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Friday, April 22, 2011

Open-Faced Teriyaki Chicken Burgers

Look no further, I've got your weekend dinner right here! These burgers were the very first thing to come out of The Sweets Life's new and improved(!!) kitchen. When we moved into our new house two weeks ago, it was an unseasonably warm day and after many long hours of unloading the truck, unpacking furniture, and organizing our belongings, we were dying to break in our new patio.

Our new house is close to some of my very favorite people, making impromptu dinners like this one a much easier reality. Julia, Maggie, and I began brainstorming dinner ideas, combining the contents of each of our kitchens. What resulted turned out infinitely better than any of us anticipated; the guys even told us the burgers were restaurant-worthy! Why eat out when you can get that kind of a compliment in your own backyard?! :) For me, food is as much about the experience as it is the taste...this meal will forever be ingrained in my memory as our first night in the new place. We didn't just eat, we laughed, told stories, and set the stage for many future dinners just like it!

These burgers rivaled the Cheeseburgers with Red Onion Jam for my favorite burger of 2011...do you have any other contenders I must try this grilling season?

One Year Ago: Pasta and Shrimp Primavera

Open Faced Teriyaki Chicken Burgers


Ingredients:
-1 lb ground chicken
-3/4 cup teriyaki sauce, divided
-1 egg
-1/2 tbsp onion powder
-1/2 tbsp garlic powder
-1 tsp dried parsley
-1 tsp red pepper
-1/2 cup breadcrumbs
-1 pineapple, thinly sliced
-sourdough bread, sliced
-butter & garlic powder, for the bread
-4 or 5 slices of Swiss cheese

Directions:
1. In a large bowl, mix chicken with 1/4 cup teriyaki sauce and egg through breadcrumbs until thoroughly combined. Form into 4 or 5 equal-sized patties. Cover and refrigerate until ready to grill.
2. Heat 1/2 cup teriyaki sauce with a few slices of pineapple over medium-high heat. Simmer sauce until it reduces and thickens slightly.
3. Grill burgers until done. While burgers are grilling, spread butter on each slice of bread and sprinkle with garlic powder. Stick slices of bread on grill for one or two minutes until slightly toasted. Remove bread from grill and immediately top with a slice of cheese.
4. Add cooked burger on top of cheese and generously brush burgers with teriyaki reduction. Top with sliced pineapple and serve open-faced.

And...in case you're still in need of some dessert for this weekend, don't forget these Almond M&M Easter Nest cookies or the Chocolate Bird's Nest Cookies!