Jalapeno Burgers. A spin on our beloved burger recipe.
Imagine a juicy, succulent, cooked-to-perfection beef patty with chunks of cheddar cheese stuffed inside the meat.

A few weeks ago, my dear friend invited us to her house for dinner. We had terrific jalapeno cheddar burgers.
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I could not wait to get home to replicate them as much as we have fallen in love with them.
The perfect amount of heat from the jalapeno. Savory and super delicious.
We all know that jalapeno is not for the faint of heart. So, I took control and chose a heat level I felt comfortable with. To achieve that, I omitted most of the seeds.
Medium heat is how I like them.
My recipe has no hamburger buns, which I replaced with spinach. I prefer the lightness of it, but by all means, add your favorite bun to this hamburger with a jalapeno recipe.
Any good bread buns will be perfect for this Jalapeno Burgers. My preference is potato buns. Not too thick and super delicious.
A gluten-free paleo version of dinner. The softness of the spinach tames the burger.
In this Article
- Subscribe to Giangi's Kitchen!
- What are jalapeno peppers?
- Peppers and Mexican cuisine
- Tips from a pro jalapeno eater
- Here are a few helpful tips for the ingredients needed to make this jalapeno cheddar burgers recipe
- Optional sides to your burger with jalapenos
- Cooking tips and step-by-step instructions to achieve this wonderful cheese jalapeno burger recipe
- Variations to your jalapeno hamburgers
- I hope you enjoyed these cheddar jalapeno burgers. Check out these flavorful recipes:
- Jalapeño Burgers

What are jalapeno peppers?
Jalapeno peppers are medium-sized chile peppers with mild to moderate heat.
The green, deep color is when they are picked and are in their unripened state. Jalapenos turn red when they are ripe.
Used to flavor everything from salsa to salad dressing.
Fresh jalapenos can be chopped, sliced, or diced depending on the use that you have for them.
Slice them into rings when you want to concentrate the heat into a bite. Nachos is a good example.
Remove the ribs and the seeds to reduce the level of heat.

Peppers and Mexican cuisine
There are many types of peppers to choose from. These include serrano, chili, and jalapeno peppers. You could spend all day at the store deciding which ones to buy.
Play with one at a time..
Serrano is milder than jalapenos, and habanero will have you running for the water. A little will go a long way.
I attempted to grow both bell peppers and a pepper plant. Unfortunately, the squirrels ate the peppers before I could enjoy them.
Tips from a pro jalapeno eater
When I first moved to Arizona, I was introduced to jalapenos. My friends were unsure how I would cope with the heat.
So, they showed me a trick. Whenever I eat something spicy hot, I should add salt and lime to a slice of radish or cucumber. I should eat it immediately.
The two balance the heat by calming it. And trust me, I have seen and felt fire one time too many.
No need to drink tons of water, milk, or beer to calm the hotness.

Here are a few helpful tips for the ingredients needed to make this jalapeno cheddar burgers recipe
This is a quick introduction. Please read the recipe for complete instructions.
Ground beef with 80/20 fat content is the best choice. It will keep your burgers moist while reducing fat content.
Cheddar cheese: Sharp cheddar cheese is fantastic with this jalapeno burger. Pepper Jack cheese can also be used.
Jalapeño peppers: the star of this dish. By removing the internal seedling, you can control the heat distribution.
Fresh spinach is washed and dried. The crispiness and freshness of the spinach provide a nice balance against the burger’s heat with jalapeno.
Optional sides to your burger with jalapenos
Refreshing and nourishing, the radishes and avocados are the perfect pairing.
- Radishes
- Limes
- Avocado
- Extra slice of cheese
- Grilled burger buns

Cooking tips and step-by-step instructions to achieve this wonderful cheese jalapeno burger recipe
This is a note to the wise and to myself: The seeds and filaments are the hottest parts of a jalapeno.
Be very careful when removing them not to breathe into them. I did that, and I am still coughing.
- It is ok to rinse the inside of the jalapeno. This will eliminate a lot of the heat.
- Grate the cheese with a grate with large holes.
- Use a large bowl to mix all the ingredients.
When you are ready to assemble your burger:
- I use a measuring cup to ensure all burgers are equal in size. I scoop up the desired amount for each burger.
- Ensure that the cheese is not overly exposed. This will prevent it from melting and burning faster than the burger.
- I use a grill pan to give it the perfect lines to them.
- Cook the burgers carefully. Monitor them closely. The cheese will melt and create fat. This can be hazardous if left alone.
- Medium-high heat and a few minutes on each side
- Once cooked, let your grilled burgers rest on paper towels to absorb some of the fat.

