Black Bean Burger Recipe
These black bean burgers are one of my favorite things to make for al fresco dining on a summer's evening. They're hearty, flavorful, and easy to make at home with basic pantry ingredients. Thanks to the black beans, they hold their shape, taste amazing grilled or baked, and are packed with vegetarian-friendly protein and fiber. Whether you're making them for meal prep, a summer BBQ, or a quick weeknight dinner, these burgers are a solid go-to.
Similar Suggestions
If you're into plant-based burgers or satisfying vegetarian mains, check out my Mexican Stuffed Sweet Potatoes, this Butter Chickpea Curry, and these Falafel Wraps.
These black bean burgers are great served with Sweet potato fries or crispy roasted potatoes, a simple green salad with a lemon vinaigrette, and zingy Coleslaw for a crunchy contrast, plus your favorite burger toppings like avocado, tomato, red onion, pickles, and hot sauce
Ingredient Notes
Check the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full ingredient quantities. Here are a few helpful notes:
- Black Beans: Make sure to rinse, drain, and dry them well so your burgers aren't soggy. Baking them for a few minutes helps a lot.
- Onion, Peppers, & Garlic: These add flavor and moisture. Finely chop or even grate for the best texture.
- Spices: Cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and smoked paprika give these burgers a delicious, smoky, savory flavor.
- Breadcrumbs: This is your binder. Oat flour is a good gluten-free option.
- Feta: Adds salty, creamy flavor. Omit for a vegan version.
- Eggs: Help bind the mixture. For a vegan option, substitute with flax eggs (2 tablespoon ground flax + 5 tablespoon water, mixed and left to sit for 5 minutes).
How To Make Black Bean Burgers
Here's a quick overview of the steps:
1. Process the Veg
Add the vegetables to a food processor and blend until they're a fine but chunky consistency (you could grate them as an alternative). Pass the vegetable mash through a sieve to remove excess moisture.
2. Mash the Black Beans
Place the drained black beans in a mixing bowl and mash about ¾ of the black beans.
3. Mix the Ingredients & Refrigerate
Combine the mashed black beans with the spices, breadcrumbs, eggs, cheese (if using), and tomato paste. Mix or pulse until combined.
Refrigerate the mixture to allow it to firm up.
4. Shape the Patties
Form the mixture into patties using about ½ cup of the mix for each. You should get about 6 patties.
5. Cook
To Bake: Bake at 375°F (191°C) for 10 minutes on each side.
To Grill: Grill on greased foil at medium-high (350-400°F / 177-204°C) for about 8 minutes per side.
Storage
Fridge: Keep cooked burgers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Freezer: Freeze uncooked patties between parchment paper in a freezer-safe container. Cook straight from frozen, adding a few extra minutes.
Reheat: Warm in a pan, oven, or microwave until heated through.
FAQs
Can I freeze black bean burgers?
Yes! Freeze uncooked patties in a single layer, then transfer to a container. Cook from frozen or thaw in the fridge first.
Why do my black bean burgers fall apart?
This usually means they're too wet or underbound. Make sure to dry the beans, measure your binder ingredients properly, and let the mixture chill if needed.
Can I cook them in a skillet?
Definitely-heat a little oil in a skillet and pan-fry for about 4-5 minutes per side.What sauces go well with these?
Spicy mayo, chipotle aioli, tzatziki, or a simple garlic yogurt sauce all work really well.
Black Bean Burger Recipe
The most delicious black bean burger recipe, flavor-packed and with tangy feta and smoky spices, these are an all-round delicious vegetarian burger recipe.
Ingredients
- 2 400g cans black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ red bell pepper
- ½ green bell pepper
- ½ onion
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
- 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 0.5 teaspoon dried oregano
- 0.5 teaspoon chili powder
- 1.5 cups bread crumbs
- 2 eggs, whisked
- 40g feta, crumbled
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
Instructions
- Place your onion, red pepper, green pepper, and garlic in a food processor and blitz until roughly chopped into small pieces. The mixture will be quite wet, so pass it through a sieve to remove excess moisture.
- Place the drained black beans in a large mixing bowl and mash the majority of them, leaving about ¼ of the beans whole to give the patties some texture.
- Add the vegetable mix to the black beans along with the seasonings, eggs, tomato paste, feta, and breadcrumbs.
- Mix the black bean burger dough, and then place the bowl in the fridge for a minimum of 3 hours or overnight if possible, to allow it to firm up.
- Form into patties, using about ½ cup of the mixture each, making each burger about ¾-inch thick.
- Place the patties on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake at 375°F (200°C) for 10 minutes on each side, 20 minutes total. To grill your black bean burgers, place the patties on greased aluminum foil and grill them for approximately 8 minutes on each side.
- Serve with your favorite toppings and enjoy!
Notes
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat wrapped in foil in the oven or air fryer for 10 - 20 minutes until warmed through.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 305Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 68mgSodium: 804mgCarbohydrates: 45gFiber: 11gSugar: 4gProtein: 15g
Hi, this sounds delicious and we'll be having it next week, thank you. Just wanted to say do you mean the garlic in step 1? I'm sure you do but I thinI you've doubled up the onion. Cheers!
Thanks for catching this Gill! Yes, I meant garlic - I'll amend the recipe now 🙂