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What better way to make you feel like a child again, than to dig in to these Mozzarella Stick Chicken Burgers?? They’re filled with gooey mozzarella cheese, coated in a crispy coating, fried to perfection and served with a classic marinara sauce.
Today was one of those days where time completely got away from me. Typically I’ll shower and get ready when the baby goes down for his morning nap, but he’s become a nightmare of a napper, so today, I didn’t get to shower. I didn’t get to brush my teeth. Or make the bed. Or even look in the mirror.
When Kevin got home at 5:15, I was completely confused because I was sure it was only 3pm. He was a little taken aback when he saw me, still in my pajamas with a messy ponytail sticking out from the side of my head, and a half-dressed baby on my hip. Him being the wonderful husband and father that he is, sensed my flustered demeanor and without a word, took the babe for a walk so I could shower and feel like a human – god bless that husband of mine.
The only items I managed to check off my list today were a few blogging housekeeping items, tidying up the babe’s nursery, emptying the dishwasher, and assembling and photographing these insanely delicious mozzarella stick chicken burgers.
Yup. Mozzarella stick. Burgers.
I’m honestly not even sure where this idea came from, because I was just minding my own business the other day, not even thinking about food, and images of this burger were instantaneously implanted into my brain.
The patty mimics a mozzarella stick, except instead of just breading and cheese, the inside of a garlicky ground chicken patty is stuffed to the brim with melty mozzarella, and the outside is coated in Italian breadcrumbs. It’s pan-fried in olive oil until it’s crusty and golden brown, and then popped into the oven to finish cooking the inside and to help the mozzarella become irresistibly stringy.
No mozzarella stick is complete without a dunk in zesty marinara sauce, and this burger is no exception. While the patty chills in the fridge, a quick red sauce is thrown together with a little bit of onion, garlic, crushed tomatoes, sugar and Italian seasoning.
The burger gets nestled on to a parmesan-crusted bun, topped with marinara sauce, and is ready to be dug in to.
It’s a good thing I didn’t get to shower, because after inhaling one of these guys, I was ready for one — they’re messy, beware.
For more chicken burger recipes, check out these posts:
Croque Madame Chicken Burgers
Strawberry, Basil and Bacon Chicken Burgers
- 1¼ lbs. chicken breasts (or 1¼ lbs, ground chicken)
- ½ medium onion, ½ finely diced and ½ left whole, divided
- 5 garlic cloves, divided
- 1½ tsp. salt, divided
- ½ tsp. Italian seasoning, divided
- 4 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 8 pieces
- ½ c. flour
- 1 egg + 2 Tlbs. water
- 1 c. Italian breadcrumbs
- ¼ c. olive oil + 1 tsp.
- 1 14.5 oz. can crushed tomatoes
- 1 tsp. sugar
- 4 good quality buns
- ¼ c. grated parmesan cheese
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Optional choice to grind your own meat. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Freeze for 15 minutes. Place in a food processor and pulse until ground.
- Add chicken to a large bowl. Grate in ½ an onion and 4 garlic cloves. Add 1¼ tsp. salt and ¼ tsp. Italian seasoning. Mix until combined. Form into four large balls. Place two pieces of mozzarella in the middle and form patty around the cheese.
- Dip patties in flour, pat off excess flour. Dip in egg, and then coat in breadcrumbs. Place on a plate and chill for a few minutes while you start the sauce. Reserve the remaining egg wash.
- In a small saucepan, add 1 tsp. olive oil. Heat to a medium heat, and add remaining diced onion and garlic (grate into pan). Sauté for 1 minute or until slightly softened. Add salt, tomatoes, and sugar. Simmer for 10-15 minutes.
- Heat a large non-stick, oven-proof pan to a medium heat. Add olive oil. Once the oil is hot, add breaded chicken patties. Cook until golden brown on both sides, about 2-3 minutes per side. Pop into the oven to finish cooking the chicken and melt the cheese, another 5 minutes or so.
- Brush the buns with egg wash. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Place on a baking sheet and bake until cheese has melted, about 1-2 minutes.
- Place patties on bun, and top with some marinara sauce. Top with parmesan bun.
Christine @ WRY TOAST says
SHUT. UP!!!!!!!!!!! sharing on Facebook right now, this is too good not to! xo
Nicole says
hahaha Thank you!!!
Lauren Gaskill | Making Life Sweet says
WHOAAAA nelly! These are amazing!
Nicole says
Thank you Lauren!
Karly says
Okay, if these are all I accomplished in a MONTH I think I’d be satisfied! They look INCREDIBLE!!!
Nicole says
Haha thanks Karly!
Mellow says
I just finished eating one of these… The pictures do not lie, people; they are SO. GOOD. I am already excited about having one for lunch tomorrow!! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
Nicole says
So glad you loved them! You feel exactly how I felt about them! ha!
June says
Made these for dinner with a big salad. Thumbs up from everyone. This made me especially happy, because lately Mom hates everything. She has dementia, and her sense of taste is affected to the point where even following her recipes exactly does not work.
So this evening she is happy and so am I! Thank you.
Nicole says
So glad you guys liked them! Love hearing this!