14 Methods to Use Up Leftover Burger Meat, Based on Cooks

Shortcut bolognese

“It’s good to maintain it easy when repurposing leftover burgers. Make a easy tomato sauce (or you should utilize a jarred sauce), crumble your burger meat with the again of a fork, and fold it into the sauce. Cook dinner your pasta simply wanting al dente, then add to the sauce and stir to mix. End with contemporary Parm, basil, and a glass of wine for a fast and simple no-waste meal.” — Kyle St. John, govt chef at Harvest Restaurant in Laguna Seashore, California

Mother-approved baked beans

“My mother, Gladys Walker, who is known for her blue-ribbon pies on the county truthful, can also be an excellent cook dinner. I like to make use of leftover burgers in one among her home-cooked dishes like her Cowboy Beans, which is one among her simpler baked bean dishes.

Cook dinner one pound bacon, minimize into one-inch slices, over medium warmth; put aside, then add about one pound leftover crumbled burger meat to the identical skillet; add chopped onion from one small onion and cook dinner till mushy. Then add 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup ketchup, and 1/2 cup smoky barbecue sauce; stir to mix. Add 15 ounces butter beans, drained; 30 ounces canned pork and beans with their liquid; and 15 ounces pink kidney beans with their liquid. Stir to include. Then pour bean combination right into a casserole dish and bake at 325 levels F for about one hour.” — Carl Walker, basic supervisor and former govt chef at Brennan’s of Houston

Subsequent-level nachos

“My favourite day-old hamburger meat recipe is for ‘nachos’ deluxe. I take advantage of tostada shells [rather than tortilla chips], because it’s simpler to good the ratio of beef to rice to black beans and cheese. I take advantage of a mix of cheddar and Chihuahua: one for taste, one for meltiness. Then I broil the nachos till they’re molten golden brown and crispy, and prime with a drizzle of bitter cream, some torn cilantro and scallions, some pico de gallo, and a small avocado, diced.

As for the meat prep, I like to small-dice it in oil, bloom some store-bought Goya taco seasoning in suet (oil for those who should), after which toss the 2 to mix. For nachos integrity, it’s essential to pressure your black beans totally and layer the nachos correctly: tostada shells minimize into half moons, then beef and beans, then cheese. Cook dinner and garnish.” — Jonathon Sawyer, chef/accomplice of Kindling in Chicago

“Moisture is all the time the key to sustaining the standard of the meat. Use a sizzling pan on medium warmth, evenly oiled, and when you lay the hamburger on it add a tablespoon of water and canopy with a lid to assist it regain some moisture. After three minutes, flip, and heat for one more three minutes. From there, I’ll break up the meat, including cumin, tomato, cilantro, garlic, onion powder, paprika, salt, and water, then proceed to cook dinner all collectively within the pan for 5 minutes. You should utilize this mix as a topping for nachos, or a taco filling.” — Vanessa Bordoy, govt chef at White Limozeen in Nashville

A Thai favourite

“Beef larb is an effective way to rework leftover hamburger patties. Add the meat to a heat pan, crumble it, and let it heat up sufficient simply to take the nippiness off. Season with fish sauce, contemporary lime juice, chili powder, thinly sliced onion or shallot, mint, cilantro, and floor toasted rice. Serve with lettuce cups.” — James Bailey, chef at Momofuku Las Vegas

Taco night time

“Take any leftover burgers — they are often beef, pork, rooster, veggie, or actually something you will have! Crumble the burgers up and sauté with onion, garlic, jalapeño, and tomato (and even tomatillo) to take advantage of scrumptious taco filling or salad topping. Throw in some overwhelmed eggs and cook dinner till scrambled for a breakfast taco filling. Throw in a can of beans, chili powder, cumin, and inventory, and simmer till a thick sauce types and you’ve got chili beans.” — Rick Martinez, chef and creator of Mi Cocina

A grilled cheese replace

“Leftover hamburger meat can have many alternative makes use of, however my favourite is a meaty grilled cheese. You should utilize what’s already in your fridge; I often have Muenster cheese available and can add caramelized onions and sautéed candy peppers.” — Yulissa Acosta, chef de delicacies at Fireside ’61 in Scottsdale, Arizona

When doubtful, make fried rice

“Fried rice is an especially forgiving dish for many leftover proteins. Throw in scallions, minced ginger, celery, egg, cilantro, peas, carrots…actually, chef’s alternative! — Valerie Gordon, chocolatier and chef/ proprietor of Valerie Confections in Los Angeles

Rice bowls two methods

“Take the patty from the burger and crumble it into small items; reheat it in a pan with oil, including soy sauce, mirin, diced onions, and some other aromatic elements like garlic or inexperienced onions; and lay it throughout rice to make a small gyudonburi (Japanese beef rice bowl).

