Green Chili Chicken Burgers

This has been a funky sort of spring with more great grilling days in March than in April...  But as May, Memorial Day, and summer get ever closer, we can only hope that grilling weather appears in abundance.  Here's something a little different to try the next time you're motivated to fire up your grill - possibly even for Cinco de Mayo!

Recipe: (from How Sweet Eats)
1 pound ground chicken breast*
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
1 4-ounce can green chilies
2.5 ounces monterey jack cheese in small cubes, plus more for topping

Preheat your grill (or large non-stick skillet if cooking indoors) over medium-high heat.  In a bowl, combine chicken, olive oil, salt, pepper, ground cumin, onion powder, garlic, half the can of green chilies, and cubed cheese.

Mix until just combined.

Divide into four sections and shape into patties.

Place on grill or skillet and cook on both sides until golden and cooked through.

Once you flip the burgers, add cheese on top to melt.

Serve on whole wheat buns with your choice of toppings.

Optional Toppings: remaining green chilies, salsa, guacamole, or use the recipe for green chili sauce below

Green Chili Sauce:
1 1/2 (4 ounce) cans of green chilies
1/2 tablespoon honey
juice of half a lime

Combine in a bowl, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and spoon onto cooked burgers.  (I didn't make this sauce, so I don't have a picture, but it was on the original website, so I included it here as an option.)

*If you use ground chicken instead of ground chicken breast, omit or decrease the olive oil.

Verdict:
We loved them!   The burgers were juicy and flavorful with melted cheese on top and throughout.  Definitely something I'll be making again, maybe next time with the green chile sauce...

This recipe is definitely outside my six months ago comfort zone.... And in fact I am still sort of grossed out by the idea of green chilies... But this is officially the second recipe I adore containing green chilies so......

Nom-nom-nom!