This Southwest Burger brings everything to the table with a well-seasoned burger patty, homemade Southwest burger sauce, and delicious toppings that all bring together those classic Southwest flavors. Grill them on a pan or fire up the grill; these beef burgers are going to be the star of your next cookout!
One of my family’s favorite summer meals is burgers, and this Southwest burger is so flavorful with green chilies, cumin, and chili powder seasoned burger patties. They come together in minutes and are guaranteed to bring the flavor for a simple weeknight meal or fun burger to throw on an outdoor grill for a weekend get-together.
This meal makes 8 big juicy burgers with enough to feed you very well. If you have any burgers leftover, they are great as lunch the next day, too!
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- Explosive flavor in every bite – The burger patties are stuffed with green chilies and a delicious blend of spices and then topped with a smoky chipotle ranch burger sauce.
- Perfect for grilling season – This Southwest Burger is a fanatic option for summer cookouts and barbecues, bringing a taste of the Southwest to your backyard and impressing your guests with its unique twist on the classic burger.
- Quick and easy to make – The beef burger patties come together in minutes, cook fairly quickly and will have this meal on your table in under 30 minutes!
- Delicious burger sauce – A creamy and flavorful sauce that perfectly complements this Southwest Burger, made with ranch seasoning, chipotle, and a hint of lime with a creamy combination of sour cream and mayo.
Recipe Notes
This Southest burger recipe is as simple as promised! Just 30 minutes and easy prep for a family friendly meal.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make Southwest burgers to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
For the beef patties
- Ground beef – For the best, most juicy burgers, use an 80/20 ratio.
- Green chilis – No need to drain the chilis first. The extra liquid adds the flavor through the beef mixture.
- Spices – I like to use a classic Southwest seasoning blend with cumin, garlic powder, and chili powder. We personally love the addition of chipotle as well to give it a little more flavor.
For the burger sauce
- Mayonnaise – Choose your favorite mayo.
- Sour cream – For added tanginess and a thickening agent, maintain a creamy texture.
- Ranch seasoning – Infuse the sauce with savory herbs, garlic, and onion taste.
- Lime – A squeeze of fresh lime juice quickly brightens the sauce and elevates the flavor.
- Chipotle chili seasoning – Just enough to give your burger sauce a smoky flavor.
Southwest Burger toppings
- Colby Jack Cheese – You can also use cheddar or pepperjack.
- Avocado – Adds a creamy element and compliments the Southwest flavors.
- Lettuce, onion, and tomato
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Southwest Turkey Burger – Swap the beef for ground turkey for a leaner option and top with guacamole!
- Southwest Chicken Burger – Another lighter option is to use ground chicken. Give it a little extra spice with the addition of paprika, and top the chicken burger with salsa verde and pepper jack cheese.
- Southwest Bacon Burger – Add some crispy bacon as a burger topping or take it a step further and add bacon bits to the meat mixture for a super flavorful burger patty!
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make Southwest Burger patties.
Add ground beef, green chiles, and spices in a bowl.
Use your hands to combine the mixture and evenly distribute the seasonings and chiles. The key is to not over work the mixture!
Divide the meat into 8 equal balls and then flatten into patties.
Cook the burgers in preheated pan or on the grill for about 3-4 minutes on each side.
Top with lettuce, tomato, onions, and sliced avocado or whatever toppings you prefer.
Add the burger sauce and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Use good quality ground beef – I always like to use an 80/20 lean-to-fat ratio in most recipes. This will ensure your burger is juicy and flavorful. You could also mix in some ground pork or turkey for added texture and taste if you want to mix it up.
- Don’t overmix the burger patty mixture – You want to gently combine the green chilis and spices into the beef and avoid overworking it too much. Doing so can actually cause the burger patties to be a little tough and less juicy.
- Make the burger sauce first – Before you start your burgers, mix up the southwest burger sauce first and let it chill in the fridge. This will allow all those yummy flavors to meld together and give you a much more flavorful sauce!
- Only flip once – Cook the patties for about 3-4 minutes on each side, resisting the urge to flip more than once. This allows a good sear to form and keeps the burgers juicy.
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Make the sauce ahead of time – You can mix up the burger sauce up to 3 days in advance and store in the fridge. If you like it enough, you can keep this condiment on hand for other recipes, too!
