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Easy Black Bean Burgers Recipe

Looking for an easy Meatless Monday recipe? These Black Bean Burgers are a simple pantry-friendly meal and a great vegetarian dinner!

Are you trying to make more meatless meals for you and your family?

Adding a vegetarian meal at least once a week can help you save money on the cost of meat. Plus, it helps increase your fiber intake, of which most of us don’t get enough. And you can still make vegetarian recipes have great flavor!

Black bean burger on a plate with text "Vegetarian dinner: Black bean burgers"

This veggie burger recipe is super easy to make. The pre-made, frozen ones you buy at the store are fine; but honestly, nothing beats a homemade meal.

It’s an easy recipe that just requires a few ingredients you probably already have at home. And the best thing is, it comes together in just a few minutes!

Scroll down to the recipe card to get the full recipe- but first, here are some frequently asked questions!

Black bean burger on a plate

Ingredients

  • Black beans– Canned beans are easiest, but you could easily cook dried beans in your Instant Pot! Use one or two cans of black beans depending on how many you want to make.
  • Egg– Works as a binder to hold your patties together.
  • Panko bread crumbs– Regular bread crumbs may work as well, but I love the texture of panko crumbs!
  • Yellow onion– Red onion would work as well
  • Bell pepper
  • Cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper– These are the standard seasonings I use, but feel free to play around and see what works for you.

Other ingredients I thought of that could add a good flavor:

  • Hot sauce
  • Shredded cheese (Like cheddar cheese or pepper jack cheese)
  • Red pepper flakes (Can you tell I like spicy foods?)
  • Other seasonings (Garlic powder, onion powder)

Is this recipe vegan?

This recipe is considered vegetarian because it uses an egg. To make vegan burgers, you’d have to use an egg substitute like flax eggs. I’ve never done it before with this, so I can’t say for sure how well it works.

Black bean burger on a plate

Can these be frozen?

I recommend you cook these before freezing! When the black bean patties are fully cooled, set them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and place in the freezer for at least 4 hours.

When they’re completely frozen, you can wrap each one in plastic wrap and place in a gallon-sized freezer bag.

And to reheat, thaw a patty in the fridge overnight (Or use the microwave). I recommend reheating in a toaster oven or on the stove; the microwave may give you mushy burgers, but it’ll still taste fine.

Can these be made ahead of time?

Absolutely! These are a great meal prep option, too. You can form these into patties and place them in a single layer on a large plate; then cover with plastic wrap and keep in the fridge until you’re ready to cook them.

What toppings go well with these?

You could go a few different ways with these black bean burgers!

The standard ketchup, mustard, lettuce, tomato slices, pickles, and onions would be delicious with these.

Here are other options:

  • Sliced cheese (pepperjack or cheddar are great)
  • Salsa
  • Chipotle mayo
  • BBQ sauce
  • Hot sauce

The first time I made these, I added cheese and a sauce made of Greek yogurt and salsa mixed together. I think of these as almost Mexican-inspired because of the flavor, so I tend to go more toward those toppings. Ripe avocado would be another good option!

What side items to serve

Honestly, these homemade veggie burgers would go well with many of the standard BBQ side items. Here are a few suggestions:

  • French fries
  • Sweet potatoes (Or sweet potato fries!)
  • Potato salad
  • Pasta salad
  • Baked beans (Too many beans? Maybe!)
  • Green salad
  • Roasted vegetables like zucchini
  • Fresh fruit

Do you have to use the stove to cook these?

You have other options for cooking these, for sure! I’ve only ever made them on the stovetop, but here are a couple things you can try:

  • Outdoor grill: This way, you can get those lovely grill marks and amazing flavor.
  • George Foreman grill: I use this a lot when I don’t feel like getting out the actual grill. It cooks my food pretty quickly!
  • Air fryer: You can do basically anything in an air fryer, and I’m sure these are no exception! I don’t have an actual cooking time- but I’d guess cooking it at 375 for 10-ish minutes might do the trick. Just keep an eye on it!

How to make black bean burgers

In a large bowl, use a potato masher to mash the beans. It doesn’t have to be perfect; there can still be chunks of beans in there.

Bell pepper and onion in a food processor

In a food processor, add the onion and bell pepper. Alternatively, you can just chop them very finely.

Mashed black beans in a bowl with diced bell pepper and onion

Add the vegetable mixture to the bowl. My food processor wasn’t working so I used a blender- that’s why it looks more like a liquid, but it worked out well!

Black bean burger mixture in a bowl

Add the egg and seasonings, then mix well.

Black bean mixture in a bowl with Panko bread crumbs

Add the panko crumbs to the black bean mixture and gently stir in. If the mixture still seems really wet, add a little more panko crumbs. The final product will be somewhat wet, but able to be shaped with your hands.

Formed, uncooked black bean burger patties

Using about a half cup of mixture, form into 4 patties of equal portions. You can cook them immediately or place in the fridge for later.

Black bean burger patties on a skillet

Spray a large skillet with cooking spray (Or drizzle a little olive oil over it) and place patties, cooking on medium-high heat. Cook for 2-3 minutes, then flip and cook another 2-3 minutes. The outside should look crisp and brown.

Black bean burger on a plate

Serve on hamburger buns with your favorite toppings and side items!

To store leftover burgers, place in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.

This is such a great recipe, especially in the Summer months! Now, this is no replacement for a burger made with meat. But if you’re looking for something different, black bean burger patties make a fun substitution!

Print the recipe for these homemade black bean burgers:

Easy Black Bean Burgers Recipe

Easy Black Bean Burgers Recipe

Yield: 4 patties
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Looking for an easy Meatless Monday recipe? These Black Bean Burgers are a simple pantry-friendly meal and a great vegetarian dinner!

Ingredients

  • 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 green bell pepper, cut into large chunks
  • 1 small onion, cut into large chunks
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon cumin
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup panko bread crumbs

Instructions

    1. In a large bowl, use a potato masher to mash the beans. It doesn't have to be perfect; there can still be chunks of beans in there.
    2. In a food processor, add the onion and bell pepper. Alternatively, you can just chop them very finely.
    3. Add the vegetable mixture to the bowl.
    4. Add the egg and seasonings, then mix well.
    5. Add the panko crumbs and gently stir in. If the mixture still seems really wet, add a little more panko crumbs. The final product will be somewhat wet, but able to be shaped with your hands.
    6. Using about a half cup of mixture, form into 4 patties. You can cook them immediately or place in the fridge for later.
    7. Spray a large skillet with cooking spray (Or drizzle a little olive oil over it) and place the patties, cooking on medium-high heat. Cook for 2-3 minutes, then flip and cook another 2-3 minutes. The outside should look crisp and brown.
    8. Serve on a hamburger bun with your favorite toppings and side items!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 162Total Fat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 316mgCarbohydrates: 29gFiber: 5gSugar: 2gProtein: 9g

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