Easy Black Bean Burger Recipe

Name: Easy Black Bean Burger Recipe
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 2 14-ounce cans black beans; 1 Tablespoon extra virgin olive oil; 1/2 green pepper finely chopped ((about 3/4 cup) ); 1 cup finely chopped yellow or red onion ((about 1/2 of a large onion)); 3 garlic cloves, (minced); 1 heaping teaspoon ground cumin; 1 teaspoon ground coriander ((optional)); 1 teaspoon chili powder ((ancho or chipotle powder also work)); 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1/2 cup bread crumbs - fresh or panko ((can use quick cooking oats)); 2 Tablespoons ketchup, mayo, or Bbq sauce; 1 Tablespoon soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 large egg*, beaten; 6 hamburger buns; sliced cheese; tomatoes, red onion, pickles, lettuce

This Easy Black Bean Burger is not your typical bland, dry veggie burger! Made with a surprisingly short list of ingredients and packed full of flavour and nutrition, this juicy burger will delight even the most staunch carnivores.

Side view of black bean burger in a bun with lettuce, pickles and sliced red onion

When the craving for a veggie burger hits, I know I have to make my own if I want a really good one. The problem is most recipes for veggie burgers, including my own here, have a long list of ingredients and several steps to complete. They are definitely a worthwhile effort, but sometimes you just want a dump-mix-shape and go recipe. Am I right?

These stellar black bean burgers are just that. Though we do sauté the veggies for a few minutes, this recipe does not call for pre-cooking grains, there is no food processor needed, and no nuts or seeds to toast and blend. Easy to make with an ingredient list that is (relatively) short and straightforward, these are delicious burgers with great texture that will even hold up on the grill. Pinky swear.

Table of Contents[Hide]

Why You Will Love This Recipe
Ingredient Notes
Variations And Substitutions
How Thick Should The Black Bean Burgers Be?
Best Way To Cook Black Bean Burgers
How To Make Easy Black Bean Burgers
Tips For The Best Homemade Black Bean Burger
How To Make Ahead, Store And Freeze
Frequently Asked Questions
Serving Suggestions
More Easy Burger Recipes To Try
Easy Black Bean Burger Recipe

Why You Will Love This Recipe

Quick and Easy: The meatless burgers can be assembled in about 30 minutes and cooking them takes less than 15 minutes. With mostly pantry ingredients and minimal cooking time, these burgers are a great option for a weeknight dinner or a fabulous weekend lunch.
Healthy and affordable: I am always looking for affordable, healthy recipes and this one fits the bill. The base of these delicious veggie burgers is made up of mostly whole, plant-based ingredients so they’re rich in fibre and protein. You will also be using mostly staple pantry ingredients to make these delicious burgers plus the lack of meat keeps the cost of these burgers down.
Filling, delicious, and satisfying: These delicious black bean burgers are super hearty and just as filling and satisfying as a beef burger. Filled with delicious smoky flavours, you will find yourself craving them again and again.
Great for meal prep: I highly recommend you make a make a double batch of these black bean burgers. They freeze beautifully and also grill well from frozen. The next time the veggie burger craving hits, you’ll be all set.
Make ahead: These black bean burgers are excellent for preparing ahead. In fact, they are almost better when cooked, chilled and reheated as this gives them more time to set and firm up.
Not mushy and not dry! Oh the dreaded dry and/or mushy veggie burger. Full disclosure, these burgers will not have the texture of meat. They are crispy on the outside with a tender interior. But done correctly, these burgers hold their shape perfectly and will not be dry or have a mushy texture.

Ingredient Notes

For me, one of the biggest turn-offs with making a veggie burger is the long list of ingredients. This one is refreshingly short (by veggie-burger standards) and straightforward without comprising any flavour.

