Jalapeno Popper Burgers
Easy creamy Jalapeno Popper Burgers have all the spicy, smoky flavors of a jalapeno popper appetizer adorning a big, juicy cheeseburger!
Simple summertime suppers don’t get any more scrumptious than this bold Jalapeno Popper Burger recipe! Tasty ground beef patties are topped with a delicious 3-ingredient cream sauce (cream cheese, Greek yogurt, and garlic), spicy fresh jalapeno slices, sharp cheddar, crispy, salty slices of bacon, and served on a soft hamburger bun. YUM!
Jalapeno Burgers are the Ultimate Guy Food
Seriously, the combination of meaty burgers, smoky bacon, cheesy sauce, and spicy peppers makes these Jalapeno Popper Burgers the ultimate guy food. They love ’em! And these cheeseburgers are super easy to make – especially on the grill – and jalapeno burgers are ALWAYS a hit at neighborhood barbecues, tailgating parties, or poker night in the man cave! (But, let me tell you, these are a hit at Girl’s Night, too – just add glasses of red wine all around!)
Consider setting up a “Build Your Own Burger Bar” for your event, allowing each person to make burgers as cheesy or spicy as they like!
Other Summer Grilling Side Dish Recipes
- Grilled Corn with Honey Chili Lime Butter is the perfect summer side dish to toss on the grill!
- Watermelon Salad is cool and refreshing and balances the spicy Jalapeno Burger beautifully!
Ingredients
Burgers: We use extra lean ground beef for these burgers to keep them tender and full-size on the grill and season them with salt and pepper.
Cheese Sauce: For the cheesy topping, combine cream cheese, plain Greek yogurt (or sour cream) and a clove of garlic.
Toppings: In addition to the cheese sauce, top this burger with freshly sliced jalapeno pepper, crispy center-cut bacon, and shredded sharp cheddar cheese.
Bread: Serve these on traditional soft hamburger buns. (We like to lightly toast ours on the grill.) YUM!
How to Make Jalapeno Popper Burgers
STEP ONE: Mix the ground beef in a large bowl with a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Divide the meat into 4 equal-sized patties and press your thumb into the center of each patty (this indention helps the burgers cook evenly.)
STEP TWO: Combine the softened cream cheese, Green yogurt, and garlic in a food processor until smooth. You can also spread the spread by hand. Mince the garlic and then stir it into the cream cheese and yogurt until everything is evenly combined.
STEP THREE: Preheat the grill to medium heat. Cook the burger patties to your desired doneness, 3-4 minutes per side for medium, 2-3 minutes for side for medium-rare, and 4-5 minutes per side for medium-well.
STEP FOUR: Assemble the burgers by placing a patty on each bottom bun. Top each patty with 1/4 of the cream cheese mixture and some shredded cheddar cheese. Then add as many jalapeno slices as you like, along with 1 strip of bacon (broken in half for better coverage) and the top bun. Serve warm, and savor every succulent bite!
Tips for Success
- We use lean ground beef for this burger recipe to keep the burgers large and tender. Ground sirloin would be even better!
- Leave off the bun for a flavorful gluten-free, low-carb, Keto-friendly entree!
- Fresh jalapenos have the best flavor, but roasted or pickled jalapenos are fine too.
- You can substitute Pepper Jack or a flavored cheddar, like chipotle cheddar, in place of the sharp cheddar if you like!
- Bring the cream cheese to room temp before starting for easy mixing.
- Removing the jalapeno seeds will make the peppers less spicy.
What is a Jalapeno Popper?
Jalapeno Poppers became super popular appetizers several years ago because they’re ridiculously delicious! They’re simply jalapeno peppers that have been cut in half lengthwise and hollowed out. The inside is filled with cream cheese, cheddar and bacon, then the entire thing is breaded and deep fried for the perfect combination of flavors and textures.
How Spicy Hot Are Jalapeno Peppers?
Despite their reputation, jalapenos are only a moderately spicy pepper on the Scoville Heat Unit (SHU) spice scale. They’re hotter than bell peppers, poblanos and pepperoncini peppers but significantly less spicy than cayenne peppers, ghost peppers, and habaneros.
If it seems that jalapenos are not as spicy as they used to be, that would also be true! Farming modifications have cultivated a milder jalapeno than you remember from several years ago, making them more “marketable” to American palates!
Other Popular Popper Recipes!
- Ultimate Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers
- Jalapeno Popper Quesadillas
- Bacon Jalapeno Popper Dip
- Jalapeno Popper Crescent Rolls
- Baked Jalapeno Popper Chicken Sliders
- Jalapeno Popper Hot Dogs
*This post originally posted on 01/04/2015.
Jalapeno Popper Burgers
Equipment
- Food Processor (see note)
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef (93/7 blend)
- Salt and pepper
- 2 ounces cream cheese softened
- 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
- 1 clove garlic peeled
- 4 hamburger buns
- Sharp cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 jalapeno sliced (seeds removed if desired)
- 4 slices center cut bacon cooked crispy
Instructions
- In a large bowl, season the ground beef with a generous pinch of salt and pepper. Mix the seasonings into the meat and then divide the ground beef into four 1/4 pound portions.
- Form each portion of beef into a patty. Then, use your thumb to press down slightly in the center of each patty creating a divot. This will help the burgers cook evenly. Set aside.
- Add the cream cheese, Greek yogurt, and garlic into a food processor. Cover and pulse until well combined. (see note) Set aside.
- Preheat the grill to medium heat. Cook burgers for 3-4 minutes, flip, and cook for another 3-4 minutes for medium. (You can cook them for 1-2 minutes less for medium-rare or 1-2 minutes longer for medium-well.) Remove the burgers from the grill.
- To assemble, place a burger patty on a bottom hamburger bun. Spead 1/4 of the cream cheese mixture over the patty. Top with shredded cheddar cheese, jalapeno slices, 1 slice of bacon (broken in half for better coverage), and the top bun. Serve immediately.
