Description
Jalapeño onion smash burgers combine spicy peppers with classic beef patties for an explosive culinary experience. Crisp edges, melted cheese, and caramelized onions create a mouthwatering meal that satisfies deep comfort food cravings you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1.5 pounds high-quality 80% lean ground beef
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1.5 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 0.25 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1.25 teaspoons kosher salt
Vegetables and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 large yellow onion, very thinly sliced (about 2 cups)
- 1 large jalapeno chile, very thinly sliced (about 0.5 cup)
- 1 teaspoon canola oil
- 4 american cheese slices
- 4 soft hamburger buns, split and toasted
Instructions
- Craft the burger sauce by mixing ingredients thoroughly in a small bowl. Refrigerate until needed.
- Portion ground beef into 8 loose spherical shapes. Chill on a plate while preparing the cooking surface.
- Heat grill to high temperature (450F to 500F). Position a large cast-iron skillet or griddle on the grill grates.
- Coat the skillet with oil. Create 8 small onion mounds, spacing them apart. Layer jalapeno slices on top of onions. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sear for 30-60 seconds until onions start browning.
- Place a meat portion on each onion mound. Use parchment paper and a sturdy spatula to flatten into 4-inch patties. Remove paper immediately. Season patties with additional salt and pepper.
- Cook undisturbed until patty edges crisp, approximately 2-3 minutes. Flip so onion-jalapeno mixture faces upward.
- Add cheese slice to 4 patties. Continue cooking until patties brown and cheese melts, about 1.5-2 minutes.
- Create double-stacked burgers by combining plain and cheese-covered patties. Transfer to bottom buns.
- Spread burger sauce on top buns. Crown the burgers and serve immediately while hot and fresh.
Notes
- Choose high-fat ground beef like an 80/20 blend for maximum juiciness and flavor in your smash burgers.
- Pat meat extremely gently when forming balls to keep burger texture loose and tender, preventing dense patties.
- Use a heavy cast-iron skillet or griddle for creating perfect crispy caramelized edges on burger patties.
- Slice jalapeños and onions thinly to ensure they cook evenly and integrate seamlessly with the burger meat.
- For a lower-heat version, remove jalapeño seeds and membranes before slicing to reduce spiciness.
- Avoid pressing burgers multiple times during cooking, which can squeeze out flavorful meat juices.
- Prepare all ingredients beforehand to streamline the cooking process and ensure each burger is served hot and fresh.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 710
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 44 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 23 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg