlights: beach time, ATVs, canopy zip line tour, waterfall hike, Arenal Volcano, horseback riding through the rainforest and hot springs. I just loved every minute.
We got back late last night and while I'm not exactly ready to dive into work this week, I'm pushing through... so on we go!
Today’s recipe for these spicy chicken patties is for all of you who are doing a paleo, gluten-free or whole 30 diet.
I briefly considered doing whole 30 this January. A friend was doing it and I knew I’d have the support.
But I also knew I’d have the Costa Rica trip in the middle of it. So that seemed like a terrible idea.
But I have made some tweaks this month and gotten back to my cleaner eating ways after the holidays.
And I wanted to share with you one of my easy favorites that is super versatile.
These spicy chicken patties are based on my 5-ingredient zucchini turkey burgers and are an easy addition to a paleo lunch, part of a gluten-free dinner and even a fun whole30 breakfast. (See below for ALL the ways you can serve them. )
They are just ground chicken, zucchini and some spices — no bread/flour or egg needed — and they come out so juicy and flavorful!
And just to note, these are just a tad bit spicy. It’s a subtle heat at the end that gives them a lovely little kick.
You can adjust the amount of cayenne to suit your tastes or leave it out altogether.
(If I’m making these for the kids, I skip the cayenne and just serve mine with hot sauce or sriracha sauce. Love the spicy!)
OK, let's get cooking!
Now, I’ve got some notes and substitutions coming up below on how to make spicy chicken patties. Just tryin’ to be helpful.
If you want to jump on down to the recipe, simply scroll right on through the rest of the text. The recipe card is near the bottom of the page, above the comments section.
Ingredient Notes:
- Ground chicken: I prefer a lean ground chicken that's 85%-90% lean. (I find the 99% lean kind doesn't have very much flavor.) You could also substitute ground turkey if you prefer.
- Zucchini: I recommend using the small size of a grater to grate the zucchini so the spreads are fairly small and get well incorporated into the patty mix.
- Garlic: The recipe calls for just 1 clove of garlic, but you could bump that up if you want some extra garlic flavor.
- Cayenne: This patties are just a bit spicy, with a nice heat on the end. You can increase or decrease (or skip) the amount of cayenne to suit your tastes.
OK, let's get ready to eat!
Serving Ideas:
- You can serve these with your favorite dip: honey mustard, a creamy Dijon and Greek yogurt mix, BBQ sauce, creamy avocado sauce, hummus or Ranch dressing.
- These patties are also great for lettuce wraps, regular wraps and in pita pockets.
- You can serve these as sliders and add your favorite toppings: cheese, lettuce and tomato, ketchup, pickles, etc.
- They also make a great protein option atop a grain bowl.
- These salads also go great over a salad as a lunch or dinnertime protein.
- They work great with breakfast too! I love these spicy chicken patties as a healthier alternative to sausage patties, with some scrambled eggs and veggies in the morning.
Lots of ways to enjoy them! You'll be coming up with more and more ways to eat these, they're just that good!
(The patties above are on a bowl of my massaged winter kale salad with pomegranates, feta and walnuts. Hello gorgeous lunch! )
Last thing: what to do with any leftovers.
Leftover chicken patties, once cooled, can be stored in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze leftover patties for up to 4-5 months.
I hope you give these paleo spicy chicken patties a try!
They are sure to help keep your meals interesting, which is the best way to stick to any healthy eating plan.
Happy cooking and enjoy!
XO,
Kathryn
Spicy Chicken Patties
Ingredients
- 1 lb. lean ground chicken, I use 90% lean
- 1 medium zucchini, grated and squeezed well of excess moisture (should be about ½ cup after squeezed out)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional; see notes
- 1 ½ tablespoons canola oil or coconut oil
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients (except oil) and stir until just combined. The mixture will be wet.
- Form into small patties, about 1 ½ inches wide, and place on a plate. Use about ¼ cup of the mixture for each patty.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add patties, working in batches if necessary, and cook over medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes, then flip and finish cooking, another 4-5 minutes, until chicken is cooked through. Add extra oil or turn down heat if they are cooking too quickly or if you are doing more than 1 batch.
- Serve and enjoy!
Kim
Woohoo I snuck a veggie in!!! My husband won’t eat veggies or salad so any chance I get I sneak ‘em in, where my son makes more of an effort to try new things, I even got him eating spinach. This was a great treat for the three of us during the Super Bowl. We’re trying to eat better and this was a super alternative to nachos or pigs in a blanket 😍 I just wasn’t very creative on a dipping sauce. I went with a spicy bbq. It worked.
Kathryn
Yay!! I'm so happy this was a hit and helped you get some veggies in your family! 😊 And I think the spicy BBQ sounds like a great dipping sauce!
Emily
Okay, I just tried these and wow! They're amazing. I have a hard time getting vegetables in so this is a great way to incorporate it! I ate this with some baked tortilla chips and they were great. Didn't even need a sauce cause they were very juicy!
Thanks for this recipe!
Kathryn
I'm so happy to hear you loved them Emily! ❤️
Robin Bennett
this looks great - can't wait to try
Kathryn Doherty
I hope you love them!
luda
What a great meal! I love how quick it is!
