The Secret To Budget-Friendly Burgers Is Probably Already In Your Pantry

No one can deny the pleasurable experience of biting into a perfect cheeseburger. With all those satisfying textures and flavors, however, there comes a cost — especially if you're responsible for making enough of those meat-filled delicacies to feed your friends and family. Fresh food is expensive. And based on a 2012 analysis conducted by the USDA regarding the cost of different food groups, protein-rich foods and vegetables tend to cost more than grains and dairy.

Knowing how pricey quality ground beef can be, if burgers are on your upcoming menu, consider adding an ingredient that will make those seemingly small pounds of meat stretch beyond the bounds of one weeknight dinner. To save on your next burger platter, grab a can of black beans at the store and add these budget-friendly pre-cooked legumes right into your upcoming batch of homemade burger patties. 

Not only are canned beans cheaper than ground beef, but with a little effort, these protein-filled legumes will also blend effortlessly into your meat mixture. And the ground beef will act as an adhesive for any ingredient alternatives.

Of course, if you're up for an entirely new meal, you can skip the beef and make a traditional black bean burger. But for those who still want this classic American mainstay to have some meat, mixing beans and beef may be the way to get the most out of your hard-earned dollars. To make these altered patties, add a drained 15.5-ounce can of rinsed and chopped black beans to a 10-ounce portion of ground beef in a bowl, along with a good helping of minced onion. After adding your favorite seasonings, form your burger patties and cook them in a cast-iron pan over the stove or grill, with slightly more fat or cooking oil than you'd use for traditional burgers.

Keep in mind that with this alternative burger recipe, the texture of your patties will be slightly different. To add a little more zest to the beef and beans, you can try one or many suggested ingredients outlined by Blueprint Nutrition. Barbecue sauce, panko bread crumbs, or even fresh cilantro may provide a much-welcomed twist to your formulated burger mixture. 

Regardless of how many ingredients you add, reducing the amount of beef and swapping in a can of beans will save you from having to spend more of your precious money on fresh meat. 

Are beans the most well-rounded alternative ingredient for fresh beef? When it comes to altering your best burger recipe, you have quite an assortment of ingredients to choose from, which can be overwhelming for even the most experienced home chefs. Surprisingly, black beans aren't the only ingredient you can add to ground beef to skirt your budget. 

Among the laundry list of potential foods to try are rice, oats, eggs, and finely chopped vegetables. And knowing which ingredients work best will save you time and effort. While you can add an assortment of grains and a mixture of your favorite minced vegetables, fresh produce isn't necessarily cheap, and grains can't measure up to the protein content of ground beef.

According to MyFoodData's Nutritional Comparison Tool detailing the differences between 1 ounce of ground beef to 1 ounce of black beans, black beans are a nutritional powerhouse, even though ground beef has more protein. For every ounce of black beans, your body consumes adequate amounts of calcium, fiber, and iron. Black beans also pack 5% of your daily protein for every ounce, which is decent for a cost-effective, beef alternative. The heartiness of black beans makes them texturally comparable to ground beef as well. While adding whole grains, bread crumbs, and vegetables can make a tasty burger, if you want to save money without skimping on nutrition, canned black beans may prove be your best bet.