Chili Cheddar Burger Recipes

CHILI CHEESEBURGERS

Steps:

• Form 6 somewhat-thin patties from the beef and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Fry the patties over medium to medium-low heat in a large skillet, 3 to 4 minutes per side.
• Onto each half of a burger bun, place a cooked patty. Top with 2 to 3 tablespoons grated Cheddar and a pile of hot chili.
• In a large, heavy pot, brown the ground beef with the garlic over medium heat until the beef is totally cooked, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain off most of the excess fat, leaving a little behind for moisture and flavor. Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt and cayenne. Stir together well, cover the pot and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally; if the liquid level seems low, add up to 1 cup water to keep it from burning.
• After an hour, stir in the kidney and pinto beans. In a small bowl, combine the masa harina with 1/2 cup water and stir together with a fork until it's smooth. Pour the masa mixture into the chili. Stir together well, then taste the chili and adjust the seasonings. Simmer the chili for another 10 minutes to thicken, then turn off the heat and let it cool.
• Fill freezer bags with 2-cup portions and freeze them flat for easy stacking (or freeze in other freezer-safe containers).

CHILI CHEESEBURGERS

Steps:

• Divide the ground beef in half and form 6 somewhat-thin patties out of one of the halves. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Fry the patties over medium to medium-low heat in a large skillet, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Set aside.
• In the same skillet over medium-high heat, add the rest of the ground beef, the garlic, onions and some salt and pepper and cook until browned. Drain off the grease and mix in the diced tomatoes, kidney beans, tomato paste, chili powder and cumin. Cook until nice and bubbly, about 20 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning.
• Lay half of each bun on 6 plates (so each plate gets half a bun.). Lay 1 patty on each bun piece, then divide the cheese among the patties. Ladle the hot chili all over the patties. Serve with Thin Fries if desired.
• Peel and rinse the potatoes, then cut them into sticks by cutting each potato into 4 or 5 vertical pieces, then cutting each piece into sticks. Put the potato sticks in a large bowl, cover with cold water and swish them around to get off the extra starch. Pour off the starchy water and add fresh water. Continue washing the potatoes until the water runs clear. Cover with water again and allow them to soak for 2 or 3 hours. (You can also stick them in the fridge and let them soak for up to 3 days.)
• When you're ready to make the fries, drain off the water and lay the potatoes sticks on baking sheets lined with paper towels. Blot them with more paper towels to dry them.
• Heat a few inches of oil in a heavy pot until a deep-fry thermometer registers 300 degrees F. In 3 or 4 batches, cook the potatoes until soft, about 1 minute per batch. They should not be brown at all at this point! You just want to start the cooking process. Remove each batch and drain them on new/dry paper towels.
• When all the potatoes have been fried once, turn up the heat until the oil reaches 400 degrees F. Start frying the potatoes in batches again, cooking until the fries are golden and crisp, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the oil and drain on paper towels.
• Sprinkle the fries with sea salt and dive in!

LOADED CHILI CHEESEBURGERS

Steps:

• Prepare the onion rings as the label directs; keep warm. Meanwhile, preheat a grill to medium high. Form the beef into four 6-ounce patties, about 3/4 inch thick; press the center of each patty with your thumb to make a 1/2-inch-deep indentation. Season the patties on both sides with salt and pepper. Lightly brush the grill grates with vegetable oil, then grill the patties, indentation-side up, until marked on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Flip and cook until marked and slightly firm, about 3 more minutes for medium doneness. During the last minute of grilling, top each patty with a slice of cheese. Remove the patties to a plate and let rest 5 minutes. Grill the buns, cut-side down, until lightly toasted, about 1 minute. Top the bun bottoms with the burger patties, chili and onion rings. Drizzle with the barbecue sauce, then cover with the bun tops.
• Photograph by Levi Brown

GREEN CHILE CHEDDAR BURGER FOIL PACKS

Steps:

• Heat gas or charcoal grill. Cut 4 (18x12-inch) sheets of heavy duty foil. Spray with cooking spray.
• In medium bowl, mix beef, 1 can green chiles, chili powder, 1 teaspoon of the cumin, 3/4 teaspoon of the salt and 1 cup of the cheese until blended. Form into 4 patties about 1/2-inch thick. In small bowl, mix corn, remaining can of green chiles, remaining 1/2 teaspoon cumin and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• Place beef patty on center of each sheet of foil. Scoop about 1/3 cup of corn mixture on top of each patty.
• Bring up 2 sides of foil so edges meet. Seal edges, making tight 1/2-inch fold; fold again, allowing space for heat circulation and expansion. Fold other sides to seal.
• Place packs on grill over medium heat. Cover grill; cook 8 minutes. Rotate packs 1/2 turn; cook 7 to 9 minutes longer or until patties are no longer pink in center and meat thermometer inserted in center of patties reads 160°F. Remove packs from grill. Cut large X across top of each pack. Carefully fold back foil. Top each patty with 2 tablespoons cheese; garnish with cilantro and a lime wedge.