Tex Mex Turkey Burgers with Guacamole & Spicy Chipotle Slaw

This past weekend was a busy but wonderful one. We had construction wrapping up (for the most part) on our house, friends staying with us from out of town, and a baby shower happening in our backyard. Our moms really outdid themselves with the baby shower. It was absolutely lovely. It’s humbling to know that people are so genuinely happy for you. Makes my heart swell with happiness and gratitude! I am even more excited for the baby’s arrival now than I have been all pregnancy. It’s really hitting us now. We’re in the home stretch (just over a month to go!). Thank you to our wonderful friends and family who made Sunday such a special day for Dan and me. We feel very lucky and loved.

Not only did we have PERFECT weather for an outdoor gathering (low humidity, 80 degrees, sunny), but the food spread was pretty fantastic too. There was everything from awesome pasta salad to an amazing two-tiered cake baked by a good friend/co-worker of mine. I even pitched in and made these buffalo chicken meatballs (I know, I know. Who cooks for their own baby shower?!). It was one of the very first things I was able to make inside my new kitchen, and I feel like they’ll hold a special place in my heart forever for that reason alone. Dramatic much?

But really, I can’t fully express how nice it was to cook with a real gas burner and a real oven. For someone as addicted to cooking as me, going two months without a kitchen was really difficult. And that’s an understatement. “Difficult” doesn’t really encapsulate what it’s like going through a home renovation in the first place…not to mention while battling pregnancy hormones and intense cravings for homemade chocolate chip cookies (thank goodness I was able to solve that dilemma). My contractor told me that I was a real trooper through it all, even though it doesn’t feel that way to me. Being eight months preggo and having your whole home ripped apart do not go well together. At all.

For that reason, these burgers are going to be the last grilling recipe I share for a long time. Since our kitchen is finally functional again, I plan to take full advantage of the indoor amenities. That’s not to say I won’t dabble in a little grilling here and there before the summer is over, but I wouldn’t be too upset if I didn’t touch the grill again until next spring. That said, these grilled burgers are a good one to go out on!

I’ve mentioned several times on here how much I adore Mexican/Tex-Mex cuisine. I find that I’m almost always in the mood for it, and I often crave it very specifically. It’s also no secret that I’m a fan of burgers. I rarely turn down a burger. So, a Tex Mex-themed burger was pretty much inevitable. These babies are spicy, smoky, and slathered in fresh guacamole and a chipotle slaw. They might be in the running for my favorite burgers ever, along with these and these. If I could drink an ice cold Corona with these, I would have three. In fact, I highly recommend that you do that so I can live vicariously through you. A good, salty margarita would also do the trick. Please? For me?

I find that the baby kicks a lot whenever I eat spicy foods, and he was L-O-V-I-N-G life in his little bubble after I housed one of these burgers. I swear he was doing a happy dance in there! When he makes his debut in little over a month, I’ll be excited to see if he kicks half as much out of the womb as he did while in utero.

For now, I’ll keep eating these burgers (and those buffalo chicken meatballs! They had the same effect) and enjoying the constant reminder of what my life is about to become. I can’t wait.

Tex Mex Turkey Burgers with Guacamole & Spicy Chipotle Slaw         (makes 4 servings)

For the Slaw:

1 chipotle pepper in adobo, finely minced

1 tablespoon adobo liquid from peppers

Juice of 1 lime

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon honey

2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt

2 tablespoons ranch dressing

2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

1 package coleslaw mix (feel free to make your own)

For the Guacamole:

2 ripe avocados, mashed

Juice of 1 lime

1 garlic clove, grated or pressed

2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion

2 tablespoons finely chopped tomato

Hot sauce, to taste

Salt and pepper, to taste

For the Burgers:

2 garlic cloves, grated or pressed

2 teaspoons dried minced onion

2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped

2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 cup Panko breadcrumbs

2 eggs

1-lb lean ground turkey

Salt and pepper, to taste

Sliced cheese of choice (I used a mix of cheddar and pepper jack)

Burger buns

Other desired toppings (lettuce, tomato, pickles, etc)

For the Slaw: Mix the chipotle pepper, adobo sauce, lime juice, vinegar, honey, yogurt, dressing, and cilantro together and check for seasoning. Add salt and pepper, if needed. Add in the slaw mix and toss to combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.

For the Guacamole: Combine all the ingredients just before serving until well mixed.

For the Burgers: Combine the garlic, shallots, cilantro, jalapeño, cumin, chili powder, and Panko in a large bowl. Taste the mixture for seasoning before adding the turkey or eggs. Add salt and pepper, as needed. Stir in the eggs and then fold in the turkey meat, being careful to not overmix. With damp hands, form the mixture into four patties (Note: this makes four large burgers. Divide the mixture into sixths if you want something more “medium” sized).

Preheat the grill to medium-high and drizzle the burgers with oil. Add the burgers to the hot grill and cook for 5 minutes per side. Top each with cheese during the last minute of cooking, and then transfer to the burger buns once the cheese is melted. Serve the burgers with the slaw, guacamole, and other desired toppings!