Black Bean Burger

Black bean burger is a tasty vegetarian recipe packed with a bold and rich flavor even meat eaters will love.

They are rich in wholesome protein and healthy fiber, and they’ll make you feel great!

You can cook black bean burger patties on a pan, air-fryer, or grill.

Our black bean burger patties are a simple and delicious vegetarian alternative to beef burger patties.

Like our quinoa salad, tostadas, sweet potato chili, lentil chili, and black bean soup, the patties are inspired by Southern and Mexican flavors.

We make them with eggs and feta for better binding, extra flavor, and a deeply satisfying eating experience. Vegan substitutions are below.

Louise loves these burgers naked and eats them on a salad or grain bowl without the bun.

I prefer a decadent, dripping, and satisfyingly messy burger with different fixings such as chipotle sauce, guacamole, quick pickled red onions, and Romaine lettuce.

To upgrade the burgers to dinner, we often add a starter of tortillas dipped in pico de gallo and a side dish of roasted sweet potato wedges.

Quantities are in the recipe box at the bottom of the page.

Black beans

You can use canned black beans or dried black beans you previously cooked in water.

Here’s our guide on how to cook black beans at home.

Flavor base

To boost the flavor of the patties, we like to make a quick 5-minute flavor base by sautéing onion, garlic, jalapeños, and tomato paste in olive oil.

We tried skipping this step, but the burgers lacked depth of flavor, and the raw onion overpowered the other ingredients.

Spices

We use ground cumin and chipotle powder.

You can substitute 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika plus 1/4 teaspoon of chili powder for chipotle powder.

Balsamic vinegar

We use balsamic vinegar to add depth, umami, and a slightly sweet and sour taste. Please don’t skip it! It makes a world of difference.

You can substitute soy sauce or tamari for balsamic vinegar, but be aware of the sodium content.

Egg

The egg is for binding the patties and for adding some extra protein.

If you are vegan, you can omit the eggs or use a couple of tablespoons of flour instead. A flax egg works too.

Feta

Feta adds marbling to the patties, creating soft and flavorful spots. It also prevents the burgers from drying, especially when cooked in the oven/air fryer.

It adds a ton of flavor and is delicious when combined with the other ingredients. We also think it makes the meal more complete and satisfying.

If you are vegan, substitute non-dairy feta (we recommend Vio Life’s) for feta cheese.

Breadcrumbs

You can use regular breadcrumbs, panko breadcrumbs, or gluten-free breadcrumbs.

Salt and black pepper

We use sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.

1. Dry the black beans

Preheat the oven to 360°F or 180°C. Drain and rinse the black beans, then arrange them on a baking tray. You can use canned or cooked black beans.

Bake them in the oven for 20 minutes. In the meantime, prepare the flavor base.

Tip: This step helps dry out some of the moisture from the beans, improving the texture of the patties.

2. Make the flavor base

Heat the olive oil in a skillet. Add chopped onion and sauté for 3 minutes.

Add grated garlic, chopped jalapeños, tomato paste, ground cumin, and chipotle powder.

Season with salt and black pepper and sauté two more minutes while stirring.

Tip: Substitute one teaspoon of smoked paprika + 1/4 teaspoon of chili powder for chipotle powder.

3. Make the patties

Add half of the baked black beans and the flavor base to a food processor.

Then add balsamic vinegar, a large egg, and bread crumbs.

Pulse a few times without over-blending, then transfer the ingredients to a mixing bowl.

Stir in the remaining black beans and crumbled feta.

Shape 4 to 6 patties with your hands or with a burger press.

Arrange the patties on a plate or baking tray.

4. Cook the patties

PAN-FRY: Heat some olive oil on a cast-iron or non-stick skillet. Cook the patties on medium-low heat for 4 to 5 minutes per side until a thin, charred crust forms.

AIR-FRY: Brush the patties with olive oil on both sides. Air-fry at 400°F or 200°C for 12 – 15 minutes.

GRILL: Heat your grill to 400°F or 200°C. Grease the grill grates well. Also, brush the patties with oil. Grill for 5 to 8 minutes on the first side, turn gently, and grill for 3 to 5 more minutes.

OVEN-BAKE: Arrange patties on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Brush the with olive oil on both sides. Bake in a preheated oven at 400°F or 200°C for 20 – 25 minutes.

Fix yourself a delicious black bean burger with sriracha mayo (mayo + sriracha sauce to taste) or chipotle sauce, Romaine lettuce, guacamole or avocado slices, quick pickled onions, or a slice of tomato.

Make it a dinner with roasted or air-fried sweet potatoes, sweet potato wedges, sweet potato chips, roasted vegetables, or corn on the cob.

You can pair the burgers – or the naked patties – with a creamy broccoli salad, sweet potato salad, coleslaw, dill potato salad, or mango salad.

Check out our 45 best salad recipes and 40 vegetable sides compilations for more ideas.

Storage

Make ahead: You can make the patties mixture up to 36 hours in advance and keep it in an airtight container in the fridge.

Refrigerator: Cooked patties keep in the fridge for four days.

Freezer: Freeze cooked patties for up to 2 months.

Reheat: Thaw in the fridge and reheat in the air fryer at 400°F or 200°C for 8 minutes or in a skillet with a tablespoon of oil.

Similar recipes

BLACK BEANS: How to cook black beans, black bean soup, black bean salad, black bean mango salad, quinoa salad, stuffed sweet potato, Mediterranean salad, breakfast burrito, sweet potato hash, lentil chili, vegetarian chili.

PATTIES: lentil patties, chickpea fritters, zucchini fritters.

Soups

Black Bean Soup

Salads

Quinoa Salad

Salads

Black Bean Salad

One-pot Meals

Lentil Chili