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Jerk Burgers with Mango Salsa is the perfect treat for your taste buds – it’s the addictive, bold and tasty flavours of Jamaica, in burger form! It is a perfectly seasoned homemade jerk beef patty, placed on a brioche bun and topped with a sweet spicy mango pineapple salsa that will leave you satisfied and hooked.
If you’re looking for more delicious ways to use jerk sauce and seasoning, check out this Jerk Turkey Wrap, Jamaican Jerk Pork and Crispy Baked Jerk Tofu recipe.
Table of Contents
- Jerk Burgers with Mango Salsa
- Here’s Why You’ll Love this Jamaican Jerk Burgers Recipe
- What is Jamaican Jerk?
- Jamaican Jerk History
- What is Jerk Marinade Made Of?
- What’s Needed to Make This Recipe (Kitchen Tools and Equipment)
- Jerk Burger Ingredients and Ingredient Notes
- How to Make Jerk Burgers with Mango Salsa
- Recipe Substitutions and Tips
- Serving Suggestions and Tips
- Recipe Notes and Tips for the Best Jerk Burgers
- Can I Make this Ahead of Time?
- Storage Instructions
- Reheating Instructions
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Interested in more Jamaican Jerk Recipes? Check These Out!
- Jerk Burgers with Pineapple Mango Salsa Recipe
Jerk Burgers with Mango Salsa
Jerk burgers are juicy beef burgers seasoned with jerk marinade for a spicy, herby flavour. Pair it with a quick and easy pineapple mango salsa and you have a mouthwatering Caribbean meal of epic proportions. These burgers taste like summer.
When the temperatures start to rise, I always love exploring and testing out-of-the-box burger recipes – there’s just something about burgers and summers! Jerk seasoning and charcoal are just the perfect match. So if you’re ready to try out a recipe that will sweep you away to an island oasis…keep reading!
Here’s Why You’ll Love this Jamaican Jerk Burgers Recipe
- Versatile – I love the versatility of homemade burgers; it’s literally a blank slate and you can make it into whatever you want! I make them thick or thin, on the grill, oven or stovetop, really spicy or mild etc.
- Convenient – this is the perfect make-ahead burger recipe. Season and shape your ground beef patties and store them for later use.
- Great for BBQs – there’s just something about burgers and summers! Throw them on the grill for all your summertime cookouts and barbecues because they are a crowd pleaser.
What is Jamaican Jerk?
Jerk is a hot and spicy dry-rubbed or wet marinated blend of herbs and spices used on all types of meats and seafood. Traditionally, jerked foods would be cooked over a small open coal or wood fire. Jerk has a spicy, woodsy, smoky flavour.
Jamaican Jerk History
It’s been said that the Maroons (descendants of Africans who formed settlements away from slavery in the Western world) jerked wild pigs in Portland, Jamaica while on the run from the British. It’s been a part of Jamaican culinary traditions for centuries, and now evolved in various unique dishes.
What is Jerk Marinade Made Of?
Jerk marinade often is made using onions, garlic, ginger, pimento, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, scotch bonnet pepper, and brown sugar. However, there are many variations, some which include citrus, vinegar, and various sweeteners such as honey and molasses.
What’s Needed to Make This Recipe (Kitchen Tools and Equipment)
- Cutting Board – use this to chop up all the fresh ingredients for the pineapple mango salsa.
- Mixing Bowl – this contains the salsa while the burgers cook.
- Grill – use this to grill jerk burgers.
Jerk Burger Ingredients and Ingredient Notes
Pineapple Mango Salsa
- Fresh Mango – finely chopped.
- Fresh Pineapple – finely chopped.
- Scotch Bonnet Pepper – optional or as desired, finely chopped. Use jalapeños for milder heat.
- Bell Peppers – combine finely chopped red and green bell pepper.
- Onion – use finely chopped white or red onion finely chopped
- Fresh Herbs – Parsley or Cilantro finely chopped
- Citrus – use freshly squeezed lime juice and lemon juice
- Seasoning – use sea salt and cracked black pepper, more or less to taste
Jerk Burgers
- Medium Ground Beef – For this recipe I recommend selecting ground beef with a higher fat content. Try to go for an 80:20 ratio ground beef – 20% fat, 80% lean.
- Jerk Marinade – you can make your own Jerk Marinade however, if you want to save some time, Grace Jerk Seasoning (Mild), Tricnic as well as Walkerswood Jerk Seasoning (Hot) are three brands I stand by. They come in both mild and hot heat levels, so if spice isn’t your thing, you can opt for the mild selection.
- Seasoning – I use garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, salt and black pepper.
Other Ingredients
- 4 Brioche or Regular Hamburger Buns
- 4 Lettuce Leaves whole
- Tomatoes sliced
- Red Onions sliced
- BBQ Jerk or Honey Jerk Sauce
How to Make Jerk Burgers with Mango Salsa
Prepare Salsa – finely chop all ingredients for the salsa – mango, pineapple, scotch bonnet pepper, red and green bell pepper, white or red onion, parsley or cilantro, lime and lemon juice, salt and pepper. Mix until well combined and refrigerate until ready to serve. For the full recipe, click here.
Preheat Grill/Oven – preheat the grill to a medium-high flame (approx. 375°F).
