Grilled Southwest Poblano Burgers

These Grilled Southwest Poblano Burgers are juicy, made with ground beef and topped with smoky roasted poblanos along with avocado guacamole.

These Roasted Poblano Burgers are perfect if you're looking for a grilled burger with a Southwestern twist! They're smoky and topped with homemade guacamole and fresh cilantro.

It's been a cool and rainy spring, but we've gotten to grill outdoors a few times in between rain showers. One of my favorite things to grill during the spring and summer months are burgers.

When it comes to burgers, sometimes it's best to keep it simple and stick to classic flavors and others it's fun to switch things up a bit and experiment with flavors.

This burger is made with ground beef that's seasoned simply and cooked on the grill until juicy. It's topped with Chipotle Cheddar or Pepper Jack cheese along with roasted poblano peppers and avocado guacamole.

You can dress it up even more by adding your favorite additional toppings. Bacon, pickled onions, pickled jalapenos, chipotle mayo, canned chilis, or Pico de Gallo are all great add-ons to this smoky burger.

Jump to:

• What Is The Best Ground Beef For Burgers?
• How To Season Grilled Burgers
• Ingredients For Grilled Southwest Poblano Burgers
• What Do Poblanos Taste Like?
• How To Roast Poblano Peppers
• How To Make Grilled Burgers
• How Long To Cook Burgers On A Grill?
• How To Make Avocado Guacamole
• What Kind Of Cheese Is Best For Southwest Burgers?
• What To Serve With Grilled Poblano Burgers
• Grilled Southwest Poblano Burgers

What Is The Best Ground Beef For Burgers?

Burgers are something I don't eat too often so I have kind of a 'go big or go home' kind of attitude with them.

When it comes to burgers, it's best to choose ground beef with a higher fat content. 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. Ground beef with a higher fat content remains juicy when grilled and doesn't dry out if cooked properly.

How To Season Grilled Burgers

I find that less is more when it comes to cooking ground 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.

It's important to season the burger patties generously with salt and pepper. This will provide the meat with ample flavor and texture as the ground beef patties cook on the grill.

Ingredients For Grilled Southwest Poblano Burgers

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

• 2 lbs. Ground Beef (85|15% or 80|20% fat content)
• 1 tsp. plus ¼ tsp. Kosher Salt (split)
• 1 tsp. Pepper
• 1 tsp. Garlic Powder
• Chipotle Cheddar Cheese or Pepper Jack Cheese (or cheese of choice)
• Gluten Free Burger Buns (or regular burger buns if not gluten free)
• 4-6 Poblano Peppers (can sub Anaheim or chile peppers of choice)
• 2 Avocadoes
• 1 Tomato
• ½ Onion (any color)
• 1 Lime
• ½ cup Cilantro (split)
• Lettuce, pickled jalapenos, chipotle mayo or additional toppings (optional)

What Do Poblanos Taste Like?

When it comes to peppers, poblanos are at the top of my list. They're slightly spicy, earthy, and smoky in flavor. Roasting them makes them even tastier.

Roasted poblanos add a great smoky flavor to just about anything. They're delicious added to dips, sauces, chili, casseroles, and salsa.

They're easy to roast on the grill and help to deepen the flavor of the burgers. If you can't find poblano peppers, you can substitute Anaheim or any variety of chili peppers you like.

If you love poblanos, be sure to check out this Poblano Avocado Sauce and Stuffed Turkey Poblano Peppers!

How To Roast Poblano Peppers

Roasting poblano peppers requires minimal effort and provides maximum flavor to just about any dish.

I recommend roasting them on the grill before cooking the burgers. I used a Weber charcoal grill to prepare this dish, but a gas grill works as well.

It's best to char the skin of the peppers and not to burn it. Cooking times may vary slightly, so make sure to keep an eye on the peppers.

1. To roast the poblano peppers, start by heating a charcoal (or gas) grill to around 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Place 4-6 poblano peppers directly over the heat.
3. Cover the grill and cook for 5-6 minutes over direct heat.
4. Flip the poblanos over, cover the grill, and cook for another 5-6 minutes on the second side.
5. Remove the roasted poblanos from the grill and set aside until cool enough to handle.
6. Once cooled, remove the top of the pepper with a knife.
7. Remove the skins and membranes from the peppers and discard. The skin should be charred and easy to peel with a knife.
8. Cut the roasted poblanos into large chunks.

How To Make Grilled Burgers

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

• Choose ground beef with a higher fat content. Lean ground beef will likely result in dry burgers.
• Season the ground beef patties generously with salt and pepper after forming them.
• Don't overwork the ground beef with your hands, as this will cause the meat to become tough.
• Use a kitchen scale to measure the meat before forming the patties so that they are all the same size and cook evenly.
• Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature. This is a much more accurate method to ensure that a burger does not become overcooked.
• DO NOT press the burgers down with a spatula as they're cooking. 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.

