This 5-Ingredient Black Bean Burger Is the Only Veggie Burger Recipe You Need (2024)

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Grace Elkus

Grace Elkus

Grace Elkus was the Deputy Food Director at Kitchn, where she wrote a monthly vegetarian recipe column called Tonight We Veg. She received her culinary arts diploma from The Natural Gourmet Institute.

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updated Oct 21, 2020

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This 5-Ingredient Black Bean Burger Is the Only Veggie Burger Recipe You Need (1)

Easy vegetarian black bean veggie burgers, made with pantry staples and ready in 30 minutes.

Makes4 to 6 pattiesPrep10 minutesCook20 minutes

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This 5-Ingredient Black Bean Burger Is the Only Veggie Burger Recipe You Need (2)

I became a vegetarian around the age of 12, so I’ve made my fair share of veggie burgers throughout the years. The funny thing is, I still don’t have a go-to recipe. That’s because most homemade veggie burgers call for a laundry list of ingredients (often upwards of 10), or a long refrigeration time to bind the patties together. I set out to make one with easy-to-find ingredients that’s ready to devour in less than 30 minutes. And that’s exactly where these black bean burgers come into play. The secret? Ripe and creamy avocado, which gets mashed into the patties as a binder, then spread onto the burger buns alongside chipotle mayo.

These aren’t just good veggie burgers — they’re good burgers, period. They’re spicy, smoky, and packed with protein. And, unlike so many veggie burgers, they don’t fall apart in the skillet. In fact, as they cook, they take on a deliciously crispy outer crust that makes every bite that much better. Depending on your hunger level, you can opt to make six smaller patties or four larger ones. Save leftovers for crumbling over salads or stuffing into quesadillas.

3 Smart Tricks for Better Black Bean Burgers

1. Dry the beans: Spreading a few cans of rinsed and drained black beans onto a sheet tray and popping them into the oven dries them out, ensuring your patties won’t be mushy. You’ll know they’re ready when the beans feel dry and are beginning to split. Let cool on the tray for a few minutes before adding them to the food processor.

2. Use avocado as your binder: Many veggie burger recipes call for an egg or breadcrumbs as a binder, but I wanted to keep these vegan and gluten-free so that as many people as possible can enjoy them. (Use gluten-free buns or make lettuce wraps if you’re gluten-free.) Creamy, ripe avocado not only helps bind together the patties, but you can also use the other half to spread onto your burger buns.

3. Make your own 2-ingredient chipotle mayo: This recipe calls for one chipotle in adobo and a tablespoon of the sauce, which is a cheap and easy way to add bold, smoky flavor to your burgers. (For gluten-free folks, check to make sure the brand you’re buying is gluten-free!) Wondering what to do with the rest of the can of chiles? I like to stir a bit of sauce into mayonnaise (or vegan mayonnaise) to create my own chipotle mayo. Start with a little and add more to taste — this stuff is pretty powerful. Use the rest of the can to make chili or chilaquiles, or stir the sauce into marinades or dips.

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Easy 5-Ingredient Black Bean Veggie Burgers

Easy vegetarian black bean veggie burgers, made with pantry staples and ready in 30 minutes.

Prep time 10 minutes

Cook time 20 minutes

Makes 4 to 6 patties

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • 2 (15-ounce) cans

    black beans, drained and rinsed (about 3 1/3 cups)

  • 3/4 cup

    old-fashioned rolled oats

  • 1

    canned chipotle in adobo chile, plus 1 tablespoon adobo sauce

  • 3/4 teaspoon

    kosher salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon

    freshly ground black pepper

  • 2

    large avocados, divided

  • 1/4 cup

    coarsely chopped fresh cilantro leaves and tender stems

  • 2 to 3 tablespoons

    olive or canola oil

  • For serving: Hamburger buns, chipotle mayo (see above for a homemade version), sliced red onion, tomato slices, and Bibb lettuce leaves

Instructions

  1. Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 350°F. Spread the beans onto a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until dry to the touch and beginning to split, 10 to 12 minutes. Set aside to cool, about 5 minutes.

  2. Place the cooled beans, oats, adobo and sauce, salt, and pepper in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Process until the beans and oats are broken down and mixture begins to come together, scraping the sides as needed, 15 to 20 seconds; set aside.

  3. Place half of 1 avocado in a large bowl and mash with a fork until smooth (you should have about 1/2 cup mashed avocado). Reserve remaining half for topping the burgers. Add the bean mixture to the bowl and stir and fold with a rubber spatula until a cohesive mixture forms. Add the cilantro and stir to incorporate.

  4. Shape the mixture into 4 (2/3 cup) patties or 6 smaller (1/2 cup) patties. Let rest for 5 minutes, or refrigerate for up to 3 hours.

