Pesto Chicken Burgers

Name: Pesto Chicken Burgers
Prep time: 25 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 cup fresh basil leaves; 1 cup baby spinach (1 ounce); 1 clove garlic, peeled; 0.25 cup walnuts; 4 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for grilling; Coarse salt and pepper; 1 pound ground white-meat chicken; 2 large tomatoes, cut into ½-inch slices; 3 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced; 4 pieces focaccia, halved

3.9

(21)

3 Reviews

By

Martha Stewart Test Kitchen

Updated on May 16, 2017

Prep Time:

25 mins

Total Time:

25 mins

Servings:

4

Rethink your burger with ground chicken. Then add tomatoes and fragrant pesto to give this sandwich a delicious twist.

Ingredients

1 cup fresh basil leaves
1 cup baby spinach (1 ounce)
1 clove garlic, peeled
¼ cup walnuts
4 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for grilling
Coarse salt and pepper
1 pound ground white-meat chicken
2 large tomatoes, cut into ½-inch slices
3 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced
4 pieces focaccia, halved

Directions

In a food processor, puree basil, spinach, garlic, walnuts, oil, and 1 tablespoon water. Season pesto with salt and pepper.
Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high. Combine 1 tablespoon pesto, 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and chicken and form into 4 patties. Clean and lightly oil hot grill. Brush tomatoes with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill patties, covered, 4 minutes. Flip patties and top with cheese. Add tomatoes to grill and cook, flipping once, until tomatoes are lightly charred and burgers are opaque throughout, 4 minutes.
Assemble sandwiches in focaccia with pesto, burgers, and tomatoes.

Cook's Notes

Go Green
This homemade spinach-and-basil pesto is also great on pizza, tossed with pasta, or in scrambled eggs.

Originally appeared: Everyday Food, July/August 2012