Quesadilla Burger
What Makes It Special
You’d think that a burger doesn’t get any better, but it does! If you’re one of the people who are strict about their burger and only put on the classic toppings of cheese and some veggies, you wouldn’t be here…You’re here because you love to get creative with your burgers and this one got your attention!
This burger is juicy, flavorful, a little spicy and a little creamy. It’s a great balance of spicy jalapeno peppers inside and on the burger balanced with cheesy tortillas, avocado, and tomatoes. What brings it all together is the chipotle mayo. It’s really the perfect finish!
This is one of my most fun twists on a classic homemade burger recipe! Whiskey burger is a close second on the favorites list.
Lyuba’s Ingredient Tips Before You Shop
Ground Beef – Choose 80/20 good quality ground beef! This will give the burger a good amount of fat to make it tender and juicy. At the very least, I recommend going up to 85/15 ratio.
Egg – I started adding egg a few of years ago, (after experimenting with burgers relentlessly at home) and I did notice a difference in the texture. The egg really helps keep the meat from falling apart and it helps with moisture.
Salt and Black Pepper – seasoning is important! When it comes to burgers (and steaks) it’s the amount and simplicity not how many different ones you can stuff in there. Add salt and pepper inside and on the outside of the burger patty, they make the flavors sing.
Jalapeños – Jalapeños aren’t the spiciest peppers, but if you want even less spice, you can either remove the seeds or choose young peppers. Young peppers have smooth, firm skin. Older peppers are spicier and have visible veins on the skin. If you wish to add more spice, leave the jalapeno seeds in.
Tortillas – Flour tortillas is our preference for this cheeseburger because they are much more sturdy and hold together better. Although, if you prefer the flavor of the corn tortillas, or need to keep this cheeseburger gluten free, definitely feel free to use the corn tortillas.
Cheese – use a shredded Mexican cheese mix if available. If you cannot locate it at your grocery store, you can use Colby/Jack mix or get a block of Monterrey Jack cheese and mild cheddar and grate it yourself.
Corn – feel free to use leftover grilled corn, frozen corn, or canned corn. Just make sure to drain the excess juices from frozen corn and canned corn first.
See recipe card for complete information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Prepare These Quesadilla Burgers
- Combine burger patty ingredients in a mixing bowl. Mix it quickly but thoroughly. Don’t mix for too long so that your hands don’t start to melt the fats and overmixing can lead to dense burgers.
- Divide into 4 qual weight portions to make 1/2-lb burgers. (Of course, you can make 8 1/4-lb burger patties if you wish or sliders.) Shape the patties as quickly as you can and lay them out on a metal tray covered with parchment paper.
- Season each patty with some more salt and pepper on both sides and cover the tray with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 2-4 hours prior to cooking.
- Preheat he pan or a griddle first and add some oil. Add the patties to the hot pan and cook for 5-8 minutes per side. The timing will depend on how well done you want them.
- Let the cooked patties rest on a plate for about 5 minutes prior to serving. Keep them warm by loosely tenting with foil.
Safe Ground Beef Internal Temperature: The FDA recommends that hamburgers should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F. If you choose to cook them to a lower temperature, be sure you’re using the freshest and best quality beef or even making your own ground beef!
How to Adjust Burger Size
This recipe calls for 4 – 1/2lb. burgers but you can easily adjust it.
- You can divide the beef mixture into 6 even patties to make 1/3-lb burgers.
- If you want to go smaller/thinner, divide the beef mixture into 8 patties for 1/4-lb burgers.
- To go even smaller, you can make sliders and divide the mixture into 16 2 oz patties. Remember to adjust cook time!
How To Grill The Quesadilla Burgers
Prepare the meat the same way as cooking them on the stove and refrigerate. Use your fingers to make a well in each center, about half way deep, before taking off the plastic wrap.
Prepare coals and preheat the grill first so it’s hot and ready. If using gas grill, set it to medium-high temperature but leave a cooler zone on one side.
Spray each patty with some cooking spray before placing it on the grill. Place them over direct heat.
Once on the grill, do not touch them again until ready to flip. Grill for 4-6 minutes per side, depending on how well you want them. Cooked for 4 minutes per side will be closer to rare and 7 minutes per side will be closer to well done. (Remember to adjust cooking time if you made thinner/smaller burgers.)