Black Beans: To keep things easy, for this black bean burger recipe we are using canned black beans. You can of course use cooked beans made from dried if you wish. Whichever beans you use they must be drained, rinsed and dried well.
Veggies: Onion, garlic, and green pepper add loads of flavour and texture to these burgers. Sautéing the veggies first helps get rid of any excess moisture while also amplifying their flavour.
Spices: To add some bold flavour to these black bean veggie burgers I like to use ground cumin, ground coriander, smoked paprika, and chili powder.
Bread crumbs: This will help bind the black bean mixture as well as provide a bit of texture. You can use regular breadcrumbs but panko breadcrumbs work really well here and that is what I usually use.
Egg: Here we also use 1 egg to help bind the burger mixture.
Ketchup: For a little extra moisture I like to add a few tablespoons of ketchup, mayo, or BBQ sauce.
Soy sauce or Worcestershire: For a little more depth of flavour. Use tamari or coconut aminos for a gluten-free option.

Variations And Substitutions

Make vegan burgers: Substitute the egg with a flax egg: Mix 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons warm water. Let sit for 5 minutes to thicken before adding to the mixture. Note that a flax egg will result in a softer burger so I don’t recommend cooking them on a grill.
Add some spice: For spicy burgers, add a few dashes of cayenne pepper or hot sauce.
Make it gluten-free: To keep the burgers gluten-free, use quick-cooking oats or GF panko.
Use different veggies: Instead of a regular onion you could use green onions (no need to sauté them). I like how the savoury notes of a green pepper complements the earthiness of the beans. But if you dislike green peppers, go ahead and use a red bell pepper.
Add chipotle chiles in adobo sauce: If you love spicy, smoky flavours, feel free to add 1 chopped chipotle pepper and 2 teaspoons of the adobo sauce. Omit the smoked sweet paprika.
Top with cheese: Like any burger, these easy black bean burgers are great with melted cheese. I don’t always add it but if I do, we like it with a nice sharp cheddar, jalapeño havarti, pepper jack cheese, or any good melting cheese.

How Thick Should The Black Bean Burgers Be?

For best results, I recommend shaping the burgers on the thinner side. This way they crisp up nicely on the outside, while having enough time to firm up and cook on the inside.

I like to use about 1/2 cup of mixture per patty and shape them into 3-inch rounds. I went a little thicker for the burger patties you see in the photo and they turned out a little too soft in the middle. If this happens to you, you can just throw them in a 375ºF oven for about 15 minutes and they should cook through and firm up just fine.

close up of cooked burgers on griddle pan

Best Way To Cook Black Bean Burgers

These black bean burgers are quite versatile when it comes to the cooking method. Pan-frying the burgers is my favourite way to cook them. They get a nice crispy exterior that is hard to beat. Just make sure you cook them at a fairly low heat so they have time to cook through on the inside. I like to cook them a little longer on the first side before flipping them.

During summer weather, I like to grill them on the BBQ. They hold up really well placed directly on well-oiled grill grates but now that I have this griddle, I prefer cooking them on that surface. A cast iron skillet placed on the grates will also work but you will have to cook the burger in batches.

What I like about cooking the burgers on the BBQ is that not only do they get some nice smoky flavours, but cooking them with a closed lid will cook them through nicely on the inside.

Baking these veggie burgers is also a great option. They firm up really nicely in the oven but you won’t get the crispy exterior. If you miss that, you can always bake them, then pan fry on the stovetop for just a few minutes a side.

How To Make Easy Black Bean Burgers

Drain and rinse the beans. Pat dry with paper towels.

In a large skillet, sauté the onion and green pepper with some olive oil over medium high heat until they seem pretty dry, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and spices and cook until fragrant, about 1 more minute. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly while you mash the beans.

skillet with sautéed onion, green pepper, and garlic

In a large bowl, mash 3/4 of the beans, panko bread crumbs, soy sauce and salt with a potato masher until the beans are lightly mashed but the mixture holds together. Alternatively, you can do this in the bowl of a food processor. Just make sure to pulse only a few times so you don’t overly mash the ingredients. Add the onion mixture, egg, and remaining black beans and stir until fully incorporated.

mashing beans in bowl with potato masher

adding onion mixture to mashed beans in bowl

Take about a 1/2 cup of mixture at a time and shape into 6 equal portions. They should be about 3-inches in diameter. If you have the time, cover the patties and chill for an hour. They will firm up and hold together better when cooked.

shaped burger patties on small sheet pan

Pan fry, bake, or grill the black bean burger patties until golden brown and crispy on the outside and tender in the middle. (Instructions for cooking methods are provided in recipe card below.)

