Black Bean Burger

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This black bean burger is so full of flavor with a sturdy texture that doesn’t fall apart! With Southwestern flavors, this meatless burger recipe makes a delicious patty that is so good served on a golden bun and loaded up with your favorite toppings.

This black bean burger is so simple to make! No need for a food processor; just mash the ingredients together in a single bowl. Plus, it’s made with a short list of pantry items and just a couple of ingredients from the refrigerator. With few simple ingredient swaps, it can be a vegan black bean burger recipe, too!

If you’ve ever eaten a black bean burger that tasted plain or mushy, or fell apart inside the bun, you know it can be tricky to get them just right. But this black bean veggie burger recipe includes tried-and-true tricks for a sturdy, flavorful patty that is easy to make and tastes amazing!

Recipe At a Glance

Cuisine Inspiration: Southwestern
Primary Cooking Method: Stovetop, grill, or oven
Dietary Info: Vegetarian, with vegan and gluten-free options
Key Flavor: Savory with southwestern flavors
Skill Level: Intermediate

Summary

• Thick, sturdy patties: This black bean veggie burger recipe makes thick burgers that don’t feel mushy or crumble when you take a bite.
• Grillable veggie burger: If you’ve ever tried to grill a homemade veggie burger, you know they can be tricky! These patties can be cooked on the stovetop, oven, or grill without falling apart.
• Amazing flavor: The salsa and spices add so much flavor to these black bean burgers!
• Nutrient-dense: Black beans are loaded with protein, fiber, and antioxidants for a hearty veggie burger that’s both delicious and nutritious.

Ingredients to Make This Black Bean Burger

• Black beans: Use cans of drained black beans or three cups of cooked-from-scratch black beans.
• Salsa: Use any salsa you like–refrigerated or jarred, whichever level of heat you prefer.
• Breadcrumbs: Along with the eggs, breadcrumbs help bind the black bean burger ingredients together, ensuring the sturdiest patty. You can use store-bought or make your own. 
• Red onion: Adds texture and flavor. Feel free to substitute yellow, white, or sweet onion if that’s what you have on hand.
• Eggs: An important binding ingredient that helps to hold the burgers together.
• Mustard: Adds tangy flavor and lends a little extra binding power.
• Cumin, garlic powder, salt, & pepper: Ground cumin adds that signature Southwestern touch that pairs so well with black beans. Garlic powder is another must-have flavor component, along with salt and pepper that help to enhance all of those flavors.
• Olive oil: For when you opt to cook black bean burgers on the stovetop or in a grill pan.

Popular Substitutions & Additions

• Make it a vegan black bean burger recipe: For a plant-based patty, substitute the eggs with either mashed sweet potatoes or flax eggs. For the sweet potatoes, use ⅓-½ cup of cooked mashed sweet potatoes. To make flax eggs, soak two tablespoons ground flaxseeds in five tablespoons of water in a small bowl. Allow the mix to soak for about five minutes, until the consistency of a thin gel, before adding to your patty mixture.
• Breadcrumb substitutes: All-purpose flour, crushed tortilla chips, or Panko breadcrumbs work well in place of the breadcrumbs.
• Gluten-free option: Substitute oats or almond flour for the breadcrumbs.
• Swap out the prepared salsa: You can use a ½ cup mix of tomatoes, onions, peppers, cilantro, and spices instead.

How to make black bean burgers firm

While I love black bean burgers, they can sometimes come out mushy instead of firm and compact. We’re looking for a thick burger that doesn’t feel mushy or crumble when you take a bite.

Well, I learned a little trick from Serious Eats, who shared that bean burgers are notoriously mushy because they’re primarily made of up already cooked things (except for the eggs). To solve that problem, bake the beans for a few minutes to dry them out.

Just rinse, drain, and thoroughly dry the beans, then spread them out on a baking sheet and bake them until partially dry. This solves the problem of how to keep black bean burgers from falling part.

