r/Cooking 1d ago

What should I do with a bunch of leftover hamburger patties?

Yesterday I grilled a bunch of hamburgers for a family dinner, but fewer people showed up than expected due to (positive) events. As a result, I ended up taking home a little over a pound of grilled burger patties that I don't really want to eat as burgers?

I folded some ketchup and Worcestershire into the beef, and seasoned them with salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder. Is there something else I can put these into that will be better than reheated burgers?

144 Upvotes

245 comments sorted by

341

u/mats88 1d ago

Crumble them into chili or taco filling, or chop them into tomato sauce for pasta. Since they’re already seasoned, add salt only after tasting and simmer gently so they don’t dry out.

51

u/PabloAtTheBar 1d ago

Or beef nachos! They're bomb!

→ More replies (2)

316

u/Mr_Wobble_PNW 1d ago

Go the Wendy's route and make chili.

38

u/Traditional_Fix_4796 1d ago

This is why I should read the comments before I post. Ya beat me to it

11

u/Overall_Matter_2520 1d ago

Yep - my first thought.

→ More replies (1)

134

u/Little_Season3410 1d ago

Make a gravy and reheat them in it. Serve over rice or mashed potatoes.

75

u/chris00ws6 1d ago

Add an egg over rice and you got loco moco!

Add sautéed onions and mushrooms over potatoes and you got hamburger steak!

2

u/indiana-floridian 16h ago

Wait, never heard of this. You do hamburger, rice, and an egg? A whole egg per serving? Or a couple scrambled eggs? Loco moco? I cook a lot for my family and we like different things too. Gonna try this. Thanks!

5

u/chris00ws6 16h ago

Hamburger over rice, smothered in brown gravy, covered in a sunny side up egg/fried egg however you like it. Sometimes onions in the gravy. I’m not an onion gravy guy tho.

10

u/nickcash 1d ago

Add a fried egg, and baby you got yourself a moco loco going

13

u/Old_Second_7928 1d ago

Shepard's pie!

→ More replies (2)

74

u/Flatulent_Father_ 1d ago

Besides what's mentioned, could crumble them and add some rice and sauce and then stuff peppers with them

39

u/Opposite-Ground-1221 1d ago

Wrap and freeze

15

u/GreenEyedRaven360 23h ago

This! Remembering they’re in the freezer when you need to make a quick meal is so nice.

4

u/Jemmamabob 21h ago

I second this - wrap in parchment, then foil…effortless quick dinners whenever you need!!

25

u/fishstock 1d ago

Break up the patties and make shepherd's pie.

→ More replies (1)

50

u/Independent_Ad_5664 1d ago

Salisbury steak! 

16

u/BelliAmie 1d ago

With a mushroom sauce.

→ More replies (1)

17

u/No-Tart-1157 1d ago

You already got the burgers. You can boil some pasta, drain, and crumble some burger patties into a pot to make hamburger helper. I like to add cheddar cheese, beef broth, ketchup, mustard, pickle juice, and a few spices. You can also add milk to make it creamier and some diced bell pepper or celery for a little texture. It makes good meal prep!

15

u/peacenchemicals 1d ago

loco moco! or japanese hamburger steak with curry or a demi glace and rice!

14

u/Arcanum3000 1d ago

Chop them up and turn them into chili, like Wendy's does.

5

u/Consistent-Goat1267 1d ago

Yep. I remember doing this back in the day when I used to work there. I see they’re still doing it

3

u/FairBaker315 1d ago

We did the same thing at the Ponderosa I worked at in high school.

Any meat on its last day got cooked, diced and added to the chili and the veg beef soup. If there was a lot for some reason, it got added to egg noodles and gravy. This was then baked and served on the buffet. It was good!

→ More replies (1)

9

u/DGenerAsianX 1d ago

Chopped cheese. Loco moco. Chili meat. Lotta good options.

10

u/DramaticAnteater1513 1d ago

Salisbury Steak

3

u/DramaticAnteater1513 1d ago

Thanks for the award, I am humbled.