  5. Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the patties and cook until a dark crust forms on the bottom of the patties, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip and cook until crisp on the other side, 3 to 4 minutes more (if making 6 burgers, work in batches, adding 1 tablespoon oil to pan for second batch). Coarsely mash the remaining avocado half and as much of the second avocado as you desire. Spread mashed avocado onto buns. Serve burgers on buns with chipotle mayo, onion, tomato, and lettuce.

Recipe Notes

Freezing burgers: These burgers can be frozen raw or cooked. Wrap each burger individually in plastic and freeze. Thaw raw burgers in the refrigerator overnight before cooking. Cooked burgers can be reheated in the oven, a toaster oven, or the microwave.

Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Filed in:

beans

Canned Goods

Dairy-Free

dinner

easy

herbs

This 5-Ingredient Black Bean Burger Is the Only Veggie Burger Recipe You Need (2024)

FAQs

What is a black bean burger made of? ›

Ingredients: Water, cooked black beans (black beans, water), cooked brown rice (water, brown rice), onions, vegetable oil (corn, canola and/or sunflower), whole kernel corn, soy protein concentrate, onion powder, wheat gluten, egg whites, tomatoes, bulgur wheat, green chiles, calcium caseinate (milk), cornstarch.

What can I use as a binder for a black bean burger? ›

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 is a substitute for eggs in black bean burgers? ›

To replicate 1 large egg, mix 1 tablespoon flaxseed with 2 to 3 tablespoons water and let sit for a few minutes. Add to the veggie burger mix just as you would an egg.

Are black bean burgers healthy for you? ›

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.

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.

Is black bean burger healthier than beef? ›

5. The McVeggie, only offered in certain countries and a handful of places in the U.S., is made of a breaded vegetable patty. 6. Black bean burgers are about half of the calories, and contain less fat and more fiber than a traditional beef burger.

How do you thicken black bean burgers? ›

The flour which you add will help to bind the burger together and dry it out. Some people will also add tapioca starch or cornflour which thicken when cooked, and again these will help bind the burger and give it some texture.

Why are my black bean burgers mushy? ›

Mushy veggie burgers give veggie burgers in general a bad reputation. And too often the culprit of this crime is too many wet ingredients. Yes, they're essential for holding the burger together and adding some much-needed flavor, but too much liquid makes for a paste-y burger that doesn't hold together well.

What can I bind burgers with instead of egg? ›

What can you use to bind burgers instead of egg? In theory, you could use bread crumbs—I recommend using coarse, crustless fresh white bread crumbs—or even grated Parmesan cheese. The best way of getting your burgers to hold together is by using a medium grind 80% beef 20% fat ground chuck and a burger press.

How do you bind hamburger patties without eggs? ›

Chia seeds work as a great egg replacer. 2 tablespoon of Chia Seeds soaked in 3 tablespoon of water is the equivalent of one egg.

Do black bean burgers taste like hamburgers? ›

Now listen: these burgers are plenty meaty in texture and flavor, but there are two important things to remember: First, they don't taste anything like a beef burger, nor are they meant to. They are a delicious thing-to-stick-in-a-bun all on their own.

What is in a MorningStar black bean burger? ›

From the Package. WATER, ONIONS, COOKED BLACK BEANS (BLACK BEANS, WATER), COOKED BROWN RICE (WATER, BROWN RICE), CORN, SOY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, TOMATOES, WHEAT GLUTEN, ONION POWDER, VEGETABLE OIL (CORN, CANOLA AND/OR SUNFLOWER OIL), GREEN CHILES, SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, BULGUR WHEAT, CORNSTARCH.

What is the healthiest veggie burger? ›

Best: Hilary's Fiesta Black Bean Veggie Burgers

The main ingredients are black beans and whole-grain millet, but this burger also has sweet potatoes, red pepper, kale, and other nutritious ingredients. The combo of high fiber and protein is sure to make this a satisfying option for a plant-forward meal.

Do black bean burgers make you gassy? ›

Even children know that beans can cause gas. But did you know that black beans in this recipe are actually easy to digest? When you take additional steps like soaking, combining with other vegetables and digestive aids like we did in this Black Bean Burger recipe you further minimize the risk of gas and bloating.

Do black bean burgers taste like meat? ›

Now listen: these burgers are plenty meaty in texture and flavor, but there are two important things to remember: First, they don't taste anything like a beef burger, nor are they meant to. They are a delicious thing-to-stick-in-a-bun all on their own.

Is a black bean burger heart healthy? ›

As a cheap, nutrient-dense food, black beans, sometimes known as turtle beans, are also good for helping your cardiovascular health. Research has shown that eating black beans can help to reduce blood sugar levels, and they can even help to manage your cholesterol.

Are black bean veggie burgers good? ›

The patties are hearty, well-charred, and packed with bold flavor. They're delicious with classic burger fixings like ketchup and mustard, but if you ask me, a slather of chipotle mayo or a scoop of guacamole really takes them to the next level.

Do black bean burgers have a lot of protein? ›

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.

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