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Spicy chicken patties are a really simple, easy recipe and can be used for wraps, salads, sliders, with a sauce or alongside some eggs with 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…
We had a seriously amazing time. My husband and I were celebrating our 10-year anniversary and just loved every minute!
We had some beach time, rode ATVs and did an amazing canopy zip line tour followed by a waterfall hike, traveled inland to the Arenal Volcano area (and hiked to the volcano), horseback riding through the rainforest, hot springs and so much more.
It was a quick trip but we packed so much in, it felt luxuriously long! 💕
We got back late last night and while I’m not exactly ready to dive into work this week, I’m putting on my big girl underwear and 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 this year.
I am not one of you, but I did briefly consider 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!)
Ways to serve these spicy chicken patties:
- You can serve these with your favorite dip: honey mustard, a creamy Dijon and Greek yogurt mix, BBQ 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.
(The patties above are on a bowl of my massaged winter kale salad with pomegranates, feta and walnuts. Hello lunch! 😍)
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!
XO,
Kathryn
P.S. Check out my new VIDEO and watch me make this recipe!
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 1/2 cup after squeezed out)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional; see notes)
- 1 1/2 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 1/2 inches wide, and place on a plate. It should be about 1/4 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!
Notes
I use ground chicken but you could substitute ground turkey if you prefer.
I use the small size of my grater to grate the zucchini so the spreads are fairly small and get well incorporated into the patty mix.
These are just a tad bit spicy, with a subtle heat at the end. You can adjust the amount of cayenne to suit your tastes or leave it out altogether.
Ways to serve these chicken patties: with a dip (BBQ sauce, honey mustard, hummus, Ranch, etc.), in a lettuce or regular wrap or pita pockets, as sliders with toppings, on a salad or with eggs for breakfast.
Recommended Products
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Calphalon 2 Piece Classic Nonstick Fry Pan Set, Grey -
OXO Good Grips Multi Grater -
OXO Good Grips Large Silicone Flexible Turner
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Nutrition Information:
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 88 Total Fat: 6g Saturated Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 39mg Sodium: 157mg Fiber: 0g Sugar: 1g Protein: 8g
Drooling.I can’t get over how delicious these look- and how many ways they can be eaten! Definitely need to try!
Thanks so much Karly! I hope you do try them!
These look great. I just started WW and they will be perfect. Do you think I can freeze leftovers?
Yes, you can absolutely freeze these Marcia! I have a bag in my freezer right now 😊
i live in Cebu , Philippines and zuchini is hard to find , any suggestions on alternative to zuchini ?
Hi Maria, I’m not sure what would work as a good substitute here since the grated zucchini provides both the binder and the moisture. You could perhaps try it with an egg or two and see if that works.
I made them tonight and used a yellow squash. It worked fine
That’s good to know – thanks for sharing! And I love your idea to add some minced green onion – yum!
We made these tonight and they were AMAZING! I’ll be making these again for sure!
I’m so happy to hear you loved them Julianne!
I love throwing zucchini in dishes!
Me too! 😊
These sound amazing!
Thanks Carolyn!
About how many patties do you get out of this?
Never mind I just saw the yield in the recipe. Duh! 🙂
Ha 😊 I hope you give them a try!
Made these tonight, and they were awesome! I used ground turkey, and cut the cayenne in half.
So yummy!
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed them Debi!! Thanks so much for sharing! 😊
Just made these for dinner tonight and they were awesome. This will definitely be a go to recipe for me 🙂
Oh yay! I’m so happy to hear you loved them Carrie! 😊
Hi, I’m planning to try this today. Do you have a recipe for the dipping sauce that it shown ? it really looks good ! Thanks!
Hi Teresa! That dipping sauce is just a mix of Dijon mustard and mayonnaise. I did about a 1:1 ratio to start and then you can just adjust to your tastes. I hope you love the chicken patties!
Hi Kathryn! These looks so delicious. I plan to make it for my toddler. What chicken parts do you suggest for the ground chicken? Thank you!
I buy my chicken already ground at the store but you could certainly do it yourself. I’d suggest a mix of chicken breast and chicken thighs. I hope you and your little one enjoy them!
Those are our favorite chicken parts! Thanks again Kathryn!
These were so good. I will be sharing this for sure.
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed them! 😊
When I make them next time I’m going to add minced green onion
I made these tonight and they turned out to be a really good protein for a dinner salad.
Next time I am going to try your dip of Dijon and mayo! (And next time I Will not use the 1/4 c measuring cup. I only got 7. Oops! 🙂 )
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed them! 😊
I made these for dinner last night, served with lettuce and chopped tomatoes drizzled with a balsamic reduction. So delicious! I grated some onion in when adding the garlic and should have added more chili powder. Will definitely make again.
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed them Sue! Love your additions and how you served them too!
Just joined Weight Watchers a week ago and am finding it hard to find recipes that I and the whole family will enjoy – I can crossed your spicy chicken patties via a pin on Pinterest and was like “YES!” I am going to make these as sliders for the kids (4yr old & 13 yr old) but am not quite sure which cheese would go best. I was hoping you had some suggestions?
Hi Adrienne! I’m so happy you found this recipe and I hope your family loves it! These definitely make great sliders and I’ve used mozzarella and cheddar cheese for them for my kids because those are their favorite cheeses. Hope that helps!
Thank you!
These were DELICIOUS!
The 4 year liked it so you know it has to be good 🙂
Oh yay! I’m so happy to hear you and your kiddo liked these Adrienne! 😊
What a simple but brilliant idea!! Thank you so much for the inspo! I have pinned it…. x
Yay! I hope you love them!
I made these last night. Soooo good!
Yay! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed them Krystal! 😊
How do you suggest reheating them from frozen?
Hi there! I usually pull out the number of patties I want from the freezer and let them defrost in the fridge overnight. When I’m ready to eat them, I heat them up in the microwave. You could also rewarm them in a pan if you prefer. I hope that helps!
Just so I am clear, you are suggesting the freezer AFTER they are cooked? Just wondering if I could do before I cook then fry when defrosted. Have you tried that?
Yes, I always freeze them after they are cooked. That way, I can defrost, reheat and enjoy without having to worry about raw chicken. I haven’t tried freezing them uncooked. You likely would need to lay the shaped patties flat on a baking sheet (I’d put a piece of wax paper down) and do an initial freeze that way before transferring them to a plastic bag for storage. Again, just be careful of handling the raw chicken during that process. Hope that helps!
I think just to be safe, I will go ahead and cook before freezing. I am anxious to try these. thank you!!
I can’t wait to hear what you think – I hope you love them!
Do you think these would do well broiled or baked in a copper air fry baking pan?
Hi Cheryl! I don’t have one of those pans, so I’m not sure. You could try baking them and broiling at the end to get a slight crust on the tops, but you’ll need to make sure they cook through all the way. Hope that helps!
How do you make that mustard sauce? It looks good
Hi Matt! That mustard sauce was just a mixture of Dijon mustard and a nonfat plain Greek yogurt. I just add a bit of each until I’m happy with the mixture. These also go great with a honey mustard sauce as well. Hope you enjoy them!