Scorpion Gourmet Burger at Red Robin: Full Review, Calories, and Copycat Recipe
If you like heat with your burger, the Scorpion Gourmet Burger from Red Robin is one of the spiciest items on the menu. It stacks a fire-grilled beef patty with pepper-jack cheese, fried jalapeño coins, and a scorpion pepper sauce that brings real heat, not just a mild kick. This guide covers what's in it, how it tastes, its calories, whether it's worth your money, and a copycat recipe you can make at home.
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What Is the Scorpion Gourmet Burger?
The Scorpion Gourmet Burger is Red Robin's take on a spicy signature burger. It starts with a fire-grilled beef patty and builds up from there with bold, hot toppings. Red Robin designed this burger for guests who want more than a mild jalapeño burger. It uses scorpion pepper, which ranks far hotter than a jalapeño on the Scoville scale, so the heat is the whole point of ordering it.
You'll usually find it listed under the Gourmet Burgers section of the Red Robin Gourmet Burger lineup. Since Red Robin rotates some limited-time items by season and by location, it's smart to check with your local restaurant to confirm it's currently on the menu before you drive over.
What's on the Scorpion Gourmet Burger:
- Fire-grilled beef patty
- Scorpion pepper sauce
- Pepper-jack cheese
- Fried jalapeño coins
- Lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and red onions
- Roasted jalapeños finished in scorpion sauce
- Roasted garlic aioli
- Sesame seed bun
Price and Where to Order It
The Scorpion Gourmet Burger usually runs between $13.99 and $14.79 on its own, depending on your location and any local pricing changes. Like every Gourmet Burger at Red Robin, it comes with a side of Bottomless Steak Fries, so you can keep the fries coming as long as you're at the table. That bottomless side is a big reason regulars keep coming back, since it turns one order into a meal you can stretch as far as you want.
Prices can shift a bit by city and by restaurant, so treat the number above as a solid estimate rather than a guaranteed price at every location.
How Hot Is It, Really?
Scorpion peppers sit near the top of the heat scale, well above jalapeños and even above habaneros in most heat charts. Red Robin uses the pepper in a sauce form, which spreads the heat out instead of hitting you in one sharp bite. That said, this burger still lands as one of the hottest regular items you can order at Red Robin.
If you've handled a habanero wing without much trouble, you'll likely enjoy this burger. If jalapeños already push your limit, ask your server about a milder swap before you order.
Calories and Nutrition Facts
This burger sits on the heavier end of Red Robin's Gourmet Burger lineup. Here's a look at the numbers, based on standard nutrition data for the burger alone, before you add a side or a drink.
Remember, those Bottomless Steak Fries add their own calories on top of this count, and most people don't stop at one basket. If you're watching your intake for the day, consider swapping fries for a side salad, or plan to share the burger.
Nutrition figures are estimates based on standard recipes and can vary by location, portion size, and any changes Red Robin makes to the recipe over time. Check with your restaurant for the most current values.
Taste Review: What Does It Actually Taste Like?
The first thing you notice is the smell of the fire-grilled patty, which gives the burger a smoky base before the heat even shows up. The pepper-jack cheese melts into the patty and softens the first bite, then the scorpion sauce and roasted jalapeños build heat as you keep eating. It's not a burger that blows you away in one bite. The heat builds with each bite, which makes it more fun to eat than a burger that's hot right from the start.
The fried jalapeño coins add crunch, which is a nice contrast against the soft bun and juicy patty. The roasted garlic aioli on the bun softens some of the heat and adds a rich, savory note that keeps the burger from feeling one-note. The pickles and red onion cut through the richness, so the burger doesn't feel heavy despite all the toppings.
Overall, the flavor balance works well. You get smoky, spicy, creamy, and tangy notes all in the same bite, and none of them get lost.
Burger Extras and Customization Options
Red Robin lets you tweak almost any burger, and the Scorpion Gourmet Burger is no exception. Here are common ways guests customize it:
| Add-On | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Extra pepper-jack cheese | Adds more melty richness and softens the heat slightly |
| Extra scorpion sauce | Turns up the heat if the standard amount isn't enough for you |
| Swap to a lettuce wrap | Cuts carbs and lightens the meal without losing flavor |
| Avocado add-on | Cools the heat down with a creamy, mild layer |
| Double patty upgrade | Turns the burger into a bigger, heartier meal |
| Swap fries for a side salad | Lowers the total calories of the meal |
Since Red Robin builds most burgers to order, your server can usually adjust the heat level up or down, or swap the bun and cheese to match your taste.
