The Story Behind the Burger
The Tex-Mex burger originated in South Texas border towns, where Mexican flavors naturally fused with American burger culture.
Whataburger's jalapeño burger helped popularize the style, but it was small Austin food trucks that elevated it to an art form.
Today, the best spicy burger crown is contested between Chile Pepper Grill in San Antonio and Maple & Motor in Dallas, where they've perfected the balance of heat and flavor.
⏲️ Prep Time: 15 minutes
🔥 Cook Time: 10 minutes
🍽️ Servings: 2 burgers
📋 Difficulty: Medium
Ingredients
For the Burgers:
- 1 pound (450g) ground beef (80/20)
- 2-3 fresh jalapeños, sliced
- 2 slices pepper jack cheese
- 2 brioche buns
- 2 tablespoons oil for grilling
For the Seasoning:
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
Instructions
- Mix seasoning blend.
- Form two 8oz patties, season generously.
- Slice jalapeños, remove seeds if desired.
- Heat grill or skillet to medium-high.
- Grill jalapeños until blistered.
- Cook patties 4-5 minutes per side.
- Add cheese in final minute.
- Toast buns, assemble with grilled jalapeños.
Pro Tip from Andrej The Chef
"Test your jalapeños before cooking – their heat can vary wildly. I once served what I thought was a medium-spicy burger to a food critic and nearly melted his face off. Now I always taste test and adjust the amount accordingly. If they're super hot, use fewer but don't skip the grilling step – it adds essential flavor."
Top 10 List
Recipes
→ American triple smash burger
→ Maple Bacon Breakfast Burger
→ Spicy Jalapeno Tex Mex Burger
→ Triple Sliders With Secret Sauce
→ Blue Cheese Caramelized Onion Burger
→ Double Fried Chicken Cheese Coleslaw Burger
