Best Black Bean Burger
Without a doubt, this is the best black bean burger recipe I've tried. Onion, garlic, and chipotles give it bold, smoky flavor. SO easy and delicious!
- Total time
- Unknown
- Active time
- 10 min
- Yield
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Equipment
- 1 required
Ingredients and Constraints
Ingredients
Ingredient watchpoints6 watchpoints
Short requirements and tradeoffs to check while gathering ingredients; detailed source notes stay expandable.
Black Beans
3 cups cooked black beans (drained and rinsed)
The source row includes a form, size, temperature, preparation, or handling detail.
Details and source
Source: Easy Black Bean Burger
Yellow Onion
⅓ cup grated yellow onion* ((about ½ medium))
The source row includes a form, size, temperature, preparation, or handling detail.
Details and source
Source: Easy Black Bean Burger
Garlic
2 garlic cloves (minced)
The source row includes a form, size, temperature, preparation, or handling detail.
Details and source
Source: Easy Black Bean Burger
Chipotle Chile in Adobo Sauce
2 chipotle peppers from a can of chipotles in adobo (diced)
The source row includes a form, size, temperature, preparation, or handling detail.
Details and source
Source: Easy Black Bean Burger
Hamburger Buns
Hamburger buns (for serving)
The source row includes a form, size, temperature, preparation, or handling detail.
Details and source
Source: Easy Black Bean Burger
Desired Fixings
Desired fixings (for serving)
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Details and source
Source: Easy Black Bean Burger
Additional ingredient notes
Black Bean Burger Recipe Ingredients
Another great thing about this recipe?
It uses basic ingredients! You likely have all of them on hand already: Black beans, of course! Use canned, or cook your own. Onion – I grate the onion on the large holes of a box grater before mashing it with the other ingredients. When you grate it, the onion will release a lot of liquid.
Notes
*Grate the onion on the large holes of a box grater.
As you grate it, the onion will release a lot of liquid. Add the wet onion pulp to the black bean mixture, leaving excess liquid behind on your work surface. **These can be made vegan by replacing the egg with a "flax egg" (mix 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed with 2.5 tablespoons warm water and set aside for 5 minutes to thicken). The vegan burgers are cohesive and they cook/grill well, but they're not as firm in the middle as the egg version. I recommend increasing the cooking time slightly on the grill - I do 8 minutes on the first side and 6 minutes on the second side. They're tasty, but my Best Veggie Burger is still my favorite vegan burger. If you're looking for a gluten-free veggie burger try my Quinoa Burger.
Required setup
Equipment
cast-iron skillet
Method Timeline
Prep
ActivePrep
10 min
Prep time from the source recipe card.
Cook
ActiveCook
12 min
Cook time from the source recipe card.
Step 1
In a large bowl, combine the beans, onion, garlic, chipotles, adobo sauce, tamari, balsamic, cumin, salt, and pepper. Use a potato masher to mash until the mixture holds together but still has some visible chunks of black beans. Add the egg and use a spatula to fold until combined. Then, fold in the panko.
Image detailsBlack beans, onion, and spices in a bowlLove And Lemons · Easy Black Bean BurgerDev reference 
Image detailsMashing black beans with onion and spicesLove And Lemons · Easy Black Bean BurgerDev reference Visual cue
until the mixture holds together but still has some visible chunks of black beans.
Checks1
Visual cueInfoVisualuntil the mixture holds together but still has some visible chunks of black beans.
Expected state: until the mixture holds together but still has some visible chunks of black beans.
Inputs and tools10
Uses
- 1 large egg**
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon tamari
- 2 tablespoons adobo sauce
- 2 chipotle peppers from a can of chipotles in adobo (diced)
- 2 garlic cloves (minced)
- ⅓ cup grated yellow onion* ((about ½ medium))
- 3 cups cooked black beans (drained and rinsed)
Why and source
This step has reviewed source-backed guidance.
- Source: Easy Black Bean Burger
Step 2
Use your hands to form the mixture into 6 patties. The mixture should be cohesive and a little wet. If it’s too wet to handle, chill in the fridge for 20 minutes to firm up or mash your beans a little bit more.
Image detailsHands forming black bean pattiesLove And Lemons · Easy Black Bean BurgerDev reference Checks1
TimingInfoTimingfor 20 minutes
Target: 20 minute
Expected state: If it’s too wet to handle, chill in the fridge for 20 minutes to firm up or mash your beans a little bit more.
Why and source
This step has reviewed source-backed guidance.
- Source: Easy Black Bean Burger
Step 3
Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Brush with a little oil and cook the burgers for about 5 minutes per side, until charred on both sides, turning the heat down as necessary. The exact timing will depend on the heat of your stove and cookware.
medium heat5 minCast Iron SkilletStep 4
Alternatively, preheat an outdoor grill to 400°F. Lightly brush the patties with olive oil, spray the grill grates, and grill for 8 minutes on the first side and 4 minutes on the second side.
Step 5
Serve with hamburger buns and desired fixings.
Image detailsBest black bean burger recipe with buns and toppingsLove And Lemons · Easy Black Bean BurgerDev reference Checks1
ServiceMain recipeSource service instruction
Serve with hamburger buns and desired fixings.
Inputs and tools2
Uses
- Hamburger buns (for serving)
- Desired fixings (for serving)
Why and source
This step has reviewed source-backed guidance.
- Source: Easy Black Bean Burger
Handling and Storage
Reviewed hold, storage, make-ahead, and service-timing guidance.
Ingredients
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 balsami
Learn More
Extra cooking notes, tests, and source details kept out of the step-by-step method.
Recipe structure
Components and intermediate outputs created by the method.
Main recipe
Recipe card ingredients and steps.
6
Mixture
Source step 1 creates or uses mixture.
Sauce
Source step 1 creates or uses sauce.
Extra useful notes
Short source-backed recommendations and facts that do not need a step.
*Grate the onion on the large holes of a box grater.
*Grate the onion on the large holes of a box grater. As you grate it, the onion will release a lot of liquid. That's normal! Add the wet onion pulp to the black bean mixture, leaving excess liquid behind on your work surface.
**These can be made vegan by replacing the egg with a "flax egg" (mix 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed with 2.5 tablespoons warm water and set aside for 5 minutes to thicken).
**These can be made vegan by replacing the egg with a "flax egg" (mix 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed with 2.5 tablespoons warm water and set aside for 5 minutes to thicken). The vegan burgers are cohesive and they cook/grill well, but they're not as firm in the middle as the egg version. I recommend increasing the cooking time slightly on the grill - I do 8 minutes on the first side and 6 minutes on the second side. They're tasty, but my Best Veggie Burger is still my favorite vegan burger.
If you're looking for a gluten-free veggie burger try my Quinoa Burger.
If you're looking for a gluten-free veggie burger try my Quinoa Burger.
Did you make the recipe? I want to see!
Did you make the recipe? I want to see!
Tag @loveandlemons on Instagram.
Tag @loveandlemons on Instagram.
rate this recipe (after making it)
rate this recipe (after making it)
rate this recipe (after making it)
rate this recipe (after making it)
Can I replace the bread crumbs with almond flour?
Can I replace the bread crumbs with almond flour?
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Imported from the love-and-lemons page for dev review.
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Easy Black Bean Burger
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