How to Make This Black Bean Burger

The perfect black bean veggie burger recipe takes just three easy steps! First dry the beans. Then, mix together the patty ingredients with a fork or masher. Form your patties, then cook them on the stovetop, grill, or in the oven.

Dry the beans in the oven

1. Spread the black beans on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
2. Bake the beans until they’re partially dried out.

How to make black bean burger patties

1. Transfer the beans to a large bowl, and partially mash them, leaving some whole beans. Add the rest of the patty ingredients.
2. Use a fork or masher to mix and mash the ingredients together. Refrigerate.
3. Using your hands, form the mixture into patty shapes.
4. Place the patties onto a plate and prepare to cook them using your chosen method (stovetop, grill, or oven)

Cook the patties

1. Cook the patties a few at a time, in a single layer on your grill pan, on the grill, or in your skillet.
2. When the patties have browned on one side, flip and cook the other side. To bake in the oven, place the black bean burgers on a baking sheet and bake, flipping halfway through. 

Tips for making the best black bean burgers

• Dry out the beans first by baking them in the oven. This helps to transform the texture from a mushy one to a hearty one that doesn’t crumble after the first bite. You don’t want to dry them completely though, only partially to evaporate some of the moisture from the canned beans.
• Drain the salsa before adding to the black bean burger mixture. The best way to do this is by placing the salsa in a mesh sieve and swooshing it around with a spoon until a lot of the liquid has drained and it looks more compact.
• For the best texture, go light on the mashing. Mash just some of the beans while leaving others whole, for a black bean burger that has a pleasantly chunky, hearty texture.
• Refrigerate the patty mixture. After mashing the ingredients together, transfer the patty mixture to the refrigerator for just a few minutes. This step allows the ingredients to really set and bind together.
• When cooking, use moderate heat. Unlike a beef burger, where you want the pan to be hot and sizzling, this black bean burger recipe calls for lower and slower. Cook the patties on medium heat so that the outside gets nicely browned while the ingredients inside are fully cooked.

What to Serve With This Black Bean Veggie Burger Recipe

• Oven Baked Sweet Potato Chips
• Mustard Potato Salad
• Air Fryer French Fries
• Red Cabbage Slaw

How to Store & Reheat This Black Bean Burger

Store leftover patties in an airtight container in the fridge.

Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.

How Long Will Black Bean Burger Last in the Fridge?

Cooked patties will last about 5 days in the refrigerator.

Can I Freeze This Black Bean Veggie Burger Recipe?

Freeze patties before or after cooking for up to 3 months. Stack patties between wax paper or parchment paper sheets in a freezer-safe container and transfer to the freezer. You can also freeze them on a baking sheet, then once they are frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag and place them back in the freezer. This makes it easy to grab one or two at a time.

To re-heat cooked frozen patties, warm thoroughly on the stovetop or in the microwave.

To thaw and cook uncooked frozen patties, transfer them to the refrigerator to thaw overnight (or for about 8 hours). Once thawed, proceed with the cooking instructions in the recipe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Skip the frozen vegetarian burgers, and try my salsa black bean burger recipe. This is a hearty, healthy recipe that’s packed with protein and loaded with flavor. I love the chunky texture, the Southwestern flavor, and the use of salsa for a shorter list of ingredients. The best part is that you can mix it all in one bowl without using a food processor or any fancy tools.

More vegetarian recipes

• Quinoa Burger
• Sweet Potato Chili
• Pizza Quinoa Bites
• Cauliflower Curry
• Lentil Shepherd’s Pie
• Chickpea Burger
• Vegetarian Pad Thai
• Zucchini Lasagna

If you try this feel good Black Bean Burger recipe or any other recipe on Feel Good Foodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below! It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. We would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots, share it on Instagram so we can repost on Stories!

This black bean burger recipe was originally published April 15, 2019. It has recently been updated with new photos and step by step collages to make it easier to follow.