- Prep burger patties – Season and shape the patties, separate with parchment paper, and store in the fridge for up to a day or freeze individually wrapped for up to three months.
- Pre-cut your toppings – Most toppings are fine to cut a day beforehand, like the onions, lettuce, and tomato. You can also slice the avocado; just make sure to squeeze lemon juice on top and cover well to prevent any browning.
Freezer Meal Instructions
Making this Southwest Burger recipe into a freezer meal is simple! Follow the steps below and you can store this recipe in the freezer for up to 6 months.
To freeze before cooking
- Shape the burger patties and place on a parchment paper line baking sheet.
- Place the baking sheet with the patties in the freezer for about 1-2 hours, or until the patties are firm and partially frozen. This process helps prevent them from sticking together.
- Layer the partially frozen patties with parchment paper between each one and transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. You can cook your burgers patties from frozen or thaw first in the fridge.
How to Freeze Southwest Burger Patties After Cooking
- After cooking, allow the patties to cool completely.
- Wrap each patty individually in plastic wrap or foil.
- Place the wrapped burgers in a freezer bag and freeze.
What to Serve with Southwest Burgers
Since this protein based dinner has the delicious flavors of Southwest cuisine, it will pair well with many of your favorite burger side dishes.
Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
Southwest Burger Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
- in the freezer up to a month
Leftover Recipes
Here are a few ways to repurpose those leftovers and give them a delicious makeover!
- Southwest Burger Salad – Heat and crumble any leftover cooked burger patties over a bed of lettuce with tomatoes, onions, avocados, and shredded cheese, and use that delicious burger sauce as a dressing.
- Southwest Chili – Chop the burger patty and add to a pot with beans, spices, onions, green chilis, broth, and corn for a hearty meal, similar to this chicken chili recipe!
- Southwest Casserole – Try adding the leftover beef to this street corn casserole for a quick and easy meal option!
- Cheesy Southwest Beef and Rice – Mix crumbled beef with rice, cheese, green chilis and top with diced avocado and sour cream.
Recipe FAQ’s
How do I prevent my burger patties from drying out during cooking?
Avoid overcooking the patties by cooking them until they reach an internal temperature of 160°F and only flip them once.
What’s in a Southwest Burger?
A Southwest Burger features a seasoned beef patty with green chilies, creamy avocado, smoky chipotle mayo, and is served in a toasted bun for a flavorful twist on a classic favorite.
What can I add to make the burger patty spicy?
Try adding diced jalapenos to the mixture for added heat.
More EASY Burger Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy Burger recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
Southwest Burger
Ingredients
For the Southwest Burger Patties
- 2 pounds 80/20 ground beef
- 4 ounces diced green chiles, 1 can
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- ¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, optional
Southwest Sauce
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 teaspoons ranch seasoning
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- ½ teaspoon chipotle chile powder
To Assemble the Burgers
- 8 hamburger buns
- 8 lettuce leaves
- 2 beefsteak tomatoes, sliced into 8 slices
- ¼ red onion, finely sliced
- 2 avocados, sliced
- 8 colby jack cheese slices
Instructions
To make the Southwest Sauce
- Combine mayonnaise, sour cream, ranch seasoning, lime juice and chipotle chile powder and whisk together until smooth.
- Chill in fridge while making burgers for flavors to meld.
To make Southwest Burger Patties
- Combine ground beef, green chiles, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper (optional).
- Use your hands to work the mixture to evenly distribute the seasonings and green chiles. Try to work the meat as gently as possible and as little as possible to do this. Overworking the meat can make the burgers less tender.
- Split meat into 8 equal parts and form into balls, then flatten into patties.
- Cook the burger patties in a pan or on the grill for 3-4 minutes per side, or until cooked to your desired doneness.Top with colby jack cheese 1 minute before taking the burger off the grill.
To assemble the Southwest Burgers
- Optional: Toast the inside of each hamburger bun on the grill or griddle.
- Place a leaf of lettuce on the bottom half of the hamburger bun. Add the burger patty, then top with tomato, onion, and avocado, or your preferred burger toppings.
- Spread 1 tablespoon of Southwest sauce on the inside of the top of each bun. Place the tops on the buns. Serve immediately.
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