Description
Hands down, this black bean burger recipe is the best one you'll try. The patties are hearty, well-charred, and packed with bold flavors including chipotle and adobo sauce. Perfectly seasoned and textured, they’re delicious with classic burger toppings or elevated with chipotle mayo or guacamole for extra indulgence.
Ingredients
Black Bean Burger Patties
- 3 cups cooked black beans, drained and rinsed
- ⅓ cup grated yellow onion (about ½ medium)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 chipotle peppers from a can of chipotles in adobo, diced
- 2 tablespoons adobo sauce
- 1 tablespoon tamari
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- Extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing
For Cooking and Serving
- Cooking spray, if grilling
- Hamburger buns, for serving
- Desired fixings (ketchup, mustard, chipotle mayo, guacamole, lettuce, tomato, etc.), for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the mixture: In a large bowl, combine the black beans, grated onion, minced garlic, diced chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, tamari, balsamic vinegar, ground cumin, sea salt, and black pepper. Use a potato masher to mash until the mixture holds together but still retains some chunks for texture.
- Add binder and crumbs: Fold in the egg using a spatula until fully combined. Then, gently fold in the panko bread crumbs until well incorporated. The mixture should be cohesive and slightly wet.
- Form patties: Shape the mixture into 6 evenly sized patties using your hands. If the mixture feels too wet and difficult to handle, chill it in the refrigerator for 20 minutes to firm up or mash the beans a bit more to improve consistency.
- Cook on stovetop skillet: Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat and brush lightly with extra-virgin olive oil. Cook the patties for approximately 5 minutes per side until both sides are nicely charred. Adjust heat as necessary to avoid burning while ensuring they cook through.
- Alternative grilling method: Preheat an outdoor grill to 400°F. Lightly brush the burger patties with olive oil and spray the grill grates with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Grill the patties for 8 minutes on the first side, then flip and cook for 4 additional minutes on the second side until cooked through.
- Serve: Place the cooked black bean burgers onto hamburger buns and add your desired fixings such as ketchup, mustard, chipotle mayo, guacamole, lettuce, or tomato. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
- Grate the onion on the large holes of a box grater; the onion will release liquid—this is normal. Add the grated onion pulp but leave excess liquid behind to avoid soggy patties.
- To make these burgers vegan, replace the egg with a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 2.5 tablespoons warm water, set aside for 5 minutes). Vegan patties will hold together well but may be less firm in the middle and require slightly longer cooking times.
- If a gluten-free option is desired, consider making a quinoa-based burger instead of using panko bread crumbs.
- Adjust cooking times based on grill heat or stovetop temperature to prevent burning and ensure thorough cooking.
