This Spicy Southwest Burger is a flavor-packed beast, pairing seared beef and crispy bacon with fiery jalapeños and smoky chipotle sauce. Loaded with layers of heat and savoriness with crispy textures and melty cheese, this burger is a knockout hit for those who crave a serious spice punch.

Table of Contents

What is on a Southwest Burger?

Living in Phoenix, I have some strong opinions on what needs to be part of a Southwest burger.

BEEF – Absolutely we need beef. In fact, this burger also has beef bacon which is highly recommended, but not mandatory.
CHILES – Double the chiles with grilled jalapenos and a chipotle sauce.
BOLD FLAVORS – Between the punch of chiles and the peppery seasoning, every bite is packed with big flavors that stand out. Think of it like a cactus: if you touch it, it’s going to give you that sting.

Watch the Video Recipe

How to Cook This Burger

Prepare the Chipotle Sauce

Start by preparing the chipotle mayo sauce. This is as simple as adding everything into bowl and mixing, or a blender if you want it super smooth.

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream or Mexican crema
2 chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
Salt to taste

Form and Season the Patties

Portion a pound of ground beef into 1/4-pound patties (or 1/3-pound if you’re hungry). Season each patty generously on both sides with Canyon Crust Beef Seasoning or your preferred beef seasoning mix. Press a slight indentation in the center of each patty to prevent swelling during cooking.

Shop now for Chiles and Smoke seasonings.

Cook the Veggies and Bacon

Let’s start cooking the jalapenos and onions as they will take the longest. Heat your griddle to medium-low and add beef tallow or a neutral oil. Once the tallow has melted, add the sliced jalapeños and onions.

Cook them slowly, stirring every few minutes, to allow their flavors to develop. While the veggies are cooking, add your choice of bacon to the hot griddle. Flip as needed until crispy, then remove and drain on a paper towel.

Grilling up beef bacon, jalapenos, and sweet onions.

Toast the Buns

Once the bacon is done, use the leftover drippings to toast your burger buns. Place the buns cut side down on the griddle until they are golden brown and crispy. After the buns are toasted, move the veggies into the bacon drippings and season to taste.

PRO TIP: Move the peppers and onions into the bacon drippings after toasting the buns for a boost of flavor. Don’t waste the good stuff!

Jalapenos and onions are cooking slowly on the griddle alongside the burgers.

Sear the Burgers

Increase the griddle heat to medium-high and add the burger patties. Cook for a few minutes on the first side until a crust forms and juices start to pool on top.

Flip the burgers and immediately place a slice of white cheddar cheese on each patty. Continue cooking until the cheese melts and the burgers reach your desired doneness.

Sear the burgers and top with white cheddar.

Assemble the Burgers

Start with a generous spread of chipotle mayo on the bottom bun. Add the grilled jalapeños and onions, then place the cheesy burger patty on top. Finish with crispy bacon and the top bun.

Serve immediately and enjoy that heat!

Variations for Toppings

Pepper Jack Cheese: Swap out white cheddar for pepper jack to amp up the spiciness.
Guacamole: Spread some of the creamy avocado paste on buns for an extra layer of flavor.
Pickled Red Onions: These will really brighten up every bite of the burger.
Hatch Chile Jam: Simple recipe, spicy and tangy to pair with the jalapenos.
Spicy Tennesee Onions: Skip the grilled onions and use these spicy, cheesy onions.
Creamy Pinto Bean Dip: Spread this on the bottom of the bun under the grilled onions and jalapenos for a next level combo.

This is a loaded Spicy Southwest burger with bacon, cheese, peppers, and onions.

Important Tips

Don’t overwork the meat: When forming the patties, handle the ground beef gently to avoid a dense, tough burger. Press the center before cooking to prevent them from swelling
Low and slow: Cook the peppers, onions, and bacon on medium-low to slowly caramelize and crisp up the burger toppings.
Toast the buns: This step is crucial for preventing a soggy burger and adding a delightful crunch. Besides, we have all of that delicious bacon fat ready to sop up.
Spice level: Add fewer jalapenos if the chiles are pretty spicy. They should temper down in heat as they are cooked.

Recommended Sides

Serve any of these side dishes alongside the spicy Southwest burger and you won’t be disappointed:

Thank You For Trying Our Recipe!

We’re here to bring people together with bold flavors, using spice and flames to ignite the food and friendships.

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Spicy Southwest Burger

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Print Recipe

This Spicy Southwest Burger is a flavor-packed beast, pairing seared beef and crispy bacon with fiery jalapeños and smoky chipotle sauce.

Total Time: 35 minutes
Yield: 4 Burgers 1x

Ingredients

Scale

1 pound ground beef, portioned into ¼-pound patties
2 tablespoons Canyon Crust Beef Seasoning
8 slices of bacon
2 jalapenos, sliced into thin coins
½ sweet onion, sliced thin
2 tablespoons beef tallow, or neutral oil
4 slices white cheddar cheese
4 burger buns

Chipotle Mayo Sauce

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream or Mexican crema
2 chipotle chiles in adobo sauce
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
Salt to taste

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Prepare the sauce. Mix all of the ingredients together, blending for a smooth texture if desired. Taste and adjust with spices as needed.
Form the burgers and season generously on both sides. Press down slightly in the center of the burger so it doesn’t swell during cooking.
Slowly cook up the veggies and bacon. Get the griddle warmed to a medium-low heat and add the beef tallow. Once the tallow has melted, add the sliced jalapenos and onions. Allow them to cook slowly, stirring every few minutes while the rest of the ingredients are prepared. Add the bacon to the griddle and flip as needed until crispy. Remove and drain on paper towel.
Toast the buns. Once the bacon has been removed, toast the buns in the leftover drippings. Move the veggies into the drippings after the buns are toasted, and season them to taste.
Sear the burgers. After the buns are toasted, add the burgers to the griddle. Cook for a few minutes the first side until a crust is formed, and liquid starts to pool on top. Flip the burger and add a slice of cheese on top. Cook until desired temp.
Assemble the burgers. Add the chipotle sauce, the grilled jalapenos and onions, burger with cheese, bacon, and the toasted bun.

Author: Brad Prose
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Burgers & Sandwiches
Method: Grilling
Cuisine: Dinner, Lunch, Burgers