Big ‘n Smoky Five Alarm Burger Recipe: Your Ultimate Guide to a Fiery, Flavorful Grilling Experience
When you want to truly elevate your burger game, the Big ’n Smoky Five Alarm Burger is your ticket to culinary excellence. This burger is meticulously crafted to deliver an unforgettable fusion of intense heat and rich smoky flavor, thanks to a robust spicy bourbon BBQ sauce, perfectly grilled jalapeños, and a uniquely flavorful patty made from all-natural ground beef blended with savory ground pork chorizo. Prepare your taste buds for an adventure!
The Inspiration: A Charleston Culinary Revelation
My culinary journey recently led me to the charming city of Charleston, South Carolina, a place renowned for its incredible food scene. Among the many delightful meals I savored, one particular burger stood out from a local beer and burger joint nestled along the historic downtown stretch. It was more than just a meal; it was an experience that ignited a spark for a new creation.
That burger was, without a doubt, delicious. It featured succulent, melt-in-your-mouth patties, complemented by the vibrant crunch of grilled jalapeños and a delightfully zesty cheese. Each bite was a harmonious blend of flavors that I found utterly irresistible. However, despite the menu’s bold promises of a fiery challenge, the spice level, while present, felt a little underwhelming for a burger boasting such a daring description. It hinted at a true bite but ultimately left me wanting more heat. It gave fair warning, yet the spice intensity could have been amplified to truly live up to its “five-alarm” potential.
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Crafting the Epic: The Birth of the Five Alarm Burger
Upon returning home, inspired by that Charleston gem but determined to perfect it, I did what any passionate cook would do: I took an incredible idea and transformed it into something truly EPIC. This is how the Big ‘n Smoky Five Alarm Burger came to be – a culinary masterpiece designed to deliver not just heat, but a complex symphony of smoky, savory, and spicy notes that build with every bite.
For me, a great spicy burger isn’t just about raw heat; it’s about a depth of flavor that includes rich smoke and a beautifully charred exterior. The goal isn’t to obliterate your taste buds with the first bite, but rather to create a heat that gently builds, allowing you to fully appreciate the intricate flavors of the burger itself. This gradual escalation of spice, combined with the profound smoky undertones, is the secret to making this burger undeniably delicious and perfectly balanced.
The Foundation of Flavor: High-Quality Sprouts Ingredients
Smoky and spicy flavors are absolutely my passion, and when they’re paired with the highest quality, all-natural beef from Sprouts, the result is beyond imagination. This is a pro tip from me to you, my friends: head straight to their meat counter! There’s a very good reason I shop at Sprouts all the time, and their consistently high-quality ground beef is a major factor.
Unparalleled Meat Quality for Juicier Burgers
Sprouts’ ground beef is always fresh, never frozen, and freshly ground daily by their expert butchers. This commitment to freshness and quality means you’re getting restaurant-quality beef right in your own kitchen. What does this truly mean for your burger? It means a patty that is inherently more juicy, more flavorful, and ultimately, a much better burger experience. The foundation of any exceptional burger is its meat, and Sprouts delivers on that promise every single time.
The Perfect Blend: Beef, Chorizo, and Pepper Jack
To infuse this burger with an extra layer of “zip” and complexity, I combined Sprouts’ premium ground beef with some of their killer ground pork chorizo. This unique blend creates a patty that’s not just beefy, but also offers a savory, slightly spicy depth that elevates the entire burger. And for an additional kick, Sprouts’ hot pepper jack cheese, with its creamy texture and fiery notes, melts beautifully over the patty, contributing to the overall five-alarm sensation. Of course, the grilled jalapeños also play a crucial role in bringing that distinct smoky heat.
The Signature Spicy Bourbon BBQ Sauce
The smokiness in this burger is perfectly complemented by the homemade spicy bourbon BBQ sauce. I created this by taking Sprouts’ already delicious Thick and Hearty Barbecue Sauce and elevating it with a touch of bourbon, chili powder, and cayenne pepper. This transformation turns a great sauce into a boozy, spicy, and deeply smoky topping that takes this burger to new, extraordinary heights of flavor. It’s the perfect glaze, offering a tantalizing sweetness followed by a building heat that will make you crave more.
Grilling to Perfection for National Hamburger Day
National Hamburger Day is just around the corner, and I’m already getting a head start on the celebrations! Honestly, if you’re not grilling up this Big ‘n Smoky Five Alarm Burger to commemorate the occasion this month, you’re missing out on one of life’s great pleasures. And when you pair this incredible burger with a refreshing London Mule, you’ve got the ultimate meal ready for your backyard barbecue or a cozy night in.
