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This Baja burger is studded with fresh jalapeno, lime zest, and tons of spices. It’s then topped with melty cheese, salsa, pickled jalapenos, crispy fried onions, avocado, and cilantro.
There is nothing I love more than a burger that is packed with flavor! And this Baja burger is just that – PACKED with flavor!
I combined ground beef with lime zest, cilantro, smoked paprika, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper for the burgers. The burgers are deliciously simple but pair lovely with a toasted bun and the salsa, cheese, avocado, and crispy onion toppings.
Ingredients for Baja burgers
- Ground beef
- Lime zest
- Cilantro
- Spices
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Hamburger buns
- Avocado
- Crispy onions
- Salsa
How to make
Never made a loaded homemade burger before? Well, you’re going to love just how easy it really is!
- Add ground beef, cilantro, lime zest, and spices to a mixing bowl.
- Mix fully and form 4 equally sized patties.
- Cook your patties on the grill (or a grill pan!) until your desired doneness.
- Top with cheese and let it melt.
- Add burger patties, salsa, avocados, cilantro, jalapenos, and crispy onions to a bun.
Baja Burger Tips
Recipe Tips
- Make sure to use good quality 80/20 ground beef. This keeps the burger both flavorful and moist. If you use meat under 15% fat, you risk the burger being dry and crumbly.
- The best type of salsa for this burger is thick and chunky.
- Medium-rare burgers should be cooked internally until 130-135 degrees F.
- Use a crowd-friendly heat level of salsa. I think medium works best.
Substitutions and adapatations
Looking for ways to switch up this Baja burger? Well, have no fear! Here are a few flavorful changes you can easily make with this recipe.
- Use ground chicken or ground turkey to make this dish slightly less fat but still full of flavor.
- Replace the fresh sliced avocado with guacamole.
- Switch up the cheese using Muenster, pepper Jack, or Colby Jack.
- Romaine lettuce is a delicious choice for a more veggie-packed burger.
More burger recipes
Baja Burger
Ingredients
For burger patties:
- 1-½ pounds ground beef, 80/20
- 2 whole fresh jalapenos, seeded and minced
- 3 tablespoons minced cilantro
- 1 teaspoon lime zest
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 8 slices White cheddar cheese
For serving:
- 4 hamburger buns, toasted
- 8 tablespoons salsa, thick and chunky
- 1 fresh avocado, thinly sliced for topping
- pickled jalapeno slices, for topping to taste
- crispy fried onions, for topping to taste
- fresh cilantro, for topping
Instructions
For burgers:
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, add ground beef, jalapenos, minced cilantro, lime zest, smoked paprika, kosher salt, garlic powder, black pepper, and onion powder. Mix together until combined and form into 4 equal-sized hamburger patties.
- For grilling: Preheat your grill to medium heat and add your patties. Cook until they reach your desired doneness. Before removing from the grill, top each burger patty with a slice of cheese and let melt. For pan frying: Heat a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add your patties and cook until they reach your desired doneness. Before removing them from the pan, top each burger patty with a slice of cheese, cover the pan, and let the cheese melt.
For serving:
- Open your buns and add 1 tablespoons salsa to the top and bottom of each bun. Top with burger patty and desired amount of avocado slices, pickled jalapenos, fried onions and cilantro.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
It’s definitely burger season and your spiced up, piled high with amazing toppings twist is irresistible!!!
I am in love with the double jalapenos in this! You are right I love the heat. 🙂 Pinning!
I had a couple of bad experiences as a kid with spicy foods too. It’s funny how things turn around and as an adult we get all crazy for spice. I am loving everything about this burger. I see myself chowing down on this at least four or five times this summer.
Now this is a burger I can sink my teeth into!
I say bring on the heat! This looks amazing, love all of those goodies piled between the bun.
Fried onions, cilantro and jalapenos? Bring on the big, bold tastes. I love how this burger looks!!!
I love heat too! I love hot sauce on my fries…that’s my kind of love haha But mmmm this burger!! I NEED IT! I love cooking burgers in the summer and this one has got to happen!
Dear Brandy, my mouth is watering. What absolutely fantastic burger. The spicier the better in my opinion! Would love this anytime. xo, Catherine
We’re sisters in spice 🙂 OMG — looks great. I always pile my burgers high with spicy toppings (especially when we’re at burger joints like Elevation Burger). Love the combination of flavors and textures here …
I tried it actually yesterday and been reading this article last week. I make sure I made a test before I commented.,
What I can say is I love my own recipe though it came from you. The beef is juicy…better than burger king…
I would suggest to add melted cheese on the beef to add juiciness and flavor rather than adding cheese on the bun…