Is the Scorpion Gourmet Burger Worth Ordering?
Yes, if you actually like spicy food. This burger delivers real heat, not the watered-down version some chains sell. The flavor layers well, the bottomless fries add value, and the price sits in line with other Gourmet Burgers on the menu. It's not the best pick if you're sensitive to spice, or if you're watching calories closely, since it runs high on both fat and total calories. But for a spice lover looking for a filling, flavor-packed burger, it's one of the better choices at Red Robin.
Good fit if you:
- Enjoy hot sauce and spicy wings regularly
- Want a burger with bold, layered flavor instead of a plain cheeseburger
- Plan to pair it with a cold drink to balance the heat
Skip it if you:
- Are sensitive to spicy food or avoid jalapeños
- Are counting calories closely on this visit
- Prefer a classic, mild burger like the Tavern Burger
If you want something spicy but you're not sure this is the one, the chicken wings at Red Robin also come in hot flavors and make a good starter while you decide. Check out the Chicken Wings Menu for other spicy options. And if you want to cool your mouth down between bites, a shake from the Milkshakes Menu or a cold pick from the Drinks Menu does the job well. Old enough to order a beer? Red Robin's Adult Beverages also pair nicely with the heat. If chicken is more your style, the Wraps and Chicken Sandwiches lineup has milder choices too.
Copycat Scorpion Gourmet Burger Recipe
Want to make this at home? Here's a detailed copycat recipe that gets you close to the real thing, using ingredients you can find at most grocery stores.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs ground beef (80/20 blend)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 4 sesame seed burger buns
- 4 slices pepper-jack cheese
- 2 jalapeños, sliced into coins
- 1/2 cup flour, for coating jalapeño coins
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 egg, beaten
- Oil, for frying
- 1 cup lettuce, shredded
- 1 tomato, sliced
- 1/2 cup dill pickle slices
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
- Scorpion pepper sauce: 3 tbsp hot sauce, 1 tsp scorpion pepper powder (or ghost pepper powder as a substitute), 1 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp butter, melted
- Garlic aioli: 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 2 cloves garlic (roasted and mashed), 1 tsp lemon juice
Steps
- Make the garlic aioli first. Mix mayonnaise, roasted garlic, and lemon juice in a small bowl. Cover and chill while you prep the rest.
- Make the scorpion sauce. Whisk hot sauce, scorpion pepper powder, honey, and melted butter together in a small saucepan. Warm over low heat for 2 minutes, then set aside.
- Bread the jalapeño coins. Coat each coin in flour, dip in the beaten egg, then coat in panko. Set them on a plate ready for frying.
- Heat about 1 inch of oil in a small pan to 350°F. Fry the jalapeño coins for 2 to 3 minutes until golden, then drain on a paper towel.
- Shape the ground beef into 4 patties, about 3/4 inch thick. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Grill or pan-sear the patties over medium-high heat for 4 to 5 minutes per side, until they reach your preferred doneness.
- Add a slice of pepper-jack cheese to each patty during the last minute of cooking, so it melts fully.
- Toast the sesame seed buns lightly on the grill or in a dry pan for about 1 minute.
- Spread garlic aioli on both halves of each toasted bun.
- Build the burger: bottom bun, patty with melted cheese, a spoonful of scorpion sauce, fried jalapeño coins, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and red onion.
- Drizzle a little extra scorpion sauce on top, close the bun, and serve right away with fries on the side.
Tip: If you can't find scorpion pepper powder, ghost pepper powder or a store-bought ghost pepper hot sauce gets you close. Start with less and add more, since scorpion pepper heat can vary a lot between brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Scorpion Gourmet Burger has about 950 calories on its own, not counting fries or a drink. It also has around 57 grams of fat and 67 grams of carbs.
It's one of the hottest regular burgers on Red Robin's menu. Scorpion peppers rank far above jalapeños on the heat scale, though the sauce form spreads the heat out instead of hitting all at once.
It typically costs between $13.99 and $14.79, depending on your location. It comes with a side of Bottomless Steak Fries.
Red Robin has offered this burger as part of its rotating spicy lineup. Availability can vary by location and season, so check with your local Red Robin to confirm it's on the current menu.
Yes. Ask your server to reduce or remove the scorpion sauce and roasted jalapeños, or swap in a milder cheese. At home, you can cut back on the pepper powder in the copycat recipe to control the heat.
More Red Robin Menus to Explore
Prices, calories, and menu availability are estimates based on publicly available information as of September 2026 and can change by location. Check with your local Red Robin for current details.