Description
This Best Black Bean Burger recipe delivers hearty, well-charred patties packed with bold flavors from chipotle peppers, cumin, and balsamic vinegar. These flavorful burgers pair beautifully with classic toppings or a creamy chipotle mayo or guacamole, making them a perfect meatless alternative for any burger lover.
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 & Serving
- Cooking spray, if grilling
- Hamburger buns, for serving
- Desired fixings (ketchup, mustard, chipotle mayo, guacamole, lettuce, tomato, etc.)
Instructions
- Mix Ingredients: 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 freshly ground black pepper. Use a potato masher to mash the mixture until it holds together but still has some visible black bean chunks.
- Add Egg and Panko: Fold in the egg using a spatula until well combined, then fold in the panko bread crumbs to add structure to the patties.
- Form Patties: With your hands, shape the mixture into 6 even patties. The mixture should be cohesive but slightly wet. If too wet, chill the patties in the refrigerator for 20 minutes or mash the beans further to firm up.
- Cook on Skillet: Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium heat and brush lightly with olive oil. Cook the patties for about 5 minutes per side, adjusting the heat as needed, until charred and cooked through.
- Alternatively, Grill Patties: Preheat an outdoor grill to 400°F. Lightly brush the patties with olive oil and spray the grill grates with cooking spray. Grill the patties for 8 minutes on the first side and 4 minutes on the second side until nicely charred and heated through.
- Serve: Place the cooked patties on hamburger buns and add your preferred fixings such as ketchup, mustard, chipotle mayo, or guacamole to enjoy.
Notes
- Grate the onion on the large holes of a box grater; the released liquid should be added to the black bean mixture, leaving excess behind.
- To make vegan burgers, replace the egg with a flax egg (1 tbsp ground flaxseed mixed with 2.5 tbsp warm water and set aside for 5 minutes).
- Vegan patties might require slightly longer cooking time (8 minutes first side, 6 minutes second side) and will be less firm in the center.
- For a gluten-free option, try a quinoa burger instead.
