The BEST Black Bean Burgers (2024)

The BEST Black Bean Burger recipe is fast and easy and made with fresh ingredients. They’re so flavorful that you won’t miss the meat one bit.

I love eating meatless meals at least once a week, and some of our family’s favorites include Gallo Pinto, Vegetarian Enchiladas, Waldorf Salad or a Buddha Bowl!

The BEST Black Bean Burgers (1)

Why I love them:

  • Protein packed and Healthy – Black bean burgers are packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals and are much lower in fat and cholesterol than a traditional ground beef burger. Plus, they still have about 12 grams of protein in each burger.
  • Easy – They only take a few minutes to make, for an easy dinner in about 30 minutes!
  • Affordable – This meal is made with affordable pantry ingredients, and since there is no meat, it keeps the cost low. But you aren’t sacrificing anything with taste.

Ingredients Needed:

  • Black Beans: drained and rinsed. Could substitute pinto or navy beans.
  • Bell Pepper: any color.
  • Onion
  • Egg
  • Bread Crumbs: I use whole wheat, but Panko or regular would also work.
  • Spices: chili powder, cumin, garlic, salt and pepper.

How to Make Black Bean Burgers:

Mash Black Beans. Drain and rinse the black beans and blot them with a paper towel to remove any extra moisture. Place the black beans in a large bowl and mash well with a fork.

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Puree Veggies: Place the bell pepper, onion, and garlic in a food processor and process until finely minced.

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Strain: Transfer mixture to a fine mesh strainer and press out as much excess liquid as possible.

Combine Ingredients: Add the vegetable mixture to the bowl with the black beans. Add the chili powder, cumin, and salt and pepper and stir to combine. Add beaten egg and mix. Stir in bread crumbs.

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Form Patties: Scoop the mixture into 4 or 5 portions and press into patties.

Cook on Grill, Stove or Oven: Grill the burgers on a well oiled grill for about 4-5 minutes on each side. Bake them at 375 degrees F on a lightly oiled baking sheet, for 10 minutes on each side. Or, cook over medium heat in a greased grill pan or skillet for 4-5 minutes on each side.

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Serve: Place on a hamburger bun (or in a large lettuce leaf, for a lettuce wrap burger) and serve with your favorite toppings. My favorite toppings include chipotle mayo, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, avocado, onion, sautéed mushrooms, pickles, or jalapeños.

Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions:

To Make Ahead: The black bean burger mixture can be made 1-2 days ahead of time, formed into patties, or not, covered well.

To Freeze: Prepare and shape the black bean burger patties and lay them flat inside a freezer safe bag or container (separate layers with parchment paper, if needed). Freeze for up to 2 months. Cook from frozen or thaw before cooking.

Recipe Variations:

  • Vegan Black Bean Burger: Substitute the egg with a flax egg (1 Tablespoon flax meal mixed with 3 Tablespoons hot water).
  • Spicy Black Bean Burger: Add a dash of cayenne pepper with the other seasonings and top with chipotle mayo and jalapeños.

Serve With:

  • Homemade French Fries or Sweet Potato Fries
  • Air Fryer Potato Wedges
  • Fresh Fruit Salad
  • Italian Pasta Salad
  • Cucumber Salad
  • Watermelon Salad
  • Corn Salad or Grilled Corn on the Cob

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Recipe

The BEST Black Bean Burgers (6)

4.87 from 337 votes

The BEST Black Bean Burger

The BEST Black Bean Burger recipe is fast and easy, with fresh ingredients and so flavorful that you won't miss the meat one bit.

Author Lauren Allen

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Vegetarian

Servings 5

Calories 149

Cost 5

Prep 15 minutes mins

Cook 10 minutes mins

Total 25 minutes mins

Save Recipe

Ingredients

Black Bean Burger:

  • 15 ounce can black beans , drained and rinsed
  • 1/2 green bell pepper
  • 1/2 small onion
  • 2 cloves garlic , peeled
  • 1 large egg* , beaten
  • 2/3 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs
  • 1 Tablespoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper , to taste
  • 4 hamburger buns
  • desired burger toppings: lettuce, tomato, etc.

Chipotle Mayo Sauce:

Instructions

  • Mash black beans: Place rinsed and drained black beans in a bowl. If needed, blot them with a paper towel to remove extra moisture. Place in a large bowl and mash well with a fork.

  • Puree Veggies: Place bell pepper, onion and garlic in a food processor and process until finely minced.

  • Strain: Transfer pureed veggie mixture to a fine mesh strainer and use the back of a spoon to press out excess moisture. (If it's too wet, the burger wont hold together as well.)

  • Combine: Add the strained vegetable mixture to the bowl with the black beans. Add thechili powder, cumin and salt and pepper and stir to combine.Add beaten egg and mix. Stir in bread crumbs.

  • Form Patties: scoop mixture into 4 even sized patties, forming them and pressing flat with your hands.

Cook on Grill, Stove or Oven:

  • To Grill: Cook on well oiled grill over medium heat, for 4-5 minutes on each side.

  • To Cook on Stove: Cook over medium heat in a greased grill pan or skillet for 4-5 minutes on each side.

