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taco bell bell burger & mild border sauce

58 Pinches 1 Photo
ravenhigheagle avatar
Prescott, AZ
Updated on Jun 5, 2014

From about the mid-1960's through the mid-1970's Taco Bell made a Sloppy Joe like sandwich called the "Bell-Burger". It used the same flavored ground beef mixture as a crunchy taco, along with a sauce similar to Mild Border Sauce and shredded mild cheddar cheese. This was served on a hamburger bun that had been steamed slightly to soften and warm it. This is not the "Bell Beefer", which came a few years later from the mid-1970's through the mid -1990's. The regular "Bell Beefer" had seasoned loose meat, sauce, onions and lettuce on a bun.

Rate
prep time 5 Min
cook time 10 Min
method Stove Top
yield Makes 6 Burgers

Ingredients

  • BEEF FILLING:
  • 1 pound ground beef, uncooked
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon mild chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried minced onion flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 dash garlic powder
  • 1/2 cup cold water
  • TACO BELL MILD BORDER SAUCE
  • 1 1/2 cups cold water
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch
  • 1/2 - (6-oz) can tomato paste
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • EXTRA ITEMS YOU WILL NEED
  • 6 - hamburger buns (steamed slightly to soften and warm them)
  • 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • - diced onions
  • - shredded lettuce
  • - diced tomatoes

How To Make taco bell bell burger & mild border sauce

  • Step 1
    BEEF FILLING: Combine in a mixing bowl raw ground beef, flour, chili powder, salt, minced onion flakes, paprika, onion powder and garlic powder.
  • Step 2
    Mix thoroughly like you would mix a meatloaf.
  • Step 3
    In a skillet on the stove top, add 1/2 cup of cold water and the seasoned ground meat mixture. Mix well.
  • Step 4
    Cook over medium heat, mash and stir ground meat as it cooks, breaking it up.
  • Step 5
    Cook until meat is no longer pink and slightly browned.
  • Step 6
    The meat mixture should be loose, without any large pieces. Drain off any grease or liquid. Steam the burger buns slightly to warm and soften them.
  • Step 7
    FOR THE BORDER SAUCE: Add cold water to a saucepan. Stir in the cornstarch until it is dissolved.
  • Step 8
    Stir in the tomato paste, vinegar, chili powder, salt and cayenne pepper. Stir until well mixed and smooth.
  • Step 9
    Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5-minutes to thicken.
  • Step 10
    Allow sauce to cool then store in a covered container in the refrigerator. Makes about 1 1/2 cups of Mild Border Sauce.
  • Step 11
    TO BUILD THE BELL BURGER: Spread a tablespoon of Mild Border Sauce on the bottom bun.
  • Step 12
    Place several tablespoons of the meat mixture on the bottom bun like making a sloppy joe.
  • Step 13
    Add 2 tablespoons of Taco Bell Mild Border Sauce evenly over the meat on bun.
  • Step 14
    Sprinkle 1 or 2 Tbsp of shredded mild cheddar cheese over meat mixture on bun. Add the top bun.
  • Step 15
    Repeat 5 more times. Serve warm.
  • Step 16
    To make a "Bell Beefer" add loose meat, diced onions, shredded lettuce and mild border sauce.
  • Step 17
    To make a "Bell Beefer Supreme" add loose meat, diced onions, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, grated cheese and mild border sauce.
  • Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!

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