Sonic Drive-In, the popular fast food chain known for its quality products and friendly service, has recently made a change to their traditional burgers.
The new Signature Slingers contain 25% mushrooms, making them lower in calories and more environmentally friendly. But with this change, some may wonder if Sonic burgers are still 100% beef.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the ingredients in Sonic burgers and explore the benefits of the new blended burger trend.
So, let’s dive in and find out if Sonic burgers are truly 100% beef.
Are Sonic Burgers 100 Beef?
According to Sonic’s website, their beef patties are made from 100% pure ground beef produced exclusively in USDA inspected plants and meeting all USDA requirements for 100% Ground Beef Patties. This means that their traditional burgers are indeed made with 100% beef.
However, with the introduction of the Signature Slingers, Sonic is now offering a blended burger that contains 25% mushrooms. This means that while the patty still contains beef, it is not 100% beef.
But why the change? The blended burger trend has been gaining popularity in recent years as a way to reduce the environmental impact of beef production. Raising beef for consumption has been found to produce significantly more greenhouse gases and require more resources than other types of meat production.
By blending mushrooms with beef, restaurants like Sonic are able to offer a lower calorie and more sustainable option without sacrificing flavor. The mushrooms add depth and juiciness to the patty while also reducing the amount of beef needed.
It’s important to note that while the Signature Slingers are not 100% beef, they still contain high-quality ingredients. The recipe includes three simple ingredients: 100% pure beef, mushrooms, and seasonings. The burger is served on a brioche bun with mayo, onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and melted American cheese.
So, while Sonic burgers are not all 100% beef anymore, they are still made with high-quality ingredients and offer a delicious and sustainable option for those looking to reduce their environmental impact.
The Evolution Of Sonic Burgers
The evolution of Sonic burgers started with the classic 100% beef patty that has been a staple of the menu since the drive-in’s inception in 1953. Over the years, Sonic has expanded its menu to include a variety of burger options, including the SuperSONIC Double Cheeseburger, the Bacon Double Cheeseburger, and the Jr. Burger.
In recent years, Sonic has also introduced new burger options to cater to changing consumer preferences. The Signature Slingers, introduced in 2018, are an example of this. The blended burger contains 25% mushrooms and 75% beef, making it a more sustainable option for those looking to reduce their environmental impact.
Sonic has also introduced a range of specialty burgers that feature unique toppings and flavor combinations. The Patty Melt, for example, features grilled onions and melted American cheese on Texas toast, while the Bacon Jam Cheeseburger is topped with bacon jam and crispy onion strings.
Despite these changes, Sonic remains committed to using high-quality ingredients in all of its burgers. According to the company’s website, their beef is produced exclusively in USDA inspected plants and meets all USDA requirements for 100% Ground Beef Patties.
What’s In A Sonic Burger?
Sonic burgers come in a variety of options, from the classic Sonic Cheeseburger to the SuperSONIC Double Cheeseburger and even the new Signature Slingers. The traditional Sonic Cheeseburger contains a 100% pure seasoned beef patty, melted American cheese, crinkle-cut pickles, chopped onions, fresh shredded lettuce, and sliced tomatoes on a seasoned bun. It also now includes ketchup and mayo as standard condiments.
For those looking for a larger option, the SuperSONIC Double Cheeseburger features two 100% pure beef patties, melted American cheese, lettuce, crinkle-cut dill pickles, tomatoes, mayo, and ketchup on a toasted bakery bun. And for those looking for a more sustainable option, the Signature Slingers contain a blend of 100% pure beef and mushrooms, with seasonings added for flavor. These burgers are served on a brioche bun with mayo, onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and melted American cheese.
The Blended Burger Trend
The blended burger trend has been gaining traction in the food industry as more and more consumers seek out healthier and more sustainable options. Blended burgers are made by combining finely chopped mushrooms with ground beef, resulting in a patty that contains less meat and more plant-based ingredients.
Restaurants and food service operators are embracing this trend for a variety of reasons. For one, blending mushrooms with beef can reduce the carbon footprint of beef production, which is notoriously resource-intensive. Additionally, mushrooms are a sustainable ingredient that require minimal water, electricity, and space to grow.