cooked black bean burgers on griddle pan

Tips For The Best Homemade Black Bean Burger

Chill the black bean mixture if it seems too wet. This black bean mixture should not be too wet, but if it happens to feel too wet or sticky to shape the patties, place it in the fridge for 20-30 minutes.
Mash but don’t over-mash the black beans. You really don’t want to over-mash the black beans but the mixture should not be too crumbly either or you will not be able to shape the patties properly. If your mixture doesn’t seem to be holding together well, mash it a little more.
Particularly if grilling the burgers, chill for at least 20 minutes. Placing the shaped patties in the fridge will help firm them up and make them easier to cook. I don’t always chill them but if I’m going to grill them directly on the grill grates, it really does help.
When grilling, oil the outside of the patties. If grilling the burgers, make sure the grill grates are well oiled. I also like to brush some oil on both sides of the patties to ensure they won’t stick.
Cook over medium or medium-low heat. If you cook the the burgers over high heat they will char too much on the outside before they have time to cook through. Start with medium-low heat, then increase if necessary.
Once cooked, let them cool slightly. When the burgers are very hot, they will be a little more tender. The longer they cool, the firmer they will be.
Toast your buns! This may be my most important tip of all. If serving the burgers with buns, make sure you toast them. Particularly for veggie burgers, it helps to have a toasty bun that isn’t too soft. Here’s what I do: Preheat a barbecue grill or chargrill pan over medium-high heat. Spread some butter on the cut-side of burger buns (optional, but delicious). Grill cut-side down for 1-2 minutes or until grill marks are visible. This can also be done on a skillet or under the broiler.

side view of two prepared burgers on a board

How To Make Ahead, Store And Freeze

Make ahead: Prepare the black bean burger mixture and store in the refrigerator, tightly covered for up to 2 days. Alternatively, shape the mixture into patties and place them on a parchment lined baking sheet. Cover well and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
To store: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
To freeze uncooked patties: Place the shaped burger patties in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet. Freeze until hard then place inside a freezer safe bag or container, separated with layers of parchment paper. Freeze for up to 2 months. Patties can be cooked from frozen (baking method will be best) or thaw overnight in the refrigerator before cooking.
To freeze cooked patties: Cook patties, then cool completely. Store in a freezer bag or sealed container with layers of parchment paper between them. To reheat, bake the patties from frozen in a preheated 375ºF oven for 20-30 minutes or until warmed through.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do these black bean patties taste like meat burgers?

These black bean patties unabashedly taste like veggie burgers, not meat burgers. They are not trying to mimic ground meat in any way. Yes you can taste the beans, yes you will know they are not a meat burger. But you will be so pleasantly surprised at how delicious they are.

Should I dry out the black beans in the oven?

Years ago, Kenji J Lopez from Serious Eats came up with a solution for avoiding a mushy burger. He dehydrates the beans in the oven until they are dry and bursting open. I have tried this genius step and it does work. The problem is the beans are so dry I find it makes these patties taste dry too because there isn’t a lot of wet ingredients added. I also wanted to create a recipe with the fewest steps possible. If you want to try this step, just place the drained and rinsed black beans on a sheet pan and bake in a preheated 350ºF oven for 20-25 minutes. Proceed with the recipe from here.

Serving Suggestions

Truth be told, these black bean patties are so good they barely need condiments or a bun for that matter. I often eat the leftovers for lunch the next day cold, straight out of the fridge. But if I’m being more civilized, I serve these just like I would any other burger. Most of the time, we have them on well-toasted buns with the usual classic toppings – lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, red onion, and a quick and easy homemade burger sauce.

The patties are also wonderful tucked into Boston lettuce leaves, then generously topped with all your favourite toppings.

For side options, french fries are a no brainer. Some healthier sides we love are these mixed grilled vegetables, grilled corn on the cob, or these baked parmesan potato wedges. For an easy meal, we also love these burgers with hefty salads. Here are some of our favourite summer salads:

More Easy Burger Recipes To Try

If you give this Easy Black Bean Burger recipe a try, please feel free to leave a comment and/or a star rating below. We appreciate and welcome all your feedback. Thank you!

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