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Flavorful Hatch Green Chili Smash Burgers

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These Hatch green chili smash burgers combine a smoky, spicy kick with a crispy crust and melty pepper jack cheese, perfect for easy weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (450g) ground beef (80/20 blend)
  • 2–3 roasted, peeled, and chopped Hatch green chiles (about ⅓ cup)
  • 4 slices pepper jack cheese
  • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon butter or oil (for cooking)
  • 4 soft sandwich buns or brioche buns
  • Optional toppings: sliced red onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles, burger sauce

Instructions

  1. Roast and prep the Hatch green chiles if using fresh: broil or grill whole chiles until skin blackens and blisters (5-7 minutes per side). Steam covered for 10 minutes, peel, deseed, and chop finely. If using canned, drain and chop.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine ground beef with chopped Hatch green chiles. Season generously with salt and pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
  3. Preheat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes until very hot.
  4. Divide beef mixture into 4 equal portions (about 4 ounces or 115g each). Roll loosely into balls.
  5. Add butter or oil to skillet. Place one ball in pan and press down firmly with a spatula to about ¼-inch thickness. Repeat for remaining balls, cooking in batches if needed.
  6. Cook patties without moving for 2-3 minutes until edges are brown and crispy. Flip carefully, top each patty with a slice of pepper jack cheese, and cook another 1-2 minutes until cheese melts and burger reaches desired doneness (medium recommended).
  7. While cooking second side, butter cut sides of buns lightly. Remove patties and keep warm. Toast buns in skillet until golden and slightly crisp, about 1 minute.
  8. Assemble burgers by placing patties on toasted buns and adding preferred toppings.

Notes

Do not overwork the meat to keep patties tender. Use a very hot pan for a crispy crust. Press patties only once and flip once. Toast buns for better texture. Fresh roasted Hatch chiles add best flavor but canned fire-roasted chiles are a good substitute.

Nutrition

Keywords: smash burgers, Hatch green chile, pepper jack cheese, easy weeknight dinner, smoky burger, spicy burger, cast iron skillet burger

Find it online: https://forkifyfun.com/flavorful-hatch-green-chili-smash-burgers-recipe-perfect-for-easy-weeknight-dinners/