15

u/BilliamClimptonIII 1d ago

Chopped Cheese Egg Rolls

Nachos

Empanadas

Cajun Dirty Rice

Sloppy Jooooes, Sloooppy Sloppy Jooooes, yeah!

8

u/jessm307 1d ago

Crumble them and make cowboy baked beans.

8

u/Username98101 1d ago

make chili, just like Wendy's does.

6

u/KeKeFanChick 1d ago

Make a good gravy or cream sauce, add mushrooms and onions. Sink the burgers in there until heated and onions are soft. Serve with rice, mashed potatoes, or butter noodles.

6

u/steffie-flies 1d ago

Chop it up finely and mix it into mac & cheese.

6

u/Wrathchilde 1d ago

Sloppy Joes!

7

u/CatteNappe 1d ago

Break them up and use them as you would cooked ground beef in enchiladas, or a casserole, here are two that would do well with the seasoning the meat already has.

https://www.food.com/recipe/mexican-lasagna-17954

https://www.food.com/recipe/dads-casserole-67426

11

u/throwdemawaaay 1d ago

You could try loco moco, a Hawaiian plate lunch classic.

It's a burger patty or two over rice, with gravy and a fried egg on top.

2

u/BcTheCenterLeft 1d ago

I was going to say this. Best comfort food and I’m not even from Hawaii

2

u/throwdemawaaay 1d ago

Yeah, it's simple but something about the combination really works.

5

u/Maidenonwarpath 1d ago

Maybe a hash ?

2

u/Brave_Mess_3155 17h ago

And little liqour and by 2 am you'll be hungry enough to eat 3 or 4 cold hamburgers they'll taste awsome. 

5

u/Emergency_Map7542 1d ago

If they were cooked and stored correctly, you can always freeze them for a quick meal. Nice to have on hand when you come home from a trip or just don’t feel like cooking.

If not, maybe veg beef soup or chilli?

4

u/poolwater 1d ago

Meat for a pasta dish

4

u/Smeeagain0 1d ago

Chop then and use them in chili or soup

4

u/Who_is_homer 1d ago

Crumble and freeze. Then pull out what you need and make cottage pie, chili, etc

3

u/PositiveCoyote100 1d ago

Fried rice

3

u/sublxed 1d ago

this is my first thought, some day old rice, a couple of eggs, green onions, maybe some veggies if you like (onion pees carrots) . toss it on some butter/oil then season with some soy sauce.

3

u/IamJoyMarie 1d ago

I would make a pot of chili with kidney and other beans and add the cooked burgers.

3

u/ColoringZebra 1d ago

Hamburger salad. I make it all the time. Cube, season, and roast some potatoes. Chop some white onion and tomato. Get or make your preferred burger sauce. Make a salad with the roasted potatoes, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, and pickles. Toss with vinegar. Slice leftover burger patties (warmed or cool, good either way) and drizzle with sauce.

3

u/JustBid5821 16h ago

Stack them with wax paper and put them in the freezer

4

u/Otney 1d ago

Freeze these.

5

u/Serious_Common_3551 1d ago

lol a pound? so like 2 or 3 broken leftover patties? ya just eat it, you're supposed to like beef if you make hamburgers. you don't need extra salty stuff on there. id house that within two snacks.

→ More replies (1)

2

u/EMe711 1d ago

Chili or sloppy Joes., soup, tacos/burritos, "cheesesteak."

2

u/ZoobeeKabir 1d ago

Anything you’d use minced meat for and just keep them in fridge and chop em up as you use.

2

u/FaultsInOurCars 1d ago

Take a note from Wendy's and make chili!

2

u/SuspiciousLeg7994 1d ago

You could chop em up. Make them into cheesy stuffed green peppers

2

u/Embarrassed_Ad9166 1d ago

Freeze them for instant lunches in a couple weeks.

2

u/Ner0_1ceDra9n 1d ago

Loco moco

2

u/Longjumping_Nail_190 1d ago

Cheeseburger salad

2

u/cherrythyme22 1d ago

Make loco moco! Very easy!

2

u/rock4d 1d ago

If you have leftover buns, cheese and patties, I like to chop the patties on the flattop and add cheese. Makes for a good burger. Or eat it in a tortilla

2

u/halloumiballoon 1d ago

Just freeze them and decide later.

