Ranch Burger (Ranchburger; Ranchero Burger)

A “ranch burger” (ranch hamburger) is very different from a “ranchburger” house. The name “ranch burger” has been used by various hamburger-selling establishments since at least the 1940s. Sometimes the establishment has “ranch” in its name, and “ranch burger” is simply its signature hamburger.  The restaurant chains Arctic Circle, Chili’s, and A&W all sell their own versions of a “ranch burger.”
 
A 1964 “ranchburger” recipe published in the Dallas Morning News (below) includes “ranch style beans,” but this is not typical of a modern “ranch burger.” A 1997 “ranch burger” recipe (below) includes “ranch dressing.” Many ranch burgers now justify that name by including ranch dressing.
 
A “ranchero burger”—less frequently offered than the “ranch burger”—might include “ranchero sauce” (salsa ranchera).
   
   
Texas Beef Council
Ranch Burger
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Servings: Serves 4
1 lbs. lean ground beef
2 tsp. sweet paprika
2 tsp. dried thyme leaves, crushed
1-1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. ground red pepper
4 egg-bread hamburger buns, split
4 leaves Romaine lettuce
4 tomato slices
1/4 cup prepared creamy ranch dressing
2 Tbsp. canned French fried onions
 
Combine paprika, thyme, salt, onion powder, and red pepper in an airtight container and shake to blend.
Shape ground beef into 4 patties, 3/4-inch thick. Press 1 tsp. of the spice mix evenly into both sides of each patty. Store remaining spice mix in airtight container for future use.
Grill over medium heat or medium coals to internal temperature of 160°F.
Line bottom of each bun with lettuce and tomato. Top with burger and spoon ranch dressing evenly over burgers. Sprinkle with French fried onions and close sandwiches.
 
tesg’s guide: Arctic Circle Hamburgers
CHAIN—Arctic Circle
Owner—Arctic Circle Restaurants, Inc
Primary Operating Region—Utah and the West
Number of Locations—77 (2007)
(...)
Arctic Circle’s longtime best seller has been the “Ranch Burger”.  It’s a double-decker (like a Big Mac) with one of two variations depending on location…Company owned stores use ketchup and Arctic Circle’s white sauce on the sandwich.  Several far-flung franchise outlets instead just top it with fry sauce.
   
dishAdish
Chili’s Bbq Ranch Burger
Restaurant: Chili’s
Course:  Entree
Menu Section: Big Mouth Burgers
Description: Applewood smoked bacon, aged cheddar cheese, bbq sauce, ranch dressing, shredded lettuce, tomato and pickle. Served with fries
   
Texas Monthly: Recipe Swap- ranchero sauce
Re: ranchero sauce
Author: Terrish
Date:  08-13-07 16:31
 
Salsa Ranchera
1 lb roma tomatoes, grated (Cut the tomatoes in half and grate them with your cheese grater right down to the skin. This retains the pulp, and not the skin, without having to boil them. Discard skins)
1 cup chicken broth
1/4 large white onion, roughly chopped
4 fresh serrano peppers, stems removed
4 tablespoons fresh cilantro
3 garlic cloves
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano (Mexican preferred)
1 tablespoon fresh savory
salt and pepper, to taste
 
21 April 1940, Amarillo (TX) Sunday News and Globe, pg. 2, col. 6 ad:
RANCH BURGERS
(SALOME’S—ed.)
 
8 August 1946, Ironwood (MI) Daily Globe, pg. 4, col. 5 ad:
“Have Your Tried Our RANCH BURGERS”
(Chicken in the Basket—ed.)
 
30 July 1948, Frederick (MD) News, pg. 5, col. 6 ad:
Ranchburgers
(Snack Bar—ed.)
 
24 August 1950, Dallas (TX) Morning News, part 2, pg. 4 ad:
MOR RANCHBURGERS
MOR Beef, tomato and piccalilli.
MOR Pork, Swiss cheese, pickle.
MOR Beef, Bermuda onion, bacon. 
 
19 October 1950, El Paso (TX) Herald-Post, pg. 20, col. 7 ad:
CORNED BEEF HASH RANCHBURGERS
 
26 January 1953, Danville (VA) Bee, pg. 8, col.  1 ad:
Try our delicious “Chicken in the Rough”, Steaks, Ranch burgers, all types of sandwiches and other delicious foods.
(Pig ‘N Whistle Drive In—ed.)
 
