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For this Green Chile Cheeseburger, green chiles are transformed into a delicious relish and along with pepper jack cheese they are the perfect match for a burger topping.

The top bun removed showing the green chile topping

This burger was inspired by one of my husband’s favorite burgers from one of our favorite restaurants. When he let out an audible ‘mmmmm’ and told me it was better than the restaurant burger, I knew I had a winner.

My version of the burger has so much more because I added a few extra special flavor touches to it.

Canned green chiles are an inexpensive, easy and delicious way to add flavor to so many dishes. I like to add a can to quick and easy corn salsa, top a grilled chicken breast or mix into soups.

Today, green chiles are making an appearance on top of burgers. I like to buy the mild chiles so I can control the heat level and because I’m using pepper jack cheese, I don’t want the spice level to be too overwhelming.

The burger from the side showing the melted cheese, chiles and lettuce

Now, the relish will taste spicy on its own, but when it’s on the burger with the creamy cheese, the spiciness  mellows out when mixed in a bite with the bun, burger and cheese. This may sound counter intuitive given that it’s pepper jack, but trust me, it really all just balances out.

The green chiles are made into a relish by adding red onion, cilantro, agave, salt & pepper. I decided to add a little agave because when I tasted the mix it was just missing a little something and the slight sweetness cuts through the mild spice of the chiles and really enhances the flavor.

Grilling season will be here soon so don’t forget to make this Green Chile Cheeseburger when you fire up your grill because this burger would be so good with a char-grilled flavor.

A grey bowl full of New Mexico Hatch Green Chile Sauce

Hatch Green Chile Season:

If it’s hatch green Chile season (August and September) you can make my ever popular New Mexico Hatch Green Chile Sauce Recipe that would be delicious on this burger.

Yield: 4

Green Chile Cheeseburger

The burger from the side showing the melted cheese, chiles and lettuce

For this green chile cheeseburger, green chiles are transformed into a delicious relish and along with pepper jack cheese they are the perfect match for a burger topping. 

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ pounds (680 grams) ground beef, 80/20
  • Salt
  • Ground black pepper
  • 8 ounces (226 grams) canned diced mild green fire roasted chiles, drained
  • 1 tablespoon red onion, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon agave
  • 8 slices pepper jack cheese
  • 4 lettuce leaves

Instructions

  1. Form the beef into 4 patties, season both sides with salt and pepper. Set aside.
  2. Add the green chiles, red onion, cilantro, agave, ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper to a bowl and mix well. Set aside.
  3. Preheat cast iron over medium-high heat for 5 minutes. Add the burgers and cook for 4 minutes each side for medium rare, or 6 minutes per side for medium well.
  4. Turn the burgers, cook for 3 -5 minutes (depending on your desired meat temperature) then add 2 cheese slices to each burger. Cover with a lid or foil and cook until cheese is melted for 1 more minute.
  5. Serve on buns with lettuce and top with the green chile relish.

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1 burger
Amount Per Serving Calories 656Saturated Fat 23gCholesterol 170mgSodium 477mgCarbohydrates 3gSugar 2gProtein 43g
© Culinary Ginger
Cuisine: American / Category: Dinner Ideas

Caramelized Red Pepper & Onion Burger

Caramelized red pepper & onion burger has the vegetables cooked in the patty for maximum flavor.