Grilled Burgers with Jalapeno Burger Sauce

These juicy Grilled Burgers are made with ground beef and cooked to perfection! They're topped with tangy pickled jalapeno burger sauce.

There is nothing better during the summer months than biting into a juicy grilled burger. These burgers are made with ground beef and topped with a homemade Jalapeno Sauce.

Summer is in full swing and we've been cooking a lot of our meals on the grill. Burgers are among my favorite dishes to make on the grill when the weather is warm.

There are a few things that go into a good grilled burger (in my opinion): Quality meat with a higher fat content, simple seasonings, a solid grilling technique, and a flavorful sauce to complement the meat.

A burger sauce can take a good burger into a delectable one. This Jalapeno Burger Sauce is made with mayo, BBQ sauce, and lots of pickled jalapenos. It's tangy, a little smoky, and adds a kick to your grilled burgers.

This sauce is easy to prepare and a great option when you want to switch up your traditional burger toppings!

Jump to:

• How To Season Grilled Burgers
• Ingredients For Jalapeno Sauce Burgers
• How To Cook Burgers On The Grill
• Why Chill Burgers Before Grilling?
• How Long To Cook Burgers On The Grill?
• Can I Make These Burgers Without A Grill?
• How To Make Jalapeno Burger Sauce
• Is Jalapeno Burger Sauce Spicy?
• What To Serve With Grilled Burgers
• How Long Do Grilled Burgers Last In The Fridge?
• Grilled Burgers with Jalapeno Burger Sauce

How To Season Grilled Burgers

When it comes to grilled burgers, I like to keep things simple with this all-purpose seasoning: Salt, pepper, and garlic (also known as SPG).

I find that less is more when it comes to cooking beef burgers on the grill. Too many spices or seasonings can muddle the flavor of the beef. A simple blend of salt, pepper, and garlic allows the flavor of the meat to shine.

You can make your own SPG blend by combining equal parts kosher salt, coarse black pepper, and garlic powder. I love to make a small batch and keep it in my spice cabinet to use as needed throughout grilling season.

SPG can also be purchased online or in the spice section of your local grocery store if you prefer not to make your own.

1. To make enough SPG for these burgers, simply combine 1 Tbsp. each kosher salt, course black pepper, and garlic powder in a small bowl.
2. Stir until completely combined.

Ingredients For Jalapeno Sauce Burgers

Here's what you'll need to them them.

• 2 lbs. Ground Beef (85|15% or 80|20% fat content)
• 2 tsp. SPG Seasoning
• ¼ cup Mayo
• 2 Tbsp. BBQ Sauce
• ½ cup Pickled Jalapenos (minced)
• 1 Tbsp. Jalapeno Pepper Brine
• ¼ tsp. Garlic Powder
• ¼ tsp. Onion Powder
• Pinch Kosher Salt and Pepper
• 6 slices Pepper Jack Cheese (or cheese of choice)
• Gluten Free Buns (or regular buns if not gluten free)
• Lettuce and Tomato (optional)

How To Cook Burgers On The Grill

Cooking burgers on the grill is not a complicated process, but there are a few techniques to employ that help to ensure optimal flavor and juiciness.

One tip I recommend is to choose ground beef with a higher fat content. I find that ground beef with a fat content of 85|15% or 80|20% is preferable to lean ground beef.

Lean ground beef is lower in fat and tends to dry out when cooked on the grill as a result. Ground beef with a higher fat content remains juicy when grilled and doesn't dry out if cooked properly.

This recipe calls for 2 lbs. of ground beef and yields 6 ⅓ lb. patties. The best way to ensure that all the patties are equal in size is to weigh them using a kitchen scale. A kitchen scale is one of the best inexpensive tools you can use in your kitchen.

1. Divide 2 lbs. of ground beef into 6 portions, weighing each of the portions out with a kitchen scale. Each portion should weigh 5.3 oz.
2. Form each 5.3 oz. portion of ground beef into a patty. Each patty should be equal in size and thickness to ensure even cooking.
3. Place the patties on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
4. Sprinkle 1 tsp. of SPG evenly over one side of the burgers.
5. Flip the burgers over and sprinkle the second side evenly with another 1 tsp. of SPG.
6. Place the ground beef patties in the fridge and chill for 30 minutes before grilling.

Why Chill Burgers Before Grilling?

I find that chilling the meat before grilling helps to maintain the shape of the burgers as they cook on the grill.

It helps to prevent the meat from falling apart and allows the fat to start cooking immediately as soon as it hits the hot grill, creating a nice sear.

Here are a few tips I recommend for grilled burger success:

• DO NOT press the burgers down with a spatula. This will dry them out and it's completely unnecessary.
• Flip the burgers once during the cooking process. There is no need to flip them over and over again.
• Let the burgers sit for a few minutes after removing them from the grill. This allows them to retain their juices.

How Long To Cook Burgers On The Grill?

Grilling times will vary, depending on the type of grill used and how well done you like your burgers.

We use a Weber charcoal grill when cooking burgers, but you can use a gas grill if you prefer.

