You stare blankly at the fridge, dinner a looming gray cloud threatening your evening. The usual burger routine feels like a worn-out record, skipping and predictable. You crave something more, a spark to ignite your taste buds and break the monotony. But where does one find excitement in the realm of the ordinary hamburger? Fear not, weary patty adventurer, for Jalapeno Popper Burgers have arrived. Imagine the creamy, cheesy indulgence of your favorite appetizer, the fiery kick of jalapenos, and the satisfying crunch of bacon, all nestled within a juicy burger. This recipe isn’t just a meal; it’s a rebellion against the tyranny of the boring burger. So, grab your spatula and prepare to embark on a culinary adventure that will leave your taste buds singing and your burger blues a distant memory.
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Jalapeno Popper Burgers
Taking the Jalapeno Popper Burgers to the next level, this recipe creates a cream cheese stuffed burger that is sure to be a real mouthwatering treat. The idea is to layer some softened cream cheese stuffed with finely diced jalapeños inside the center of a homemade patty for an extra special addition of flavor. To make the stuffing, one simply mixes the cream cheese with some garlic powder, onion powder and the jalapeños for a result that is both creamy and spicy. By stuffing this flavorful mixture right in the middle of the burger patties before cooking, it creates a whole new twist on traditional poppers. As the burger cooks, the warm, gooey cream cheese is completely incredible.
Biting into one of these cream cheese stuffed burgers, you can really taste the flavors bursting out in the best way. The spice from the jalapeños really seems to bellow out, and combining them with the creamy cheese makes for a truly perfect combination. No longer just holding the peppers on top, this helps the spice of the jalapeños mix all the way through each bite. Without a doubt, these cream cheese stuffed burgers are by far the best burgers made using this recipe!
Why This Recipe is Awesome?
The bacon-wrapped jalapeño popper burger sizzled on the grill, tempting everyone with its spicy, cheesy, and savory flavors. With cream cheese and cheddar cheese stuffed right inside the middle of two thin, sliced and smash patties that are then cooked up with a slice of bacon nicely added on top and served up on a fresh bun with a swipe of chipotle sauce, they are sure to blow your mind.
If you already love the taste of hot, fresh-grilled jalapeño poppers, then these crazy concoctions of popping jalapeños stuffed into an over-the-top burger are sure to far surpass any burger you’ve judged delicious up until now. Whether you fry the patties in a skillet or grill them outdoors, this fiery new take on an all-American burger is just what your burger-loving taste buds have needed to give life some serious F L A V O R!.
Adjust the Spice Levels For Your Taste
I’ve found the jalapeño burger recipe to be quite customizable to my personal taste when it comes to spice levels. If you prefer things on the milder side but still want some mild heat, simply remove the seeds and veins from the jalapeños before chopping them. This takes away some of the spice but keeps some great kick in the final product. On the other hand, if you really love everything to be super hot, you can leave the seeds intact for an even bigger spice punch.
As for me, I typically don’t add the seeds since I prefer the flavor over being overly spicy. But I do love spice, so I only remove some of the seeds to find that nice balance. Another option if you or family members are more sensitive to the heat is to simply omit the chopped jalapeños altogether and mix the other ingredients together for a much milder pepper popper inspired burger with just as great flavor and texture, but without the intense spice.
How to Make Jalapeno Popper Burgers?
Prepping the Ingredients
To get started on these cheesy stuffed burgers, I first combine the ingredients for the cream cheese filling in a bowl. I take the cream cheese and shredded cheese and use a fork to mix them together until homogenous. Then I slice the tops off of the jalapeños, cut them in half lengthwise, and use a small spoon to remove the core and seeds from the inside to reduce the heat, leaving just enough for a bit of kick.
Next, I take a small amount of the cream cheese filling and use a spoon to stuff it into each jalapeño half. I continue this process until all the peppers are filled. Any remaining cream cheese mixture, I form into small patties to later place inside the burger. I arrange the stuffed jalapeños on a tray and stick it in the fridge to set for at least 30 minutes before assembling the burgers. Another important step is to let the chipotle sauce come to room temperature so it blends well throughout the burger – then it’s time to get cooking!
Grilling Process
To start the grilling process, I preheat my gas grill to medium-high heat around 400F to allow for proper direct cooking of the burgers. Then I grab a handful of ground beef, forming 1/4 lbs tightly packed balls, gently rolling each between my hands until round before placing on a plate. I repeat this process to form 6–8 balls total, covering the remaining unformed meat and placing the balls on a plate in the fridge to ready them for cooking.
