Ingredients

  • 3/4 C mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp adobo sauce
  • 2 chipotle chiles, chopped
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1 red onion, finely chopped
  • 3/4 tsp kosher salt, divided
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1/2 tsp coriander
  • 8 oz pepper jack cheese, divided
  • 1 15oz can black beans, rinsed
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1/2 C breadcrumbs
  • 4 buns
  • butter, for buns
  • tomato, lettuce, red onion, for serving

Instructions

  1. Stir together mayonnaise and adobo sauce in a small bowl. Chill chipotle mayo until ready to serve.

  2. Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium. Add chopped red onion and½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt and cook, stirring often, until onion is beginning to soften, about 4 minutes. Add garlic; cook, stirring often, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add cumin and coriander, cook, stirring, until fragrant about 30 seconds. Let cool 10 minutes. Meanwhile, cut 6 oz. cheese into 8 slices; set aside. Coarsely grate remaining 2 oz. cheese. Using a fork, coarsely mash beans in a large bowl. Add grated cheese. egg, chipotle chiles, breadcrumbs, and 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1½ tsp. Morton kosher salt; scrape in onion mixture and mix well. Wipe out skillet; reserve.

  3. Divide bean mixture into 8 portions; roll into tight balls. Place 4 balls between 2 sheets of parchment paper, spacing 6” apart; firmly press with a small saucepan or skillet to create 4”-diameter patties. Repeat with remaining patties and fresh parchment.

  4. Spread butter over cut sides of buns. Heat reserved skillet over medium. Working in batches, toast buns, cut side down, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a baking sheet.

  5. Increase heat to medium-high; heat remaining 1 Tbsp. oil in same skillet. Working in 3 or 4 batches and adding more oil if skillet looks dry, cook patties, until deeply browned underneath, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook until edges are beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Place patty, cover, and cook until melted, about a reserved slice of cheese on top of each 1 minute. Transfer to baking sheet with buns. Build burgers with buns, chipotle mayo, lettuce, Season tomato slices with salt. Build sliced onion, tomato, and 2 patties each.