These Smoked Cajun Burgers are packed with bold Cajun flavor, pepper jack cheese, and plenty of smoky goodness. The cheese is mixed right into the beef for melty pockets in every bite, then the burgers are topped with Colby Jack, caramelized onions, and a creamy Cajun sauce.
Prepare the Cajun Sauce: Mix together mayo, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and Tony’s Lite Creole Seasoning in a bowl. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Make the Cajun Burger Rub: In a bowl, combine garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, black pepper, and Tony’s Lite Creole Seasoning.
Prepare the Burgers: In a large bowl, mix ground chuck, pepper jack cheese cubes, and Tony’s Creole Style Burger Marinade. Form into 1/3-1/2 pound balls, press into patties about 1/2 inch thick, place on parchment paper, and freeze for 20 minutes.
Caramelize the Onions: In a skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add onions and salt, cooking for 30-40 minutes until caramelized.
Smoke the Burgers: Preheat smoker to 250-275°F with hickory wood chunks. Place patties on the smoker and cook for 30-40 minutes. Add Colby Jack 3 Pepper Cheese on top of each patty to melt. Cook until internal temperature reaches 165°F, then remove and rest for 6 minutes.
Assemble the Burgers: Toast buns, spread Cajun sauce on the bottom bun, add a smoked patty, top with caramelized onions, and more sauce if desired. Finish with the top bun.