Chili’s Nacho Burger

Pico de Gallo:
2 medium tomatoes, diced
1/2 cup diced Spanish onion
2 teaspoons chopped fresh jalapeno pepper, seeded and de-ribbed
2 teaspoons finely minced fresh cilantro
Pinch of salt

Guacamole:
2 small or 1 large Haas avocado
2 tablespoons sour cream
1/4 cup diced tomato
1/2 teaspoon diced jalapeno
1/4 teaspoon chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon salt

Chili Queso:
3 ounces ground beef
1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
pinch of salt
pinch of ground black pepper
16-ounce bottle Cheez Whiz
2 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon paprika

2 pounds ground beef
4 large sesame seed buns
2 cups iceberg lettuce, shredded or chopped thin
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 green onion, chopped
16-20 tortilla chips
2-3 fresh jalapenos, sliced

1. First make the pico de gallo. This is easy. Just combine all of the
ingredients for the pico in a small bowl and mix well. Cover bowl and
chill in the refrigerator.
2. Now we’ll make the guacamole. In a small bowl, smash up most of the
avocado, but be sure to leave several unsmashed chunks. Add the
remaining ingredients for the guacamole to the avocado and mix well.
Cover bowl and chill in the refrigerator, next to the pico.
3. Next we’ll make the chili queso. In yet another small bowl, mix together
ground beef, flour, a pinch of salt, a pinch of black pepper, and a
pinch of chili powder. Use your hands to work the dry ingredients into
the ground beef. Brown the beef in a small skillet over medium heat
for about 5 minutes. Use a spoon or spatula to crumble the beef as it
cooks. Cook until it’s brown, then set aside.
4. Melt the Cheez Whiz with 2 tablespoons of milk over low heat. When milk
and cheese has been combined, add the remaining queso ingredients.
Heat while stirring often until cheese is smooth and creamy,
then cover saucepan and remove it from the heat.
5. Pre-heat a griddle or large frying pan over medium heat. Lightly butter
the face of each bun and brown the buns face-down on the heat.
6. Separate the ground beef into four 1/2-pound portions. Roll each portion
of meat into a ball and then pat the meat down into a circular patty
slightly larger in diameter than the hamburger buns. Cook the hamburger
patties for 5-10 minutes per side, until done. Lightly salt and pepper
each burger patty.
7. Build the burger open-faced in the following order starting with
the bottom bun:

On Bottom Bun:
1/2 cup shredded lettuce
hamburger patty
2 tablespoons chili queso
4 or 5 crumbled tortilla chips
2 teaspoons green onion

On Top Bun:
1/2 tablespoon mayonnaise
2 tablespoons pico de gallo
2 tablespoons guacamole
4 jalapeno slices

Serve burger with extra queso and guacamole. May also serve french fries
on the side and use the chili queso for dipping.

Makes 4 burgers.