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Teriyaki Chicken Burgers with Bang Bang Pineapple Slaw. These burgers are packed with flavor and made for summer cookouts. Teriyaki-style chicken burgers with a touch of spice are grilled (or pan-fried), topped with melty Swiss cheese, and finished with a creamy bang bang sauce and fresh pineapple slaw. They’re colorful, delicious, and perfect for summer cookouts.
This is officially my summer of grilling. Between the Miami heat and long summer evenings, I’ve been finding every excuse possible to cook outside. It’s the easiest way to keep the kitchen cool, and honestly, it’s just more fun.
Burgers have been making a regular appearance on the menu, and these burgers are loaded with all the sweet, spicy, crunchy goodness of summer.
My sister actually inspired this recipe. She loves anything with bold Asian-inspired flavors, rich soy-based sauces, pineapple, and a little vinegar. If those ingredients are involved, she’s guaranteed to be excited.
The burgers themselves are simple to make. I use either Japanese BBQ sauce or Primal Kitchen’s Teriyaki Sauce. Then add a little chipotle because I love that combination of sweet, savory, and spicy flavors.
You can grill these burgers or cook them in a skillet, but don’t skip the Swiss cheese. It melts perfectly over the burgers and pairs so well with the sweet and savory flavors.
With Father’s Day this weekend and the Fourth of July just around the corner, I can’t think of a better burger to add to the menu. After all, America’s 250th birthday only comes around once, which feels like the perfect excuse to fire up the grill and celebrate with something extra delicious.
Onto the details
Ingredients
Bang Bang Sauce
- mayo
- sweet Thai chili sauce
- lime zest
Pineapple Slaw
- shredded cabbage
- chopped pineapple
- fresh cilantro
For the Burgers
- ground chicken
- panko breadcrumbs
- Japanese Pineapple BBQ sauce or teriyaki sauce
- chipotle chiles in adobo
- onion powder
- garlic powder
- brioche, pretzel buns, or Hawaiian buns – I’m loving using pretzel buns
- Swiss cheese
- cooked bacon
Kitchen Tools
Grab a couple of mixing bowls for the sauce, slaw, and burgers. I like to cook these on the grill, but a grill pan or skillet works just as well. A metal spatula makes flipping easy, and you’ll want a sharp knife and cutting board for chopping the pineapple and cilantro.
The Steps
Step 1: Make the Bang Bang Sauce
Start with the Bang Bang sauce. Stir together the mayonnaise, sweet Thai chili sauce, and lime zest until smooth and creamy. Set aside a few spoonfuls for the slaw, then save the rest for assembling the burgers.
Tip: Make the sauce first so the flavors have time to come together while you prep everything else. It only gets better as it sits.
Step 2: Toss the Pineapple Slaw
In a large bowl, combine the shredded cabbage, chopped pineapple, and fresh cilantro. Add a few spoonfuls of the bang bang sauce and toss until everything is lightly coated. The slaw should be fresh, crunchy, and just a little creamy.
Tip: Don’t overdo the dressing. You want the slaw to stay light, crisp, and crunchy.
Step 3: Mix the Burger Patties
In a mixing bowl, combine the ground chicken, panko breadcrumbs, teriyaki sauce, chipotle peppers in adobo, onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper. Mix until just combined, then shape into 4 equal-sized patties.
Tip: Ground chicken can be a little sticky. Lightly wet your hands before shaping the patties to make the process much easier.
Entertaining Tip: If you’re serving a crowd, form the patties ahead of time and keep them chilled until you’re ready to grill.
Step 4: Cook the Burgers
Cook the burgers on a grill, grill pan, or skillet over medium-high heat until cooked through and nicely browned, about 8 to 10 minutes per side. During the last minute of cooking, top each burger with Swiss cheese and allow it to melt.
Tip: I love these on the grill, but they’re just as delicious cooked in a skillet. Use whichever method works best for you.
Step 5: Toast the Buns
Butter the buns and toast until golden and lightly crisp around the edges.
Tip: Never skip toasting the buns. It adds so much flavor and helps everything stay together once you pile on the sauce and slaw.
Step 6: Assemble and Enjoy
Spread the remaining bang bang sauce over the toasted buns. Add the cheesy chicken burgers, then top with the pineapple slaw and crispy bacon. Serve immediately and enjoy every sweet, spicy, crunchy bite.
Tip: Be generous with the slaw. It adds the perfect fresh, juicy crunch and makes these burgers feel extra summery.