You should utilize the identical elements to make a ‘hambagu’ steak donburi (Japanese hamburger rice bowl). For added texture within the rice, take your leftover buns, toast them within the oven till arduous during, roughly mix them, and blend them into the rice so as to add some crunchy depth.” — Sangtae Park, govt chef and accomplice at Chicago’s HIS Hospitality Group, which incorporates Omakase Yume, TenGoku Aburiya, and Bonyeon 

“In my home we often make turkey burgers. One of the frequent issues we do with the leftover meat was impressed by a visit to Spain. There was a quite simple dish in Madrid we had which was most likely my daughter’s favourite meal of the entire journey. It was a easy burger patty on rice with a wealthy tomato sauce over it. We eat quite a lot of rice bowls at house, particularly after an extended night time of service. It’s prepared in minutes and by no means disappoints.” — James Galbraith, chef/proprietor of soon-to-open PostBoy in New Buffalo, Michigan

A meaty eggplant dish

“Take the leftover hamburger meat and switch it right into a Turkish stuffed eggplant [also called Karniyarik]. Begin by cooking down onions, peppers, garlic, and tomato with cumin and coriander. Then, break up the bottom beef and blend it in with all the opposite elements to make a flavorful stuffing for the eggplant. I prefer to prime all of it off with a tahini cilantro sauce, candy pepper relish, and toasted pine nuts.” — Tim Kolanko, govt chef and culinary director, City Kitchen Group in Southern California

Good-as-new noodles

“Leftover hamburger meat makes for fast and simple dan dan noodles, a Sichuan dish that consists of spicy floor meat over noodles. Begin by breaking apart the chilly burger patties into crumbles, then season with chili, sesame oil, five-spice, and Sichuan peppers. From there, add the meat to a sizzling, chrome steel pan with canola oil and sear it earlier than including loads of black bean sauce — you could find ready-to-use jars at your native Asian grocery retailer. As soon as the sauce simmers, spoon it over contemporary noodles and revel in!” — Marcel Heiduk, govt chef at Venteux in Chicago 

“Crumble them up and add them to some form of sauce for pasta or noodles. Leftover burger meat can simply be included into gravies like those utilized in lo mein. Attempt a dish with quite a lot of liquid to counteract the dryness of a cooked burger.” — Jon Kung, chef and creator of Kung Meals

A basic casserole

“Certainly one of my favourite dishes after I was a child was tater tot casserole, which makes use of floor beef, sautéed diced onions, and historically a can or two of cream of mushroom soup, with a splash of milk. That is all combined and positioned in a baking dish, then topped with frozen tater tots, adopted by shredded cheese towards the top of baking. It may be an effective way to make use of leftover cooked hamburgers — simply break them aside and crumble barely. These days, I additionally prefer to make my very own mushroom gravy in lieu of the canned stuff. Throw in some sautéed sliced mushrooms and it is even higher.” — Amanda Salas, govt chef at Journeyman Distillery in Three Oaks, Michigan

Straightforward empanadas…or home made sizzling pockets

“Repurpose leftover burger meat right into a scrumptious and flavorful empanada. Take your cooked burger meat and add it to a meals processor with onions, peppers, spices, and jalapeños for some spice. Then mix your floor beef combination with shredded gouda cheese and spoon it into empanada dough. This can be a nice strategy to cut back waste and provides your burgers a brand new life!” — Jose Horrach, govt chef at Chica & The Don in New York Metropolis

Do-it-yourself sizzling pockets are nice within the air fryer. Crumble up the leftover hamburgers, season them with paprika and chili powder, and fill in pre-made pastry dough with shredded mozzarella or cheddar. Then cook dinner within the air fryer till golden and serve along with your favourite dipping sauce.” — Christopher Weathered, chef/co-owner of Mill and Foremost in Kerhonkson, New York

A hearty breakfast

“I all the time grill for now and for later, ensuring there are leftover cooked hamburgers to make a ‘next-day’ beef hash breakfast skillet with potatoes, eggs, onions, and jalapeños — all smothered in gravy. It’s a play on picadillo, a well-liked filling for breakfast tacos with floor beef that’s stewed with potatoes and chilis. For my Southern-influenced, one-pan model, I finely chop leftover hamburger meat so it cooks like floor beef earlier than stewing it in home made gravy with cracked eggs and cheese. This hearty, all-in-one breakfast skillet is a Southern deal with — particularly when served with sizzling, fresh-out-of-the-oven, buttermilk biscuits.” — Brandi Key, culinary director at Dish Society and Each day Collect in Houston

An iteration of egg rolls

“Maintaining with the cheeseburger theme, you’ll be able to crumble the leftover cooked hamburgers and blend with some diced caramelized onions to create a filling for cheeseburger egg rolls. Place a scoop of the crumbled burger meat and a slice of American cheese in an egg roll wrapper. Then roll up and fry till crispy. Serve with Thousand Island dressing.” — Amanda Salas, govt chef at Journeyman Distillery in Three Oaks, Michigan