This easy black bean burger recipe transforms plant based patties into a wholesome meal packed with flavor! Plus, they come together in less than 30 minutes.
Why this recipe works
Black beans can do some pretty incredible work in the kitchen. From hearty black bean soup to perfectly spiced black bean tacos all the way to this wholesome black bean burger recipe, they make an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and protein when you’re on a plant based diet or looking for an alternative to beef.
Believe us when we say that these vegetarian burgers are anything but bland. Plenty of spices and seasonings pump the patties with life along with diced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, soy sauce, red onion, and bell peppers for loads of flavor and texture. This is by far the best black bean burger we’ve ever sunk our teeth into!
Ingredients you will need
Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.
Ingredient Info and Substitution Suggestions
BLACK BEANS – You will need two 14-ounce cans of black beans that have been drained and rinsed for this recipe.
VEGETABLES – Minced garlic, red onion, and bell peppers plus a can of diced chipotle in adobo sauce will make these burgers stand out. They also add a welcome bit of texture to the burgers. We will sautee the garlic, onion, and bell peppers in a skillet with butter. Use vegan butter if needed!
BINDER – The egg and panko breadcrumbs work as a binder along with the black beans to help shape the mixture into a patty. For a vegan alternative to eggs, substitute with a flax egg which is 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed mixed with 2 1/2 tablespoons of water.
How to Make Black Bean Burger
These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
- Melt butter in skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, red onion and green pepper. Sauté until tender, about 2-3 minutes. Remove and set aside to cool.
- To a mini food chopper, add half of the black beans, chili powder, garlic salt, cumin, chipotles, and soy sauce. Blend/process until completely homogenous.
- To a large mixing bowl, add remaining black beans, onion mixture, blended black bean mixture, egg, and bread crumbs. Stir together until completely mixed.
- Using gloved hands, form mixture into 4 patties.
- Heat olive oil in skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
- Cook patties in oil until nicely browned, about 4 minutes per side.
- Serve on sandwich buns with your favorite toppings.
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips
Yes, this black bean burger recipe is perfect for prepping in advance. Prepare the mixture and shape them into patties, then place them on a plate (separating layers with parchment paper if needed) and refrigerate up to a day in advance.
Store leftovers in an air-tight container kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium-low heat until warmed through.
Yes, absolutely! To freeze, form them into patties, place them on a baking sheet, and flash freeze. Once solid, transfer the patties to an air-tight container or freezer safe ziptop bag. Freeze for up to 2 months.
Serving Suggestions
Serve your black bean burger with your favorite toppers such as pickles, avocado, sliced jalapenos, crisp lettuce, raw or pickled onions, and tomato. A drizzle of hot sauce or creamy chipotle sauce add an extra touch of heat if that’s your fancy. Regular or vegan cheese is always welcome on our patties as well. All in all, treat them as you would any other burger and garnish to your heart’s content.
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Black Bean Burger
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It Rate ItIngredients
- 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- ½ cup diced red onion 1 medium red onion
- ½ cup diced green bell peppers 1 medium bell pepper
- 28 ounces canned black beans two 14 ounce cans, drained and rinsed. Divided
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoons garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 ½ Tablespoons diced chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
- ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 4 hamburger buns
Optional Toppings
- lettuce
- tomato
- red onion
- avocado
- Thousand Island dressing
Things You’ll Need
Before You Begin
- We drain and rinse our canned beans as it can reduce the sodium level by 41%, according to the Bean Institute.
- The egg and panko breadcrumbs work as a binder along with the black beans to help shape the mixture into a patty. For a vegan alternative to eggs, substitute with a flax egg which is 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed mixed with 2 1/2 tablespoons of water.
Instructions
- Melt butter in skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, red onion and green pepper. Sauté until tender, about 2-3 minutes. Remove and set aside to cool.
- To a mini food chopper, add half of the black beans, chili powder, garlic salt, cumin, chipotles, and soy sauce. Blend/process until completely homogenous.
- To a large mixing bowl, add remaining black beans, onion mixture, blended black bean mixture, egg, and bread crumbs. Stir together until completely mixed.
- Using gloved hands, form mixture into 4 patties.
- Heat olive oil in skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
- Cook patties in oil until nicely browned, about 4 minutes per side.
- Serve on sandwich buns with your favorite toppings.
Expert Tips & FAQs
- Make Ahead – Prepare the mixture and shape them into patties, then place them on a plate (separating layers with parchment paper if needed) and refrigerate up to a day in advance.
- Storage – Store leftovers in an air-tight container kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium-low heat until warmed through.
- Freezing – To freeze, form the mixture into patties, place them on a baking sheet, and flash freeze. Once solid, transfer the patties to an air-tight container or freezer safe ziptop bag. Freeze for up to 2 months.
Nutrition
Chef Antoine Davis
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Zeee says
Hello, I’m wondering about the nutrition calculations for the black bean burger. Are you sure it’s correct? . I can’t imagine one burger is 960 calories!!!
Kristen Rittmer says
Thanks for bringing that to our attention! There was something in the calculation that was reading wrong – it’s now fixed at 464 calories/burger. This recipe makes very large burgers, you can even split the mixture into 6 patties to lower it even further if desired.
Amanda Davis says
These are very large patties. You could easily get 6 patties out of this which would change the calculation to 640. This calorie count also includes the bun.