8 Canned Ingredients Experts Say Will Seriously Upgrade Your Plain Burger

Everyone loves a good burger. Easy to pull together and customize with your favorite toppings, burgers are a go-to dinner item for many American households. And while many of us love a plain old-fashioned burger just the way it is, it doesn't take much effort to transform it from basic to special. 

It's easy to turn your nose up at canned ingredients, but don't — you can effortlessly give them a new life (especially canned fruit), even for home chefs who like to cook with fresh ingredients. And let's face it, finding things like pimientos and artichoke hearts that haven't seen the inside of a can is pretty hard. There's a good chance a quick sweep of your pantry might yield a canned ingredient or two that can upgrade your plain burger from perfectly fine to extremely delicious. Next time you're looking for burger grilling tips, scan those cans for some interesting ingredients that you can use to dress up your dinner. 

To help us bring you the best canned ingredients to use when making burgers, we chatted with the recipe creator and food photographer behind the food blog Art From My Table, Chellie Schmitz. We also tapped Jenna Passaro, the recipe creator behind the popular food blog Sip Bite Go and the author of "The Home Chef's Sous Vide Cookbook." And Chef Burak Ozcan, the owner and chef at award-winning restaurants Ferah Smokehouse & Cantina and Ferah Tex-Med also weighed in to help us out.

Chipotle peppers bring a smoky, spicy kick with just a hint of sweetness to any meal, and they are the perfect addition to a homemade hamburger if you like to bring the heat. Chipotle peppers are simply jalapeños that have been left on the vine until they redden and are then smoked and dried (versus a typical jalapeño that would be picked while still green). The flavor of a chipotle pepper is ideal with a grilled burger, but you can use the peppers on an oven-baked burger if you don't have a grill at home.

Chellie Schmitz likes to use chipotle peppers in her burger patties for more flavor. She will also add them to pre-made sauces, like mayo and barbecue sauce, to put on her burgers. To make the perfect burger patty, Chellie says, "Spice up your burger night by mixing chipotle peppers right into your ground beef. Add a sprinkle of taco seasoning for that perfect kick of smoky Mexican flavor."

If you want to add another layer of flavor, put those peppers into a simple sauce. "Whip up a quick chipotle mayo by blending chipotle peppers with mayonnaise, a squeeze of lime, and a pinch of salt," Schmitz adds. If you prefer barbecue sauce, "Stir some chopped chipotle peppers into your favorite barbecue sauce. Brush it on your burger patties as they cook or use it as a condiment on the finished burger."

Pineapple might be a controversial pizza topping, but nobody is going to complain about pineapple on their burger. The popular Hawaiian-style burger marries salty and savory ground beef with the tart sweetness of pineapple rings. While you can spend time choosing the right pineapple in the store, avoid the mess and save yourself some time by reaching for some canned pineapple slices.

Chellie Schmitz recommends using your canned pineapple as a burger topping, and then adding some teriyaki sauce for a more finished flavor profile. She says, "Grill the pineapple rings until they're slightly caramelized and place them directly on top of your burger patty. Add teriyaki sauce (either to the ground beef mixture or as a topping) and then top the burger with a grilled pineapple ring for a Hawaiian-inspired burger." 

Serve with a side of seasoned curly fries or a tropical-themed salad for a restaurant-quality dinner. Save the pineapple juice for tomorrow's breakfast smoothie, or even use it to whip up a homemade vinaigrette for your salad.

Black beans are a common ingredient in veggie burgers, packed with fiber, protein, and antioxidants. The creamy texture and mild flavor of black beans make them an agreeable ingredient for many foods, including burgers. If you're vegetarian or vegan or just looking for more veggies in your life, you can even use them to make your homemade veggie burgers stay intact.

When cooking burgers with black beans, Chellie Schmitz recommends using them one of two ways — as an ingredient in the burger patty or as a burger topping. "Mix mashed black beans with your ground beef to create a protein-packed, fiber-rich burger patty. The beans add a nice texture and a subtle earthy flavor, making your burger more filling and nutritious."

If you prefer to use your beans as a topping, Chellie says you can throw together an easy black and corn salsa by mixing the beans with corn kernels, diced tomatoes, red onion, and a squeeze of lime juice. "It adds a fresh, vibrant taste to your burger."

You need to know how to properly store mushrooms in the fridge so they don't go off too quickly, but canned mushrooms are a simple way to experience the earthy, umami-rich flavor of mushrooms year-round with a longer shelf life and lower price than fresh shrooms. Putting one of the best canned mushroom brands in your pantry will be useful when you want to add some savory goodness to your meals, including your burgers. And because they're pre-sliced, you can save time using them.