  • To Cook in Oven: Bake at 375 degrees F on a lightly oiled baking sheet, for 8-10 minutes on each side.

  • Assemble: Serve burgers on a bun or lettuce wrap and top with a spoonful of chipotle mayo, lettuce, tomato, cheese, avocado, or any desired toppings!

  • Chipotle Mayo Sauce: Add all the ingredients to a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

Nutritional information is for burger patty only.

Make Ahead Instructions: The black bean burger mixture can be made 1-2 days ahead of time, formed into patties, or not, covered well.

Freezing Instructions: Prepare and shape the black bean burger patties and lay them flat inside a freezer safe bag or container (separate layers with parchment paper, if needed). Freeze for up to 2 months. Cook from frozen or thaw before cooking.

Vegan Black Bean Burger: Substitute the egg with a flax egg (1 Tablespoon flax meal mixed with 3 Tablespoons hot water).

Spicy Black Bean Burger: Add a dash of cayenne pepper with the other seasonings and top with my chipotle mayo and jalapeños.

Adapted from All Recipes.

Nutrition

Calories: 149kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 8gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 37mgSodium: 445mgPotassium: 350mgFiber: 8gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 581IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 49mgIron: 3mg

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I first shared this recipe March 2016. Updated June 2019 and June 2022.

This post contains affiliate links.

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Published

Categories

  • 30-Minute Meals
  • American
  • Budget Friendly Meals
  • Freezer Friendly
  • Grilling
  • Main Dish
  • Sandwiches and Wraps
  • Skinny Main Dish
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian

About The Author

The BEST Black Bean Burgers (11)

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

Learn More

The BEST Black Bean Burgers (2024)

FAQs

Are black bean burgers actually healthy? ›

Beans, for instance, are a good source of both zinc and iron. They are also an important protein resource. Black bean burgers are never going to be mistaken for hamburgers, but they are typically a solid choice when it comes to health.

How to make black bean burgers less mushy? ›

Hearty chopped cashews add textural variation, while panko bread crumbs help bind the patties without turning them mushy.

What goes well on a black bean burger? ›

Black Bean Burger Serving Suggestions

Once you've cooked your patties, it's time to eat! I love to serve this homemade black bean burger with chipotle sauce, lettuce, tomato, red onion or pickled red onion, and dill pickles for crunch.

What is a good egg substitute for black bean burgers? ›

Panko breadcrumbs: breadcrumbs help the burgers bind together and create a nice firm texture. You can use gluten free panko if needed! Regular or Italian-style is great. Flax: ground flaxseed is our egg substitute to help the patties stick together so they don't fall apart when you cook them.

What are the healthiest burgers to buy? ›

Here's a list of 10 of the healthiest burgers at major restaurant chains in the opinion of dietitians.
  • Five Guys Little Hamburger. ...
  • Red Robin Haystack Tavern Double. ...
  • Smashburger Classic Smash Burger. ...
  • Cracker Barrel's The Barrel Cheeseburger. ...
  • Cheesecake Factory Old Fashioned Burger. ...
  • Chili's Oldtimer with Cheese Burger.
Aug 29, 2023

Why do my black bean burgers fall apart? ›

The more pulverized the veggie burger mixture gets, the better the patties will stick together. (But don't puree them, or the final texture will be off.) Keep the patty size reasonable. If you make the veggie burgers too large, they are more likely to fall apart.

What's a good binder for bean burgers? ›

Eggs are the most common and effective binder, and egg replacers are an excellent alternative for vegan burgers. Other common binders include wheat germ, bread crumbs, oats, and ground flaxseeds.

Why are my black bean burgers mushy? ›

Using only raw vegetables in your burger.

Raw vegetables, while delicious, hold a lot of water. And when added to veggie burgers, these vegetables release all that moisture during cooking, which can make for an especially mushy burger.

Are black bean burgers good for constipation? ›

The insoluble fiber helps waste pass more quickly through the digestive tract preventing constipation. These burgers are also low in fat and primarily contain heart healthy mono and poly-unsaturated fat, which help decrease the risk of heart disease.

What can I use to bind burgers without eggs? ›

No, eggs are not necessary for binding burger patties, though they are commonly used for binding them. However, you can use other binding agents such as breadcrumbs, cracker crumbs, potato starch, flour, and porridge oats to bind burger patties according to your preferences.

What is it called when you put an egg on a burger? ›

A burger with an egg on top can be called various names, including a “breakfast burger,” “egg burger,” “sunrise burger,” or simply a “burger with an egg.”

Are black bean burgers processed? ›

A black bean burger is the go-to choice for those looking for a high-protein veggie burger that isn't overly processed. These patties contain 150 calories, 5g protein, 7g fat, 16g carbohydrates, and 7g fiber each.

Are black beans healthier than ground beef? ›

The research is clear: beans are a superior choice to ground beef when it comes to fiber and saturated fat. Beans have almost half the calories, roughly 20 fewer grams of fat, and 6 grams more fiber than the same serving of ground beef.

Are bean burgers healthier than beef? ›

Veggie burgers are not only delicious, but they're also a healthier option than traditional meat burgers. They're lower in saturated fat and calories, and they're packed with fiber and other essential nutrients.

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