~ All the peppers, onions, Mexican spices and creamy guacamole you love in fajitas … jam-crammed into one gloriously, deliciously satisfying burger recipe! And since this is THK, you know we’ve got make-ahead tips, so dinner’s a total breeze! ~
This Recipe: • Includes Make-Ahead Steps •
Grab a knife, a fork and a fistful of napkins … and let’s just dig right in.
This burger doesn’t mess around.
It’s the answer to all your cravings for big, beefy, hot-off-the-grill flavors.
The burger of dreams, friends. (For those of you who dream about burgers. We’re not here to judge dreams.)
And not only does it pack a big, deliciously beefy punch … it’s also bursting with the ever-popular flavors of sizzling Mexican fajitas. Warm spices and gorgeous veggies, plus a decadently creamy dollop of guacamole to top it all off.
We’re not kidding about dreams. If you’ve never dreamed about burgers before, you will now.
Best part, though? Sure, this burger looks and tastes totally, outrageously over the top, but we’ve stealthily turbo-loaded it with lots of seriously nutritious ingredients, too. Because, you know … this IS THK.
So, of course we use extra-lean ground beef, which is often even leaner than many formulations of ground turkey that stores offer up. Plus, this burger has a big wallop of antioxidant-rich spices, and is piled extra-extra high with those enticingly cascading mounds of healthy veggies. Oh – and instead of cheese and high-fructose-laden ketchup? Guacamole! Just like with our Asian Salmon Burgers, avocado (and all its heart-healthy nutrients) is a perfect burger topping! All on a whole grain bun, of course! Perfect!
Although, honestly, we can’t imagine you’ll ever serve this to anyone whose first thought is, “Mmmmmmmm … nutritious.” Nope. They’ll be too busy thinking, “OMG. Best.Burger.Ever! I’m gonna be dreaming about this bad boy!”
So grab those extra napkins … this is a get-messy, no-wimps-allowed, full-on, burger experience.
The burger experience of your dreams …
Easy Grilled Fajita Burgers with Guacamole
Mexican toppings and creamy guacamole highlight these deliciously satisfying Fajita Burgers!
• Includes Make-Ahead Steps •
Ingredients
Spice Mixture:
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 1/2 teaspoons cumin
- 2 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
Burgers and Veggies:
- 1 medium sweet onion
- 1 large poblano pepper
- 1 medium-large red pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound extra-lean ground beef
Guacamole Topping:
- 1 avocado
- 1/4 cup of your favorite salsa
- 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/16 teaspoon black pepper
For Serving:
- 4 whole grain buns
Instructions
- Prepare and preheat grill.
- In a small bowl, combine chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt to make spice mixture, stirring to combine thoroughly.
- Peel the onion and cut away the stem and root ends, then cut the onion in 4 even pieces horizontally, keeping the concentric rings nestled together in planks. Remove the stem and core from each pepper and cut each into four large pieces (cut down through each vertically and then in half horizontally). Toss or brush the vegetables with olive oil, making sure they are coated thoroughly (and keeping the onion planks together in concentric rings). Sprinkle vegetables with 2 tablespoons of the spice mixture, evenly coating both sides of all vegetable pieces.
- In a large bowl, crumble ground beef and sprinkle evenly with remaining 5 teaspoons of spice mixture, mixing gently but thoroughly to be sure spices are evenly distributed throughout the meat. Form 4 burger patties (each about 1/2 - 3/4" thick and 3 1/2 - 4" in diameter), pressing gently but firmly (overworking the meat can lead to tough burgers), and pressing to make a small divot in the center of each (see note).
- Grill burgers and vegetables over medium heat for about 8-10 minutes on the first side and 5-8 minutes more on the second side, until vegetables are crisp-tender and burgers have reached your desired level of doneness. If your onion is fairly large and yields thick planks, you may want to put those over the hottest section or grill them for an extra minute or two. Also, poblanos are generally thinner-fleshed than red peppers, so they will do better if placed over a cooler section, or may need to be pulled off the grill a minute or two early. (Remember that grills vary widely in temperature settings, so the settings and times you use may need to be adjusted according to your specific grill.)
- Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine avocado, salsa, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and black pepper, mashing and mixing to make a chunky guacamole.
- Remove finished burgers and vegetables from the grill, allowing burgers to rest for a few minutes. Meanwhile, slice vegetables into strips, cutting each pepper piece into 4-6 pieces, and cutting each onion plank in half and separating rings.
- Serve each burger on a whole grain bun, topped with lots of vegetable strips and a generous dollop of guacamole (and with knives, forks and plenty of napkins).
Notes
Burger divots: Easy tip! You may have noticed how some burgers tend to dome up during cooking. To prevent that, simply press with your thumb to make a small divot in the middle of each burger. This will help to ensure a perfectly even, flat burger.
Spices: Don't worry if it seems like there's a lot of spices in this recipe. The measurements are correct. We've tested and retested the burgers with varying spice amounts, and found that this was the perfect amount, delivering big fajita flavors in each bite.
Make-ahead tips: You can prepare the spiced vegetables and the burger patties earlier in the day or the night before, and store them separately, tightly wrapped, in the refrigerator, until you're ready to grill them. You can also prepare the guacamole topping ahead, but it may turn a bit brown on top. You can minimize this by pressing plastic wrap directly on the surface of the guacamole, or simply prepare the guacamole immediately before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 servings Serving Size: 1 burgerAmount Per Serving: Calories: 568
Nutrition information should be considered an estimate only, and may vary depending on your choice of ingredients or preparation. No guarantees are made regarding allergies or dietary needs. Always consult a physician or dietician for specific advice and questions.
Wow! I’m a burger nut and these were just over the top delish! I loved the combination of flavors, and that guac, gimme some more of that! Yum!
Haha Jennifer – I totally agree! They’re so good, every bit of ’em … but that guac really puts it all over the top, doesn’t it?!? So glad you fell in love with these Fajita Burgers, too – my family adores them! Thanks bunches for taking the time to leave such a sweet comment! ~Shelley
These look so delicious! My husband is going to love these! Can’t wait to make this recipe!
Hi, Beth – it’s so nice to hear from you! I’m really excited for you to try these burgers – your lucky hubby will be LOVING you for making them. They’re so beefy and satisfying, and all those awesome fajita veggies piled on top, plus the creamy guac … my oh my they’re just wonderful! They win raves every time I make them! ~Shelley
I’d choose this over any burger, any day! Thank you for sharing – this is definitely a must-try!
Yeah … they really are THAT good lol! A total family favorite at my house! If you have a moment after you try them, pop back and let me know how it went! 😀 ~Shelley
Oh I cannot wait to try this. Looks amazing!
I hope you’ll love this burger recipe just as much as we do, Katie! They definitely have all the beefy, satisfying flavor you’d want in a grilled burger … plus all the wonderful (and healthy!) fajita flavors from the veggies piled on top. Oh and that guac – just so, so good! My family is super happy every time I make these! 🙂 ~Shelley
Looks awesome and beautifully photographed.
Thank you so much – what a really lovely compliment! Honestly, though, these Fajita Burgers are every bit as delicious as they look! Big, bold flavors – plus loads of veggies piled on top, to help keep these lean burgers even more nutritious. Enjoy! ~Shelley