Best Black Bean Burger Recipe

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Total Time 40 minutes

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Hearty, wholesome and absolutely delicious. This Best Black Bean Burger Recipe uses good-for-you ingredients for an absolutely flavor packed veggie burger that will actually leave you satisfied! You can grill or pan fry these veggie patties, pair with toasty buns and top them off with fresh guacamole and salsa!

You’ll love more meatless meals like this Baked Cauliflower Mac and Cheese, Gnocchi in Tomato Cream Sauce, and Chickpea Curry!

single black bean burger on cutting board

Why This Recipe Works

So Delicious: I have had my fair share of store bought and restaurant black bean burgers, and I have never liked any of them as much as I love this one. I often think that homemade is just better, if you know how to do it! I packed it with lots of flavorful ingredients like chipotle peppers, fresh cilantro and bold spices like cumin, paprika and cayenne pepper. These black bean burgers are savory, spicy and super delicious with some guacamole and your favorite salsa on top.

Wholesome & Good for You: Don’t get me wrong, I love a good classic burger as much as the next person. But sometimes I want something that is healthy and yummy! And this best black bean burger recipe does not disappoint. These veggies burgers are low in fat, high in protein and fiber, and bursting with flavor!

Ingredients

ingredients for black bean burgers recipe
  • Chipotle Pepper: I used one chipotle pepper from a can of chipotle peppers packed in adobo sauce. These peppers are slightly spicy and smoky for a southwest style flavor!
  • Fixings: You can eat these burgers on their own or pair them with toasted burger buns and some guacamole and salsa!

Here’s How to Make It

first four steps of preparation of black bean burger recipe
  1. Preheat & Prep: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line a large baking sheet, or two regular sized pans with baking parchment and spread out the black beans. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes until dry and split. Don’t be tempted to skip this step or you’ll be left with mushy burgers! (photos 1-2)
  2. Blitz: In a food processor, blitz together half the beans, the scallions, cilantro, and chipotle pepper until combined. (photos 3-4)
  3. Combine with Remaining Ingredients: Transfer to a large bowl along with the rest of the black beans, the spices, salt, breadcrumbs, eggs and Worcestershire sauce. Bring everything together into a sticky mixture with your hands. (photos 5-6)
  4. Shape: Wash your hands and while they’re still wet, shape the burgers into 4 patties. (photo 7)
  5. Cook: Grill over a medium heat of cook in an oiled frying pan or cast iron skillet for 5 minutes on each side until golden and heated through. Serve on toasted buts with guacamole and salsa and enjoy! (photo 8)
final four steps of preparation of black bean burger recipe

Expert Tips

  • Avoid mushy veggie burgers! The best way to avoid mushy veggie burger is to dry out the beans so that there isn’t too much moisture them. I found that the best way to do so was baking them on a baking sheet until they are slightly split and dry!
  • Prefer them vegan? If you need a fully plant-based burger, replace the eggs with 1/3 cup mashed sweet potato and replace the Worcestershire sauce with A1 steak sauce (which is surprisingly vegan!).
  • No food processor? No problem! You can also smash the mixture with a fork or a potato masher. They might be chunkier, but they will still be delicious!
  • Serve these best black bean burgers with simple guacamole, salsa (for an easy recipe, try my Mexican Salsa!) and tortilla chips or sweet potato fries!

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my black bean patties aren’t holding together very well?

If the black bean patties aren’t sticking together as well as you would like, then mash the mixture a little bit more with a fork. You want enough black beans to be mashed that the mixture is sticky and holds its shape, but you also want bites of whole black beans in there as well.

Can I make black bean burgers ahead of time?

Definitely! You have a few options. You can make the black bean burger mixture, form it into patties, place them on a baking sheet covered in plastic wrap. Refrigerate them for up to 1 day until you are ready to cook and serve. Or, you can definitely make the black bean burgers including cooking them, and then place them in an airtight container in the fridge and reheat whenever you are ready to serve! You can also freeze black bean burgers for up to 2 months and thaw prior to reheating and serving.

burger with avocado and pickled onions

More Burger Recipes to Try

Did you make this recipe? FANTASTIC. Please rate the recipe below and be sure to tag me on social when you share a photo on social – I love seeing what you’re up to in the kitchen!

single black bean burger on cutting board
4 from 4 votes

Best Black Bean Burger Recipe

Hearty, wholesome and absolutely delicious. This Best Black Bean Burger Recipe uses good-for-you ingredients for an absolutely flavor packed veggie burger that will actually leave you satisfied! You can grill or pan fry these veggie patties, pair with toasty buns and top them off with fresh guacamole and salsa!
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
Servings: 4 people
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Ingredients 

  • 2 15 oz cans black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 6 scallions
  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro
  • 1 chipotle pepper, from a can of chipotles in adobo sauce
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • toasted buns, for serving
  • guacamole, for serving
  • jarred red salsa, for serving

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line a large baking sheet, or two regular sized pans with baking parchment and spread out the black beans. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes until dry and split. Don’t be tempted to skip this step or you’ll be left with mushy burgers!
  • In a food processor, blitz together half the beans, cilantro, the scallions, and chipotle pepper until combined. 
  • Transfer to a large bowl along with the rest of the black beans, the spices, salt, breadcrumbs, eggs, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring everything together into a sticky mixture with your hands.
  • Wash your hands and while they’re still wet shape the burgers into 4 patties. 
  • Grill over a medium heat or cook in an oiled frying pan or cast iron skillet for 5 minutes on each side until golden and heated through. Serve in toasted buns with guacamole and salsa. 

Notes

  1. To make these burgers vegan, swap the eggs for 1/3 cup of mashed sweet potato, and use A1 Steak Sauce – which is actually plant based – in place of the Worcestershire sauce. 
  2. The burgers can be made up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerated.
  3. Nutrition information includes just the black bean burger patty.

Nutrition

Calories: 110kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 493mg | Potassium: 168mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 499IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 63mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this?Leave a star rating or comment below!
Tiffany of Creme de la Crumb in the kitchen

Welcome!

Hey there, I’m Tiffany – chef, photographer, mother, and avid taco eater. I am passionate about turning simple flavors and ingredients into tasty meals the whole family will love, with minimal prep and cleanup so there’s more time to spend eating and enjoying. Stay awhile, and help yourself to a taco or two!

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19 Comments

  1. Monique says:

    I’ve made these a couple of times and love them. I 1-1/2 the spices and add a chopped jalapeño for additional flavor. We are vegetarian so to make this a complete protein we traded out a cup of the beans for a cup of quinoa which adds the amino acid beans are missing to be a complete protein. These hold together

  2. lis says:

    You mention coriander in the instructions for the best bean burgers recipe. However, it is not listed in the ingredients. Can you please list how much coriander?
    Thanks

    1. Tiffany says:

      It was a typo, cilantro not coriander. Sorry for the confusion! Hope you enjoy the recipe 🙂

  3. MEGAN says:

    5 stars
    We’ve made these about 5 times. Oh they are good!! We make them exactly as the recipe is written (except we make 6 patties). my husband says they’re better than restaurant burgers. They taste so FRESH and the flavor combos are perfect!

    1. Tiffany says:

      Yessss! Super excited to hear that you and your husband love this recipe so much! It’s a summertime favorite over here 🙂

  4. Julie says:

    1 star
    I usually love black bean burgers and veggie burgers, but these were extremely bland. The only flavor was in the toppings. Big disappointment. Won’t make again.

    1. Tiffany says:

      Thanks for your feedback, Julie! Sorry to hear that you weren’t completely satisfied with this recipe.