Are you looking for a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional beef patties? Look no further than my personal black bean burger recipe! These burgers are smoky, hearty, and packed with bold flavor, and they hold together.
High Protein Black Bean Burgers That Doesn't Fall Apart!
These patties are thick, deeply seasoned, and hold together the way a proper burger should just without the chewiness that comes with the meat patties.
Most black bean burgers fail at texture, flavor, or both. Some are just like mashed potatoes on a grill. This one fixes both problems.
The texture is fixed by drying the beans in the oven before anything else happens, which removes the excess moisture responsible for that dreaded mushiness.
The flavor is also enhanced by building a sautéed base with bell pepper, jalapeño, onion, and garlic before adding the seasoning.
What is a Black Bean Burger?
Black Bean Burger is a meatless burger made primarily from black beans. It is a popular substitute for traditional beef patties. They are tasty and hearty, and you don't need a long list of ingredients to enjoy this meal; it doesn't take too long to make as well!
Why should you embrace the black bean?
- Nutritional powerhouse: Black beans are loaded with protein, fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals, making them a healthy and satisfying choice.
- Budget-friendly: They're affordable, accessible, and require minimal prep, making them a good choice for budget-conscious cooks.
- Flavorful: Black beans take on spices beautifully.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- HOLDS TOGETHER. No crumbling, no falling apart, no sad patties dissolving in your pan.
- Bold, layered flavor built from the ground up not just beans and salt.
- Simple ingredients that work hard together.
- Ready to grill, pan fry, or bake. whatever works for you!
- Freezer friendly, make ahead, and weeknight approved.
The Versatile Black Bean Burger
The versatility of this recipe allows you to substitute ingredients to suit your preferences without compromising the dish's core essence. For instance, swapping the breadcrumbs for oats.
If you like a little heat, try adding some diced jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce to your black bean burger mixture. This will give your burger a spicy kick and add some extra flavor.
Also, to save time on daily cooking, you can freeze the patties for up to a month before cooking. All you need to do is place the patties on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, freeze them until they become hard, and then stack them in a freezer bag or container.
When cooking, just add a few extra minutes per side, and your frozen patties will taste as fresh as if they were made on the spot.
Ingredients for making Black Bean Burger
- Black Beans: drained, rinsed, and dried in the oven before anything else touches them. This single step is the difference between a burger that holds together and one that does not. There is no shortcut here worth taking.
- Bell pepper: Red, green, yello, or any color! Finely dice it so it integrates into the patty rather than sitting in chunks.
- Breadcrumbs: bind all the ingredients together, giving the burger patty structure and preventing it from falling apart during cooking. They also add some nice crunch and texture.
- Red Onion: These add a depth of flavor. The sharp, sweet, and slight bitterness of red onions gives the burger fantastic depth of flavor.
- Jalapeño: Remove the seeds if you want flavor without too much fire. Leave them in if you like a proper kick.
- Egg: For binding the beans together
- Cilantro or Parsley: These freshen up the taste and add a hint of earthiness to the burger. The addition of these herbs ensures every bite is flavorful.
- Garlic: Minced garlic gives a pungent, spicy kick to the burger patty - an essential in many recipes for depth of flavor.
- Ground Cumin, Chili Powder, Smoked Paprika: These spices enhance the flavor profile, adding warmth, smokiness, and a bit of spice to the black bean burger.
- Worcestershire sauce: It adds a savory, complex depth that is hard to explain but impossible to miss when it is not there.
- Salt and Black Pepper
- Tomato Paste: The tomato paste lends some tanginess and increases the savory, umami flavors in the burger patty.
- Olive Oil: or any other mild cooking oil of choice to cook the patties, giving them a golden, crispy exterior.
How to make Black Bean Burger
- Dry and mash black beans
- Add breadcrumbs, spices, egg, and tomato paste, then combine.
- Shape into 6 to 8 patties.
- Adjust mixture consistency if needed.
- Heat oil and cook patties for 4-5 minutes on each side until golden.
- Serve on a bun with our desired toppings.
How do I prevent the patties from falling apart?
Start by patting your beans dry and oven drying (highly recommend) before mashing, as this will remove any excess moisture that could cause the patties to crumble. A good binder, such as eggs, is essential to ensure the mixture holds together.
When shaping the patties, make sure they are compact and hold together well. This will help prevent them from falling apart during cooking. Also, it's important to heat your oil sufficiently in a large grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat before adding the patties.
Can I Grill These?
Yes, and they are excellent off the grill.
Can I Bake These?
Absolutely. Preheat your oven to 375°F, place the patties on a lightly oiled baking sheet, and bake for 20 minutes, flipping once halfway through. The crust will be lighter than what you get in a skillet, but the patties will hold together well and taste just as good.
