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Guacamole Chipotle Cheese Burgers

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients

For the burgers:

  • 1 lb grass-fed ground beef*
  • 4-8 slices pepper jack cheese
  • 4 burger buns
  • 1 ripe tomato, sliced into ¼-inch thick rounds
  • Lettuce

For the guac:

  • 2 ripe avocados
  • 1 tbsp lime juice
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt 
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder

For the chipotle sauce:

  • 1/2 cup plain whole milk Greek yogurt or sour cream
  • 1-3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, finely chopped (about 1-2 tbsp)**
  • 2 tsp adobo sauce (from the can)
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika 
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • *Easily sub with ground bison, chicken, or turkey
  • **These are spicy, so use as many or as few as you want!
  • Note: ~This chipotle sauce would be amazing on tacos (or taco bowls) and nachos.

Items you can prep ahead (optional)

  • Make chipotle sauce
  • Form patties
 

Instructions

  • Heat up the grill over high heat for at least 10 minutes (or cook the burgers in a skillet).
  • Divide the beef into 4 (4 ounce) balls. Place them on a flat surface and press them into about a 5-inch diameter patty. Use your fingers to press a shallow, 2"- wide depression into the center of each patty to help it stay flat. Season generously with salt to coat on both sides (I just eyeball this, but it’s usually about 1-1.5 teaspoons salt total to season all of the patties).
  • Grill or pan-fry for 3-5 minutes or until you have nice grill marks and/or browning. Flip, top each burger with cheese, and repeat. Toast your buns during the last couple of minutes.
  • To make the guacamole, in a medium bowl, add the avocado and mash until slightly chunky. Stir in the lime juice, salt, and garlic powder until combined. Taste and add more salt or lime if needed.
  • To make the chipotle sauce, in a medium bowl, mix together the yogurt, chipotles, adobo, spices, and salt until combined.
  • Assemble your burgers! Here is the order I recommend after trying it out many times: bottom bun > chipotle sauce > lettuce > tomato > pattie(s) > guacamole > more chipotle sauce > top bun. It’s definitely a messy burger with all of the toppings!

Notes

Substitutions:

  • To make vegetarian, make my Ultimate Black Bean Burgers in place of a beef patty.
  • To make vegan, see above + skip the cheese and use a dairy-free yogurt or sour cream alternative.

Storage:

  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge:
    • Cooked patties: up to 4 days
    • Chipotle sauce: up to 7 days

Leftovers + Repurposing:

  • Make it a burger bowl! Have a base of lettuce and/or grains and top with burger, guac, tomato, and chipotle sauce (you can thin it out with a bit of water so it drizzles more easily).
  • Make it a burger taco. Chop up the burger and put it into a tortilla with lettuce, tomato, guac, and chipotle sauce. 
  • Leftover chipotle sauce would be delicious on tacos, nachos, or with any cooked/grilled protein.