Jalapeno Popper Smash Burger

Recipe by: Daniel Anderson

Ingredients:

• 1 lb 80/20 Ground Beef
• Thick Cut Bacon
• 6-8 ounces Cream Cheese
• 2 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 2 fresh Jalapeños
• Jarred Jalapeños
• Hamburger Buns
• Blackstone Bootleg Burger Seasoning

Directions:

1. Pre heat your Blackstone to medium heat and add 6 strips of thick cut bacon. We’re using our bacon for a few reasons in this recipe as well as searing our smash burgers in the bacon fat don’t discard that when the bacon is done. Also for this recipe we’re gonna want crispy bacon. So cook and flip as need to get that nice crispy bacon and pull of to drain on paper towels when done.
2. While the bacon is cooking we can work on our jalapeño popper ingredients. In a large mixing bowl add 6-8 ounces of cream cheese (set out the cream cheese to come to room temperature about 30 minutes before this step it softens up and makes it easier to mix) Shred about 2 cups of cheddar cheese and dice up 1 or 2 fresh jalapeños and add to the mixing bowl. I like to throw mine on the griddle to caramelize for a few minutes but that’s not necessary if you don’t want to. And lastly season with about 1-2 tsp of Blackstone Bootleg Burger seasoning. Your bacon should be done and drained by this time. Chop up 2 strips of your bacon and add that to bowl and mix thoroughly till incorporated and set aside.
3. Let’s prep our beef balls and get those on the griddle. Grab about 3-4 ounces of beef and loosely pack them into balls. Don't pack them to tight, you want loose meat balls. Turn that same zone you’ve been cooking with to high heat, place your beef balls down on the griddle top and place one piece of Blackstone parchment paper on top and smash thin with a burger press or spatula and season with Bootleg Burger seasoning. After about 90 seconds you’re gonna flip your patty and with a spoon top each patty with your jalapeño popper cheese mixture and cover with a basting down to melt.
4. While the cheese is melting let’s get ready to build the burger. Slice up some red onions to get some rings and set aside with the bacon. Have your buns set up because it’s time to build. Your cheese should be melty and perfect after about 3 minutes. Place one patty on the bottom bun, on top of that add a few pieces of bacon, some jarred jalapeños and a few rings of red onion, top it off with the bun and you’re all set!