(If you want to learn more about grilled burgers, check out our sister site!)
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Quesadilla Burger Recipe
Ingredients
Burger Patties:
- 2 lb ground beef 85/15 or 80/20 meat to fat ratio
- 1/4 medium yellow onion finely diced
- 1 jalapeno pepper minced
- 2 garlic cloves pressed
- 2 Tbsp minced cilantro
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2-1 tsp chipotle chili powder to taste
- Salt
Toppings:
- 8 small flour tortillas*
- 2 cups shredded Mexican cheese mix
- 1/4 cup canned or frozen corn drained (and thawed)
- 1 large jalapeno pepper seeded and sliced
- 1 medium tomato
- 1 avocado
Chipotle Mayo:
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tsp chipotle chili powder
- 1 tbsp lime juice
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- Salt
Instructions
Prepare burger patties:
- Combine ingredients for the burgers in a medium mixing bowl and mix quickly but well, until all ingredients are incorporated throughout. (Try not to overwork the beef mixture.)
- Divide into 4 qual weight portions if you’re making 1/2-lb burgers.** Shape the patties as quickly as you can and lay them out on a metal tray covered with parchment paper.
- Season each patty with some more salt on both sides and cover the tray with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 2-4 hours prior to cooking.
Cooking Burgers:
- When ready to cook, preheat either a cooking pan or a stove-top griddle and add some oil.
- Add the patties to the hot pan and cook for 5-8 minutes per side. The timing will depend on how well done you want them.
- Let the cooked patties rest on a plate for about 5 minutes prior to serving. Keep them warm by loosely tenting with foil.
- To make the tortillas, you can use a separate griddle or clean the griddle after cooking the burgers and make the tortillas while they are resting.
- Make sure to pre-heat the cooking surface first and then lightly grease it. Let the tortillas crisp up on one side a little bit and flip them. Spread cheese on each one and left the cheese melt while the other side is toasting. Take off heat when done.
- Mix chipotle mayo ingredients in a small bowl and add it to either a squeeze bottle to drizzle of simply spread on each burger.
- Assemble the burgers as you wish.
Notes
- *Gluten free notes – if you prefer the flavor of the corn tortillas, or need to keep this cheeseburger gluten free, definitely feel free to use the corn tortillas.
- **Smaller burger patties – You can divide the beef mixture into 6 even patties to make 1/3-lb burgers. If you want to go smaller/thinner, divide the beef mixture into 8 patties for 1/4-lb burgers. To go even smaller, you can make sliders and divide the mixture into 16 2 oz patties. Remember to adjust cook time!
- Jalapeños – Jalapeños aren’t the spiciest peppers, but if you want even less spice, you can either remove the seeds or choose young peppers. Young peppers have smooth, firm skin. Older peppers are spicier and have visible veins on the skin. If you wish to add more spice, leave the jalapeno seeds in.
Nutrition
Recipe FAQs
To take the temperature: hold a hamburger patty with tongs and insert the thermometer probe through the side toward the very center. The reading should be of the center of the patty.
Burger Temperatures:
– Medium-rare burgers – 130°-135°
– Medium – 140°-145°
– Medium well – 150°-155°
– Well done – 160°-165°
French Fries is, of course, the most popular side option for any burger.
Grilled corn on the cob
Corn salad
Mexican Street Corn Salad
Spanish Rice
Mac and Cheese
Black Bean and Corn Salad
Creamy Corn Salad
No, it is not recommended to cook the patties from frozen because the outside of your burgers will be done but the inside will be raw or still frozen. Make sure to thaw the frozen patties first and do it slowly in the refrigerator.
More Burger Recipes To Try
Originally published on Will Cook For Smiles in May 2015.
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Categories:
30 Minute Meals, Backyard BBQ Recipes, Beef Recipes, Burger Recipes, Cinco de Mayo Recipes, Father's Day Recipe Ideas, Gluten Free Recipes, Mexican and Tex-Mex Recipes, Sandwich Recipes,All images and text ©Lyubov Brooke for ©Will Cook For Smiles. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If using my posts in collections and features, please link back to this post for the recipe.
Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate as most ingredients and brands have variations.
Going to make this tonight
Made it a few months ago and it was scrumptious. What size tortilla..4 inch ?
Yes, four inch I believe is the street taco size and I think those would work really well.