Healthy Chicken Parmesan Burgers

If you know me, you know I really don't care for red meat.  But I do cook it occasionally (like 5 times a year) because my husband likes red meat and who am I to deprive him of that.  Of the few times I do make it, it's never in the form of a hamburger, one of my husband's favorite meals.  

I do, however, make a lot of chicken and turkey burgers because they are fast to prepare and healthy and because I'm in charge of the cooking department.  Just like Mr. B is in charge of making money so he gets to make all the financial decisions.  And for the most part this arrangement works out pretty well for us.  Except for the fact that Mr. B doesn't care so much for turkey and chicken burgers.  Because of this I've always felt that I can't just present him with one and say here's dinner.  I always feel like I have to turn it into something more special or make it into something it isn't. It's almost like I'm trying to cover up the fact that it's not a real hamburger (I do the same thing with turkey meatloaf as well).  I guess in all honesty, that's exactly what I'm doing.  Every time I decide on burgers or meatloaf for dinner, my second thought is always "what can I turn it into".  So this time I turned it into chicken parmesan (Mr. B's favorite Italian meal) in the form of a burger.  

The parmesan cheese, mozzarella, pasta sauce and all the Italian seasonings add such great flavor and the onions add lots of moisture.  These were so good we ate them two nights in a row.

Ingredients:
1 lb. extra lean ground chicken
1 small onion, chopped
1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/4 cup low fat parmesan cheese
1/4 cup pasta sauce (use one with 60 calories and 0g of fat per 1/2 cup)
1 tsp. basil
1 tbsp. italian seasoning
2 tsp. parsley
2 tsp. garlic powder
Salt
Garnishes
6 tbsp. low fat shredded mozzarella cheese
8 tbsp. pasta sauce
4 flat buns (optional)

Directions:
1. Heat skillet over medium heat and spray with cooking spray.  Saute chopped onion until golden brown.
2. In bowl mix together ground chicken, panko, parmesan cheese, pasta sauce, basil, italian seasoning, parsley, garlic powder and salt.  Form into 4 patties, cover with plastic wrap and leave in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
3. When ready to cook patties, heat grill pan over medium heat and spray with cooking spray.  When heated, add the 4 patties and cook for about 6-8 minutes on each side (I usually microwave them for 45 seconds even after they're cooked as I have an intense fear of getting salmonella poisoning).  
4. Right before serving, place chicken burgers on a foil-lined baking sheet spray with cooking spray.  top each with 2 tablespoons pasta sauce and 1.5 tbsp. low fat shredded mozzarella.  Bake in oven preheated to 400 degrees for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.  

Nutritional Information:
Servings: 4
Without Flat Bun
Calories 231, total fat 9g (sat. fat 3.8g), total carbs 9.4g, fibre 1.6g, sugar 4.4g, protein 29g
Weight Watchers Points: 5
Weight Watchers Points Plus: 6

With Flat Bun (Weight Watchers or any 100 calorie flat bun)
Calories 341, total fat 10g, (sat. fat 4g), total carbs 40g, fibre 5.5g, net carbs 34.5g, sugar 4.4g, protein 33g
Weight Watchers Points: 7
Weight Watchers Points Plus: 10

With Flat Bun (all other non-100 calorie buns)
Calories 421, total fat 11g, (sat. fat 3.8g), total carbs 45, fibre 5.5g, net carbs 39.5g, sugar 4.4g, protein 36g
Weight Watchers Points: 9
Weight Watchers Points Plus: 11