Description
This Best Black Bean Burger recipe offers a flavorful and satisfying vegetarian patty made from mashed black beans mixed with aromatic spices, chipotle peppers, and panko breadcrumbs. Perfectly cooked on a skillet or a grill, these burgers have a deliciously charred exterior and tender inside, served best on hamburger buns with your favorite fixings.
Ingredients
Main 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 balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
For Cooking
- Extra-virgin olive oil (for brushing)
- Cooking spray (if grilling)
To Serve
- Hamburger buns
- Desired fixings (lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese, ketchup, mustard, etc.)
Instructions
- Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the cooked black beans, grated yellow onion, minced garlic, diced chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, tamari, balsamic vinegar, ground cumin, sea salt, and black pepper. Use a potato masher to mash the mixture until it holds together but still has some visible chunks of black beans for texture.
- Add Egg and Panko: Add the egg to the mashed bean mixture and gently fold it in using a spatula. Then, fold in the panko bread crumbs until fully combined. This will help bind the patties together.
- Form Patties: Use your hands to shape the mixture into 6 evenly sized patties. The mixture should feel cohesive and slightly moist. If the mixture is too wet and difficult to handle, chill it in the refrigerator for 20 minutes or mash the beans a bit more to firm up.
- Cook on Skillet: Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium heat and brush it lightly with extra-virgin olive oil. Cook the patties for about 5 minutes on each side or until nicely charred. Adjust heat as needed to avoid burning and ensure even cooking.
- Or Grill Patties: Alternatively, preheat an outdoor grill to 400°F. Lightly brush the patties with olive oil and spray the grill grates to prevent sticking. Grill the patties for 8 minutes on the first side and 4 minutes on the second side for a smoky charred finish.
- Serve: Place the cooked black bean burgers on hamburger buns and add your desired fixings such as lettuce, tomato, onions, cheese, and condiments. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- If the burger mixture feels too wet, chilling it helps it firm up and hold its shape better while cooking.
- Chipotle peppers in adobo add smokiness and heat; adjust quantity to taste for milder or spicier burgers.
- Use gluten-free panko or breadcrumbs to make this recipe gluten-free.
- Cast iron skillet works great for achieving a nicely seared crust on the burger patties.
- These burgers can be made vegan by substituting the egg with a flax egg or other vegan binder.
- Leftover patties can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
