Regardless of what the calendar states, summer IS HERE on Cape Cod...it is hot and humid and time to take cooking outdoors (out of the hot kitchen). One of our all time favorite things to grill is Chicken Pesto Burgers because they incorporate one of our favorite things...pesto! They are also gluten free (if you remember to make them ahead of time) and are a huge crowd pleaser. Happy Grilling!

Chicken Pesto Burgers
(Takes 1 1/2 hours to make, chill and grill and serves 4 ppl)
Ingredients:
1 lb Ground Chicken
½ cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
½ tsp Kosher Salt
¼ tsp Ground Pepper
1/3 cup Mayonnaise
2 tblsp Pesto (stay tuned for a recipe to make your own pesto!)
Olive oil
4 Burger rolls
1 Sliced tomato
½ cup Mayonnaise and 1 tblsp pesto combined for Pesto Mayonnaise
Instructions:
1. Line a baking sheet with plastic wrap
2. In a large bowl mix chicken, parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, mayonnaise and pesto - using hands or a spatula to combine ingredients well
3. Shape the mixture into 4 patties and place onto prepared baking sheet and chill burgers for 1 hour (**if no time to chill burgers, add ¾ cup bread crumbs to help the burgers hold their shape)
4. Heat grill to medium/high heat and brush burgers with olive oil
5. Cook 5-6 minutes per side
6. Serve burgers on buns with pesto mayonnaise and sliced tomatoes
And yes....we frequently make them for 4th of July get togethers!

