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taco bell bell burger & mild border sauce

review
ravenhigheagle avatar
Private Recipe by
Raven Higheagle
@ravenhigheagle
Prescott, AZ

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.

read more
yield serving(s)
prep time 5 Min
cook time 10 Min
method Stove Top

Ingredients For taco bell bell burger & mild border sauce

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

How To Make taco bell bell burger & mild border sauce

  • 1
    BEEF FILLING:
    Combine in a mixing bowl raw ground beef, flour, chili powder, salt, minced onion flakes, paprika, onion powder and garlic powder.
  • 2
    Mix thoroughly like you would mix a meatloaf.
  • 3
    In a skillet on the stove top, add 1/2 cup of cold water and the seasoned ground meat mixture. Mix well.
  • 4
    Cook over medium heat, mash and stir ground meat as it cooks, breaking it up.
  • 5
    Cook until meat is no longer pink and slightly browned.
  • 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.
  • 7
    FOR THE BORDER SAUCE:
    Add cold water to a saucepan. Stir in the cornstarch until it is dissolved.
  • 8
    Stir in the tomato paste, vinegar, chili powder, salt and cayenne pepper.
    Stir until well mixed and smooth.
  • 9
    Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for
    5-minutes to thicken.
  • 10
    Allow sauce to cool then store in a covered container in the refrigerator.
    Makes about 1 1/2 cups of Mild Border Sauce.
  • 11
    TO BUILD THE BELL BURGER:
    Spread a tablespoon of Mild Border Sauce on the bottom bun.
  • 12
    Place several tablespoons of the meat mixture on the bottom bun like making a sloppy joe.
  • 13
    Add 2 tablespoons of Taco Bell Mild Border Sauce evenly over the meat on bun.
  • 14
    Sprinkle 1 or 2 Tbsp of shredded mild cheddar cheese over meat mixture on bun. Add the top bun.
  • 15
    Repeat 5 more times. Serve warm.
  • 16
    To make a "Bell Beefer" add loose meat, diced onions, shredded lettuce and mild border sauce.
  • 17
    To make a "Bell Beefer Supreme" add loose meat, diced onions, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, grated cheese and mild border sauce.
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