The Art of Grilling Jalapeños
Grilling jalapeños is a simple yet crucial step that transforms their flavor profile. The heat of the grill gently chars their skins, softening them and bringing out a subtle sweetness while mellowing some of their raw, sharp spice. This process concentrates their flavor, making them the perfect, flavorful topping that provides a pleasant, building heat without overwhelming the palate. Slicing them into rings allows for even distribution of this delightful flavor throughout the burger.
Mastering the Patty and Melted Cheese
Forming the patties is key to an even cook. Combining the ground beef and pork chorizo with a blend of salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and garlic powder ensures every bite is seasoned to perfection. When grilling, aim for your desired internal temperature, and in the final moments, crown each patty with slices of Sprouts’ hot pepper jack cheese. Covering the burgers (either with a metal bowl on a grill pan or closing the grill lid) creates a steamy environment that melts the cheese into a wonderfully gooey, irresistible layer.
Vote for My Best Burger & Win!
Speaking of National Hamburger Day and the joy of grilling, Sprouts is currently hosting an exciting contest that you absolutely HAVE to enter! This Big ‘n Smoky Five Alarm Burger is my entry for their #MyBestBurger challenge, and I need your support to win! You have until May 26th to cast your vote for this incredible burger. The best part? After you vote, you’ll also be automatically entered for a chance to win your very own $500 grilling bundle! If that doesn’t get you excited to vote, I’m not sure what will!
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Click here to vote for the Big ‘n Smoky Five Alarm Burger!
Be sure to click the links at the bottom of the posts to share on social media and get your friends and family in on the action (tag your posts with #MyBestBurger)! A big THANK YOU to all of you who vote and support this Sprouts deliciousness. Your encouragement truly makes my world go round. 😊
Disclosure: I received free product and compensation from Sprouts as part of this post. As always, all opinions and recipes are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Cake ‘n Knife!
Essential Tools for Your Best Burger
To make this Big ‘n Smoky Five Alarm Burger recipe a breeze, here are some must-have tools that will help you achieve grilling perfection and a truly delicious result:
This Recipe’s Must-Haves
- Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron Skillet Grill (my go-to grill pan when I don’t have a charcoal grill out back for that perfect indoor char!)
- OXO tongs (essential for safely and easily flipping your burgers and handling hot jalapeños)
- Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls (perfect for combining your patty ingredients and for covering burgers with cheese to create that wonderfully gooey, melted finish)
Don’t forget to pin this Big ’n Smoky Five Alarm Burger recipe so you can easily find it for your next grilling adventure!
Big ’n Smoky Five Alarm Burger
Ingredients
- 2/3 lb Sprouts ground beef
- 1/3 lb Sprouts ground pork chorizo
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 lb Sprouts hot pepper jack cheese, sliced
- 2 jalapeños
- 2 kaiser rolls halved and toasted
Spicy Bourbon BBQ Sauce
- 3/4 cup Sprouts Thick and Hearty Barbecue Sauce
- 1/4 tsp medium chili powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 oz bourbon
- Pinch of black pepper
Instructions
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Heat a grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Once hot, add whole jalapeños and grill on all sides until slightly charred and softened, approximately 1-2 minutes per side. Remove, slice into rings, and set aside. Keep the grill on for the burgers.
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In a small bowl, thoroughly whisk together all the ingredients for the spicy bourbon BBQ sauce until smooth. Set aside.
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In a large mixing bowl, combine the Sprouts ground beef, ground pork chorizo, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, and 1/2 tsp garlic powder. Use your hands to gently mix until just combined, being careful not to overmix. Divide the seasoned meat mixture in half and form two large, evenly shaped 1/2lb patties.
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Place the hamburger patties on the preheated grill. Cook until they reach your desired internal temperature, typically 4-5 minutes per side for a medium doneness. In the final two minutes of cooking, top each patty with slices of Sprouts hot pepper jack cheese. To help the cheese melt quickly and become wonderfully gooey, cover the burgers using a metal bowl (if using a grill pan) or close the lid to your grill. Once the cheese is melted and bubbly, remove the patties from the heat.
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To assemble these magnificent burgers, place a cooked patty onto the bottom half of each toasted kaiser roll. Generously top each patty with the grilled jalapeño rings, followed by a substantial teaspoon or two of the spicy bourbon BBQ sauce. Finally, crown your creation with the other halves of the buns. Serve immediately and prepare for an explosion of flavor!
Final Thoughts and Thank You
This Big ‘n Smoky Five Alarm Burger isn’t just a meal; it’s a celebration of flavor, heat, and quality ingredients. It’s perfect for summer grilling, National Hamburger Day, or any occasion when you want to impress with a truly memorable dish. Thank you for joining me on this culinary adventure, and don’t forget to show your support by voting in the Sprouts #MyBestBurger contest!