1. To make these burgers, start by dividing 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 to ensure even cooking.
3. Place the patties on a baking sheet lined with parchment or wax paper.
4. Place another sheet of parchment or wax paper on top of the burgers and press them down with a cast iron skillet or plate until they are ½ an inch thick.
5. Sprinkle ½ tsp. each of kosher salt, pepper, and garlic powder evenly over the first side of the burgers.
6. Flip and sprinkle another ½ tsp. each of kosher salt, pepper, and garlic powder over the second side.
7. Place the burger patties over the direct heat on the grill.
8. Cover and cook for 3 minutes on the first side.
9. Flip the burgers and cook for another 3 minutes on the second side.
10. Move the burgers to indirect heat, cover, and cook until they reach your desired level of doneness, adding 1-2 slices of cheese a minute or so before removing them from the grill.

How Long To Cook Burgers On A Grill?

Cooking times may vary depending the thickness of your burgers, the type of grill used, and how well done you prefer them.

As mentioned, the best way to tell if the burgers have reached your desired level of doneness is to check them using a food thermometer.

The safe internal temperature for ground beef is 160 degrees Fahrenheit, but the internal temperature may vary depending on how well done you like your burgers.

Here is a general cooking guide for internal temperatures (degrees in Fahrenheit):

• 125-130 degrees for Rare
• 130-140 degrees for Medium-Rare
• 145 degrees for Medium
• 150-155 degrees for Medium-Well
• 160 degrees for Well Done

The burgers are cooked over direct heat for 3 minutes per side and then moved to a more indirect heat.

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

How To Make Avocado Guacamole

I love avocado added to just about anything and these Southwest burgers are no exception.

The guacamole sort of acts as a 'sauce' for these burgers. It's simple to prepare and made with avocadoes, onion, tomatoes, lime juice, salt, and fresh cilantro.

It can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator if you like.

1. To make the guacamole, cut 2 ripe avocadoes in half and remove the pit. Scoop the flesh of the avocados into a bowl and add 1-2 Tbsp. lime juice (equals 1 large lime) and ¼ tsp. kosher salt.
2. Mash the avocadoes with a potato masher or fork.
3. Mince ½ a small onion (any color) and dice 1 tomato (such as a Roma or vine-on tomato).
4. Roughly chop ¼ cup of fresh cilantro.
5. Add the diced onion, tomatoes, and cilantro to the avocadoes. Stir until completely combined. Adjust salt levels as needed.

What Kind Of Cheese Is Best For Southwest Burgers?

To keep with the Southwestern flair, I recommend cheese with a spicy kick, such as chipotle cheddar or pepper jack.

You can also use a spicy pimento or any variety of spicy cheese, as long as it melts nicely.

Love burgers? Check out these recipes!

• Grilled Blue Cheese Burgers
• Air Fried Turkey Burgers
• Black Bean Mushroom Burgers
• Juicy Lucy Burgers
• Grilled Burgers with Jalapeno Sauce

What To Serve With Grilled Poblano Burgers

I recommend grilling the buns for 1-2 minutes before assembling the burgers to give them some extra char and flavor.

This recipe is gluten free and calls for gluten free burger buns, but you can use any buns you like if gluten isn't an issue for you.

1. To assemble the burgers, start by placing some lettuce or leafy greens on the bottom bun (optional).
2. Place 1-2 slices of the roasted poblano peppers on top of the lettuce.
3. Place a grilled burger patty on top of the poblanos.
4. Spread a generous amount of the guacamole on the top bun and place it on top of the burger patty.
5. Garnish with more cilantro (optional).

You can customize these burgers by adding any of these additional toppings for even more flavor:

• Bacon
• Chipotle Mayo
• Chipotle Ranch
• Canned Green Chilis
• Pico de Gallo
• Pickled Onions

Grilled Poblano Burgers go great with this Southwest potato salad, chipotle slaw, classic crunchy coleslaw, or cilantro lime kohlrabi slaw.

Any BBQ side dish, such as black bean corn salad, pasta salad, or grilled vegetable salad is a great pairing.

Love to grill? Check out these recipes!

• Grilled Chuck Steak
• Grilled Asian Eggplant Sandwiches
• Grilled Thai Chicken Bowls
• BBQ Sweet Potatoes
• Ribeye with Shallot Sauce
• Grilled Corn Avocado Salad
• Italian Grilled Chicken Sandwich

Looking For More Grilled Burger Recipes? Don't Miss These!

Hawaiian Teriyaki Burgers

Juicy Bison Burgers

Bacon Stuffed BBQ Burgers