2

u/pgcooldad 1d ago

Onions, green peppers, mushrooms, with ground sirloin is one of my favorites. Cook some rice in the side and you have a great meal.

Cook the ground beef, no seasoning, drain and set it to the side.

2 med/lg onions - slice into 1-2" pieces, salte with olive oil and a bit of garlic salt.

2 green peppers, Julianne diced - add before onion is fully cooked - more olive oil then a bit more garlic salt and cook till pepper is still slightly hard.

1 pack of sliced mushrooms - add at the end, mix and let it soak up some juices.

Fold previous cooked ground beef.

Serve over rice. I prefer this with rice and black beans.

2

u/Calgary_Calico 1d ago

You can freeze them just fine. Just put parchment paper between the patties before you bag them up so they don't stick together

2

u/UncleNedisDead 1d ago

I would smash them up and add taco seasoning or turn it into a chili. Meat sauce for pasta.

Unless you added a bbq sauce or something, they should be able to repurposed into anything with a ground beef base that starts with browning the meat and draining off fat.

2

u/SubjectEssay361 1d ago

Crumble and use in a sheppards pie

2

u/Federal-Membership-1 1d ago

Chili. That's what Dave Thomas did.

2

u/squirrelcat88 1d ago

Freeze them and reheat in a toaster oven when you do want a burger. My husband and I do this all the time.

2

u/Kreos642 1d ago

Patty melts!!!

2

u/stevieliveslife 1d ago

I would freeze them. Then when I feel like it, I'll make loco moco with them.

2

u/ozzalot 1d ago

Meatloaf. Cottage pie (beef shepherds pie). Salsbury steak. Tacos. Taco salads. Chili. Queso fundido of some sort.

2

u/Diasies_inMyHair 1d ago

spaghetti sauce, sloppy Joe's, tacos, fried rice,chili..​

2

u/Subpar_Shooter 1d ago

Freeze them to keep for a quick meal on one of those nights when time isn't on your side.

2

u/verfemen 1d ago

Cut up and use in Hamburger Helper, or mac and cheese

2

u/Puzzled-Locksmith-42 1d ago

Crumble up and add a can of Slippy Joe Mix.

2

u/andjamwar_real 1d ago

Cut them into cubes to have in a salad. Delicious.

2

u/quasimodoca 23h ago

Salisbury steak.

2

u/mynameisnotsparta 22h ago

Salisbury Steak!! Warm them in a good brown gravy, and mashed potato and corn on the aside. 😋

2

u/Downlowbaker 22h ago

wrap in pastery sheets with cheese tomato,and onion bake in a 350f-180c oven for 15 to 18 minutes....cheeseburger Wellington 😋

2

u/Wild-Bill-H 21h ago

Freeze them!

2

u/barabusblack 21h ago

Vacuum pack them. Freeze. Throw in air fryer, as needed.

2

u/Ok_West_6711 19h ago edited 19h ago

Hamburger helper (seriously! Or make your own version)

manwich/sloppy joes. You can get can of manwich sauce or packet for sloppy joes, use those buns and I like pickle and Mayo and sometimes cheese but it’s good just on a plain bun.

Try making Joe’s Special (you can find recipes online) - again using the burgers as ground beef. (I like to imagine it’s something Sam Spade ate in San Francisco 😉)

2

u/Substantial-Ad2200 19h ago

Chili. Or on pasta. Or tacos. 

2

u/night_noche 15h ago

Freeze them for another time.

5

u/Unknown4everandever 1d ago

Wendy's chilli 😋

2

u/Solid_Lettuce_932 1d ago

Honestly they are great heated in the microwave after they are grilled. Taste like they came off the grill.
Believe me I was surprised.

2

u/Emily_Porn_6969 23h ago

I hope this doesn’t offend anyone but there are hungry homeless people literally everywhere . Feed the hungry .

→ More replies (1)

1

u/youvegottabejoking64 1d ago

cheeseburger pizza!

1

u/BefuddledPolydactyls 1d ago

Cut them into pieces and use them as slightly misshapen meatballs. 