Do I need a food processor?
I don't recommend a food processor. A fork and a potato masher give you better control over the texture. A food processor works fast but can turn everything into a paste before you realize it, and a smooth paste is not what you want here.
Can I use dried black beans?
Yes. Cook them fully, cool them completely, and dry them well before using. You will need about 3 cups of cooked beans to match two cans.
What to pair with Black Bean Burger
- Sweet Potato Fries: Pairing crunchy sweet potato fries along with your burger is always a good idea.
- Coleslaw: A side of coleslaw adds a cool, refreshing element that balances the burger's flavors.
- Corn on the Cob: Whether grilled or boiled, corn on the cob is a classic side to serve with black bean burgers.
- Mixed Green Salad: A light salad with a vinaigrette dressing complements the burger's heartiness.
- Guacamole and Chips: Try this Mexican twist - creamy avocado dip with crispy tortilla chips. You'd love it.
- Onion Rings: Crispy onion rings are a popular side for burgers.
- Potato Salad: Creamy Potato salad is a lovely side to pair with Black Bean Burger.
- Fruit Salad: A mix of sweet fruits that's a fresh and tasty contrast to your burger.
Storage tips
To keep black bean burgers fresh, let them cool down. Then wrap each burger in plastic or foil so they don't get freezer burn or stick together. Put the wrapped burgers in a container or a tightly sealing bag. They can stay in the freezer for about three months.
When you want to eat them, take them out and let them thaw in the fridge, then cook them up as you like. This way, you can have tasty black bean burgers ready to enjoy whenever you want.
Tips:
- Make sure to drain and dry the black beans before using them in the recipe. This will help remove any excess water and give the burgers a better texture.
- If the mixture seems too wet, add more breadcrumbs to help bind it together.
- These burgers can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Simply reheat in a skillet or in the microwave before serving.
- Achieve a crispy exterior by ensuring the pan is hot before cooking.
- Toast your buns for extra flavor and texture.
- Get creative with toppings! Think pickled onions, roasted sweet potato slices, or even a dollop of guacamole.
Tools needed to make Black Bean Burgers
- Mixing Bowl: For combining and mixing the burger ingredients.
- Fork or Potato Masher: To mash the black beans.
- Knife and Cutting Board: For chopping any vegetables or toppings you plan to add.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons: For precise measurements of ingredients such as breadcrumbs and spices.
- Pan or Grill: To cook the burgers. You can use a non-stick frying pan or an outdoor grill.
- Spatula: For flipping and handling the burger patties during cooking.
Other delicious recipes to try!
- Delicious and Juicy Homemade Hamburger Patties
- Simple And Delicious Chicken Patties Recipe
- The Ultimate Homemade Sloppy
Simple Black Bean Burger Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 15 ounces each cans black beans drained and rinsed
- ½ cup green bell peppers or any other color
- ½ cup red onion finely chopped
- 1 jalapeño finely diced or chili powder for heat
- 2 cloves garlic finely minced
- ½ cup plain breadcrumbs or oatmeal as per preference
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ¼ cup cilantro or parsley chopped
- 2 tablespoon oil for cooking
- salt and black pepper to taste
Serving:
- 6 burger buns
- lettuce, tomato slices, avocado, red onion, salad dressing, or any other preferred toppings
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F Spread the drained and rinsed black beans in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes.
- Mash the black beans with a fork or potato masher leaving some beans unmashed for added texture.
- While the beans are drying, heat a little oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the red onion, bell pepper, and jalapeño and cook for 4 to 5 minutes until everything has softened and the edges start to turn golden. Add the garlic and cook for 30 more seconds.
- Take the skillet off the heat and blot the vegetables with a paper towel to remove any remaining moisture. Set aside to cool.
- Transfer the oven dried beans to a large mixing bowl. Use a fork or a potato masher and work through them until roughly three quarters are broken down. You want something that looks chunky and substantial, not a smooth paste.
- Add the cooled sautéed vegetables to the mashed beans. Then add the egg, breadcrumbs, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, cumin, tomato paste, and cilantro. Season generously with salt and black pepper. Mix everything until well combined.
- Divide the mixture into 6 equal portions and shape each portion into a patty, ensuring they hold together well.
- Heat the oil in a large grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat.
- Place the burger patties in the skillet and cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side or until they are golden brown and cooked through.
- Place each black bean burger on a bun and top with your favorite burger toppings.
Nutrition
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Victoria
Thursday 28th of May 2026
Simply delicious! We are trying to introduce more meatless meals to our diet and we really enjoyed this.
Lola Osinkolu
Friday 29th of May 2026
Hi Victoria, I'm glad you and your family enjoyed it!