My preferred method is to first preheat a cast iron skillet or plancha on the grill grates until slightly smoking. Then I take a burger ball and gently press it between two pieces of parchment paper, using my spatula to firmly press and smash it out into a burger pattie shape about 1/2 inch thick. I continue this process with each ball, being sure not to overwork the meat. Then it’s time to season the patties generously with salt and pepper, as well as a bit of dried garlic for added flavor.
Next, I grill the burger patties for about 5–6 minutes per side, flipping many times to prevent charring and ensure they reach an internal temperature of 140°F. About halfway through grilling , I top each burger with the jalapeño popper slices and firmly press them onto the patty. I let them cook for another 1–2 minutes before carefully flipping to the new side. At this point, I’ll slice and layer on some cheese, waiting 1–2 minutes more for it to melt. I pull the finished burgers off to a plate to rest, repeating the process with the remaining patties. I then cook the bacon in the same skillet, and use the bacon fat to toast the bun halves.
Make the Garlic and Lime Mayo
While grilling up the savory patties, I like to also prepare a quick and easy garlic and lime mayo to use for spreading on the toasted bun halves. For those not wanting to skip this step, I have a very simple mayonnaise recipe to combine with fresh lime juice and roasted garlic paste for the ideal creamy, zesty compliment to the popping flavor of these jalapeño poppers burgers.
I simply mix together 3/4 cup of store bought mayonnaise, about 2 tablespoons of roasted garlic paste, and 2 tablespoons of fresh lime juice. Once homogenous, I reserve it in a small bowl for later use during assembling. The fresh notes of lime and garlic really lift this burger to another level for my taste. But for those just wanting a quicker route, feel free to skip this step and just enjoy the salty-spicy pop of the creamy filling alone!
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Assembling the Jalapeno Popper Burgers
It’s now time for the fun part – assembling these cheesy, spicy masterpieces! I start by spreading a generous layer of the homemade garlic and lime mayo onto the top and bottom buns. Then I place one of the cooked burger patties stuffed with jalapeño poppers in-between the buns. For those wanting something a bit more bold, the chipotle sauce would also work great here instead of the mayo.
To build my burger, I like using 2-4 burger patties stacked high, so each bite is filled with maximum popper deliciousness. On top of the patties goes a slice of the leftover crisped bacon alongside some pickled red onions for a nice tangy bite. Last but not least, I add one more swipe of the chipotle sauce across the top bun before closing it all up. And really, thats pretty much all there is to it – besides devouring the incredibly tasty results! These jalapeño popper burgers truly are a showstopper worthy of any grill out or weekend cooking project.
How to Serve Jalapeno Popper Burgers?
These flame-laced fillings pack so much zesty flavor, you really won’t want to contain it between traditional buns. For those watching calories or just wanting to switch it up, I recommend wrapping the over-sized patty in lettuce leaves instead of the usual fluffy brioche bun. While the pictured burgers show that satisfying soft bread, for Weight Watchers followers a lettuce wrap is a lower points way to enjoy this fun food. You could also opt for a low-carb wrap like the Cut Da Carb bread to further reduce the points.
Thinking ahead for fun gatherings, these jalapeno cream cheese burgers also make the perfect sliders for a party. Simply portion the same filling and toppings between miniature buns for an easy, huge hit at your next get-together. Since this recipe makes about eight servings, by cutting each burger patty and bun into halves, you’ll have around sixteen sliders to share. You could serve them sliced for 2 SP (Smart Points) if using Weight Watchers. Or if tracking by their Blue or Purple plan, a single slider fills that 1 SP.
Tips & Tricks
Here are some tips and tricks to enhance your popper burger recipe!
- Jalapeños and other hot peppers can really vary in spice levels. Use your own preference when choosing which type of pepper to use, as a milder variety will yield a burger that is mildly spicy, while a hotter one adds more heat. The ground beef mixture and especially the cream cheese stuffing tend to medium spicy, so dial back the pepper heat if you want an overall milder recipe flavor profile. Often roasting jalapeños first makes them milder in flavor.
- Feel free to add in any of your favorite burger add-ins like additional seasonings, dried oregano, freshly diced chives or scallions. An egg and about 1⁄4 cup of oats can help bulk up the meat if needed. Play around with your favorite burger seasoning combos like salt, onion and garlic powder.
- For those wanting to skip the cream cheese filling, simply mix diced jalapeños directly into the ground beef.