Canned mushrooms are easy to convert to a burger topping. Chellie Schmitz says, "Drain the canned mushrooms, then sauté them with a bit of garlic and butter until golden brown. Pile them high on your burger for a savory, earthy topping that enhances every bite." Chellie also suggests infusing them in your burger patty for those who want more from their mushrooms.

The recipe creator says, "Stir chopped canned mushrooms into your ground beef mixture along with some chopped fresh herbs like thyme or rosemary. This will infuse the entire patty with the earthy flavors of mushrooms and herbs." If that's not enough mushroom for you, she suggests blending your canned mushrooms with cream cheese and garlic for a spread. Add it to your buns while assembling the burgers.

Having a can of roasted red peppers on hand will add a vibrant, tangy flavor and tender texture to a juicy burger. Red peppers are a nice compromise if you're cooking for people who appreciate elevated flavors but can't handle spice, as these mild peppers lack heat but bring sweetness to your dish. You can even learn how to grill the red peppers first for an extra punch of smoky flavor.

Jenna Passaro is a big fan of roasted red peppers and loves to use them when she cooks. "Greek-style burgers are perfect for showcasing roasted red peppers," says Jenna, who recommends choosing ground lamb, turkey, or ground beef for your Greek-style burger patty. "Toast your buns, then layer with mixed greens and roasted red peppers. Add the juicy burger patty, top with homemade tzatziki, and finish with a sprinkle of feta cheese." Yum! 

Learning the best ways to use canned artichoke hearts like in salads and pasta will up your culinary game, but they can do some serious good in your next burger recipe, too. With their earthy, briny flavor, artichoke hearts can add a little Mediterranean flair to your meal, especially with a lamb burger. 

Chef Burak Ozcan, who worked at five-star resorts in the Mediterranean and with celebrity chef Stephan Pyles before opening his own restaurant, knows a thing or two about crafting an exquisite burger. He says he would combine artichoke hearts and grilled pita bread to make the perfect Mediterranean lamb burger.

Chef Ozcan says to "drain and slice the canned artichokes, coat [them] in flour and garlic salt, then pan fry to make them crispy. Top the burger with creamy goat cheese mixed with crushed pistachios, and sandwich between two pieces of grilled pita bread for the ultimate Mediterranean combination."

Sundried tomatoes are a pantry staple for many home chefs, and you'll see them turn up regularly in pastas, omelets, and even breads. Use your sundried tomatoes to make a memorable tapenade for an Italian-style burger. Sun-dried tomatoes come in many varieties, but there's no need to be picky for this recipe — you can choose your favorite for this tasty Italian burger created by Chef Ozcan.

He says, "Combine ground Italian sausage, parmesan, fresh parsley, and beef to make an extra flavorful patty, almost like a flattened meatball. I would then add a slice of provolone and use the canned sundried tomato [with] black olives to create a tapenade paste to add saltiness and depth of flavor to the burger." Chef Ozcan recommends finishing the burger with fresh arugula and replacing a traditional burger bun with toasted ciabatta bread.  

If you should have any leftover tomatoes left, don't let them go to waste. Throw them in a side salad to pull the whole meal together, or blend them for a sundried tomato salad dressing.

Pimientos are tiny little peppers often smothered in pimiento cheese spread (the pepper and cheese combination is magical). A regular on sandwich menus and a real treat when mixed with pasta, pimiento cheese also shines on a burger — especially when you're bringing homemade pimiento cheese sauce to the table.

Pimientos can be hard to find at the grocery store if you don't know where to look. They are typically in a tiny little jar tucked away high on the shelves next to the olives and pickles. They're worth searching for. They are sweet and mild with a nice little zing.

Chef Ozcan has created the perfect burger using pimientos. This southern-inspired burger is topped with homemade pimiento cheese sauce and candied bacon. "This rich and crunchy combination is the ultimate southern comfort food," he shares.

To make it, Chef Ozcan says, "Using a traditional grilled burger patty, I would take canned pimientos and create my own pimiento cheese spread with shredded cheddar cheese, mayo, salt, pepper, garlic powder, jalapeno, and a bit of sour cream." Once you've created the pimiento cheese spread, add it to your burger along with some homemade candied bacon (there are lots of ways to cook bacon, but Chef Ozcan recommends baking it in the oven with a little brown sugar on top). Serve between buttered and toasted brioche buns for the ultimate burger experience.