Teriyaki Chicken Burgers with Bang Bang Pineapple Slaw
Ingredients
Bang Bang Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 1/3 cup sweet Thai chili sauce
- 2 teaspoons lime zest
Slaw
- 3 cups shredded cabbage
- 2 cups chopped pineapple
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Burgers
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup Japanese pineapple BBQ sauce or teriyaki sauce
- 1-2 chipotle chiles in adobo, chopped
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- black pepper
- 4 brioche, pretzel buns, or Hawaiian buns, toasted
- 4 slices swiss cheese
Instructions
- 1. To make the Bang Bang Sauce. Stir together all ingredients in a bowl.2. To make the slaw, combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Add 1/4 cup of the bang bang sauce, toss well, and set aside while you prepare the burgers.3. In a separate bowl, mix together the ground chicken, panko, teriyaki sauce, chipotle, onion powder, garlic powder, and a few cracks of black pepper. Form the mixture into 4 patties.4. Heat a skillet, grill, or grill pan over medium-high heat. Cook the burgers for 8–10 minutes per side, until fully cooked through and nicely browned on the outside. Add the cheese during the last minute of cooking.5. Toast the buns with butter.6. To assemble, spread the remaining bang bang sauce onto the toasted buns. Add the burgers and top with the pineapple slaw and bacon.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
These are so, so, SO GOOD. Light, bright, flavorful. I’m making them again just a week later from the first time.
Hey Julie,
Happy Sunday! I’m thrilled to hear this recipe was a hit, thanks for making it and your comment!
Big hit! Left out the bacon – seems like there’s already so much going on, but I might try adding it next time. 2nd x left out the pineapple – husband’s request, and was still wonderful. I like one reviewers idea of grilling the pineapple though, so might try that next time. Thanks, Tieghan!
Hey Linda,
Awesome! Thanks so much for trying this recipe, love to hear it was enjoyed!
Have the best weekend!
I made these tonight and my husband said it was the best burger he’s ever had!
Since I was out of teriyaki (and didn’t realize that until I was mixing the burgers 🤦♀️), I used Trader Joe’s soyaki sauce. thankfully, they were still delicious!
the slaw is out of this world all on it’s own but it really makes the burger.
We had them tonight on the brioche buns. I also purchased pretzel buns and cannot wait to try the burgers on those next!
thank you, Tieghan, for all the amazing recipes! anytime I’m in need of inspiration for dinner, I come to your site and I am never disappointed 🙏🥰🤌
Hey Sheila,
I appreciate you making this recipe and taking the time to comment, so glad it was a winner!
Have a great Sunday!
Wow me and my husband absolutely LOVED these!!! Will definitely be repeating this one. Thank you so much for your delicious recipes!
Hey Lauren,
Perfect! Thanks a bunch for making this recipe, love to hear it was a winner!
Made it as the recipe stated and it was AMAZING! Another banger, Tieghan! Ty for your awesome meals!
Hey Laura,
Thrilled to hear this recipe was a hit, thanks a bunch for making it and your comment!
Have a great Sunday!
This is the second time I am making these burgers in a week!!! I grilled my pineapple with a little honey and butter on the grill to bump up the flavor before I added to the cole slaw. Served with sweet potato fries. So delicious!
Hey Bea,
I’m grateful you tried this recipe and took the time to comment. Delighted it turned out!
Another level!!! We all loved! Everything about them!
You are a genius!
Hey Traci,
I’m grateful you tried this recipe and took the time to comment. Delighted it turned out!
These were amazing! Great recipe!
Hey Tieg,
Love to hear this recipe was a hit, thanks a lot for making it and taking the time to comment! Enjoy your day!
I really enjoyed this recipe.
I was wondering how I can make the patties more dense. Any suggestions?
Hi Noel,
Amazing! Love to hear this recipe turned out well for you, thanks a lot for making it!
For a more dense burger, just mix the meat for a longer period of time.
Have a great 4th of July weekend!
Excited to eat these tonight, in the instructions it says bacon, but doesn’t have it listed in ingredients, so I won’t be having bacon on the burgers tonight!
Hey Brook,
So sorry about that! I hope you love these burgers, let me know how they turn out for you!
Can you sub Greek yogurt for the mayo
Sure, that will work for you!
THEEEE BEST hands down!
Delish!
We all loved them!
Thanks a bunch, Traci! So glad these burgers were enjoyed by your family! Have a nice week!
Amazing! We did brioche and mini pretzel slider buns…paired it with Chinese smashed cucumbers!
Hey Ani,
Perfect! Love to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it and your comment.
Have the best week!
I think my husband is ready to REMARRY me after these! He said “they’re bursting with flavor!”
I made a slight adjustment and subbed regular mayo with kewpie mayo.
Lol love this! Thanks so much for trying these burgers, Hannah! So glad to hear they were such a hit!
We LOVED this! Definitley going on the summer rotation.
Since bacon wasn’t listed until the end of the directions, It didn’t get added to the grocery list.
But it was delicious even without the bacon!
Hey Julie,
Wonderful! So glad to hear this recipe was a hit, thanks so much for giving it a try!
Huge hit. Enough said. 🙂
Hey Valerie,
I really appreciate you making this recipe and reporting back. Thrilled it turned out well!