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Jalapeño Burgers

We are hurrying to use  up all our Jalapeños from last years garden.  We had a bumper crop and froze them solid in zipper bags for the winter.  I find the easiest way to mince a jalapeño is to take it out frozen solid and use a very sharp paring knife, slicing it very thin.  When it is frozen it will be so easy to slice that it will be as though you almost used a razor blade and shaved it while it is still frozen.  I first slice it in half lengthwise, remove the seeds and slice from tip to stem while holding the bit of stem.   These burgers are not hot but have a great flavour and so simple and quick.  Use thin buns to enjoy the flavour of the meat.

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 2 small or one large frozen jalapeño, shaved and minced
  • 1/2 onion, minced
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  1.   Fry the onion and jalapeño over medium heat just until wilted.  Allow to cool to room temperature.
  2. Combine beef, jalapeño, onion, egg and salt and form into 4 flat patties.  It is easiest to do this by forming into even balls and then flattening them on parchment paper.
  3. Grill over hot coals until the center is no longer pink.  Serve on a thin bun with fried onions, lettuce and your favorite condiments.


  1. I, too, had a bumper crop of jalapenos last year. I wish I had known your tip to freeze them whole in bags as you did. I wouldn't mind clarification on the shaving and mincing's not really clear to me, especially the 'shaving' part. Thank you so much!

    1. Hi, thanks for letting me know to clarify that. Sometimes I see it in my minds eye while I am writing but that doesn't translate very well onto the page. I hope I explained it a bit better in that paragraph. If not...I may need to get out my camera and take a video clip. =)

    2. Hey,
      I too need a clarification for the shaving. Also, if you have an excess of fresh chile you can roast in the oven, place in a plastic bag or container. Let the chiles sweat it out for five minutes or so. then you can peel the skin off. A word of caution, use gloves, but if you don't remember not to touch your eyes or pick your nose... not that you would have your finger in your nose. It enhances the flavor, but more importantly it reduces the size which enables you to preserve even more food. waste not want not... right
      male Mexican American new Mexican from la but livin in the bay

  2. Do you always add egg to your burgers? Or just for the grill?

    1. Hi, yes, I generally do add an egg in to the burger whether I fry them in the pan or grill them. It adds additional nutrition and also binds the meat together with the veggies.

  3. I made these last night and they were a winner! Thanks!

  4. Is there a recipe for those thin buns and I am just overlooking it?

