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Tasty Jalapeño Cheese Burger

Featured in: BBQ and Grilling

This Fiery Burger turns a basic meal into something amazing by mixing quality grass-fed beef with punchy flavors and simple cooking tricks. The real magic comes from pressing thin patties onto a sizzling pan with sweet onions and hot jalapeños, getting crispy edges while keeping the inside moist. Adding pepper jack and homemade smoky sauce brings both heat and smoothness. What makes this burger special is how the onions and peppers cook right alongside the meat, soaking every bite with their rich taste.
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punchofyummy
Updated on Tue, 01 Apr 2025 00:12:37 GMT
Juicy smash burgers with caramelized onions and spicy jalapeños for a bold, flavorful bite. Pin it
Juicy smash burgers with caramelized onions and spicy jalapeños for a bold, flavorful bite. | pinchofyummy.com

The juicy inside of a smash burger pairs with a mouthwatering crust, while the mix of sweet caramelized onions and hot jalapeños kicks it up a notch. This approach turns basic stuff into an addictive meal you'll want more than what you'd get eating out.

Must-Have Ingredients Breakdown

  • Ground Beef: Go for 80/20 grass-fed meat, keep it in the fridge until you're ready to cook.
  • Sweet Onions: Vidalia or Walla Walla work best for that candy-like flavor.
  • Jalapeños: Look for ones that are solid and bright green.
  • Seasoning: Kosher salt and smoked paprika bring out the beef's natural taste.
  • Buns: Pick ones that won't fall apart when they get wet.

Instructions

Get Ready:
Crank up your cast iron pan till it's smoking. Chop your veggies and grab your spices while waiting.
Cook Your Base:
Throw some oil in your hot pan. Cook those thin onion and jalapeño slices until they turn dark and sweet.
Mix Your Meat:
Toss cold ground beef with your spices, but don't play with it too much or it'll get tough.
Shape Your Burgers:
Split the meat into balls without squeezing them too hard.
Smash 'Em Down:
Drop those meat balls onto your veggie piles and push hard with a metal spatula to flatten them out.
Let Them Cook:
Don't touch them until the edges look really brown and crusty.
Flip Them Over:
Scrape under each patty and turn it over, making sure you keep all that crispy goodness.
Finish Them Off:
Throw on some cheese if you want while the other side cooks through.
Crunchy-edged smash burgers topped with tasty onions and spicy jalapeños. Pin it
Crunchy-edged smash burgers topped with tasty onions and spicy jalapeños. | pinchofyummy.com

Heat Management

Tweak your flame based on how thick your patties are and how done you want them. Turn down the heat if the outside gets too dark before the middle cooks.

Bun Preparation

Get your buns nice and toasty to block juice from making them soggy. This keeps them from falling apart when you add wet toppings. A bit of butter before toasting makes them taste even better.

Sauce Application

Slather chipotle mayo all over both bun halves so you'll taste it in every bite. Use a spoon back to spread it evenly. This sticky layer also helps hold everything together.

Layering Components

Put your patty with all those yummy caramelized veggies right on the bun so nothing slides off. For extra stability and flavor, add cheese or more sauce on top. Make sure the patty sits in the middle so every bite has meat.

Proper Storage

Keep your cooked patties away from toppings in sealed containers if you're saving leftovers. This stops moisture from making your burgers mushy. Put sauces in their own container too. Keeping everything apart means fresher taste when you're ready to eat again.

Reheating Method

Warm up leftover patties in a hot pan on medium to get that crust back and keep them juicy. Turn them halfway through. Skip the microwave because it'll make them tough and cook unevenly. Try heating them with a little butter for extra flavor.

Temperature Control

Let your cold patties sit out a bit before reheating so they warm up evenly. Patties straight from the fridge often end up burnt outside but cold inside. Just 15-20 minutes on the counter helps them heat through while staying moist.

Mouthwatering burger with caramelized onions, spicy jalapeños and perfectly seared meat. Pin it
Mouthwatering burger with caramelized onions, spicy jalapeños and perfectly seared meat. | pinchofyummy.com

When you nail all these parts, you'll create smash burgers with amazing texture differences - crunchy edges, tender middle, and toppings that turn a basic burger into something special.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ How is a smash burger different from normal burgers?
Smash burgers get flattened really thin on a hot surface, giving you crispy edges but keeping the inside juicy, unlike regular thick burgers.
→ Can I tone down the heat in these burgers?
Absolutely! Take out the jalapeño seeds, use fewer chipotles in your sauce, or swap the pepper jack for a milder cheese.
→ Why should I pick grass-fed beef for this recipe?
Grass-fed beef tastes better and has more nutrients, but don't worry – regular ground beef works fine too.
→ Is it okay to make the chipotle sauce beforehand?
Definitely! You can mix up the sauce up to a week early and keep it in the fridge in a sealed container.
→ What's the ideal pan for cooking smash burgers?
Go for a cast iron skillet or flat griddle as they hold heat really well and help you get that perfect crust on your burgers.

Jalapeño Cheese Burger

Tender smashed patties layered with sweet onions and hot jalapeños, all brought together with a kick of smoky chipotle sauce for a mouthwatering burger you'll crave.

Prep Time
15 Minutes
Cook Time
25 Minutes
Total Time
40 Minutes
By: Amelia

Category: BBQ and Grilling

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: American

Yield: 6 Servings (6 burgers)

Dietary: ~

Ingredients

→ Burger Patties

01 1½ pounds free-range ground beef or turkey
02 1½ teaspoons sea salt
03 1½ teaspoons smoky paprika
04 6 slices pepper jack cheese, broken into 3-4 chunks each (if you want)

→ Caramelized Vegetables

05 1 tablespoon avocado oil or melted butter
06 3 medium sweet onions, cut into thin strips
07 2-3 large jalapeño peppers, sliced into thin rings

→ Chipotle Mayo

08 ⅔ cup avocado oil mayonnaise
09 1-2 tablespoons diced chipotles in adobo sauce
10 Small amount of salt

→ For Serving

11 6 burger buns you like

Instructions

Step 01

Get a big cast iron pan hot over medium-high heat. Throw in oil with onions and jalapeños. After they start to color, turn down the heat and let them cook for 15-20 minutes until they're deep golden brown.

Step 02

Combine your meat with salt and smoky paprika. Shape into 6 patties. Want cheese? Push some pieces into each patty. Put them aside for now.

Step 03

Stir together mayo with the chopped chipotles and salt in a little bowl. Make it as spicy as you want.

Step 04

Make piles with your onions and jalapeños. Put patties on top and flatten them really thin. Let them cook about 2-3 minutes until the edges get brown, then flip everything together. Cook another 3-4 minutes until they're done.

Step 05

Stack your burgers on buns with the meat-veggie mix and chipotle mayo.

Notes

  1. Take out the jalapeño seeds if you can't handle the heat
  2. You can find pre-cut chipotles in the Latin food section
  3. You can put cheese on top instead of inside if that's easier

Tools You'll Need

  • Big cast iron pan or flat cooking surface
  • Strong spatula or press for burgers
  • Small bowl for mixing

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Has dairy if you use cheese
  • Has eggs from the mayo
  • Has gluten if you use normal buns

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 647
  • Total Fat: 48 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 18 g
  • Protein: 38 g