No matter what type of grill used, it's important that the temperature is hot. The heat of the grill will help to sear the burgers, which seals in the fat and creates that tasty crust those grill marks on the outside, which we all know and love.

1. Heat the grill to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and place the chilled burger patties directly over the heat.
2. Cover the grill and cook the patties for 4 minutes or so on the first side, flip, cover, and cook for another 4 minutes on the second side over the direct heat.
3. Move the burgers to a more indirect heat, cover, and cook for another 4-5 minutes, or until the burgers reach your desired level of doneness.
4. Add a slice of Pepper Jack cheese (or cheese of choice) to each burger 1 minute before the cooking time is up.

The best gauge for cooking burgers (or any meat) on the grill is to measure the internal temperature. Internal temperature is a far more accurate gauge than time when cooking on the grill.

The safe internal temperature for ground beef is 160 degrees Fahrenheit and can be measured using a food thermometer.

Here is a general cooking guide for burgers once they have been moved to a more indirect heat:

• 3-4 minutes for medium-rare
• 4-5 minutes for medium
• 7-8 minutes for well-done

Can I Make These Burgers Without A Grill?

Yes, these burgers can be made using an indoor grill pan if you don't have access to an outdoor grill.

Here is how to make them on the stove top using a cast iron grill pan.

1. If using a cast iron grill pan, heat the stove to medium high heat. The surface should be hot so the burgers get a sear on the outside. This will also help lock in the juices.
2. Cook the burgers for 4-5 minutes on the first side. Don't press down on them with a spatula. This will release all the juices and dry them out. They should release after 4-5 minutes without sticking.
3. Flip the burgers and cook for another 4-5 minutes on the other side. Both sides of the burger should have nice grill marks.
4. Add a slice of cheese to each burger one minute before they have finished cooking.
5. Reduce heat to medium and cook until the burgers reach desired doneness OR an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit (this can be measured with a food thermometer).
6. Repeat this process until all the burgers are cooked.

How To Make Jalapeno Burger Sauce

The thing that separates these burgers from others is the Jalapeno Burger Sauce that is slathered on the bun before serving.

This is an easy sauce made with a few ingredients and gives the burgers a little kick.

It's made with mayo, BBQ sauce, and pickled jalapeno peppers. This sauce is rich, smoky, tangy, and a little sweet.

It can be prepared while the burger patties are chilling in the fridge.

1. To make the sauce, mince ½ cup of pickled jalapeno peppers.
2. Add ¼ cup mayo, 2 Tbsp. BBQ sauce, 1 Tbsp. jalapeno pepper brine (the liquid found in the jar of jalapeno peppers), ¼ tsp. each of garlic and onion powder, and a pinch of kosher salt and pepper to a small bowl. Stir until combined.
3. Add the minced pickled jalapenos to the bowl and stir until completely combined.
4. Place the sauce in the fridge until ready to use.

Is Jalapeno Burger Sauce Spicy?

This burger sauce is made with pickled jalapenos, so it's tangy rather than spicy.

You can make this sauce spicier by using a hotter variety of pickled jalapenos. I opted for the 'Sliced Tamed' Jalapeno Peppers from Mezzetta, but you can choose the 'Hot' variety if you prefer a spicier sauce.

Alternately, you can add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce if you'd like to spice up the sauce a bit.

What To Serve With Grilled Burgers

Once the burgers and sauce are ready, it's time to serve.

I like to serve these grilled burgers on toasted buns with lettuce, tomato, and a few sliced pickled jalapeno peppers, but you can top them any way you like.

This recipe is gluten free and uses gluten free burger buns, but you can use regular buns if gluten is not an issue for you. My favorite gluten free buns to use for burgers are made by Canyon Bakehouse. Udi's also makes a few varieties of burger buns.

• To serve the burgers, slather a generous amount of the jalapeno burger sauce on a toasted bun.
• Place a few slices of lettuce and tomato (or toppings of choice) on the bun and place the grilled burgers on top.
• Garnish with a few sliced pickled jalapenos and any other toppings or garnishes you like.

Looking for sides to serve with your grilled burgers? Check out these recipes!

• Grilled Corn Avocado Salad
• Mediterranean Potato Salad
• Light Crunchy Coleslaw
• Spanish Style Potato Salad
• Pickled Beet Salad
• Italian Green Bean Salad
• Marinated Tomato Basil Salad
• Kohlrabi Slaw

How Long Do Grilled Burgers Last In The Fridge?

Burgers are best straight off the grill, but sometimes we can't finish the whole batch in one sitting (despite our best efforts).

Any leftover grilled burgers may be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Leftover burger sauce may be stored in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.

Love burgers? Check out these recipes!

• Grilled Blue Cheese Burgers
• Grilled Juicy Lucy Burger
• Southwest Poblano Avocado Burger
• Black Bean Mushroom Burgers
• Air Fryer Turkey Burgers

Love to grill? Here are some of our favorite recipes!

• Grilled Chuck Steak
• Italian Grilled Chicken Sandwich
• BBQ Sweet Potatoes
• Grilled Ribeye with Shallot Sauce
• Grilled Chicken Kofta
• Thai Chicken Rice Bowls

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