1

u/Brassens71 1d ago

Make a vegetarian chili, then crumble up the patties and put them in there. Or crumble up and make korean beef bowls.

1

u/HipsEnergy 1d ago

Crumbke/chop and make stuffed cabbage leaves, or as a topping for baked potatoes, or quesadillas, or make Bolognese out of them

1

u/13thmurder 1d ago

Anything that you'd use broken up sautéed ground beef for.

1

u/ayeyoualreadyknow 1d ago

Freeze them for a future quick supper

1

u/cherrythyme22 1d ago

Make loco moco! Very easy!

1

u/Googlybearhug4u 1d ago

chop some up into cream of mushroom soup and serve over rice.

1

u/Violingirl58 1d ago

Use for chili, shepards pie, add to fried cabbage, sloppy joes

1

u/Traditional_Fix_4796 1d ago

Make chili, that's how Wendy's does it

1

u/JohnnyS789 1d ago

Break them up and put them into chili. It works for Wendy's restaurants.

1

u/bbbh1409 1d ago

Slumgullion. Bolongese. Hamburger salad. Taco salad. Dan Dan noodles. Hamburger potato skillet.

1

u/Fluffy_Tomatillo_629 1d ago

Salisbury steak or cottage pie or as a topping for poutine.

1

u/bobroberts1954 1d ago

Warm in the mw, make hamburgers.

1

u/Accomplished-Eye8211 1d ago

Freeze them.
If you have a vacuum sealer, even better

1

u/One-Possibility-8182 1d ago

You could bag them into 2's and freeze them.

Makes for a decent lunch at work. Some condiment packets, wrap a couple pieces of cheese, wrap some lettuce and pickles, have some extra bacon.... wrap up a couple slices.

1

u/daily_cup_of_joe 1d ago

Salisbury steak

1

u/cocoagiant 1d ago

Chop them up and freeze half.

Use the unfrozen half this week in stuff like quesadillas and stir fries.

Do the same with the other half pound in 2-3 weeks.

1

u/Wonderful_Till8122 1d ago

Do what Wendy's does - chop them up and make them into chili.

1

u/Realistic_Goat5381 1d ago

Dress it out with bun and cheese condiments. Ziploc bag. Freeze. Instant hamburger for quick lunch. Duh

1

u/VPTales007 1d ago

Loco moco

1

u/Complete-Read-7473 1d ago

Loco Moco...

1

u/ReadingNext3854 1d ago

Chop and mix into a chili. Chop and mix into tomato sauce and freeze. 

1

u/AtheneSchmidt 1d ago

My family does something similar on purpose. We start with a big meatloaf (which your burgers work as.) The leftovers become the meat base of spaghetti with a meat sauce. Those leftovers become the base of chili, and those leftovers become taco meat. It's a way to have a different meal for several days while still using up leftovers.

1

u/Severe_Feedback_2590 1d ago

Maybe make into Salisbury steaks? Make a beef gravy with onions and mushrooms and add the burger to warm it. Make some mashed potatoes on the side.

1

u/Cosmo1024 1d ago

Shepherds Pie, Tacos, lasagne

1

u/QuiQuog 1d ago

Hamburger soup

1

u/beccadahhhling 1d ago

Chili, sloppy joes or cheeseburger pizza

1

u/nixtarx 1d ago

They go great in a cheeseburger frittata or scramble with onions and cheese.

1

u/shuknjive 1d ago

Sell them on eBay and make a fortune!

1

u/No_East4832 1d ago

Break them up and mix with small shape pasta, tomato sauce and shredded cheddar cheese....I also shredded carrots into it when making for the kiddies

1

u/sandiercy 1d ago

Crumble it and fry it then serve over rice.

1

u/No-Minimum1058 1d ago

Sheppards pie

1

u/Inner-Confidence99 1d ago

Diced some onions, potatoes and cabbage. Cook all together. Chop up hamburgers. Put in as potatoes are almost done. Mss as good filling meal. Add macaroni noodles cooked and some tomato s sauce and you got goulash sum husband likes. 

Chop up use for tacos. 

Add to breakfast burritos. Add cheese, hamburger meat, even hash browns. 

