Chipotle Jack Bacon Burgers

Chipotle Jack Bacon Burgers

With grilling season heating up, our family will probably be eating more than our fair share of juicy burgers and this is a great one. With cubes of Monterey Jack Cheese melting inside a thick ground beef patty which has been seasoned with spicy chipotle powder, these are some of the most flavorful burgers you will pull off the grill this season.

For each burger combine:

• 6 ounces lean ground beef
• 1 1/2 ounces monterey jack or pepper jack cheese, cut in 1 cm cubes
• pinch kosher salt 
• 1/8 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp chipotle powder
• 1 clove roasted garlic, mashed into a paste (or 1/2 clove finely minced garlic)
• 2 tbsp hot sauce or 1 tbsp minced fresh jalapeno pepper (optional)

 
Form into patties and cook in a hot, lightly oiled cast iron pan or on a preheated grill until well done (internal temperature with a meat thermometer should read 160 degrees F or higher. Serve on toasted crusty rolls with:

• oil packed, sundried tomatoes
• crisp cooked smoky bacon
• baby lettuce leaves