Ultimate Smothered Pepper Jack Burgers with Spicy Ketchup and BBQ Sweet Potato Fries

Get ready for a burger that truly stacks up against the best. Each bun holds a juicy beef patty stuffed with melted pepper jack cheese and smothered with sautéed peppers and onions. Just in case that wasn’t enough, we’ve added a secret weapon: a spicy ketchup with hot sauce that you can adjust to your taste. If you aren’t blown away yet, you will be when you’re holding this bad boy in your hands.

This recipe pairs the smothered burgers with crispy BBQ sweet potato fries, making it a complete meal that’s perfect for a weeknight dinner or a weekend cookout. The combination of smoky, spicy and savory flavors will have everyone coming back for seconds.

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Ingredients

2 unit Sweet PotatoesView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Yellow OnionView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit Long Green PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 tablespoon Sweet and Smoky BBQ SeasoningView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

10 ounce Ground BeefView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

0.5 cup Pepper Jack CheeseView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 teaspoon Hot SauceView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 unit Potato BunsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

5 teaspoon Vegetable OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

SaltView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

PepperView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Adjust rack to top position and preheat oven to 425°F. Wash and dry all produce. Cut sweet potatoes into ½-inch-thick wedges. Halve, peel and thinly slice onion. Core, deseed and thinly slice green pepper. In a small bowl, combine ketchup and hot sauce to taste.
2. Toss sweet potatoes on a baking sheet with a large drizzle of oil, salt, pepper and half the BBQ seasoning. Bake on top rack, flipping once, until browned and tender, 20-25 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add onion and green pepper and cook, stirring, until browned and softened, 7-9 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Turn off heat; remove from pan and set aside. Wipe out pan.
4. In a large bowl, combine beef, remaining BBQ seasoning and a large pinch of salt and pepper. Divide mixture in half. Flatten each piece into a wide, roughly ½-inch-thick round. Set aside half the cheese. Divide remaining cheese between the center of each round. Fold edges of meat around cheese, shaping and sealing to create cheese-stuffed patties. Season all over with salt and pepper.
5. Heat a large drizzle of oil in same pan over medium-high heat. Cook patties to desired doneness, 3-5 minutes per side. Carefully top each patty with a layer of onion and pepper (you may have extra), then top with remaining cheese. Cover pan until cheese melts, about 1 minute.
6. While burgers cook, halve buns and place on another baking sheet. Toast in oven until golden brown, 2-3 minutes. Spread cut sides of buns with spicy ketchup. Top bun bottoms with smothered patties. Drizzle with any remaining hot sauce if desired. Serve with sweet potatoes (and any remaining onion and pepper) on the side.

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use a different type of cheese?

Yes, you can substitute pepper jack with Monterey Jack, cheddar or any melting cheese you prefer.

Can I make these burgers on a grill?

Absolutely! Cook the patties on a preheated grill over medium-high heat for the same amount of time per side.

What can I serve instead of sweet potato fries?

Regular fries, a side salad or coleslaw would all be great alternatives.