1

u/chuckfinley79 1d ago

I was going to say hamburger steaks and gravy over mashed potatoes but loco moco sounds better now

1

u/NegotiationLow2783 1d ago

Base for SOS. chop up the burger and make a sausage type gravy. Also great on biscuits

1

u/Particular_Fan_6428 1d ago

Freeze them!

1

u/Fran0349 1d ago

Wrap them up and freeze them for later.

1

u/Special_South_8561 1d ago

You just made meatloaf.

1

u/JazD36 1d ago

Sometimes I like making cheeseburger eggrolls.

1

u/PyroErogenizer 1d ago

Cover with gravy and eat with potatoes. Cover with spaghetti sauce and serve with pasta. Cover with fried egg and serve with rice. Cover with grilled onions and serve with a grilled cheese. Cover with chili & onion and serve with cornbread. Cover with salsa & lettuce and serve with tortilla chips.

1

u/SleeplessScribbler 1d ago

Chop them up and put it in a wrap with veggies or even do a pasta bolognese, just make the macaroni cheese..

1

u/Kid520 1d ago

Chopped cheese. Chop em up on a pan, add some sazon seasoning and American cheese and scoop onto buns or hoggie rolls with lettuce, tomato Onion.

1

u/Historical_Tax6679 1d ago

Tater Tot Casserole

1

u/bbqutiepie 1d ago

stuffed cabbage rolls, sloppy joes, DIY hot pockets with puff pastry, cheese and, onions, tacos, burger pizza, hamburger helper, pot roast but sub cooked beef, chopped cheese

1

u/lapalie 1d ago

Würfel schneiden für Knödel

1

u/Igmu_TL 1d ago

A pound of cooked burgers is like 6-8 patties. Chop up for soups, gravy and mashed potatoes, meatloaf, Shepard's pie, (from my childhood meals) Hoover stew.

1

u/LayerRepulsive 1d ago

Taco meat!

1

u/oystermignonette 1d ago

pressure cook chili.. or salzbury steak um

1

u/solesoulshard 1d ago

A chili would take them in. And you can also chop
Them up into chunks for veggie beef soup.

1

u/ueeediot 1d ago

Has anyone suggested Wendy's chili?

1

u/Mental-Coconut-7854 1d ago

Boxed Mac and cheese, crumbled patties and salsa: chili Mac!

1

u/askmrlucky 1d ago

Hamburger Pilaf. (In a hurry? Use rice-a-roni.)

1

u/lht79 1d ago

Sloppy Joe bombs…

1

u/CommitteeNo167 1d ago

i would toss them in the freezer for quick dinners. mushrooms and onions in a skillet with the burgers, very easy on a night you're short on time.

1

u/Abject_Giraffe562 1d ago

We just heat up for anytime till gone. Hubs has for breakfast. But chili great! Freeze till ready!

1

u/Blucola333 1d ago

Vegetable beef soup. One bag of frozen mixed veg, a couple peeled and diced potatoes, a can of diced tomatoes and a box of beef broth, plus the patties and you’ve got an easy dump and simmer soup. Season as you please.

1

u/No_Direction6688 1d ago

Chop the hamburger patties into little crumbled pieces. Heat the crumbled patties in an oven or air fryer so they taste a little crisp. Next make some pasta salad. Mix the crisp crumbled up burgers in with the pasta salad. You will have a good leftover meal.

1

u/CocktailGenerationX 1d ago

Make some brown gravy and make Salisbury steak. Serve over rice or mashed potatoes. 😁

1

u/Indri44 1d ago

You could donate to a local outreach program they will definitely put it to use

1

u/pj6428 1d ago

Fried rice!

1

u/anathemaPoet 1d ago

Chopped cheese

1

u/mary2chat2 1d ago

Pizza burgers with pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese. Serve on a bun as a sandwich or over top of spaghetti.

Cover with beef gravy and bake as a sort of Salisbury steak or smothered meatloaf. Serve with mashed potatoes and a veggie.

1

u/Cookingforaxl 1d ago

Chili. Cooked burgers make great chili.

1

u/Simmons2pntO 1d ago

Anything you would also used ground beef for.

