The Ingredient That Will Change Your Chicken Burgers Forever

Ah, burgers. If you're a meat-eater, there's just something about these ground meat patties that's irresistible. At their best, burgers are well-seasoned and juicy — the perfect complement to a hearty bun and classic toppings such as melted cheese, crisp lettuce, and umami-rich tomatoes.

While most of us think of beef when we think of burgers, the dish can be made with any ground meat, making it one of the most versatile meat dishes. If you're a fan of pork, how about a sausage burger-shaped from a tasty base of ground pork, fresh herbs, and fennel seeds? If lamb is more your jam, why not try a Greek-style lamb burger with yogurt and pickled onions? Of course, you could always try chicken burgers, too, which can be flavored with various ingredients, from parmesan cheese to Middle Eastern spices.

Unlike beef, chicken is lean meat, which means that a common pitfall of chicken burgers is that they come out too dry, according to Kitchn. But, happily, there's one ingredient you likely have in your fridge at this very moment that will help keep your chicken burgers moist and juicy every time.

Have you ever poured a heap of love into homemade chicken burgers only to have them cook up disappointingly dry? If so, you're not alone. Kitchn notes that this is a common occurrence. The outlet suggests keeping ground chicken moist as it cooks – Greek yogurt. According to the recipe blog Wholefully, this fatty ingredient introduces moisture back into the chicken, retaining it as the burger cooks. The recipe also suggests handling the chicken burgers minimally to avoid prodding out the juices. Instead, place them lightly on your hot grill grate or skillet, flipping them once and only touching them again to plate the burgers when the burgers finish cooking.

So there you have it. Folding Greek yogurt into your chicken burgers can help keep them mouth-wateringly juicy. If you want to take an extra step to make sure your burgers stay moist, let them rest after cooking and before digging in. Cook's Illustrated explains that allowing cooked burgers to rest under aluminum foil for five minutes allows all those precious juices to reabsorb into the meat instead of gushing out onto your plate.