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Vietnamese Banh Mi Chicken Burgers with Scallion Mayo

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Banh Mi Chicken Burgers bring together the juicy, satisfying goodness of a classic burger with the zesty, aromatic flavors of Vietnamese cuisine, creating a truly unique and unforgettable taste experience.

A banh mi chicken burger with scallion mayo next to a board with fresh veggies.

Chicken Banh Mi Burgers

Banh mi chicken burgers are a delicious fusion of two beloved dishes – the classic American burger and the traditional banh mi sandwich from Vietnam. This creation features a juicy chicken patty topped with fresh + pickled veggies, herbs, chilis and a tangy, flavorful sauce! 

One bite of this and I’m immediately transported to my mom’s kitchen! The scents and flavors remind me of many of her dishes. Delicious + comforting!

A banh mi chicken burger with scallion mayo next to a board with fresh veggies.

Gather Your Ingredients

This recipe actually takes my Vietnamese Chicken Meatball recipe and gives it a different spin for a hearty and satisfying meal!

  • Ground chicken — 92/93% lean.
  • Aromatics — lemongrass, shallot, garlic, green onions.
  • Pantry staples — sugar, kosher salt, black pepper, mayonnaise.
  • Fresh produce — carrot, mini or english cucumber, jalapeno, cilantro.
  • Asian flavors — fish sauce, sesame oil, rice wine vinegar.
  • Sandwich rolls — like Kaiser, Vienna or Portuguese rolls.
A wood board filled with ingredients to make banh mi chicken burgers.

How To Make Banh Mi Burgers

  • Pickle the carrots: in a glass bowl, combine water, rice vinegar, sugar and salt to create the pickling liquid. Pour it over thin slices of carrot and allow it to pickle for at least 30 minutes. 
  • Make the scallion mayonnaise: combine mayo and finely sliced green onions in a small bowl. Refrigerate until it’s time to assemble the burgers.
  • Make the chicken patties: in a large bowl, combine all the ingredients for the burger mix. Divide burgers into 4 equal portions. Cook the burgers on an outdoor grill, grill pan or skillet over medium heat to medium-high heat until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. 
  • Assemble: slather scallion mayonnaise on toasted buns and layer on the chicken burger, pickled carrots, cucumber slices, jalapeno, and fresh cilantro.

Helpful Recipe Tips

Make ahead to save time.

The pickled carrots will keep in the fridge for days and keep getting better, so feel free to make these well in advance. Make the scallion mayo in advance and keep it covered in the fridge. The flavor will continue to intensify. Mix the burgers and form into patties. Keep them separated by small sheets of wax paper, cover and refrigerate until you’re ready to cook. Slice the cucumbers and jalapeno and refrigerate until assembly.

How to cut lemongrass.

The outer leaves and the top half of lemongrass stalks are fibrous + woody. Start by slicing off the bulb end of the stalk, then peel away the outer leaves until you reach the section that is more tender. Cut the tough, top section of the lemongrass off; you can save this for soup stock. Working with the white, soft part, halve the lemongrass lengthwise, then thinly slice it across. You can pop this in a food processor to further mince or continue rocking your knife across to mince it by hand. If you’re a visual learner, view this quick video tutorial!

Storing leftovers.

Store cooked burgers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days. Place leftover garnishes in a separate container and refrigerate.

Ingredient Substitutions and Variations

  • Lemongrass — use lemongrass paste, lemon zest or lime zest if you can’t find fresh lemongrass.
  • Ground chicken — try these burgers with ground pork, turkey, ground beef or a blend.
  • Add some extra kick to your burgers with a drizzle of nuoc mam or sriracha. Add sriracha to the scallion mayo to turn it into a spicy mayo!
  • Use plain white vinegar or white wine vinegar instead of rice vinegar for the pickling liquid. Squeeze a little lime juice in for some extra lime flavor.
  • Add shredded daikon radish to your pickled carrot mix.
  • Top with other fresh veggies like sliced red onion, bean sprouts, sliced red bell peppers.
Two hands holding a banh mi chicken burger with scallion mayo.

Check Out These Other Asian-Inspired Recipes!

Banh Mi Chicken Burgers with Scallion Mayonnaise

A banh mi chicken burger with scallion mayo next to a board with fresh veggies.
Banh Mi Chicken Burgers bring together the juicy, satisfying goodness of a classic burger with the zesty, aromatic flavors of Vietnamese cuisine, creating a truly unique and unforgettable taste experience.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Pickling Time 30 minutes
Total Time 57 minutes
Serving Size 4 sandwiches

Ingredients

Pickled Carrots

  • 4 tbsp warm water
  • 3 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • ½ tsp kosher salt
  • 1 large carrot sliced into long thin slices or batons

Scallion Mayonnaise

  • 8 tbsp mayonnaise
  • 3 tbsp green onions chopped fine, or more to taste

Burgers

  • 1 lb ground chicken 92/93% lean
  • 2 stalks lemongrass outer layers discarded, finely mince the softer white part
  • 1 tbsp shallot finely minced
  • 2 cloves garlic finely minced
  • 1 green onion sliced thin
  • tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp fish sauce
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 4 sandwich rolls toasted (like Kaiser, Vienna, Portuguese)

Garnishes

  • cucumber cut into long slices
  • jalapenos or red chiles, sliced thin
  • cilantro
  • nuoc mam (Vietnamese dipping sauce) or sriracha

Instructions

  • Mix warm water, rice vinegar, sugar and salt in a shallow dish until the sugar and salt have dissolved. Place the carrots into the dish so they are covered by the liquid and set aside for at least 30 minutes. Add a bit more water if needed, just to cover.
  • Combine the mayonnaise and scallions in a small bowl. Refrigerate for later.
  • In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients for the burgers; form into 4 patties. Cook the burgers on a grill, grill pan or nonstick skillet over medium to medium-high heat, until the internal temperature is 165°F.
  • To assemble the sandwiches, spread scallion mayonnaise on the inside surfaces of each roll. Layer on the burger, pickled carrot, cucumber slices, and any additional garnishes you like.

Nutrition

Calories: 581kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 16g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 980mg | Potassium: 814mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 3102IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 86mg | Iron: 4mg

Notes

Make ahead tips:
  • The pickled carrots will keep in the fridge for days and keep getting better, so feel free to make these well in advance. 
  • Make the scallion mayo in advance and keep it covered in the fridge. The flavor will continue to intensify.
  • Mix the burgers and form into patties. Keep them separated by small sheets of wax paper, cover and refrigerate until you’re ready to cook.
  • Slice the cucumbers and jalapeno and refrigerate until assembly.
How to cut lemongrass: view this quick video tutorial.
Storing leftovers: Store cooked burgers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two days. Place leftover garnishes in a separate container and refrigerate.

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