Bacon Jalapeno Cheddar Burger with Secret Burger Sauce
The Ultimate Burger is made with seasoned ground chuck, crispy bacon, cherry peppers, jalapenos, thick tomato, green leaf lettuce, red onion, and a special burger sauce.
Once upon a time, there was a burger that knocked my husband’s socks off. My clean freak husband had sauce dripping from his face and his hands and the amazing part is…he didn’t even care! He was salivating over every single bite of this Spicy Arizona Bombshell Burger. Without a doubt, we will be firing up the grill for Memorial Day and these culinary superstars are on the menu.
Here in Arizona, we take our burgers very seriously and spicy reigns supreme. If you’ve been to Shake Shack, they are famous for the Smoke Stack Burgers topped with sweet cherry peppers…I fell in love with it and never looked back. This Bacon Jalapeno Burger aka The Arizona Bombshell Burger puts them all to shame.
The Bacon Jalapeno Cheddar Burger starts off with high-quality beef, seasoned to perfection. We keep it simple with Lawry’s Seasoned Salt and Pepper generously sprinkled on both sides. The key is to make the patties wider than the bun because the meat shrinks as it cooks. Bobby Flay taught me to always place a small indention with my thumb in the center of the beef so that it doesn’t puff up in the middle. Thank you, Bobby!
The MJ Special Secret Burger sauce is made with super simple ingredients and spices. It’s a combination of everyone’s favorite burger condiments – ketchup, mayo, and mustard and seasoned with paprika, garlic, and cayenne. If you are a pickle lover, chop up dill pickle slices and add it to the sauce. Oh man, it’s good.
Adding spice to the Bacon Jalapeno Cheddar Burger is a must. You can use fresh or sliced from the jar jalapenos to top your burger. Fresh jalapenos are definitely spicier than the jarred ones, but pack in the flavor punch. If you are afraid of it being too spicy, remove the center ribbing and seeds from the jalapeno and you will still have incredible flavor. Sweet Cherry Peppers are the perfect spicy sweet combo that puts this Bacon Burger over the top.
To make this Cheddar Bacon Burger, we grabbed a few fresh tomatoes from our garden (I finally have a garden! Thank you, Dean) and crisp green leaf lettuce. The freshness of the tomato and lettuce balance out the richness of the meat and spiciness of the peppers.
If you are looking for more incredible BURGER recipes, click the links below:
Dragonslayer Burger
Sweet + Spicy Hawaiian Burger
Brie Burger with Caramelized Onions + Sundried Tomatoes
Big Boss Burger
- 2 lbs. Ground Beef (preferably 80-85% lean)
- Lawry's Seasoned Salt
- Pepper
- Toppings:
- 4 Slices Cheddar Cheese
- 8 Slices Thick Bacon
- 1 Jalapeno, sliced or ¼ cup Jarred Jalapenos
- ¼ cup Sweet Cherry Peppers, sliced
- 2 Tomatoes
- 4 Green Leaf Lettuce Leaves
- ½ Red Onion
- 4 Hamburger Buns
- MJ's Sauce:
- ½ cup Mayonnaise
- ¼ cup Ketchup
- 1 Tablespoon Mustard
- ¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Paprika
- Pinch of Cayenne Pepper
- 2 Dill Pickle Slices, chopped (optional)
- Heat grill to high. For ½ lb. burgers, make 4 large patties. For ⅓ lb. burgers, make 6 patties. Press down so the meat is larger than the bun, as it shrinks as it cooks. Press the center of the meat with a thumb to make indention so the meat doesn't puff in the center.
- Season generously on both sides with Lawry's seasoned salt and pepper.
- Cook for 5-8 minutes per side or to the desired degree of doneness. Top with cheese the last minute of cooking.
- Cook bacon in skillet, oven, or microwave to desired crispiness.
- To make MJ sauce: in a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Add optional dill pickle. Spread on both sides of the bun.
- To assemble Arizona Bombshell Burger:
- Spread MJ sauce on both sides of the bun. Top with beef, bacon, jalapenos, sweet cherry peppers, tomato, lettuce, and onion.
Happy Memorial Day, my friends! I hope that you enjoy some ridiculously good food, great company, and some relaxing pool time today as we remember those who have courageously fought for our country. xoxo
That is one gorgeous looking burger!! And that sauce?! Yes please!
Thanks so much, Lauren! Oh that sauce makes all the difference. Have a great Saturday!
Do you prefer a certain bun?
Hi Jenn! I prefer a substantial bun that is soft and doesn’t take away from the star ingredients. It needs to be big enough to support the burger and it’s toppings. I usually go with my store’s fresh bakery ones because they are soft and made that day. I hope that helps! 🙂