Ingredients
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⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil
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1¼ pounds ground chicken
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¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
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1 teaspoon kosher salt
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2 slices mozzarella, provolone, white cheddar, or preferred cheese, cut into quarters
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8 mini burger buns
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Olive oil, as needed
Instructions
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Preheat the cooking surface. Preheat the grill, panini press, or sauté pan to medium heat.
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Chop the tomatoes. Place the sun-dried tomatoes in a food processor and process for about 30 seconds, until finely chopped.
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Prepare the chicken mixture. Add the ground chicken, Parmesan cheese, and salt. Process until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
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Shape the patties. Use about ¼ cup of the mixture for each mini burger or ½ cup for larger patties. Shape into evenly sized patties.
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Prepare the cooking surface. Lightly brush the grill, panini press, or pan with olive oil.
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Toast the buns. Place the mini burger buns on the heated surface for about 1 minute, until lightly toasted. Remove and set aside.
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Cook the patties. For mini burgers, cook on a grill or sauté pan for approximately 3 minutes per side. For larger patties, cook for about 4 minutes per side. If using a panini press, cook mini patties for approximately 6 minutes or larger patties for 8 minutes, adjusting as needed for thickness.
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Add the cheese. During the final minute of cooking, place a piece of cheese on each patty and allow it to melt. If using a panini press, remove the fully cooked patties and place the cheese on top. Let them rest for 1 minute to soften the cheese.
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Assemble and serve. Place each patty inside a toasted mini bun and serve warm.
Notes
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Drain excess oil: Let excess oil drip from the sun-dried tomatoes before processing to prevent the chicken mixture from becoming too wet.
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Shape evenly: Make patties similar in thickness so they cook consistently.
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Avoid overworking: Process only until the ingredients are combined to help keep the burgers tender.
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Check the temperature: Cooking times vary depending on patty thickness and equipment. Always verify that the center reaches 165°F.
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Toast the buns: A lightly toasted bun adds texture and helps keep the bread from becoming soggy.
