Taco Burgers

I don’t know about you, but Cinco de Mayo to me means Mexican food and margaritas!  And that’s exactly what took over our back porch last night.

First let’s start with the margaritas.  While I would love to share with you, my trusty readers, the recipe for the margaritas we had last night, I shall keep that in my pocket, as one of my best girlfriends back in Minneapolis shared her family recipe with me, and well, I keep family recipes close at heart.  I will say just two things:  1) these things are deadly; and 2) if you find yourself in a situation where Abi offers to make you a margarita, take her up on the offer!

Now for our fiesta – since the weather was so beautiful this weekend – and I have lobster skin to show for that – we put a backyard BBQ twist on Cinco de Mayo this year with some taco burgers. 

Remember the other day when I made baked tacos?  It included making my own taco seasoning, which I duplicated for these burgers.  So easy, so delicious.  Try it.  Anyway – I whipped together the seasoning, dumped it in some chopped meat with a handful of oatmeal (my mom’s trick) to keep the meat moist, and the hubs took to the grill (not without having to make a quick trip to refill our gas tank!). 

Topped off with salsa and guac, these burgers were exactly what I was hoping for as our BBQ take on Cinco de Mayo!

Taco Burgers

 

Taco Burgers

What You Need:

• 1 lb chopped meat (I used ground turkey)
• 2 tsp dried minced onion
• 1 1/2 tsp chili powder
• 1/2 tsp cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/4 tsp dried oregano
• 1 handful oats

How You Do It:

1. Combine all ingredients and mix to combine.
2. Form into patties.
3. Grill.
4. Top with your favorite taco toppings, sip a margarita, and enjoy!

Slow Cooker Hawaiian BBQ Chicken

A week or two ago, my colleague suggested I implement a 5-star rating to indicate just how much we liked the meal I was dishing about.  She said she would be more likely to try a recipe I ranked with 5 stars than one I'd only awarded, say, a 3.  I told her I'd consider it.  Well, until I actually get that up and running:

Chris -- this would be a 5!

Talk about an easy and delicious dinner!  This puppy literally took 3 ingredients, 2 minutes to prepare, 6 hours to cook (all on its own), made 8 servings, and took 1 bite to become a new favorite.  And really, what's to be wrong with chicken, bbq sauce, and pineapple.  I mean, really.

This made enough for the hubs and I to have dinner last night, lunch for today, and another healthy 4 servings packaged into the freezer.  Plenty.

Just one little note -- when you get home or go over and look at the slow cooker and see all that extra sauce, fret not.  When you shred up the chicken, the sauce becomes the perfect amount (even for you, mom!).  And, if you're worried about the pineapple disintegrate during the low and slow cooking process, worry not.  They stay whole.

A new shredded chicken recipe for me, for sure.

Slow Cooker Hawaiian BBQ Chicken

Slow Cooker Hawaiian BBQ Chicken

What You Need:

• 5 chicken breasts, mine were frozen
• 1 20-oz bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce
• 1 20-oz can pineapple chunks, drained

How You Do It:

1. Place chicken breasts in bottom of slow cooker.
2. Top with entire bottle BBQ sauce.
3. Top with drained pineapple.
4. Cook on low 6 hours. 
5. Using tongs, shred chicken right in slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Hawaiian BBQ Chicken recipe adapted from Six Sisters' Stuff.