Make Jerk Burger Patties – generously season ground beef with garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, salt, black pepper, and jerk seasoning marinade and divide into 4 equal portions. Form patties using your hands that are about 1/2″ thick and 1″ wider than the burger buns.
Grill Burger Patties – grill burgers (indent side up), brush BBQ jerk sauce on each side, and remove when cooked through to your liking. Toast buns then top them with the jerk burger patties, lettuce, tomatoes and mango pineapple salsa as desired. Finally, serve and enjoy!
Recipe Substitutions and Tips
- Stovetop – although I recommend grilling jerk burgers, you can opt for a stovetop or oven instead.
- Protein – if you don’t want to use ground beef, try using ground chicken, turkey, or lamb for your burgers instead. Keep in mind that this will alter the cooking time depending on the type of meat you use.
- Vegetarian – make it meatless and make jerk black bean burgers instead.
Serving Suggestions and Tips
- Fries – who doesn’t love burgers and fries. Serve jerk burgers with Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries. Fried Plantains would be a tasty alternative to french fries too.
- Rice – if you go bunless, keep the Caribbean vibes going with Jamaican Rice and Peas.
- Salad – for a refreshing summer side, serve them with Avocado Salad Recipe.
Recipe Notes and Tips for the Best Jerk Burgers
- For the best results, use freshly ground, grass-fed or conventionally raised beef.
- The leaner the meat, the drier your burgers will be. I recommend using 80/20 ground beef.
- Only flip your burgers once.
- Don’t flatten your burgers with a spatula – this will force all the yummy juices out of the burger, leading to a drier/tougher burger.
- Allow your patties to sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes prior to cooking – this aids in the moist, juicy burger objective we all want to achieve.
- Don’t overhandle your meat – handle them lightly (especially when mixing) to maintain the tenderness of the meat. during the cooking process.
Can I Make this Ahead of Time?
Season and shape jerk burger patties. Then store the raw meat in either an airtight container or zip lock bag with parchment paper between each patty. Refrigerate them for up to one day. Otherwise, place them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Storage Instructions
Store leftover jerk burgers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheating Instructions
Reheat leftovers in the microwave, air fryer, or oven.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
All jerk seasoning include allspice, a hot pepper (usually scotch bonnet) and dried thyme.
Cooking time varies depending on the thickness of the burger and how done you like your meat. It can vary between 5-10 minutes to fully cook a patty. Burgers are safe to eat when they reach an internal temperature of 160°F.
For the best juicy burgers, gently handle the ground beef. Allow the patties to sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes before cooking. Ensure there is a shallow indent in the middle of the patty as this helps keep them moist. Only flip them once and don’t flatten the burgers as they grill.
Interested in more Jamaican Jerk Recipes? Check These Out!
- Jerk Seasoning
- Jerk Marinade
- Pineapple Jerk Chicken & Shrimp Skewers
- Jerk Chicken Poutine
- Jerk Chicken Cobb Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing
- Quick & Easy Jamaican Jerk Chicken
- Jamaican Rasta Pasta
- Summer Mango Pineapple Salsa
- Jerk Chicken Sandwich
- Jerk Chicken Poutine
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Jerk Burgers with Pineapple Mango Salsa
Equipment
- Cutting Board
- Mixing Bowl
- Grill
Ingredients
Pineapple Mango Salsa
- 1/2 cup Fresh Mango, finely chopped
- 1/3 cup Fresh Pineapple, finely chopped
- 1/4 tsp Scotch Bonnet Pepper, optional or as desired, finely chopped
- 1/3 cup Red & Green Bell Peppers combined, finely chopped
- 3 tbsp White or Red Onion, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp Fresh Parsley or Cilantro, finely chopped
- 1 tsp Lime Juice, freshly squeezed
- 2 tsp Lemon Juice, freshly squeezed
- 1/2 tsp Sea Salt, more or less to taste
- 1/4 tsp Cracked Black Pepper, more or less to taste
Jerk Burgers
- 1 lb Medium Ground Beef, 80/20
- 3 tbsp Jerk Marinade, i.e. Grace, Tricnic or Walkerswood Brand, mild or hot
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 tsp Onion Powder
- 1 tsp Dried Thyme
- 1/4 tsp Salt, more or less to taste
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper, more or less to taste
- Other Ingredients
- 4 Brioche or Regular Hamburger Buns
- 4 Lettuce Leaves, whole
- Tomatoes, sliced
- Red Onions, sliced
- BBQ Jerk or Honey Jerk Sauce, see notes section
Instructions
- Finely chop all ingredients for the salsa – mango, pineapple, scotch bonnet pepper, red and green bell pepper, white or red onion, parsley or cilantro, lime and lemon juice, salt and pepper. Mix until well combined and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Preheat grill to a medium high flame (approx. 375°F).
- Generously season ground beef with garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, salt, black pepper, and jerk seasoning marinade and divide into 4 equal portions. Form patties using your hands that are about 1/2″ thick and 1″ wider than the burger buns. Ensure there is a shallow indent in the middle of the patty as this helps keep them moist.
- Grill burgers (indent side up), brush BBQ jerk sauce on each side, and remove when cooked to your liking.
- Toast buns then top with burger patty, lettuce, tomatoes and mango pineapple salsa as desired. Serve and enjoy!
