Black Bean Burger
This Black Bean Burger recipe is equally delicious for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. Hearty and simple to prepare, the homemade black bean patties have bold flavor and a great texture. They only take 20 minutes to make, and hold together well while cooking!
Even though a black bean burger is typically thought of as a vegetarian substitute for beef, I find it to be gloriously delicious in its own right, and I say this as someone who eats meat.
Homemade burgers are a staple in my kitchen, but I get cravings for these too, and I think the key is to not think of it as a substitute to beef (unless you’re explicitly avoiding meat). Rather, think of it as another delicious way to enjoy black beans.
In this recipe, I spice the black beans with ingredients like garlic powder, onion powder, ground cumin, and paprika to keep it relatively simple, but feel free to play with it and add other spices.
You can make it spicy by adding ground cayenne pepper or ground chipotle, or you can make it smoky by swapping in some smoked paprika. The options are endless!
The nice bonus about these black bean burgers is that they hold up really nicely. There’s just enough bread crumb and egg to hold it all together, so they’re easy to flip on the griddle, but the black bean flavor is still the star.
This recipe is perfect for a busy night!
Tips for Best Results
Mash well, but not too well – Kind of like a Guacamole, for superior texture, I recommend mashing the black beans enough that there’s a smoothness there, but also keeping little flecks of unmashed black beans for bits of texture.
Use fine bread crumbs – Most of the time I prefer Japanese style “panko” breadcrumbs (like in Chicken Milanese and Oven “Fried” Chicken), but I actually think traditional finer breadcrumbs blend in better here.
Rinse the black beans – I recommend rinsing the liquid off the beans before mashing, for a superior texture and flavor.
Step by Step Overview:
To get started, rinse two cans of black beans, then mash them up well with a fork or a potato masher in a large bowl, but leaving some small bits unmashed:
I intentionally like to do this by hand instead of in a food processor, to ensure that it doesn’t get overly smooth. A little bit of texture is good!
Best Quality Brands of Beans
I had no idea that the quality of canned beans can vary so much until I tried a few different brands from the grocery store.
The best in my opinion is Bush’s. Goya is also good.
Do not buy unsalted or low sodium beans. I intentionally do not add sea salt to the mix, because I assume you’re using regular salted beans.
Add dry bread crumbs, paprika, ground cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, and an egg to the black bean mixture:
Know that you can experiment with the seasonings here in the future. If you enjoy more spice, feel free to try chili powder, ground chipotle chiles, or cayenne pepper.
Mix and divide into four equal portions, then flatten each one to form patties. You can decide how thick or thin you like them. I prefer about 1/2″ thick, but the choice is truly yours.
Griddle the black bean burger patties for 5 minutes on each side over medium-high heat.
You can certainly cook them in a large skillet on the stove (a cast iron skillet is great!), but I like to use an actual griddle (this is the one I use). I love that it’s a big flat surface that I can toast the buns on too!
Make sure to grease the griddle with butter, olive oil, or cooking spray first.
Cook until each black bean patty is golden brown on both sides, which takes 8-10 minutes total:
This develops and enhances the flavor, and makes sure that the egg inside is also cooked.
Your homemade veggie burgers are now ready to eat!
How to Serve
A proper black bean burger should definitely have some good fixings, and to be honest, I think vegetarian burgers need it! If you have 10 minutes to spare, I recommend using homemade mayonnaise for the best flavor.
I also like to add a slice of monterey jack cheese, a piece of lettuce, and sliced tomato. Place it on a potato bun, homemade Whole Wheat Hamburger Buns, or buns made from homemade Brioche. Add some homemade Steak Fries, Homemade French Fries, or some Roasted Sweet Potatoes on the side, and you’ve got a great meal!
You may also add red onion, a bit of chipotle mayo, pepper jack cheese, a dash of your favorite hot sauce, or whatever else strikes your fancy. I do recommend a good melting cheese though, which pairs nicely with the black beans.
Below is the recipe, and there’s also a full video after that if you want to see how the burgers are made. Enjoy!
Recipe FAQ and Tips
Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days, or wrap each patty tightly with plastic wrap and place in a zip-top bag.
Yes, they freeze very well! Keep in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. I recommend placing pieces of parchment paper or wax paper in between the bean patties if you plan to stack them. That way they won’t stick together once frozen. To thaw, leave in the fridge overnight.
I prefer to reheat in a nonstick skillet over medium heat for a few minutes on each side, until warmed through. The microwave can also work. Try 80% power at 30-second intervals, until warmed through.
Yes, though you will need to be very careful when flipping.
Tried this recipe? Leave a rating and comment below — I’d love to hear how it turned out! Or, follow me on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest!
Black Bean Burger
Ingredients
For the black bean burgers:
- 30 ounces canned black beans* (2 15-ounce cans)
- 1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 egg
- 4 slices Monterey Jack cheese
- butter or oil for grilling
- 4 hamburger buns toasted
- mayonnaise
- tomato slices
- lettuce
Side Dish Ideas for Pairing:
Instructions
- Place the black beans on a flat surface and mash them well with a fork.
- Place in a bowl and add the breadcrumbs, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, and egg. Mix well.
- Form the black bean mixture into four patties, then grill them on a buttered or oiled griddle (or in a skillet) over medium high heat for 4-5 minutes on each side, until golden brown.
- Prepare the burgers as desired, with mayonnaise spread on the buns, and with lettuce, tomato, and melted cheese. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
20 Comments on “Black Bean Burger”
These were really good and not at all dried out. I chose the oven method and baked at 375 for 20 minutes flipping halfway through. I refrigerated the mixture for about two hours before forming patties and I think that helped keep them together. Definitely a keeper!
Can these be frozen?
Can I freeze this mixture in advance of making more Patty’s
Good use of spices, many recipes use too much cumin. I made it much more savory by sautéing onion, pepper and baby Bella mushrooms. Sautéing eliminates moisture and concentrates flavor. At the end, add a few dashes of soy sauce, wosteschire sauce, and table spoon of tomato paste. They all add savory flavor. Blend the saute in a food processor then mix with the black beans.