18 June 1964, Dallas (TX) Morning News, “Ranchburgers Fill Teen-Age Appetites, section 5, pg. 16:
An easy and inexpensive teen crowd please is the Ranchburger. A mixture of ranch style beans and hamburger, the Ranchburger can be prepared in almost any quantity and is both tasty and filling.
(...)
RANCHBURGERS
1 pound hamburger
2 No. 303 cans ranch style beans
3 tablespoons minced onions
 
Cook the hamburger and onions in a skillet or iron kettle over campfire until browned. Drain fat and add beans. Let simmer for a few minutes. Serve over warm buns.
       
3 September 1967, Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI), comic book section, pg. 15, cols. 5-6:
Ranch Burgers
One pound ground beef
One onion, chopped fine
One-half teaspoon salt
Dash pepper
One-fourth cup milk
One egg, beaten slightly
Sliced cheese
Sliced tomatoes
Eight to twelve hamburger buns
 
In a bowl, mix together ground beef, onion, salt, pepper, milk, and egg. Spread this mixture on each hamburger bun half. Spread evenly but not too thick. Place buns on broiler pan and broil until meat mixture is done. Place one slice of cheese on each bun half on top of meat mixture and return to broiler until cheese is soft and starting to melt. Add slice of tomato to one bun half. Close buns and serve.
 
If desired, you may also add lettuce to this. A real treat and easy to fix.
 
Makes eight to 12 servings.
 
25 September 1967, Walla Walla (WA) Union-Bulletin, pg. 6, col. 1 ad:
Ranch Burgers
Ea. 49c
ARCTIC CIRCLE
DRIVE-INS
 
9 January 1970, Helena (MT) Independent Record, pg. 13, col. 4 ad:
Deluxe Ranch Burger
KEN’S ARCTIC CIRCLE
     
12 October 1973, Fresno (CA) Bee, pg. D4, col. 1:
There is the ranchero burger, for $1.65, in which the hamburger is blended with green ortega chili and cheese, and served on grilled sourdough bread made on the premises and topped with a fried egg.
 
26 June 1982, Indiana (PA) Gazette, pg. 5, col. 1:
BURGER RANCHERO
1 pound ground beef
1/2 teaspoon flavor enhancer
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/3 cup barbecue sauce
2 tablespoons sliced, stuffed olives
1 tablespoon raisins
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
4 sesame seed buns, split, toasted
 
In medium bowl mix beef, flavor enhancer and pepper. Shape into 4 patties. Broil or grill about five minutes on each side. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine barbecue sauce, slices olives, raisins and chili powder; beat. Place burgers on buns. Top with sauce.
 
3 November 1982, Aiken (SC) Standard, “Ranch Burgers Are ‘American”” by Merle Ellis, Today section pg. 1, col. 1:
Mrs. Eddie (Gerry Snapp of Boise City, Oklahoma, made her contribution…with a recipe for Ranch Burgers, which captured second place in the National Beef Cook-off this year in San Antonio. (...)
Actually, Mrs. Snapp based her Ranch Burgers on an old German family recipe for Bierocks, meant-and-cabbage stuffed buns.
(...)
RANCH BURGERS
2 pounds ground beef
Dough
1 large onion, chopped
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 8-ounce jar cheese spread with jalapeno peppers
2 15-ounce cans chili beans, drained
1/4 cup margarine, softened (you can use butter)
 
Prepare dough. Brown ground beef and onion in a large frying pan; pour off drippings. Add chili powder, salt, and pepper; mix well. Add cheese spread; stir in chili beans and cook slowly for 10 to 15 minutes.
 
When dough has risen, divide into four portions. Roll each portion into a rectangle, approximately 10 x 14 inches and 1/4-inch thick. Cut into 6 squares. Place approximately 1/4 to 1/3 cup meat mixture on each square. Pull up opposite corners and pinch together at center top. Place, pinched side down, on a baking sheet. Bake in a 400-degree oven for 13 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Brush with bitter. Makes 24 burgers.
 
7 March 1997, Dallas (TX) Morning News, “Texas Grill” (Fort Worth) Review:
Also good is the Ranchero Burger ($2.99), dressed with sauteed onions, spicy salsa and melted Cheddar.
 
