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Easy Black Bean Burgers

by Katerina

5 from 8 votes

Jul 01, 2020, Updated Jun 26, 2024

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These super easy Black Bean Burgers are the best vegetarian burger substitute ever! They’re healthy and flavorful with the perfect texture for that classic burger feel.

Many vegetarians give up on eating burgers because the meatless options are mushy or dry, but I have a cure for that. This veggie burger recipe will have you cooking burgers every weekend! It’s a simple way to make healthy vegetarian burgers that taste and feel like the real deal. Even meat eaters are impressed with the quality of these black bean burgers. Or maybe it’s the Cajun fries that I served with them? 🤔

Recipe Ingredients

I’ve tried every way to make veggie burgers, and this version is the best by far. My vegetarian 10-year-old agrees. All you need is 30 minutes, a few ingredients for the patties, and your favorite burger fixings.

• Canned Black Beans: I use reduced sodium beans to keep these homemade veggie burgers as healthy as possible.
• Panko Crumbs: Panko is made of pre-baked, crustless bread that will give your burgers their hearty texture. I’ve also used pork rind crumbs and wow! The taste is amazing! I know, pork and vegetarian don’t go together, but I’m still putting that out there for my non-veg friends.
• Yellow Onion: You can also use a white or sweet onion.
• Egg: Acts as a binder to keep the mixture together.
• Seasoning mix: Italian Seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper.
• Vegetable Oil: Canola oil works too.
• Sliced Cheese: For the burger. I use Swiss or cheddar, but you can use whatever melty sliced cheese you prefer.
• Mayonnaise (optional): Use whichever condiment you want on your burger.
• Burger Buns: To lower the carbs, use Bibb lettuce leaves instead of burger buns.
• Lettuce & Tomatoes: For layering on top of the black bean patties.

How to Make Black Bean Burgers

• Mash the beans: Transfer the black beans to a mixing bowl and mash with a fork or a potato masher until mushy but still has some whole bean pieces.
• Make the bean mixture: To the beans, add panko crumbs, onion, egg, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, ground cumin, salt and pepper; mix until well combined. If your mixture is dry, stir in some water. Set the mixture aside for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Preheat the skillet: Preheat a large cast iron skillet or a grill pan over medium-high heat. Add oil and swirl it around.
• Form & cook the patties: Divide the bean mixture into 4 equal balls and shape each ball into a patty. Transfer the patties to the hot oil and cook for 4 minutes per side or until browned.
• Add cheese: If desired, add a slice of cheese on top of each burger and cook for a minute longer or until the cheese is melted.
• Assemble and serve: Serve the black bean burgers on toasted buns or Bibb lettuce leaves with mayonnaise, lettuce, and tomatoes.

Serving Suggestions

When serving black bean burgers, you have plenty of delicious options to choose from! Pair them with my oven baked french fries for a classic meal. For a quick and healthy side, try my oven roasted vegetables. If you’re in the mood for something a bit different, my sweet and savory maple mustard roasted potatoes are a fun twist on regular potato wedges. My easy coleslaw with cilantro vinaigrette also makes a refreshing and flavorful accompaniment. For a low-carb option, use lettuce instead of traditional buns for an extra fresh and light sandwich.

How to Store and Reheat Veggie Burgers

Store cooked black bean patties in the fridge for 5-6 days in an airtight container. If you want to preserve them long-term, you can keep them in the freezer instead. They’ll last for 3 months and possibly longer if you wrap them individually in plastic wrap.

When you want to reheat the patties, you can do so in the oven, the toaster oven, or the microwave. If you microwave them, they won’t be as firm, but they’ll still taste great. 

More Burger Recipes

• Teriyaki Pineapple and Salmon Burgers
• Grilled Turkey Burgers
• Sausage Smashed Burgers
• Feta Stuffed Burgers

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5 from 8 votes

Black Bean Burgers

by Katerina | Diethood

These super easy Black Bean Burgers are the best vegetarian burger substitute ever! They're healthy and flavorful with the perfect texture for that classic burger feel.

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 2 cups canned reduced-sodium black beans, rinsed and drained
• ▢ 1 cup panko crumbs
• ▢ 1 small yellow onion, grated
• ▢ 1 large egg
• ▢ 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ▢ ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ▢ ½ teaspoon chili powder
• ▢ ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• ▢ salt and fresh ground black pepper, to taste
• ▢ 2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
• ▢ 4 slices cheese, I like to use Swiss cheese
• ▢ mayonnaise, optional, for serving
• ▢ burger buns, or use Bibb lettuce leaves
• ▢ lettuce, for serving
• ▢ tomatoes, for serving

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Instructions 

• Transfer black beans to a mixing bowl and mash with a fork or a potato masher until mushy, but still have some whole bean pieces.
• To the bean mixture, add panko crumbs, onion, egg, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, ground cumin, salt, and pepper; mix until well combined. If mixture is dry, stir in a bit of water.
• Set mixture aside for 5 to 10 minutes.
• Preheat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add oil and swirl it around.
• Divide the bean mixture into 4 equal balls and shape each ball into a patty.
• Transfer patties to the hot oil and cook for 4 minutes per side, or until browned.
• Add a slice of cheese on top of each burger and cook for a minute longer, or until cheese is melted.
• Serve black bean burgers on toasted buns or Bibb lettuce leaves with mayonnaise, lettuce, and tomatoes.

Nutrition

Calories: 296kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 54mg | Sodium: 628mg | Potassium: 376mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 301IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 222mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

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