A chilli burger is a juicy beef burger topped with hearty, spicy chilli con carne—usually made with ground beef, beans, tomatoes, and spices—served in a toasted bun. It’s messy, bold, and full of flavor.
Use 80/20 ground beef for the patties—enough fat for juiciness but not too greasy. The chilli topping can be made with leaner ground beef or even turkey for a lighter version.
It depends on the chilli. You can control the heat by adjusting ingredients like chili powder, jalapeños, hot sauce, or cayenne pepper. Mild versions are just as flavorful without the burn.
Absolutely! Swap the beef patty for a veggie burger and use plant-based chilli made with beans, lentils, or meat substitutes.
Besides chilli, popular additions include cheddar cheese, onions, pickles, jalapeños, sour cream, or even corn chips for crunch.
A sturdy brioche or potato bun holds up well to the saucy chilli without falling apart.
Great options include fries, onion rings, coleslaw, potato wedges, or a cold beer for the ultimate combo.
Ingredients
- 1 lb hamburger
- 1 can Hormel chili no beans
- 4 slices yellow cheese
- 4 slices white cheese
- 8 pieces lettuce
- 8 slices Tomatoes
- 8 slices yellow Vidalia onion
- Salt and pepper to taste
- hickory smoke to taste
- 4 kaiser buns
- bacon grease for frying
Instructions
- Mix 1 pound of hamburger with 4 teaspoons of liquid smoke. Form into 4 good-sized patties.
- Heat up a skillet (iron or stainless steel) with a little bacon grease. Cook the patties on medium heat for 5 minutes on each side.
- While the burgers are cooking, heat up the can of Hormel chili.
- When the burgers are done, place one slice of white cheese and one slice of yellow cheese on each patty. Cover the skillet with a lid to allow the cheese to melt. Drain any excess liquid from the pan if necessary.
- Wash and slice the tomatoes, onions, and lettuce.
- Place each patty on the bottom half of a Kaiser bun. Top with chili, lettuce, tomato, onion, and any condiments of choice.
- Place the top half of the bun on each burger, and enjoy your chili cheeseburgers!
Yum! I added jalapenos, and it was fire 🔥. Definitely a keeper. Thanks, Joeanna!
These are the best burgers ever! Super easy to make and taste so good. I’m gonna make ’em again this weekend!
I don’t know about this recipe. Using a can of Hormel? Isn’t that cheating? I prefer homemade chili.
I totally get what you mean! Homemade chili has that special touch, but sometimes convenience wins, right? 😄
Cheating? Nah! Hormel is just easy way to make it quick. I’m not spending all day cooking when I’m hungry!
These burgers are okay, but I think they don’t need cheese. Why put two kinds? Seems unnecessary. 🤷♂️
Good recipe but too much smoke flavor for me 🤢. Next time, I’ll cut back on that liquid smoke.
I made these for a BBQ party, and they were gone in minutes! Everyone loved them. You gotta try it!