Fire & Ice Bold Burger (Printable Format)

Bold burger featuring spicy peppers, melted cheese, crisp cucumber, and a creamy yogurt dip.

# What's Needed:

→ Burger Patties

01 - 1.1 lb ground beef (or plant-based alternative)
02 - 1 small red chili pepper, finely chopped
03 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
04 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
06 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Cheese & Toppings

07 - 4 slices pepper-jack cheese
08 - 1 medium cucumber, thinly sliced
09 - 1 small red bell pepper, thinly sliced
10 - 4 burger buns

→ Cooling Yogurt Dip

11 - 5.3 oz plain Greek yogurt
12 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped
13 - 1 tablespoon lemon juice
14 - 1 garlic clove, minced
15 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ Optional

16 - Lettuce leaves
17 - Sliced red onion

# How To Make It:

01 - Combine ground beef, chopped chili, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and black pepper in a mixing bowl. Gently mix and shape into 4 equal patties.
02 - Preheat grill or skillet over medium-high heat. Cook patties for 4 to 5 minutes on each side until fully cooked.
03 - Place a slice of pepper-jack cheese on each patty during the last minute of cooking, allowing it to melt.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, dill, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper until smooth.
05 - Lightly toast burger buns if desired.
06 - Spread yogurt dip on bottom bun, layer with cucumber slices, place the cheesy patty, add red bell pepper slices, optional lettuce and red onion, then top with the bun.
07 - Serve immediately with extra yogurt dip on the side.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The heat-and-cool cycle keeps you coming back for another bite instead of reaching for water.
  • Comes together in 35 minutes, so you can pull this off on a Wednesday night without stress.
  • Works beautifully whether you're cooking beef or plant-based—the spices and toppings carry the whole thing.
02 -
  • Don't skip the dimple in the center of each patty—it prevents the burger from puffing into a dome and cooking unevenly.
  • The yogurt dip is thicker and richer than mayo or regular sour cream, so spread it thin or the burger becomes hard to eat.
  • Assemble these right before serving; sitting around even for five minutes lets the bun start absorbing moisture and getting soggy.
03 -
  • Form your patties with cold hands or slightly damp hands—it keeps the meat from sticking and helps you handle it gently without compressing it.
  • The yogurt dip gets better when it sits for an hour, so make it earlier in the day if you can and let the flavors get acquainted.
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