Fresh Jalapenos – Adds a kick of spicy heat and fresh garden taste.
Bacon – Gives the filling a salty meaty bite.
Cream Cheese – Binds the filling together with a creamy and tangy base.
Salt & Pepper – Balances the flavors in the filling.
Beef Burger Mix:
Ground Beef – I enjoy using Country Natural Beef Butchers Blend because it’s high quality and makes a great-tasting burger.
Salt & Pepper – Enhances the flavor of the beef.
Instructions
Char the jalapenos: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Rub the jalapeno peppers with the olive oil and grill them with the hood closed over direct heat, flipping them every 3-4 minutes until charred nicely. Turn off the grill heat, and let the peppers steam a bit with the residual heat of the grill. Remove the thin papery skin (gloves are helpful when handling spicy peppers), and the ribs/ seeds within. Dice the pepper flesh small and let cool.
Assemble the jalapeno popper filling: Cook the bacon on a sheet pan in the oven at 400F for 15-18 minutes depending on thickness and size. Remove from oven, cool, and chop into small pieces. Add the chopped bacon, jalapenos, and cream cheese to a bowl. Season with salt and pepper and mix until thoroughly combined. Store in the fridge while forming the burger patties.
Form the burger patties: Divide the ground beef into 6 even sections, then press it flat to make round burger patties without overworking the dough. Make a divet in the center of the burger patties using your fingers.
Assemble stuffed jalapeno popper burgers: Remove the jalapeno popper filling from the fridge and set ⅓ aside as a topping. Divide the remaining filling into 3 even servings, then place the filling in each burger patty right in the center. Take the remaining burger patties and lay them flat over the top of the filling and seal the edges of the burgers creating a stuffed burger. Store in the fridge for 20-30 minutes to set.
Grill burgers: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat, and remove the burgers from the fridge. Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Cook for approximately 4 minutes with the lid fully closed before flipping and cooking another 3-4 minutes. Compile your burger as you wish and enjoy!