Chorizo Burgers

When the outside temperature is below zero in the depths of a Northern Wisconsin winter, it’s not so fun to fire up the grill. So as soon as summer hits (grilling season officially begins once the temperature rises above 40°F), you’ll find me grilling outside as much as possible. While we tend to stick to regular ground beef burgers for our weekly burger nights, they can get a little boring. That’s where chorizo burgers come in.

Chorizo is a fresh Mexican sausage, typically made with ground pork and flavored with chiles, garlic and other seasonings. It adds a ton of spicy and bold flavor to these burgers. The burgers are topped with quick-pickled vegetables and grated horseradish to make things even spicier. And although this recipe makes two burgers, you can easily double or triple the ingredients as needed.

Ingredients for Chorizo Burgers

• Quick-pickled vegetables: The chorizo burgers are topped with thinly sliced red onion and jalapeno peppers, which have been quick-pickled in a mixture of sugar, water and cider vinegar.
• Fresh chorizo or bulk spicy pork sausage: For this recipe, you want fresh Mexican chorizo rather than Spanish chorizo, which is a cured meat. If you can’t find chorizo, you can use spicy pork sausage in its place.
• Ground beef or bison: Ground beef, which is drier and less finely ground than chorizo, gives the burgers bulk and helps the patties to stay together. Because chorizo is high in fat, you will want to use lean ground beef (90% lean and 10% fat) to make the burgers. You could also use lean ground venison or ground buffalo instead of the ground beef.
• Seasonings: The burger patties are seasoned simply with salt and pepper.
• Sesame seed hamburger buns: Each burger is served on a sesame seed hamburger bun. You can use store-bought buns or bake a fresh batch if you have the time.
• Toppings: Baby spinach leaves and peeled and grated horseradish are two more unique toppings for these chorizo burgers. The greens add some freshness and nutrients, and the horseradish gives them just a little bite and heat.

Directions

Step 1: Make the pickled vegetables

In a large bowl, whisk the sugar, water and vinegar together until the sugar is dissolved. Add the sliced red onion and jalapeno. Let it stand for at least one hour.

Step 2: Shape the burgers

Combine the beef and chorizo.

Shape the mixture into two 3/4-inch-thick patties. Sprinkle them with salt and pepper.

Step 3: Grill the burgers

Grill the burgers, covered, over medium heat until a thermometer reads 160°, six to eight minutes on each side.

Grill the buns over medium heat, cut side down, until they’re toasted, 30 to 60 seconds.

Step 4: Serve the burgers

Drain the pickled vegetables. Serve the burgers on the toasted buns with spinach, pickled vegetables and horseradish.

Chorizo Burgers Variations

• Pile on the guacamole: Instead of topping the burgers with pickled vegetables and horseradish, add a generous dollop of homemade guacamole to each burger before serving.
• Add roasted peppers: Another topping that pairs well with chorizo is roasted peppers. The smoky, spicy and slightly sweet flavor of roasted hatch chiles would be particularly delicious.
• Add some cheese: Cheese is always a good idea! Pepper jack, cheddar or Monterey Jack would all be tasty on chorizo burgers.
• Amp up the spice: Although chorizo already contains chiles, spices and other seasonings, you can still enhance the flavor by adding a hearty pinch of taco seasoning, garlic powder, ground cumin or dried oregano to the burger mixture.

How to Store Chorizo Burgers

Leftover chorizo burgers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator separately from the pickled vegetables. For long storage, you can also store leftover cooked burgers in the freezer. After allowing the burgers to cool completely, wrap them tightly in storage wrap and transfer them to a freezer-safe container. Thaw them overnight in the refrigerator before reheating them.

How long do chorizo burgers last?

Refrigerated chorizo burgers last up to four days. Frozen chorizo burgers should be eaten within three months.

How should you reheat chorizo burgers?

When time is of the essence, you can reheat the burgers in the microwave. Place them in a microwave-safe container, lightly cover them and microwave them in 30-second intervals until they’re heated. However, your best bet is to reheat the burgers on the stovetop in a skillet over medium heat or in a 350° oven for the best flavor and texture. Reheat the burgers until their internal temperature reaches 165°.

Chorizo Burgers Tips

How else can you cook chorizo burgers?

If grilling isn’t an option, you can also make them in the oven, in an air fryer or on the stovetop. To make oven-baked burgers, preheat the oven to 350°, and bake the burgers for 15 to 20 minutes. For air-fryer hamburgers, cook the burger patties in a 350° air fryer for 6 to 10 minutes, flipping once. To make skillet burgers, melt one tablespoon of butter over medium-high heat. Add the burger patties and cook them for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping once. However you cook them, they should have a finished internal temperature of at least 165°,

What else can you serve with chorizo burgers?

Classic burger sides, such as Tater Tots, shoestring fries or onion rings, all pair well with chorizo burgers. For a healthier spin on fried side dishes, try our air-fried Brussels sprouts recipe. Side dishes that feature cilantro, tomatoes or avocados would also complement the spicy flavor of these burgers. Some of our favorites include guacamole-tossed salad, cowboy caviar and avocado and tomato salad.