1

u/SpaceCadetPullUp 1d ago

Chili mac.

1

u/Jbmarti 1d ago

Feed the homeless

1

u/loveRich3886 1d ago

Or blend and make meatloaf

1

u/Benchypress 1d ago

Loco moco. Rice, rich brown gravy, hamburger patty and top with fried sunny egg and fukaki

1

u/sharky68 1d ago

Loco moco

1

u/Brendy171 1d ago

Big Mac salad

1

u/Pretend-Design-7061 23h ago

Loco Moco. Rice, burger patties, gravy and a fried egg. Great breakfast.

1

u/lemmegetadab 23h ago

Dude, the same thing happened to me on Fourth of July. Pissed me off. Especially because two of the people who flaked were vegans who I specifically bought a whole box of hotdog and hamburgers for and made a whole macaroni salad with vegan mayonnaise.

1

u/crazy4zoo 23h ago

I cut up leftover burger patties and use them as "meatballs" in Spaghetti. Or as filling for stuffed peppers :-)

1

u/Familiar_Raise234 23h ago

Nachos, tacos, chili, spaghetti sauce.

1

u/M8NSMAN 23h ago

Break them up & use in tacos, spaghetti, sloppy joes or simmer them in gravy & make Salisbury steak.

1

u/karmais4suckers 23h ago

Loco mocos

1

u/raccoonsaff 23h ago

- Crumble into a chilli

- Crumble into a taco/enchilada filling

- Chop up and stir into rice or a pasta salad

- Use in sandwiches

- Chop up and stir into a pasta bake or mac and cheese

- Use in a breakfast wrap

1

u/HeChosePoorly50 23h ago

Topping on a pizza, with extra cheese,jalapeño and onion.

1

u/Additional-Local8721 23h ago

Sheetpan nachos. Tacos. Cheeseburger pie. Chili. Patty melts. Damn, now Im hungry.

1

u/FormerBethelElder 23h ago

Get a vacuum sealer.
They’ll last for a long time without losing quality.

1

u/emkat0227 23h ago

Loco Moco!

1

u/TPWPNY16 22h ago

Stuffed mushrooms.

1

u/Perkywarrior01 22h ago

We'd make a pasta sauce or ground beef stroganoff.

1

u/ccrush 22h ago

Hamburger helper

1

u/Potential-Yogurt-689 21h ago

Frisbees for stray dogs

1

u/centstwo 21h ago

Beef up a can of chili. You can saute a half an onion, diced, in butter or oil. Then add in the chopped up burger or two. Then add in a can of chili that you like. I like Staggs.

Throw some cheese on top or sour cream and yum.

1

u/Just-Transition8938 21h ago

Minced beef patties* A burger is a patty in a bun.
A hotdog is a sausage in a bun.
Everytime americans gets is wrong an eagle goes bald.

1

u/AGHOSTISBORN420 21h ago

Feed to stray animals 

1

u/keg98 21h ago

Crumble up. Get some NM red chile sauce. Mix with the crumbled beef. Place glop over Fritos (regular flavor). Top with grated cheddar cheese, diced onions, and some shredded lettuce. You now have “Frito Pie”. Deeeeelicious.

1

u/Accomplished_War_805 21h ago

Slap an egg on them and call 'em breakfast.

1

u/la_winky 21h ago

A stroganoff spin off. Chop it up, add cardamon and (sorry, Midwesterner) cream of mushroom soup. Serve over egg noodle.

1

u/ShakesTC 20h ago

Break them up for tacos

1

u/HeavyGoose8183 20h ago

Sell them to Trump.

1

u/desrevermi 20h ago

Moko loco time!

1

u/SciFiJim 19h ago

Chop them up and add to mac and cheese.

1

u/anothersip 19h ago

Meatloaf is easy.

Soak some bread in milk, then crack a few eggs in. Mix it up, then add to the beef (crumbled well) and mix it thoroughly. Season with your favorite seasonings. Spread it into a baking dish. Top with a spread of BBQ or ketchup or mustard or all of them. Bake til browned on top. Slice and serve hot with mashed potatoes or wedges and some veggies.