Chicken Breast Burger Recipe

This Chicken Breast Burger, also known as a "Tree Burger" (from the Joshua Tree restaurant), is a healthy chicken burger recipe with diced chicken breast, sauteed mushrooms, cheese, ranch dressing, and cucumbers. It's easy to make, Weight Watchers-friendly and delicious for dinner or lunch! Over the years, I spent many hours at The Joshua Tree Cafe, sipping yummy mocha lattes, chatting with friends, and munching on Chicken Breast Burgers, aka "Tree Burgers."

chicken breast burger on a white plate with potato chip and blue coffee mug in the background

If you've never had the pleasure of enjoying a Tree Burger, then allow me to introduce you to this delicious Healthy Chicken Burger Recipe. With diced chicken breast, sauteed mushrooms, cheese, ranch dressing, and cucumbers, it's not only unique, delicious, and healthy, it's easy too!

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🥘 Ingredient Notes
🔪How to Make a Chicken Breast Burger
Expert Recipe Tips
🥗 What to Serve with Chicken Breast Burgers
👪 Serving size
🔢WW Points
🌡️Storing
❔ Recipe FAQs
🍔More Burgers and Sandwiches
📋 Chicken Breast Burger Recipe

The Tree Burger was a burger I often ate at The Joshua Tree cafe, a cafe I frequented for many years. It was a fantastic place to go for coffee or lunch with friends and colleagues.

It had comfy couches, lots of windows, a fabulous casual atmosphere, and was central, so perfect for meeting up with friends who lived in different parts of the city. Obviously, I was heartbroken when the restaurant suddenly closed down.

And although it had changed hands a few times over the years, new menu items were added and taken away, the Tree Burger always remained. It was a constant, and I was grateful for that.

But then the Joshua Tree closed, and sadly, there were no more Tree Burgers for me. So one day, overcome with nostalgia and an overwhelming craving for this delicious and easy chicken burger, I was inspired to recreate my beloved Tree Burger from memory.

🥘 Ingredient Notes

Chicken breast/chicken fillet. You can use fresh or frozen chicken breast.
Fresh mushrooms. Fresh mushrooms are critical for this recipe- don't even bother with canned mushrooms! Cremini mushrooms or Button mushrooms are ideal for this recipe.
Sharp/old cheddar cheese. I use low-fat cheddar cheese.
Ranch dressing. I use Lighthouse Ranch dressing because it's my favorite

*Please see recipe card for full list of ingredients and quantities

healthy chicken burger on a plate, open-faced with potato chips on the side

Given that it's probably been almost a decade since I had an actual Tree Burger from The Joshua Tree, my memory may not be totally accurate. But fortunately for me, the cafe had an open grill area behind the serving counter, and I was able to walk by on the way to the washroom and check on the progress of my Tree burger.

And that's how I knew how they were made! But even if you have had a tree burger and this isn't an exact replica, you'll have to agree that it's still a darn good chicken burger recipe. My family never had a Tree Burger before, and they LOVED it!

🔪How to Make a Chicken Breast Burger

sauteed mushrooms on diced chicken breast

Step 1: Spray a frying pan with non-stick cooking spray. Cook chicken breast over medium heat until no longer pink. Chop into approximately 1-inch cubes. Meanwhile, spray a separate frying pan with non-stick cooking spray and saute mushrooms over medium heat with a ¼ teaspoon salt. Keep the lid on and check frequently until done. Divide the chicken into 6 servings, as well as mushrooms (set aside servings while you are cooking the others). Top diced chicken with mushrooms.

cheese grated onto sauteed mushrooms on diced chicken breast

Step 2: Then add grated cheese, dividing evenly between servings. Cover with a lid, cooking over medium heat until the cheese is melted.

Step 3: Add ½ tablespoon of ranch dressing to each side of each bun, dividing between all burger buns, then add cucumbers, also dividing evenly between buns.

chicken breast sandwich on plate with chicken and mushrooms on one side and cucumber on other side of bun

Step 4: Slide the chicken, mushroom, and cheese mixture onto the prepared bun bottom and add the top of the bun.

Expert Recipe Tips

Don't rush the mushrooms: Let the mushrooms cook slowly with the lid on so they release their juices and develop a rich flavor. Avoid overcrowding the pan, or they'll steam instead of sauté.
Grate the cheese fresh: Freshly grated cheese melts more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese, which often contains anti-caking agents that affect texture.
Toast the buns: Lightly toasting the buns before assembling helps prevent sogginess from the ranch dressing and cucumbers.
Keep ingredients separate for make-ahead meals: If you plan to store leftovers, don't assemble the burger until just before serving. Store chicken/mushrooms, cucumbers, and buns separately for best texture.
Add toppings right before serving: Cucumbers and ranch dressing are best added fresh to maintain crunch and flavor.
Customize the flavor: Swap cheddar for a spicier cheese, add a drizzle of hot sauce, or sprinkle in fresh herbs like parsley or dill for extra flavor.

You really can't go wrong with a healthy chicken burger that's smothered in mushrooms and melted cheese. Chicken burgers are really a great option for a healthy lunch or dinner. I bring them to work a lot because these leftovers are easy to throw in the lunch bag, heat in the microwave, and even eat on the go or at your desk.

🥗 What to Serve with Chicken Breast Burgers

I have potato chips in the photos, but you could serve them with veggies instead or anything you prefer. I can't actually recall how they served it at the Joshua Tree, but I think it may have been with both veggies and potato chips.

You could also serve this burger with this Quick Cucumber Kimchi or a healthy side of Air Fryer Carrot Fries!

👪 Serving size

This recipe makes 6 Tree Burgers/Chicken Breast burgers. However, if you need to reduce or increase the servings, simply click on the servings number in the recipe card, select the number of servings you'd like, and the ingredient amounts will adjust accordingly.

🔢WW Points

This recipe is 9 WW points, using low-fat cheddar cheese. To further bring down the points, use a lower-point bread (for example, President's Choice thin buns) and use a light Ranch dressing.

🌡️Storing

Fridge: If you want to make this ahead, I'd recommend you do not put it all together until just before serving. Cook the chicken and mushrooms, melt the cheese on top, then store in a separate container from the sliced cucumbers and ranch dressing. If you have leftovers, I also recommend storing the ingredients separately.

Reheating: Reheat the chicken in the microwave for about 45 seconds-1-½ minutes (depending on your microwave), then add to the bun.

Chicken burger on a cutting board with a ½ bun with cucumber and more cucumbers in the background

❔ Recipe FAQs

Can I make these burgers on the grill instead of the stovetop?

You can! Grill whole chicken breasts, dice them after cooking, and then top with the sautéed mushrooms and melted cheese before assembling.

Can I prepare the chicken in advance?

Definitely. Cook and dice the chicken ahead of time, then store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. When ready to serve, reheat and add the mushrooms, cheese, and toppings.

Can I make this burger without ranch dressing?

Yes! If you don't like ranch or want a lighter option, you can swap it for Greek yogurt, tzatziki, hummus, or even a light mayo.

Can I use leftover cooked chicken?

Yes! This is a great way to use up leftover chicken breast. Just dice it and reheat with the sautéed mushrooms before adding cheese.

This healthy chicken burger recipe uses diced chicken breast and not an entire chicken breast, making it more economical! I'm guessing that's why the restaurant made it that way. And it's unique; this is actually the first and only time I've ever seen a chicken burger made this way.

So if you're looking for a chicken breast burger recipe that's different, delicious, healthy, and can be made right on your stove top, give this one a try. Calgary may not have the Joshua Tree anymore, but the Tree Burger lives on!

🍔More Burgers and Sandwiches

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