Chipotle Burger

Want to add a spicy kick to your burgers? These Chipotle Burgers are made by mixing smoky chipotle peppers in adobo with the ground beef! Top with jack cheese and avocado for the best burger of the summer.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated May 27, 2022
Elise Bauer
grilled chipotle burger
Elise Bauer

Happiness is ... finding a half-full can of chipotle chilies in adobo in the fridge, when you have burgers to grill!

These smoked red jalapeños add pizzazz to almost anything grilled.

Fold minced chipotles into your burger mixture, form patties, and grill. Top the burgers with melted jack cheese, sliced avocados, and a little cilantro. If you want even more heat, double down and add strips of roasted poblano chilies.

chipotle burgers with poblanos and avocados
Elise Bauer

What Are Chipotles in Adobo?

Chipotle peppers are ripened red jalapeño peppers that have been smoked until they've dried and lost most of their moisture (a process that can take several days). Adobo sauce is a thick, spicy, slightly tangy sauce. “Chipotles in adobo” are simply chipotle peppers that have been stewed and packed in adobo sauce.

Look for chipotles in adobo in small cans or jars in the canned food aisle of your grocery store, or with the Mexican ingredients. If you don’t use the entire can, transfer the chipotles in the adobo sauce to a small air-tight container and refrigerate. They will keep for several months.

A Tip for the Best Grilled Burgers

Here’s a tip! Form your burger patties with a little indentation in the center and as they cook, the patties won't bulge as much in the center. Read more about this tip in our post on How to Grill the Best Burgers.

Love Burgers? Try These Recipes!

Chipotle Burger

Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 35 mins
Servings 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds ground beef

  • 1/3 cup onion, grated

  • 2 to 4 chipotle peppers, minced (from canned chipotles in adobo), depending on how much chile heat you like

  • 1 tablespoon adobo sauce

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin

  • 1 teaspoon black pepper

  • 6 hamburger buns

  • 6 slices jack cheese

  • 2 avocados, sliced

  • Chipotle hot sauce, to taste (we use Tabasco brand)

  • 1/3 cup cilantro, chopped (for garnish)

  • 2 poblano chile peppers (optional)

Method

  1. Roast the (optional) poblano chiles

    If including poblano chiles in your burger, you will need to roast them first. Coat the poblanos with a little oil and grill or broil them until they are blackened on all sides. Alternatively, you can take the plain, un-oiled peppers and place them directly on a gas stovetop burner, turning them as needed, until they are blackened on all sides.

    Place the blackened peppers in a covered bowl for 15 minutes or so to steam. Peel off the charred skin and remove all the seeds. Slice into thick ribbons and toss with a little vegetable oil and salt and set aside.

  2. Make the chipotle burger mix

    Mix the ground beef, grated onion, minced chipotles, the adobo sauce, salt, cumin, and black pepper together in a large bowl. Mix gently, just until the ingredients are combined. Do not over-mix or the burgers will be tough.

  3. Form the burger patties

    Form 4-6 patties from the burger mix, about 1/4 pound to 1/3 pound each. Press a shallow indent in the middle of the patties to keep the burgers from puffing up while grilling (read about why this works here).

  4. Prepare the grill

    Prepare a gas or charcoal grill for medium-high heat grilling, or until you can hold your hand about an inch over the grates for 1 second.

  5. Grill the burgers

    Lay the burgers on the grill and cook with the lid down for 6-7 minutes. Raise the lid, flip the burgers, and continue grilling with the lid down for another 6-7 minutes, depending on how hot your grill is and how well-done you prefer your burgers. Cook until the internal temperature is 140°F for medium rare, or 160°F for well done.

  6. Add the cheese and grill the buns

    When the burgers are almost ready, place a slice of jack cheese on each patty and close the grill lid. The cheese should melt in a little over a minute.

    If you want toasted burger buns with your burgers, toast them after you've flipped the burgers. Watch that the buns don't burn; when they are lightly toasted move them to a tray near the grill.

  7. Serve

    When the burgers are ready, place them on the buns. Top with slices of avocado, then some of the roasted poblanos (if using), a little cilantro, and hot sauce

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
747 Calories
46g Fat
39g Carbs
45g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 747
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 46g 59%
Saturated Fat 15g 77%
Cholesterol 129mg 43%
Sodium 786mg 34%
Total Carbohydrate 39g 14%
Dietary Fiber 9g 31%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 45g
Vitamin C 13mg 63%
Calcium 348mg 27%
Iron 6mg 34%
Potassium 1092mg 23%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.