Variations to your jalapeno hamburgers
As you can see, this recipe is super easy to make and requires few ingredients.
Of course, you can always add some new flavors to it:
Garlic powder
Worcestershire sauce
Thinly sliced onions and jalapenos are added to your meat for some extra yummy.
Using pIckled jalapeño can also replace the fresh one.
Enjoy this yummy jalapeño cheddar Burgers recipe!
I hope you enjoyed these cheddar jalapeno burgers. Check out these flavorful recipes:
Equipment that I use and love to make this recipe
Jalapeño Burgers

Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef, (80/20 fat content)
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, roughly chopped
- 1 jalapeno, cleaned, seeds removed (optional) and sliced
- salt and pepper
- fresh spinach, washed and dried
OPTIONAL SIDES
- radishes, thinly sliced
- limes, wedges
- avocado, sliced
Instructions
- Combine the ground beef with the cheddar cheese and jalapeno slices in a large mixing bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Form ¼ pound each burger patties.
- Over high heat place a grill plate and when hot brush some oil over the surface.
- Add the burger patties and cook to desired doneness paying attention as the cheese will melt and stick to the grill. 4 to 5 minutes per side.
- On a plate place a small bed of spinach and add the burger on top of it. Add the radishes and limes with avocado to your plate.
Nutrition
Giangi’s Kitchen provides nutritional information, but these figures should be considered estimates, as a registered dietician does not calculate them.
- Course: Beef, Veal & Lamb, Dinners
- Cuisine: American, International
- Occasion: Father’s Day, Fourth of July
Did you make this?
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Lisa
I enjoyed the peppery kick in the burgers. The cheese did help lessen the bite. The recipe is perfect for a simple lunch or light dinner.
Giangi Townsend
I am so happy you enjoyed it.
Thank you!
Shelby
I have so many jalapenos in the garden and this was the perfect way to use them up!
Giangi Townsend
Wonderful! Enjoy!
Emerald
Oh my god, these burgers are amazing. They’re juicy and crispy on the outside, and they have just the right amount of kick.
Giangi Townsend
Thank you, Emerald, for your feedback.
I am so happy you liked them.
Gen
My boyfriend and I absolutely LOVED these jalapeño burgers! Just the right amount of spice and creaminess from the cheese. We’ll absolutely be making these again!
Giangi Townsend
Wonderful to hear! Thank you.
LIndsey
I don’t know why I never put the cheddar cheese IN the burgers but these were fantastic! It was melty and flavorful with a hint of spice. Perfect
Giangi Townsend
Thank you and so happy you like it.
Shelby
These jalapeno burgers are the perfect summer grill recipe! Topped mine with picked radish and it was perfection.
Giangi Townsend
Thank you!
Gina
We love spice so these burgers were a total hit! Will be making them all summer, thanks!
Giangi Townsend
The pleasure is all mine.
Jane
I love how you’ve used the jalapeño to play off the sweetness of the burger. It’s a really interesting twist on a classic recipe!
Giangi Townsend
Thank you. A different spin with lots of flavor.
Traci
This recipe made me so excited the weather (and my tastebuds) get to warm up for the summer! Such a nice tasty flavorful meal!
Giangi Townsend
Thank you!
Mary Melodee Mena
This recipe looks good, but I don’t think that is a jalapeno in the photo you show of the plant growing. Just an FYI!
Giangi Townsend
It may look a bit different, but it is a jalapeno. I was able to grab it before the squirrels would grab it.
Enjoy the recipe.
Megan Ellam
Jalapenos burgers are an awesome combo. We loved them thanks.
Mina
This burger looks so good! I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Giangi Townsend
Enjoy it!
swathi iyer
This spicy touch burger looks delicious great recipe I am going to give it a try.
Giangi Townsend
Enjoy!
nancy
Love this spicy kick this burger has. perfect recipe for the grill
Giangi Townsend
Thank you, and enjoy!
Bernice
An excellent recipe for those who like extra heat in their burger.
Giangi Townsend
Thank you!
Rose
We’re obsessed with jalapeños! This jalapeño burger brought a simple burger to another level! I’ll make it again.
Giangi Townsend
Thank you!
Claire
I made this last night and they were such a hit!!! We served them like normal burgers in buns with some mayo, salad and pepperjack cheese. DELISH!
They were spicy but not too spicy and had such a nice flavor to them. We did them on the fire pit outside so the smell was amazing.
THANK YOU
Giangi Townsend
I am so happy you enjoyed it. Thank you for your feedback.
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome
These are incredible!
Giangi Townsend
Thank you!
Sharina
These Jalapeño burgers are really a must try! Sooo tender and scrumptious! Added some avocado and it was a perfect combo! Definitely making these again!
Giangi Townsend
Wonderful! I am so happy you enjoyed them.
Addison
My family loved these burgers for dinner! They had the right amount of flavor, heat and spice!
Giangi Townsend
Thank you and so pleased you enjoyed them.