23 July 1997, Frederick (MD) News-Post, pg. A11, col. 2:
RANCH BURGERS
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
4 teaspoons Spicy Seasoning Mix (recipe follows)
4 egg buns for hamburgers, split
Romaine lettuce
Sliced tomato
1/4 cup ranch dressing
Canned fried onion rings
 
Shape ground beef into four 1/4-inch-thick patties. Press seasoning mix evenly into both sides of patties. Heat a large, heavy non-stick skillet over medium heat until hot. Add patties and cook 12-15 minutes for medium doneness, turning once. (Or grill over medium-hot coals.)
Line bottom half of each bun with lettuce and tomato slices, top with cooked burgers. Spoon ranch dressing evenly over burgers; sprinkle with onion rings. Close sandwiches. Yield: four servings.
(From Mity Nice of Chicago—ed.)
   
A&W Restaurants, Inc.
CONTEST-WINNING CUSTOMER VISITS A&W® RESTAURANTS
HEADQUARTERS, INTRODUCES ORIGINAL BURGER
RECIPE TO A&W EXECUTIVES
 
Michigan Department of Corrections Inspector Wows Team
with Smoky Cheddar and Ranch Burger
 
LOUISVILLE, KY, October 31, 2007- Sharing a burger recipe passed down from his mother resulted in a V.I.P. trip to A&W® Restaurants headquarters for a Michigan man. Kevin Lindsey, 39, entered a national A&W contest asking customers to create their own A&W burger recipes, and his “Smoky Cheddar and Ranch Burger” was the winning entry.
 
“I was really surprised. I never expected to hear back from them after I submitted the recipe this summer,” said Lindsey, who works as an Inspector for the Michigan Department of Corrections. “It’s all pretty cool.”
 
Lindsey sent in his recipe during a summertime promotion celebrating A&W Restaurants’ 100 percent U.S. beef hamburgers. The “Moove to American” campaign included the chance for consumers to create an original A&W burger, with a grand prize of a trip to the company’s Louisville, Ky., headquarters and a year’s supply of A&W’s 100 percent U.S. beef Papa Burgers®. Lindsey and his wife Miranda visited Louisville Oct. 22 through Oct. 24.
 
Lindsey’s original burger recipe includes sirloin beef, cheddar cheese, ranch and smoky seasoning.
 
(Trademark)
Word Mark RANCH BURGER
Goods and Services (ABANDONED) IC 029. US 046. G & S: HAMBURGER, PREPARED FOR CONSUMPTION ON OR OFF THE PREMISES. FIRST USE: 19650101. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19650101
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 75492664
Filing Date May 28, 1998
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Owner (APPLICANT) ARCTIC CIRCLE RESTAURANTS, INC. CORPORATION DELAWARE 411 WEST 7200 SOUTH, SUITE 200 PO BOX 339 PO BOX 339MIDVALE UTAH 84047
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator DEAD
Abandonment Date March 18, 1999
 
(Trademark)
Word Mark RANCH BURGER
Goods and Services IC 030. US 046. G & S: HAMBURGER SANDWICH FOR CONSUMPTION ON OR OFF THE PREMISES. FIRST USE: 19901000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19901000
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 74000766
Filing Date November 16, 1989
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1B
Published for Opposition November 20, 1990
Registration Number 1690859
Registration Date June 2, 1992
Owner (REGISTRANT) AMERICAN IDEAS, INC. CORPORATION KANSAS 106 WEST ELEVENTH STREET SUITE 1129 KANSAS CITY MISSOURI 64105
(LAST LISTED OWNER) DAVIS, RICHARD E., M.D. UNKNOWN BY ASSIGNMENT UNITED STATES 1010 WEST 56TH STREET KANSAS CITY MISSOURI 64113
Assignment Recorded ASSIGNMENT RECORDED
Attorney of Record HOLLY M FORD
Disclaimer NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO USE “BURGER” APART FROM THE MARK AS SHOWN
Type of Mark TRADEMARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Affidavit Text SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR). SECTION 8(10-YR) 20011127.
Renewal 1ST RENEWAL 20011127
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE
 
(Trademark)
Word Mark RANCHERO BURGER
Goods and Services (ABANDONED) IC 043. US 100 101. G & S: Restaurant services, featuring specifically the “Ranchero Burger,” a type of hamburger prepared and served with a New Mexico green chile special recipe sauce. FIRST USE: 19750000. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19750000
Mark Drawing Code (1) TYPED DRAWING
Serial Number 76473471
Filing Date December 2, 2002
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Owner (APPLICANT) Salas, Clifford INDIVIDUAL UNITED STATES 6628 Caminito Coors, N.W. Albuquerque NEW MEXICO 87120
Attorney of Record Kermit D. Lopez
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator DEAD
Abandonment Date December 1, 2003