Southwest Burgers with Pepper Jack Cheese and Avocado Salsa
Classic burgers seasoned with Southwestern seasonings, topped with melted pepper jack cheese, and finished with fresh avocado tomato salsa. A fun twist on a classic!
Ingredients
Avocado Salsa:
- 2 large vine-ripened tomatoes seeded and diced
- ⅓ cup finely diced red onion
- ½ jalapeno, seeded and ribs removed finely diced
- 1½ ripe avocados pitted and diced
- ¼ cup packed cilantro leaves roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- ¼-½ teaspoon kosher salt
Southwest Burger:
- 36 ounces (2 lbs, 4 oz) 85%/15% ground beef
- 1½ teaspoons jalapeno hot sauce
- 1½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1½ teaspoons dried oregano
- 1½ teaspoons garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoon ground coriander
- ¾ teaspoon chili powder
- ¾ teaspoon sweet paprika
- kosher salt
- freshly ground black pepper
For Assembly:
- 6 ounces pepper jack cheese thinly sliced
- 8 Cobblestone Bread Co. Corn Dusted Kaiser Rolls or burger buns
- avocado salsa see recipe above
Instructions
- Allow the ground beef to rest at room temperature for 45 minutes to 1 hour before grilling.
- Prepare the Avocado Salsa: Combine the tomatoes, red onion, jalapeño, lime juice, avocado chunks, cilantro, salt, and pepper. Season to taste.
- Prepare the Southwest Burgers: In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, jalapeño hot sauce, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, coriander, chili powder, and sweet paprika. Mix gently with your hands, but do not over mix. Form into 6-ounce burger patties (roughly ¾-inch thick). Heat an outdoor gas grill or large cast iron grill pan over medium-high heat, and grease lightly with cooking spray. Cook the burgers on each side until charred, roughly 4 to 5 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches roughly 150°F (65°C). Top each burger with 1 ounce of pepper jack cheese, close grill top (or tent pan with foil) and cook until the cheese has just melted. Remove and allow the burgers for rest for about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, grill or toast buns lightly, if desired.
- Assemble: Place burgers on toasted buns, and add a large spoonful of avocado salsa. Serve immediately.
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 730kcal, Carbohydrates: 37g, Protein: 46g, Fat: 44g, Saturated Fat: 17g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 19g, Trans Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 141mg, Sodium: 686mg, Potassium: 991mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 885IU, Vitamin C: 14mg, Calcium: 358mg, Iron: 7mg