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Burgers: Chicken Bruschetta Burgers

Source: Cooking with Amy Hanton (WLUK TV)

Makes 4 awesome flavored burgers!
The bruschetta topping is so, so good!

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground chicken
  • 1 Tbls. garlic powder
  • ¼ c. Parmesan cheese, grated
  • ¼ c. fresh basil, chiffonade
  • ¼ c. good balsamic vinegar (not from grocery store)
  • salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
  • 4 slices fresh white mozzarella cheese (tube) - see note
  • 4 sandwich ciabatta rolls or buns, split and toasted
  • canola or olive oil

Bruschetta Topping

  • 4 plum or roma tomatoes, diced (seeds removed)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 c. basil, chiffonade
  • 1/4 c. extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 Tbls. good balsamic vinegar (not from grocery store)
  • salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Brushetta: Combine diced tomatoes, garlic, ¼ c. fresh basil, olive oil, and 2 Tbls. balsamic vinegar in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir, cover, and let sit for at least an hour or refrigerate until ready to use.

Burgers: Combine chicken, garlic powder, Parmesan cheese, ¼ c. fresh basil, ¼ c. balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. Mix until all ingredients are fully incorporated.
Divide the chicken mixture into four equal sections and make 4 patties. Place patties on a plate or platter, cover with saran wrap and refrigerate several hours or overnight.

When ready to make, coat a fry pan or grill pan with a little oil and preheat to medium-high. Cook for about 8 minutes, then flip. Cook an additional 5 minutes.

Add a slice of mozzarella on top of each burger. Continue cooking a few more minutes, until the chicken is no longer pink and the cheese begins to melt a bit.

Spread a little olive oil on rolls or buns and toast slightly in oven or under a broiler.

Serve burgers on toasted rolls topped with the bruschetta.

NOTE: Regular thick sliced mozzarella cheese works too.