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
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.
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.
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Nutrition Information:
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 88Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 39mgSodium: 157mgFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 8g
Karly says
Drooling.I can’t get over how delicious these look- and how many ways they can be eaten! Definitely need to try!
Kathryn says
Thanks so much Karly! I hope you do try them!
Marcia says
These look great. I just started WW and they will be perfect. Do you think I can freeze leftovers?
Kathryn says
Yes, you can absolutely freeze these Marcia! I have a bag in my freezer right now 😊
Maria C Lyons says
i live in Cebu , Philippines and zuchini is hard to find , any suggestions on alternative to zuchini ?
Kathryn says
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.
Glenda says
I made them tonight and used a yellow squash. It worked fine
Kathryn says
That’s good to know – thanks for sharing! And I love your idea to add some minced green onion – yum!
Germaine Haberman says
I use grated mushrooms when I want a binder for meat.
Kathryn Doherty says
That’s a great idea too! Bet it adds a great meatiness and earthiness as well. Thanks so much for sharing!
julianne says
We made these tonight and they were AMAZING! I’ll be making these again for sure!
Kathryn says
I’m so happy to hear you loved them Julianne!
Jennifer says
How do you make the whole30 sauce for dipping?
Kathryn Doherty says
Hi! You can make a mustard-mayo sauce for dipping these in, but you’ll need to check labels because most regular store-bought mayos wouldn’t be whole30 compliant. But there are brands that make versions that you could use. (I like a 1:1 mustard and mayo mix, but you can sorta adjust it to suit your tastes.) You can also use a guac-like dip if you’d like or look up other whole 30 approved sauces you can make to have with these. Hope that helps!
Megan @ Megunprocessed says
I love throwing zucchini in dishes!
Kathryn says
Me too! 😊
Carolyn says
These sound amazing!
Kathryn says
Thanks Carolyn!
Becky says
About how many patties do you get out of this?
Becky says
Never mind I just saw the yield in the recipe. Duh! 🙂
Kathryn says
Ha 😊 I hope you give them a try!
Debi says
Made these tonight, and they were awesome! I used ground turkey, and cut the cayenne in half.
So yummy!
Kathryn says
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed them Debi!! Thanks so much for sharing! 😊
Carrie says
Just made these for dinner tonight and they were awesome. This will definitely be a go to recipe for me 🙂
Kathryn says
Oh yay! I’m so happy to hear you loved them Carrie! 😊
Teresa says
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!
Kathryn says
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!
Jaycelle Playda-Sahagun says
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!
Kathryn says
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!
Jaycelle Playda-Sahagun says
Those are our favorite chicken parts! Thanks again Kathryn!
Barb B says
These were so good. I will be sharing this for sure.
Kathryn says
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed them! 😊
Glenda says
When I make them next time I’m going to add minced green onion
Cat says
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! 🙂 )
Kathryn says
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed them! 😊
Sue says
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.
Kathryn says
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed them Sue! Love your additions and how you served them too!
Adrienne says
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?
Kathryn says
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!
Adrienne says
Thank you!
These were DELICIOUS!
The 4 year liked it so you know it has to be good 🙂
Kathryn says
Oh yay! I’m so happy to hear you and your kiddo liked these Adrienne! 😊
Diana says
How many weight watcher points are these? I just joined!
Kathryn says
Hi Diana! I’ve never done Weight Watchers so I’m not sure how to calculate their points. There is nutrition information in the recipe card above, in case that helps you figure it out. Hope you give these a try!
Katie says
Hi! I see the calorie per serving information, but about how many patties are in a serving? 1 or 2? Thanks!
Kathryn says
Hi Katie! The nutrition info is listed for a single patty. We generally eat 2-3 patties per person. I hope that helps!
georgie @ georgieeats says
What a simple but brilliant idea!! Thank you so much for the inspo! I have pinned it…. x
Kathryn says
Yay! I hope you love them!
Krystal says
I made these last night. Soooo good!
Kathryn says
Yay! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed them Krystal! 😊
Rosemary Cheung says
How do you suggest reheating them from frozen?
Kathryn says
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!
Robn Staley says
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?
Kathryn says
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!
Robn Staley says
I think just to be safe, I will go ahead and cook before freezing. I am anxious to try these. thank you!!
Kathryn says
I can’t wait to hear what you think – I hope you love them!
Cheryl says
Do you think these would do well broiled or baked in a copper air fry baking pan?
Kathryn says
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!
Matt says
How do you make that mustard sauce? It looks good
Kathryn says
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!
Holly says
These were great and I threw in some additions that made it even better. I added diced red onion, a splash of paprika and a bit of garlic powder. Topped it with dairy free smoked Gouda. I also made these regular size burgers with turkey instead of chicken sliders and they were perfect for a meal. Didn’t even need a bun! I also topped it with smashed avocado and that was a great touch.
Kathryn says
Those all sound like such yummy additions! So glad to hear you loved these!
Melissa Harrison says
Hi! I’m making these for dinner tonight and super excited. You posted the yield of the recipe and the nutrition facts per serving, but you didn’t say how many patties are in one serving.
Kathryn says
Hi Melissa! So the nutrition facts are for just one patty – about 88 calories for one. We usually eat 2-3 per person. Hope that helps and hope you enjoy them!
Melissa says
Hi! I’m making these for dinner tonight and super excited. How many patties are in one serving? You gave the yield and nutrition facts for a serving but no serving size.
Kim says
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 says
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 says
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 says
I’m so happy to hear you loved them Emily! ❤️
Robin Bennett says
this looks great – can’t wait to try
Kathryn Doherty says
I hope you love them!
luda says
What a great meal! I love how quick it is!
Kathryn Doherty says
I’m so happy you enjoyed these chicken patties! Thanks so much for sharing! 😊
Frank Mosher says
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 says
Have you tried this recipe Frank? They are actually very flavorful!
Robin says
These look great. Might have to try them this weekend. Love anything spicy.
Jaime says
We must come from the same genes. I love spicy too.
Kathryn Doherty says
I’m the same way – bring on the heat! Hope you enjoy them!
Lori Smerek says
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 says
I’m so happy you all enjoyed them Lori! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Kitt says
Made these with an avocado sauce, they are great.
Kathryn Doherty says
That sounds like a yummy combination! I’m so glad you liked them! 😊
Catherine says
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 says
I’m so happy you loved these Catherine! Thanks so much for sharing!
Margaret Davis says
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 says
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 says
These look so good! Has anyone tried them in an air fryer instead of a skillet? Thanks!
Kathryn Doherty says
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!
Cici says
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 says
Yay, I’m so happy to hear that Cici! Thanks so much for sharing! 😊
Amanda says
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 says
I’m so happy to hear you loved them Amanda! Thanks for sharing! 😊