Kathryn Doherty
I'm so happy you enjoyed these chicken patties! Thanks so much for sharing! 😊
Frank Mosher
C'mon!! There are virtually no spices in these patties? Ground chicken is very neutral, you have to "hit" it with something? Cumin, Cilantro, Curry, something? Cheers!
Kathryn Doherty
Have you tried this recipe Frank? They are actually very flavorful!
Amy Davis THACKER
Just adda little more cayenne if you like ,they are great the way they are.
If you add cumin.maybe you are wanting chili..??
Robin
These look great. Might have to try them this weekend. Love anything spicy.
Jaime
We must come from the same genes. I love spicy too.
Kathryn Doherty
I'm the same way - bring on the heat! Hope you enjoy them!
Lori Smerek
These were delicious!! I used nearly 2 cups of finely grated zucchini & my kids actually suggested I add in even more next time! Definitely a keeper!
Kathryn Doherty
I'm so happy you all enjoyed them Lori! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Amy Davis THACKER
I have made these twice ,the second time I added some grated carrot, just to sneak more veggies in, had for lunch with a side salad.
Wonderful!
Kathryn Doherty
Oh yay, I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed them! Thank you for sharing!
Kitt
Made these with an avocado sauce, they are great.
Kathryn Doherty
That sounds like a yummy combination! I'm so glad you liked them! 😊
Catherine
Really really good! And I'm not a fan of ground chicken.Will definitely make again and again! Added more garlic because I love it. Thanks for the recipe!
Kathryn Doherty
I'm so happy you loved these Catherine! Thanks so much for sharing!
Margaret Davis
I LOVE THESE!!! I make them all the time sometimes with my own herb blends...has anyone tried these in an air fryer?! I’m gonna try that tonight...I love these...I make a batch and freeze the party mix and make them fresh each time...a serious go-to recipe for me!
Kathryn Doherty
Yay, I'm so happy to hear you love these Margaret! And love the idea of making a big batch to have on hand anytime you want to cook some up. I haven't tried them in the Air Fryer - yet! Sounds like a great idea; would love to hear if you try it and how it goes! 😊
Kelly
These look so good! Has anyone tried them in an air fryer instead of a skillet? Thanks!
Kathryn Doherty
Hi Kelly! I heard from a reader (on social media I think) that she made them in an air fryer but I'm not sure what time or temperature. Would love to hear if you try it - it's on my to do list for sure to make them that way!
Jennie
Delicious! I needed something quick and tasty using ground chicken, so glad I found your recipe. Thank you.
Kathryn Doherty
I'm so glad you loved them! Thank you so much for sharing! 🙂
Cici
Just started cooking recently and this was wonderfully easy and SO tasty. I'm on WW and this less than a point per patty. I put them on a bun and made a chicken burger and it completely sated my need for a burger. Thank you!
Kathryn Doherty
Yay, I'm so happy to hear that Cici! Thanks so much for sharing! 😊
Amanda
I was a little hesitant about making these, worried that there wouldn’t be much flavor. I was so very wrong!! These are delicious! Moist, nice saltiness, and nice heat at the end of the bite. I will definitely be making these again and again. Thank you for such a delicious, healthy recipe!
Kathryn Doherty
I'm so happy to hear you loved them Amanda! Thanks for sharing! 😊
Suzanne
This looks so good! What a fun way to spice up a chicken meal!
Kathryn Doherty
I hope you enjoy them Suzanne!
Vanessa
Thanks for sharing! Does it keep long?
Kathryn Doherty
They'll keep, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Hope that helps!
Jenny
Made these tonight and they are delicious. I did the fat free Greek yogurt with dejon mustard.
Could you tell me what the serving size is?
Kathryn Doherty
I'm so glad you enjoyed them Jenny! 😊 I just updated the recipe card so that it shows the nutrition info listed is for a single patty. (We usually eat 2-3 at a time.) Hope that helps!
Sandy
Can you bake them instead of frying them?
Kathryn Doherty
Hi Sandy! I haven't tried baking these instead of cooking them in the pan, so I'm not sure how that would work or if they'd hold up well with that method. Would love to hear if you try it!
Christy
Is there a BAKING option for these? I ask to prevent the oil splatter.
Kathryn Doherty
Hi Christy! I haven't tried baking these, but I have a different recipe for cheesy spinach bacon patties (https://www.familyfoodonthetable.com/cheesy-spinach-bacon-cakes/) that are baked at 375 for 25-30 minutes (flipping over at 15 minutes), so you could try that. I'd recommend parchment paper so they don't stick to the pan and just check the time, depending on how big you make the patties, and make sure they cook through all the way. Hope that helps!
Sharon Fitzgerald
Any idea what the net carbs are?
Kathryn Doherty
Hi Sharon! I'm not sure, but you can use an online nutrition calculator to work those out if you're interested. Here's one I've used in the past: https://www.myfitnesspal.com/recipe/calculator
Gayle
I find nutriely recipe builder to be a bit better (https://nutriely.com/recipe-builder). I get some more nutritional values and can get it more quickly.
Samantha
This spicy Chicken Patties recipe seems delicious like Pakodas ( Indian stuffed Pattie). My kids gonna love this recipe, thank you for sharing this with us.
Kathryn Doherty
Yay, I hope they enjoy them! 😊
Betsy
No one has said anything about grilling so I am going to try that.
Kathryn Doherty
Would love to hear how it goes!