Tex Mex Beef Sliders with Green Chiles and Mexican Cheese

Prepare to be amazed as you sink your teeth into these moist and fabulous burgers. Studded with juicy green chiles, and seasoned with chili powder and cilantro, you need little else for the ultimate bite. Well, except for copious amounts of Mexican cheese and creamy avocado. Now you're ready...

I'm not kidding; these are a MUST for my burger-lovin' friends out there. They're unlike any burger you've had before. The green chiles add flavor AND moisture, so there's never a dull or dry bite. Then the seasoning... chili powder and cilantro perfectly compliment the green chiles and keep with the Southwest theme. The sharp-creamy cheese and fresh avocado seal the deal effortlessly.

Want turkey or chicken sliders instead? Fabulous! The same holds true with poultry - the burgers stay moist thanks to the green chiles.

Want to prep in advance? No problem. If you want to make the sliders ahead of time, prepare them as directed and transfer them to a plate or baking sheet, in a single layer. Cover with plastic and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before cooking.

Would you rather have burgers instead of smaller sliders? Easy breezy. Shape the mixture into 4 patties instead of 8. And, remember, you'll only need 4 buns.

For gluten-free burgers, use gluten-free buns, or serve the burgers in Boston lettuce leaves.

Tex Mex Beef Sliders with Green Chiles and Mexican Cheese

1 pound lean ground beef
4-ounce can diced green chiles
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon dried cilantro
Salt and ground black pepper
Cooking spray
1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
8 slider buns
1 avocado, pitted and thinly sliced

In a large bowl, combine the beef, green chiles, chili powder, cilantro, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Mix well and shape the mixture into 8 patties, each about 1-inch thick.
Coat a stovetop grill pan or griddle with cooking spray and preheat to medium-high. Add the burgers and cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side for  medium-rare, or longer for more fully cooked burgers. Remove the burgers from the heat and top with the cheese. Let the burgers rest for 1 to 2 minutes (this gives the cheese time to melt AND prevents the burgers from losing their juiciness). Arrange the burgers on the buns and top with the avocado.
Serves 4