Queso Cheese Burgers with Avocado and Pico de Gallo.
Would you like a little burger with your cheese?
This is for those of you who love the cheese part more than the burger part. Raise your hand!
I have about fifty hands raised.
The only thing that comes close to cheese on a burger is guac. Right? RIGHT.
Picture this: it’s 85 degrees and you spent the entire day doing yard work and drinking ice cold WATER. For dinner, you sit down to a burger covered in melty cheese sauce and an ice cold BEER. It sounds dreamy enough to do every single day but then it wouldn’t be special anymore.
I’m really into caps lock today. FYI.
If it was up to Eddie, we’d probably eat burgers three times a week. Not like, shake shack burgers, but just grilled burgers on whole wheat buns with a little cheese. And then Five Guys once a week. On top of that.
Don’t get me wrong, I do love a burger. I love a GOOD burger even more. But I only need one maybe once a month? And sometimes I even like veggie burgers. It’s all about that texture.
But what it’s really all about for me is the CHEESE. And the bacon, of course.
My all time favorite burger (depending on the day… bah) on the site is this sautéed mushroom, dijon aioli and arugula burger that I shared a few years ago. No bacon, not a ton of cheese, but flavor out the wahzoo.
BUT but but. There is a now a new burger in the running. Maybe even for first place. And it’s trashily covered in CHEESE DIP.
Yeah. That’s right. Cheese dip on your burger.
You can serve these a few ways. The best, but probably not the easiest, is making the queso as close to mealtime as you can, keeping it melty and topping your burgers right before eating. Most likely doable for weeknight dinners or small crowds, but a little more difficult for a larger party.
Another way would be to preassemble your burgers an hour or so before eating them, wrapping the whole thing up in foil (a la five guys style) and serving them like that. The cheese might melt around the entire burger a bit, but it will still taste delicious.
You can also go the crockpot route but you will probably need to stir the contents and even thin it out every now and then so it stays beautiful and melty like cheese ribbons.
UNLESS. And this is a big unless.
Unless you go the velveeta route. I have a bratty mental block against velveeta (I just love real cheese sooooo much) but my mom uses velveeta in plenty of dishes and it is super melty and wonderful. I grew up on velveeta shells and cheese (and not so much kraft) so I definitely have a leeeettle soft spot for it at times, plus we used to mix those cheese cubes with rotel all the time at the beach. It’s definitely a possible option if you want to serve queso burgers to a crowd this weekend.
Top the entire thing with some fresh pico instead of your traditional tomato and onions slices. Butter lettuce and avocado on the bottom. Pickled jalapeno slices on the top. You’re totally SET. Let’s partay.
Queso Cheese Burgers
Ingredients
burgers
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 4 to 6 brioche or sesame seed buns, depending on your size preference
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
- 1/4 sweet onion, diced
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro
- 1 lime, juiced
- 2 avocados, thinly sliced
- 1/3 cup jalapeno pepper slices, for serving
- spring greens for serving
queso cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1/2 sweet onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cups half and half
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 16 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese, freshly grated
- 8 ounces monterey jack cheese, freshly grated
Instructions
burgers
- Place the beef in a bowl and season with the salt and pepper. Mix with your hands to incorporate, forming 4 to 6 patties, whichever size you wish and whatever size fits your bun. Heat a large skillet (or the grill, your preference) over medium heat and add the olive oil and butter. Cook the patties until browned on both sides and your desired doneness is reached. I do about 3 to 4 minutes per side for medium-well, but it will depend on how think your burgers are.
- In a bowl, mix together the tomatoes, onion, cilantro and lime juiced, stirring well. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- To assemble your burgers, cover the bottom bun with avocado slices. Place the burger on top and drizzle on lots of queso cheese. Top with the pico and the jalapeños. Serve immediately.
queso cheese
- Heat a saucepan over medium heat and add the olive oil and butter. Stir in the onions and garlic. Season with the salt and pepper. Cook until the onion softens, about 5 to 6 minutes. Slowly stream in 3/4 cup of the half and half, whisking the entire time. Toss the grated cheese with 1 tablespoon of the cornstarch. In a bowl, whisk together the remaining 1/4 cup half and half and 1 tablespoon cornstarch until no lumps remain to create a slurry. Stir the slurry into the saucepan and cook for a minute until the milk thickens. Reduce the heat to low.
- Stir in the grated cheese, one small handful at a time, until melted. Transfer the mixture to a crock, larger bowl or a small crockpot heating on low. Spoon on the burgers and serve the extra with chips!
Did you make this recipe?
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41 Comments on “Queso Cheese Burgers with Avocado and Pico de Gallo.”
Queso is my ultimate weak spot/comfort food and this is genius. Especially if the burger gets crispy on the outside. Yum!
it’s one of mine too. i can never say no!
Omg that cheese shot! I want this in my life right now!
thanks!
This burger makes me so happy!! If I could eat burgers a couple days a week … Id be one happy little lady – especially if my burgers looked like this – the other days would naturally be filled with pizza and tacos ;) Id also probably live a shorter life at that point, but mehh – at least it would have been filled with good food.
burgers – pizza – tacos! that’s what my recipe life revolves around.
I’m the same way with burgers–once a month or so and I’m good. But these! These have all of my favorite things on them sooo..maybe twice a month for these :)
i think it’s worth it. ;)
I am all OVER that thing. YUM. Brang on the queso!
thanks jana!
This burger and an ice cold beer for dinner is what I dream about! So excited to make this soon!
thanks emily!
Love this! Except with a veggie burger for me. This is so quintessential summer eats and it’s just lovely. Get’s me so excited for the BBQ season!
http://www.sprinklesandsaturdays.com
i think it would be SO good on a veg burger too!
I’m in need of a burger now! x
http://jessicawoods.fr/blog/
:)
This looks AMAZING. Pinned. I love cheese and guac and burgers!
Have you tried the Serious Eats cheese sauce? It’s just evaporated milk and cheese, and a few drops of hot sauce. So easy and so good.
i haven’t! and now i must.
WHOA!!! Reading this recipe I feel like I am in cheese heaven. Seriously, this is PERFECT for this upcoming weekend.
I am putting this on my list of things to splurge on. <3
thank you!
Um nom nom nom. Um nom nom NOM! Totally making these for a neighborhood Memorial Day get together!
I quit working my desk job and now, I started earning 95 bucks hourly…How I did it? I am freelancing over the internet! My last job didn’t exactly make me happy so I wanted to take a break and have a fresh start… After 6 yrs It was weird for me to leave my previous job and now I am delighted were i am..
——— http://www.careers-report.com
I’m sure it’s a typo, but where does the Havarti cheese come into play? Or does it?
BTW, this sounds AH-mazing!! With or without Havarti. ;-)
The whole process and fresh food on grill and colors looks amazing and very appetizing! I have never tried grilling jalapeno or tried in a burger, did it make it too spicy? I like a little zing, not too much!
Thanks for sharing Jessica! :)
The perfect burger. That cheese sauce looks so good,
My hands are raised in agreement too! Mmmm…cheese, guac….yum!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
OMG this is pretty much my dream burger. I need it in my life.
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hey girl this would be awesome! I love cheese!
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I made this last night for the family. I added some chopped tomato/green chilies/chili powder to the queso. Fantastic!
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