How To Save Money On Burgers With Ingredients You Already Have

Stretching your food budget is nothing new. Whether you're trying to eat healthier while sticking to a budget, or are simply trying to offset the generally more expensive cost of meat by eating more plant-based, home cooks across the country are constantly becoming smarter about how they spend their money on food. One way to do this is by using budget-friendly ingredients that you might already have to make delicious — and sometimes even gourmet — meals.

From pasta to sandwiches, plenty of delicious and satisfying meals can be made using ingredients that are sitting in the back of your pantry, waiting to be used. But what happens when you crave a burger and don't have the budget to spare? Well, there's some good news for burger fans. You don't necessarily have to spend much money on high-quality beef or fancy cheese to get your burger fix. You can make amazing burgers using ingredients that are both inexpensive and easy to find at any grocery store — and, most likely, are already available in your kitchen.

One simple way to stretch your burger game is by using beans. You don't just need beef to make a delicious burger. A tasty and budget-friendly option for making burger patties is using beans. Bon Appétit suggests to start by draining and rinsing a 15.5-ounce can of black beans, placing them in a bowl, and smashing them with a fork until they're crushed. Keep the consistency slightly coarse and not overly smooth. Mix the beans in with a finely chopped medium-sized onion and the beef that you have on hand. A 1:1 ratio between 10-ounces of beef and the bean mixture should work fine. You can adjust it to your liking. Consider using more beans to stretch your beef usage even further.

Once mixed, you should be able to form four patties that can be grilled or pan-cooked over medium-high heat. Cook for roughly five minutes per side until the patties are browned, and you'll have a half-beef/half-veggie burger, delicious enough to rival those of your local fast-food restaurants. You can also use lentils or canned chickpeas in several amazing ways if that's what you happen to have on hand.

If the pan seems a bit drier than you'd like, feel free to add some butter or oil to keep the patties from sticking. Season with salt and pepper, and serve on a toasted bun with toppings of your choice for a delicious and easy burger night that won't break the bank.