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Grilled burgers are one of the easiest and most satisfying meals you can make, whether you’re firing up a gas grill, charcoal, or a simple grill pan on the stovetop. These patties stay juicy thanks to an 80% lean beef blend and a simple salt-and-pepper seasoning that lets the beef shine.
The chipotle aioli adds a smoky, spicy kick that elevates the whole burger without overpowering it. Spread it generously on toasted buns and finish with your favorite toppings for a backyard-style burger that works any night of the week.
What You’ll Like About These Burgers
Simple, juicy burgers. Just beef, salt, and pepper — grilled hot for the best flavor.
Smoky chipotle aioli. A quick homemade sauce that takes these burgers from basic to memorable.
Customizable. Multiple cheese options and endless toppings make it easy to fit your taste.
Flexible cooking. Works on a charcoal grill, gas grill, or stovetop grill pan.
Ingredient Notes
- Ground beef: 80% lean is ideal for juicy burgers on the grill.
- Salt and pepper: Season generously — simple seasonings work beautifully on grilled beef.
- Buns: Toasting prevents sogginess and adds great texture.
- Cheese options: American melts quickly, while mozzarella, Muenster, and cheddar offer different flavors and textures.
- Chipotle peppers: Use canned chipotle in adobo; mince one pepper with a little sauce for heat and smokiness.
- Mayonnaise and garlic: Form the creamy aioli base with warm, savory notes.
- Lime juice: Brightens the sauce and balances richness.
Steps to Make Grilled Burgers With Chipotle Aioli
- Make the aioli by pressing the garlic into a paste and mixing it with mayonnaise, onion powder, salt, pepper, minced chipotle, and lime juice. Set aside.
- Heat a grill on high for about 10 minutes.
- Divide the beef into four 6-ounce portions and shape into patties.
- Press a shallow indentation into the center of each patty and season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Place burgers on the grill and cook without moving them for 4 to 5 minutes.
- Flip and cook for another 4 to 5 minutes, or until done to your preference (160°F for well done or 145°F for medium).
- Add cheese during the last minute of cooking to melt.
Tips
- Chill the patties briefly before grilling — cold patties hold their shape better on high heat.
- Oil the grill grates lightly to help prevent sticking, especially if using leaner beef.
- Let the cooked burgers rest for a few minutes so the juices redistribute and stay inside the patty.
- Adjust the chipotle amount for heat: add extra pepper or more adobo sauce for a spicier aioli.
- Toast buns directly on the grill for added flavor and better texture.
Recipe Variations
- Extra smoky burgers. Add a pinch of smoked paprika to the beef mixture or brush patties lightly with BBQ sauce before grilling.
- Pepper jack cheeseburgers. Swap the cheese for pepper jack to amplify the heat and flavor.
- Herb and garlic burgers. Mix in a little minced garlic and chopped parsley for a more aromatic patty.
- Chipotle ranch version. Add a spoonful of ranch seasoning to the aioli for a creamier, tangier sauce.
- Turkey or chicken burgers. Substitute ground turkey or ground chicken and cook thoroughly; the chipotle aioli pairs especially well with poultry.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve with sweet potato fries, grilled corn, or a simple green salad.
- Add sliced avocado, grilled onions, or crispy bacon for extra richness.
- Pair with potato salad, pasta salad, or coleslaw for a cookout-style meal.
- Choose pickled jalapeños or banana peppers if you enjoy more heat.
How to Store
Refrigerate: Store cooked patties for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
Reheat: Warm gently in a skillet or microwave; avoid overcooking to keep them juicy.
Aioli: Store the chipotle aioli for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator.
Freeze: Freeze raw or cooked burger patties for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before cooking or reheating.
Grilled Burgers With Chipotle Aioli
Ingredients
For the Chipotle Sauce/Aioli
- 1 clove garlic, grated on a microplane zester
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- ⅛ tsp salt
- ⅛ tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp minced canned chipotle pepper plus about 1/2 teaspoon adobo sauce
- 1 tbsp lime juice
For the Burgers
- Vegetable oil for the grill
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef, 80%-85%
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ¾ tsp ground black pepper
- 4 hamburger buns, toasted
- 4 slices cheese, American, Muenster, Mozzarella, or Cheddar
- Optional Toppings: tomatoes, lettuce, hamburger dills, peppers
Instructions
Prepare the Aioli
- Put the grated garlic in a bowl with the mayonnaise, onion powder, 1/8 teaspoon of salt, 1/8 teaspoon of pepper, chipotle pepper, and lime juice; mix well and set aside.1 clove garlic (grated on a microplane zester) | 1/2 cup mayonnaise | 1/4 tsp onion powder | 1/8 tsp salt | 1/8 tsp ground black pepper | 1 tbsp minced canned chipotle pepper plus about 1/2 teaspoon adobo sauce | 1 tbsp lime juice
Prep and Cook the Burgers
- Heat a grill on high for 10 minutes. Brush the grates with oil.Vegetable oil for the grill
- While the grill is heating, divide the ground beef into four 6-ounce portions. Shape the portions into patties. With your thumb, make a depression in the center of each burger.1 1/2 pounds ground beef (80%-85%)
- Generously season the patties on both sides with kosher salt and ground black pepper.1 tsp kosher salt | 3/4 tsp ground black pepper
- Place the burgers on the grill grate and let them cook over direct heat without flipping for about 4 to 5 minutes. They are ready to flip when they release easily from the grill grate.
- Flip the patties and continue cooking, undisturbed, for 4 to 5 minutes longer.
- Toast the buns and place cheese slices on the burger patties about 1 to 2 minutes before the burgers are done. Finish cooking until the burgers reach 160°F.4 slices cheese (American, Muenster, Mozzarella, or Cheddar) | 4 hamburger buns (toasted)
- Serve the burgers on toasted buns with the chipotle aioli and your choice of toppings.Optional Toppings: tomatoes, lettuce, hamburger dills, peppers
Nutrition
Disclaimer:
Our nutritional information is based on a third-party application that analyzes the ingredients list to determine the values. The information is meant to be helpful, but should be considered an estimate. Values may differ depending on measurements, brands, serving variations, and database availability.
