Avocado Burger

The Keys to a Perfect Avocado Burger

Ok, so there are two things I recommend you do to make an avocado burger that is sheer perfection. The first is to pick perfectly ripe avocados. This can be tough, but an underripe avocado will be less flavorful, more watery, and harder to mash, which is all bad news if you want a smooth avocado “sauce” to top your burgers with. Overripe avocados are just tough to deal with, cutting out all the bad spots and whatnot, so avoid those too.

Second, and probably even more important, is to handle your burgers properly. By this, I mean don’t overwork the burger mix and be a minimalist flipper once they are on the grill. We want to keep as much fat inside the meat during prep work and as the burgers cook to ensure you get a juicy burger with loads of good flavor. Nobody likes a dried-out hamburger; just saying. 😏

Recipe Ingredients

1. Burger Ingredients – For top-notch burgers, you’ll need ground beef, bread crumbs, an egg, Worcestershire sauce, some minced garlic and onion, and your favorite burger seasoning mix. 
2. Avocado Topping – For a more refined avocado mash, you’ll need avocados (ofc), lemon juice, and some more minced garlic and onion. I also highly recommend you add a dash of hot sauce and some chopped cilantro to the mix. 👌

How to Make Avocado Burgers

Make the Mashed Avocado

1. Scoop – Cut the avocados in half and twist the sides in opposite directions to remove the pits. Use a spoon to scoop out the flesh and place it in a medium bowl. (Photo 1)
2. Mash the Avocados – Add lemon juice, and then mash the avocados with a fork until you get your desired consistency.
3. Season – Finally, add the cilantro and hot sauce to the bowl if you’re feeling adventurous. Mix well to thoroughly combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. (Photos 2-4)

Make the Beef Patties

4. Prep the Grill – Clean the grill grates thoroughly and lightly oil them to prevent the burgers from sticking to the grill. Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. (around 375-400°F). If using a charcoal grill, ensure the coals are evenly lit and glowing.
5. Combine – Add the ground beef, garlic, and minced onions to a large bowl.
6. Binders – In a smaller bowl, mix together breadcrumbs, egg, and Worcestershire sauce.
7. Mix All Beef Patty Ingredients – Add the mixed ingredients to the bowl of ground beef, along with the burger seasoning, and lightly mix until fully combined. 
8. Portion – Divide the mixture into 4- 6 equal parts and form into patties. Use your thumb to make a small depression in the middle of each patty to prevent your burgers from puffing up on the grill.

Grill and Assemble the Burgers

9. Cook – Place patties on the preheated grill over direct heat. Let the patties cook for at least 3 to 4 minutes before giving it a first flip, giving the meat time to sear. Otherwise, the patties may start to fall apart.
10. Remove the patties from the grill when they cook to the correct internal temperature (I like 160°F/71°C).
11. Assemble – Spread a generous amount of the mashed avocado mixture on each bun, either at the bottom or the top (or both 😆), before or after adding the patty. I have tried it all, and it all works just fine.
12. Finishing Touches – Finally, add your desired toppings, such as lettuce, tomato slices, cheese, or condiments.

Recipe Variations

• Bake Your Burgers: If you don’t have a grill or stovetop pan, cook the burgers in the oven. Bake the patties on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet in a 400°F (200°C) preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, and flip them halfway through. 
• Customize Flavors: You can customize the burger seasoning using your favorite spices and herbs for added flavor. Experiment with different combinations to suit your taste. You can also alter the amount of minced garlic and onions in both the burger mixture and mashed avocado to suit your preference for their flavors and textures.
• Turkey Burgers: You can swap out ground beef for ground turkey if you want to cut down on red meat or if that’s what you have on hand. It still makes for a tasty burger. 🦃

Tips and Tricks

• Work with cold ground beef to prevent the fat from melting before cooking. Also, do not overwork your patties – the goal is to combine the ingredients without overmixing. This helps the burgers retain their juiciness.
• Don’t press the burger down while grilling. It’s tempting, I know, but don’t do it. Squishing the patties makes all that good fat come out and drip, wasted 😭, onto your grill. I repeat, keeping the fat in makes burgers juicy and delicious.
• Remember, cooking times vary depending on the patties’ thickness and desired doneness. Ensure the internal temperature of the burgers reaches at least 160°F (71°C) for food safety reasons to meet FDA recommendations for cooking with ground beef.

Make-Ahead Instructions

You can make your hamburger patties the night before you plan to grill out. Simply store them in an airtight container in the fridge. You can separate patties with wax paper if you’re worried about them sticking together. You can also freeze uncooked hamburger patties for up to 3 months. Thaw them in the fridge the night before you plan to cook them.

You can make the avocado mash about 1-2 hours before using. Tightly seal and let it chill in the fridge until ready to use.

Serving and Storage Instructions 

Serve avocado burgers hot off the grill with whatever sides you love best. If you have leftovers, store the burgers and avocado mix separately in airtight containers in the fridge. Burgers will last 3-5 days, while the avocado mash will stay good for just a day or two.

Reheat patties on the grill or in the microwave. You may need to scrape off the top layer of the avocado mash before applying it to the burgers, as it can turn brown in the fridge.

FAQs

What Goes With Avocado Burgers

There are a lot of options here. French fries are an obvious choice, but you could also get creative. I like to do a surf and turf type meal by serving these burgers with some grilled chicken Caesar salad. Grilled yellow squash is another side that complements the burgers well. 😋

Get creative with your toppings, too, if you’d like. I find grilled onions taste great on this burger, as does my homemade BBQ sauce.

More Backyard BBQ Recipes to Try

1. Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs
2. Dry Rub Chicken Wings
3. Grilled Pineapple
4. Salmon Burger
5. Grilled Ribeye

Conclusion

I know you will love this avocado burger as much as my family and I do! It’s savory, filling, and refreshingly flavorful. Ready for more recipes for your grill and smoker? Give me a follow on Facebook. I can’t wait to see you there! 😄