- Be sure to really seal the burger patties well, pinching the edges together tightly so the hot and creamy cream cheese doesn’t ooze out the sides as the burgers shrink and cook. For thin patties, leave about a 1⁄2 inch border all around the cream cheese center so it doesn’t overstuff.
- For scaling up the recipe to make larger batches, three juice third-pounder burgers would use 1 lb of ground beef. If you want four burgers, increase the meat to 1.5 lbs and seasonings to 1.5 teaspoons of salt and 3⁄4 teaspoons each of garlic and onion powder.
Storing Leftover Jalapeno Popper Burgers
For this recipe, I usually only make a small batch of around 3–4 burgers, so there aren’t too many leftovers. However, if storing any unused burger patties, they should keep well wrapped tightly in the fridge for about 2–3 days. I haven’t personally tried keeping them much longer than that. To reheat, simply pop the pre-assembled burger in the microwave until piping hot and juicy again. Or you can reheat the patty and put together the burger just before serving if it was stored separately from the bun and toppings.
Variations
Here are some variations to consider:
- Jalapeño Options: For a different flavor, try using pickled jalapeños for their briny zing. Or feel free to use fresh slices for some extra crunch. Both options are delicious.
- Cheese Experimentation: Feel free to experiment with mixing different cheeses in the cream cheese filling. Alternatives like smoked Gouda, mozzarella or Swiss could offer new dimensions of flavor.
- Leaner Option Suggestion: For a leaner burger, substitute ground turkey or chicken in place of the beef. Either protein would still work well.
- Stuffed Burger Option: Get creative by stuffing the burgers with any of your favorite toppings instead of just the cream cheese mixture. For adventurous eaters, try forming extremely thin patties, placing a mixture of items in the center, then carefully pressing the edges together and sealing, so the fillings don’t leak out during cooking.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this jalapeno popper burgers recipe is a unique and crowd-pleasing take on the classic burger. With layers of creamy, cheesy, and spicy flavor packed into every bite, they are sure to be a hit at any cookout or dinner party. The combination of grilled beef, melted cheese, and tart sliced jalapeños creates a truly remarkable burger worth trying. I hope you and your family enjoy these as much as mine do!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is this burger spicy?
Yes, these burgers are mildly to moderately spicy, depending on the type of jalapeño used and whether the seeds are removed. The cream cheese filling helps tame some of the heat.
2. What if I don’t have a grill?
No problem, you can cook the patties in a skillet on the stove top instead of grilling. Just be gentle when flipping to avoid breaking them.
3. Are jalapeños good on a burger?
Absolutely! The slight heat and grassy flavor of jalapeños pairs beautifully with beef and cheese on a burger. It adds unique flavor.
4. How many calories are in a jalapeño popper burger?
One burger patty with bun, cream cheese and toppings will range from 500 to 650 calories depending on exact ingredients and portion sizes.
5. Are jalapeños hot or sweet?
Jalapeños have a brightly acidic, slightly sweet and very hot flavor. The heat comes from capsaicin, while sugars provide some counterbalancing sweetness.
6. Is jalapeño tasty?
Yes, beyond just being spicy, jalapeños have a complex, tasty flavor that enhances savory foods like burgers. The heat is balanced by subtle sweet-acid notes.
Jalapeno Popper Burgers
Course: AppetizersCuisine: American, Mexican4
servings20
minutes30
minutes505
kcal50
minutesThis unique burger recipe combines the fan favorite appetizer of jalapeño poppers into burger form. Ground beef patties are stuffed with a creamy filling of cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and jalapeño slices. When grilled to perfection, each juicy bite bursts with hot, smoky and cool flavors from the molten cheeses and tangy peppers. Sure to be a crowd-pleaser, the jalapeño popper burger is the ideal handheld meal for spice lovers.
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
4 jalapeño peppers, halved and seeded
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
4 hamburger buns
Optional toppings: lettuce, tomato, onion
Directions
- Combine the ground beef, cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper in a bowl. Form into 8 balls.
- Stuff each jalapeño half with the beef mixture. Arrange on a plate.
- Form the remaining beef mixture into 4 patties, about 1/2 inch thick. Season both sides with remaining salt and pepper.
- Grill patties over medium heat for 5-7 minutes per side, until cooked through. Top each patty with 2 stuffed jalapeño halves during the last 2 minutes of cooking.
- Toast the hamburger buns. Place a patty on each bun bottom. Add desired toppings like lettuce, tomato, onion.
- Serve burgers while hot, enjoying the spicy cream cheese pop of the stuffed jalapeños with each tasty bite!
