Chris Madrid's Inspired Tostada Burger

Last Updated on February 9, 2024 by Carne Diem

Protein:

Origin: North American, American

Method: Flat Top or Grill

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Inspired by the Chris Madrid's Tostada Burger this San Antonio style bean burger has melty cheddar cheese, creamy refried beans, crunchy tortilla chips, topping of the juicy grilled burger.

I have to admit, that I am a bit of a "best list" junky.  There is just something about working my way through a "best of" list that is very rewarding to me.  One of those vices is the great American hamburger.  During my travels in the US, I often find myself researching where I might find the best hamburger in the area.  Hamburgers are undoubtedly the quintessential American food.  Of all of the burgers I have eaten, one that still stands out to me to this day is the Chris Madrid's Tostada Burger in San Antonio, Texas,

History of the Texas Tostada Burger

Chris Madrid's opened in 1977 and became a staple of the San Antonio community. Based off the ever-popular San Antonio style bean burger, the Tostada Burger quickly became one of the city's most iconic burgers. From the first time I tried this burger, about 10 years ago, I was hooked.

How to make a Tostada Burger at Home

To make the San Antonio style bean burger, you will need about 2 pounds of ground beef, hamburger seasoning, cheddar cheese spread, refried beans, and slices of cheddar cheese. You will also need any assorted toppings that you want for the tostada burger.

Obviously, if you are trying to make the best cheeseburger in America you need to use the best beef possible. Thus we choose a 50/50 mix of 80/20 beef and Wagyu beef. During times that we do not feel like splurging on Wagyu beef, we replace it with ground brisket or ground chuck with equally delicious results.

Mix the burger together in a bowl. Using a burger press or your hands, form the ground beef into 4 equal ½-pound patties. Do not over work the meat but be sure the patties will maintain their form through cooking.

Seasoning the beef burgers

We like to season the beef mixture with about 1 tablespoons of burger seasoning. We typically use our easy homemade burger seasoning, or a Hatch Green Chile seasoning, when we want a little more heat. Others have recommended seasoning with a little Fajita seasoning or taco seasoning which we have not tried, but also sounds delicious.

Cooking the Chris Madrid's Tostada Burgers

These Tex Mex burgers can be cooked on a grill or on a flat top griddle like a Blackstone.

Making San Antonio Burgers on a Flat Top Griddle

Prepare you Blackstone or griddle by preheating to medium-high heat.

Cook the burgers for about three minutes per side, then turn off the griddle and cover with cheese and let steam for three minutes, until the cheese is melted. Check the internal temp of the burger to make sure it is cooked to your desired temp.

Making Texas tostada burgers on a grill

To cook the beef cheeseburgers on a grill, prepare your grill for direct heat and heat to about 400 degrees. Cook the burgers for about 3-4 minutes per side. When the burgers reach about 120 degrees, top with the cheddar cheese spread, then the cheese slices. Cook until the burgers reach 155 degrees and the cheese and melted.

Topping the Tex-Mex Style Tostada Burger

The traditional Chris Madrid Tostada burger is topped with refried beans, slightly broken tortilla chips, tomato, lettuce, onion, mayonnaise, and a melted cheddar cheese. For our burger we use similar toppings but like to add grilled onions and a smoked spreadable cheese (Kaukauna) similar to the Cheese Wiz seen frequently in other bean burgers around the city. We also will occasionally use spreadable beer cheese and have been pleased with the results. We have also traded the tortilla chips with corn chips on occasion with great results.

Warm the refried beans on the stovetop prior to putting on the burger.

To finish the burger, spread the refried beans on one bun then cover with the corn chips. Top the other bun with the tomato and lettuce.

Finish by placing the burger patty with the melted cheese, and topping with the grilled onions. Through the top on the burger and enjoy. You may need a couple extra napkins for this one.

Optionally, add some mayo and bacon to your burger.

What to serve with Texas Bean burgers

No burger is complete without a side of fries, and few are better than our Always Crispy French Fries or maybe a side of Italian Style Parmesan Wings. Tater tots, or onion rings also make great sides.

Looking for more ground beef recipes, be sure to check out our recipes for our Navajo Flatbread Tacos and our Bierocks.

For more great burger recipes, check out our Brisket Burger Sliders with Horseradish Aioli, Stuffed Mexican Chorizo Burger, Dutch Oven Crumbly Burger: Maid Rite Style Loose Meat Sandwich or Texas Rattlesnake Smash Burger.

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