Beefy San Antonio Burger with Refried Beans and Fritos

Name: Beefy San Antonio Burger with Refried Beans and Fritos
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1 pound ground chuck; salt and pepper; 3/4 cup shredded Cheddar or Pepper Jack; 4 hamburger buns; 1/2 cup refried beans; 3/4 cup Fritos chips; 1 avocado (sliced)

Last updatedMarch 14, 2025

23 Comments

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Sneak Preview: A Texas-sized bite of nostalgia! This beefy San Antonio Burger layers a thick patty with creamy refried beans, crunchy Fritos, and melted cheese, all on a toasted bun. Inspired by EZ’s, this burger is a true Tex-Mex legend.

a san antonio bean burger showing the inside of the sandwich.

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Have you ever driven to your favorite restaurant with great anticipation only to find a “gone out of business” sign on the door?

Recipe Inspiration

A few years ago, we drove 45 minutes to Dallas, excited to eat at our favorite 50’s-style diner, EZ’s. But when we arrived, the building was gone—replaced by a convenience store. In disbelief, we circled the block, half-expecting to find it hidden somewhere, as if the neighborhood had been rearranged without warning.

The loss of EZ’s meant saying goodbye to one of our favorite menu items—the legendary San Antonio Bean Burger. Determined to recreate it, we experimented until we landed on this delicious version, packed with all the flavors we remember.

Ingredients and Substitutions

GROUND BEEF:
- Use good-quality ground chuck.
CHEESE:
- Try shredded Cheddar or Pepper Jack mixed into the meat.
- Go classic with melted Cheez Whiz on top.
REFRIED BEANS:
- Refried pinto beans are traditional.
- Sub refried black beans.
FRITOS:
- Adds the perfect salty crunch
- Tortilla chips give the same vibe.
HAMBURGER BUNS:
- Toasted to help hold up to the toppings.
OPTIONAL: Avocado slices, guacamole, or picante sauce.

Need help troubleshooting? Please email me: Paula at saladinajar.com–photos welcome!

Beefy San Antonio Burger with Refried Beans and Fritos

By Paula Rhodes

This San Antonio-style burger is a Texas-inspired favorite. A juicy beef patty is topped with creamy refried beans, crunchy Fritos, and melted cheese for a unique twist on a classic burger. Serve with avocado or picante sauce for an extra kick!

5 from 3 votes

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Prep time: 10

Cook time: 10

Total time: 20

Ingredients

1 pound (453 g) ground chuck
salt and pepper
¾ cup (84 g) shredded Cheddar or Pepper Jack
4 hamburger buns
½ cup (120 g) refried beans
¾ cup (66 g) Fritos chips
1 avocado sliced

Instructions

Prepare the patties:

Season 1 pound (453 g) ground chuck with salt and pepper. Lightly mix in 3/4 cup (84 g) shredded Cheddar or Pepper Jack.
Season 1 pound (453 g) ground chuck with salt and pepper. Mix in 3/4 cup (84 g) shredded Cheddar or Pepper Jack if using. Form into four equal balls and flatten into patties. Press a slight indentation in the center of each patty.

Cook the burgers:

Grill or cook in a skillet over medium-high heat for about 3-4 minutes per side or until done to your liking. Avoid pressing down with a spatula.

Toast the buns:

Lightly butter and toast the 4 hamburger buns on a skillet or grill until golden brown.

Assemble the burgers:

Place each cooked patty on a toasted bottom bun.
Spread 1/2 cup (120 g) refried beans over the patty.
Sprinkle with 3/4 cup (66 g) Fritos chips (crushed).
Add optional toppings like 1 avocado or picante sauce.
Cap with the top bun and gently press down to hold everything together.

Nutrition

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Paula Rhodes, owner

As a retired home economist, I created Saladinajar.com to share my belief that you don’t have to be a chef to find joy in creating homemade food worth sharing. Bread machines (used in an unconventional way), homemade yogurt, and quick microwave recipes are my specialty.

5 from 3 votes (2 ratings without comment)

23 Comments

Valery Savage says:

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I grew up in San Antonio. You won’t find the Bean burger, from San Antonio anywhere in DFW! My 4 sisters and I have combed the metroplex for over 40 years for the best burger in the world, according to us, The bean burger! Absolutely no one ever heard of it here. They all think the hamburger patty is made out of beans, if you ask them if they have ever heard of a bean burger, go figure! We tried to recreate it over and over for at least 40 years. We tried several different burgers from every burger place in the metroplex! We’d get the burgers with just meat and buns, nothing else. Then we’d add the refried beans, Fritos, and every kind of cheese we could think of. We never found anything that was right! One sister and I tried over and over! Nothing was ever right. After that sister died I came upon a web sight that said in San Antonio, they used Cheese Wiz for the the cheese! Well out of the 5 of us that was about the only cheese we never tried! I got a Waterburger with just the hamburger patty and buns. I added the refried beans to the patty and cooked it in an iron skillet. I flipped the patty with the beans on it to the bottom of the pan. I cooked it that way for a few minutes, to set the refried beans. I toasted the buns a little more than Waterburger did, I put the patty bean side up on the toasted bun. I added Fritos. While still in the frying pan. I topped the burger with CHEESE WIZ. Then placed the other toasted bun on Top. I cried the whole time I ate it because it was the closest we had ever gotten to the ones we ate in San Antonio. The reason I cried was because my sister, Shirley was not here to eat it with me! I hope she was in heaven directing me to the original recipe, and that’s why I finally found It. It was the first time in my life, 67 years, that I desperately wanted an afterlife to be true! When I die I want to see my sweet sister again and make Bean burgers in heaven. If there is no afterlife and we just blink out to nothing I’ll never get to share a bean burger with my sweet sister, Shirley! Please god let us have an afterlife with each other so we can share a true and real Beanburger, don’t let this life be all we have! I love and miss you so much Shirley! Finding the simple thing, like cheese wiz, that we never thought of, to complete the perfect bean burger seems impossible without you! If you want to try this recipe don’t add all of the other things that people try to add like onions or grilled onions and different cheeses. If you want the original, that we ate 57 years ago, just the hamburger patty, toasted buns, refried beans, Fritos and Cheese Wiz is all you need. Don’t get me wrong, adding onions, mushrooms, different cheeses sounds amazing to me and I’ll probably try them all. If you just want to get addicted try the original with nothing added. Believe it or not I’ve found this amazing Mexican cook at our local convince, bait and gas stop ( I live on a Lake) that is going to make the original for me! I can’t wait to eat it!!! I hope it’s as good as the San Antonio Bean Burger!

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1. Paula says:
  
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  Hi Valery,
  What an interesting comment. I could hear the longing in your words to see your sister and share a hamburger with her again. We always ordered our bean burgers with the extra guacamole (or was it just a sliced avocado–I can’t remember for sure). Of course, that made it even messier than it already was. I hope your amazing cook can replicate it for you. Thanks so much for writing.
  
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Kathryn says:

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I used to get a bean burger at Mamas on San Pedro back in the 80’s & 90’s. Best I ever had. But they put the beans and crushed fritos on the bottom. Then the meat and cheese with onion and salsa on top. I always added guacamole on top of that. Make sure you toast the bun!!!

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1. Paula says:
  
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  I agree. The buns must be toasted. Otherwise, the buns won’t hold up to the beans and guacamole. I’m getting hungry just thinking about this burger.
  
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Kimberly Newsome says:

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Sills bean burger has reoepned by Brian Sills next door to the Magic Time Machiene On 410 in San Antonio. Brian is the original owners grandson. DELICIOUS!!!!

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Kay says:

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I loved that hamburger as well ! I have also been trying to duplicate it! The only thing you forgot was the salsa:)

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1. Paula says:
  
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  Hi Kay,
  You know what I really miss? Their pizzas! I have tried to imitate them–without success. Thanks for writing. pr
  
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tasteofbeirut says:

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I have eaten there a few times, did not notice this burger though, so I am glad you have recreated it. Sounds like a perfect cross between tex-mex and americana.

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Carolyn says:

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Chris Madrid’s in San Antonio has a tostado burger that sounds a lot like this. I moved away from San Antonio but try to go to Chris Madrid’s when I get back there.

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1. Paula says:
  
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  We are going to the San Antonio area later this month. Will try to find a Chris Madrid’s. Thanks for the tip.
  
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Nancy Henderson says:

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Yes, EZ’s is still open in San Antonio. The original bean burger was created by a mom and pop team who owned the Sill’s Snack Shack back in the 60’s. The recipe calls for Cheese Whiz, Fritos, Hamburger patty, onions, refried beans and toasted buns.

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1. Romaine says:
  
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  So glad to know this. We are planning a trip to SA this summer so will definitely put it on the itinerary.
  
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miss kate says:

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Dude. I am SO making these! !!!

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Sandy says:

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Wow! Who doesn’t love a good burger. I am so amazed at the talent and creativity you possess. You really have a gift. You make those of us who don’t LOVE to cook want to cook. I can’t believe those last few words came out of my mouth. Yikes.

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Jill says:

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This is over the top! I’m a sucker for anything with avocado. Can I laugh that you use fat free beans? I’d do the same thing though, so I’m laughing with you.

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1. Romaine says:
  
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  LOL–you are so right!
  
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Mimi says:

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A Tex-Mex burger. This looks fabulous.
Mimi

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Christina Lee says:

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Hey! I think these hamburgers look GREAT! I think I’m going to try them this weekend! oooo! I can’t wait!

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scooter says:

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I so miss EZ’s. I remember many “girls trips” eating there.
I never ordered that but I will try it now because I know you have very discerning taste :-))

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1. Romaine says:
  
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  EZ’s was headquartered in San Antonio and we ate there the last time we went south. I wonder if they are still open. Perhaps we should organize a “girls trip” to find out.
  
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COZY KITCHEN BY THE SEA says:

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THIS LOOKS AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Amanda says:

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That’s sad about the restaurant! I love potato chips or fritos on a deli sandwich, soI bet this is fabulous. It looks great!

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mike says:

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I’m glad they went out of business. How else would we get this recipe? 🙂 What a great play on the classic burger – I’m sure your adaption is quite close to the original. Grated cheese in the ground beef is always good. I’ll take a slice of onion though, please!

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