Southwest Chipotle BBQ Burger

Ingredients:

For the burger patties:

• 1 pound ground beef (80/20 blend recommended)
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 4 slices of Pepper Jack or Monterey Jack cheese

For the Southwest Chipotle BBQ Sauce:

• 1/2 cup BBQ sauce (your preferred variety)
• 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, minced
• 1 tablespoon adobo sauce (from the chipotle peppers can)
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• Salt to taste

For assembling the burger:

• 4 burger buns
• Fresh lettuce leaves
• Sliced tomatoes
• Sliced red onions
• Avocado slices
• Optional: Crispy bacon strips

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Southwest Chipotle BBQ Sauce:
   • In a bowl, mix together the BBQ sauce, minced chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, honey, lime juice, and a pinch of salt. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. Set the sauce aside.
2. Prepare the Burger Patties:
   • In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef with garlic powder, onion powder, ground cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper.
   • Gently mix the seasonings into the ground beef without overworking the meat.
   • Divide the seasoned beef into 4 equal portions and shape them into burger patties, making them slightly larger than the buns to account for shrinkage during cooking.
3. Grill the Burger Patties:
   • Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.
   • Place the burger patties on the grill and cook for about 4-5 minutes per side, or until they reach your desired level of doneness.
   • During the last minute of grilling, add a slice of Pepper Jack or Monterey Jack cheese on top of each patty and allow it to melt.
4. Toast the Burger Buns and Prepare Toppings:
   • While the patties are grilling, lightly toast the burger buns on the grill until they are golden brown.
   • Prepare the toppings by washing lettuce leaves, slicing tomatoes, red onions, and avocados. Also, cook crispy bacon strips if using.
5. Assemble the Burgers:
   • Spread a generous amount of the Southwest Chipotle BBQ Sauce on the bottom half of each toasted bun.
   • Place a lettuce leaf on top of the sauce to create a bed for the burger.
   • Add a cooked burger patty with melted cheese on top of the lettuce.
   • Layer sliced tomatoes, red onions, and avocado slices on the patty.
   • If desired, add crispy bacon strips.
   • Top with the other half of the bun.
6. Serve and Enjoy:
   • Serve the Southwest Chipotle BBQ Burgers immediately, allowing everyone to relish the bold and smoky flavors.
   • These burgers pair wonderfully with sides like sweet potato fries, corn on the cob, or a black bean and corn salad.

Enjoy the spicy kick of chipotle and the Southwest flavors in this delicious Southwest Chipotle BBQ Burger!