But the benefits of blended burgers don’t stop there. Chefs and restaurateurs have found that the umami-rich flavor of mushrooms blends seamlessly with the beef, resulting in a patty that is both delicious and juicy. And because blended burgers contain less meat, they are often lower in calories and fat than traditional beef burgers.
The blended burger trend has even made its way into fast food chains like Sonic, which recently introduced its Signature Slinger burger made with 25% mushrooms. By adding mushrooms to their beef patties, Sonic is able to offer a more sustainable option without sacrificing flavor or quality.
The Benefits Of Blended Burgers
Blended burgers, like Sonic’s Signature Slingers, offer several benefits to both consumers and the environment. Here are some of the top benefits:
1. Healthier Option: Blended burgers contain fewer calories, fat, and sodium than traditional all-beef burgers. By adding mushrooms to the patty, the burger gains additional fiber and nutrients like Vitamin D, potassium, B-vitamins, and antioxidants. Mushrooms are also naturally fat-free, cholesterol-free, and low-calorie.
2. Delicious Flavor: The addition of mushrooms to the patty adds depth and juiciness to the burger, resulting in a delicious and flavorful option that even non-mushroom eaters can enjoy. Mushrooms are umami-rich, which creates a savory taste that pairs well with beef.
3. Sustainable Choice: Raising beef for consumption has a significant environmental impact due to the amount of resources required. By blending mushrooms with beef, restaurants like Sonic can offer a more sustainable option that reduces the amount of beef needed while still providing high-quality protein. Mushrooms require minimal growing space and water and are one of the most Earth-friendly and renewable crops on the planet.
4. Easy to Make: Blended burgers are simple to make at home with just a few ingredients. To make a blended burger, combine 25% finely-diced mushrooms with 75% ground beef. Any kind of ground protein can be used, but ground chuck is recommended for that classic beefy burger taste. Crimini and white button mushrooms are easy to find in most grocery stores and infuse flavor into the patty.
Are Sonic Burgers Still 100% Beef?
Sonic’s traditional burgers are still made with 100% pure ground beef produced exclusively in USDA inspected plants and meeting all USDA requirements for 100% Ground Beef Patties. However, with the introduction of the Signature Slingers, Sonic is now offering a blended burger that contains 25% mushrooms. This means that while the patty still contains beef, it is not 100% beef. The blended burger trend has been gaining popularity in recent years as a way to reduce the environmental impact of beef production. By blending mushrooms with beef, restaurants like Sonic are able to offer a lower calorie and more sustainable option without sacrificing flavor. The mushrooms add depth and juiciness to the patty while also reducing the amount of beef needed. It’s important to note that while the Signature Slingers are not 100% beef, they still contain high-quality ingredients. The recipe includes three simple ingredients: 100% pure beef, mushrooms, and seasonings. The burger is served on a brioche bun with mayo, onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and melted American cheese.
The New Signature Slingers
Sonic’s new Signature Slingers are a prime example of the blended burger trend. These burgers feature a patty made with 100% pure beef, savory mushrooms, and seasonings. The mushrooms are not just on top of the patty but blended into it, adding depth and juiciness to the burger.
According to Sonic, the mushroom-enhanced patty “gives you all the flavor with none of the guilt.” The Classic Sonic Signature Slinger contains 340 calories, significantly less than their regular cheeseburgers which contain 595 calories. The Bacon Melt Sonic Signature Slinger is another option, featuring bacon, melted cheese, and mayo on a brioche bun.
The blended burger trend has gained popularity in recent years due to its sustainability benefits. By blending mushrooms with beef, restaurants like Sonic are able to reduce their environmental impact without sacrificing flavor. The mushrooms also reduce the amount of beef needed in each patty.
While the Signature Slingers are not 100% beef, they still contain high-quality ingredients and offer a delicious and sustainable option for those looking to reduce their environmental impact. The new patties will be available at participating locations starting March 5th for only $1.99.
