Tikka Chicken Burgers with Pickled Red Onions
Juicy tikka chicken burgers topped with pickled red onions, crisp lettuce and cool yoghurt in a soft bun.
Made with Pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas) and Tikka marinade. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time35 mins plus marinating
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £3.15 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Make your ready made tikka marinade and pickled red onions first (see the base recipes). Coat the flattened chicken thighs in 150 g of the marinade. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
- 2
Mix the Greek yoghurt with the mint and a pinch of salt for the raita sauce.
- 3
Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a medium high heat. Cook the thighs for 5 to 6 minutes per side until deeply browned and cooked through with no pink inside.
11 min - 4
Rest the chicken for 3 minutes. Toast the cut sides of the buns in a dry pan.
- 5
Build each burger with lettuce, chicken, a spoonful of mint yoghurt and pickled red onions.
Tips
- Flatten the thighs with the heel of your hand so they cook evenly in the pan.
- Wipe off excess marinade so the surface browns instead of steaming.
- Use a probe to check the thickest part reaches 75C.
Storing and freezing
Cooked chicken keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days once cooled within 1 to 2 hours. Build the burgers fresh and reheat chicken until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Can I make these gluten free?
Yes. The chicken and sauce are gluten free, so serve in a gluten free bun or wrap the burger in lettuce leaves.
Can I use chicken breast?
Yes. Butterfly thick breasts and flatten to 2 cm. Cook 4 to 5 minutes per side, checking it is white all the way through.
Can I grill instead of fry?
Yes. Grill on a medium high heat for 5 minutes per side, turning once, until charred and cooked through.
More made with pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas)
Tacos de Frijol con Rajas (Bean and Poblano Strip Tacos)
DFEFNFButter Chicken Jacket Potatoes
EFNFTacos de Camarón al Ajillo (Garlic Prawn Tacos)
GFDFEFTacos de Hongos al Ajillo con Habanero (Garlic Mushroom Tacos)
DFEFNFSee every dish made with pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas)
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.