Description

These Best Black Bean Burgers are a flavorful and hearty vegetarian option, packed with smoky chipotle peppers, aromatic spices, and a perfect mixture of beans and panko for texture. They meld smokiness with the savory tang of balsamic vinegar and tamari, making for juicy, flavorful patties that are perfect for grilling or cooking on the stovetop. Serve on your favorite buns with your choice of fixings for a delicious and satisfying meal.

Ingredients

Scale

Black Bean Burger Mixture

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

Cooking & Serving

Extra-virgin olive oil (for brushing)
Cooking spray (if grilling)
Hamburger buns (for serving)
Desired fixings (lettuce, tomato, pickles, avocado, etc.) (for serving)

Instructions

Prepare the burger mixture: 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 freshly ground black pepper. Using a potato masher, gently mash the mixture until it holds together but still retains some chunkiness from the black beans. Add the large egg and fold gently with a spatula until combined. Finally, fold in the panko bread crumbs evenly.
Form the patties: With clean hands, shape the mixture into 6 uniform patties. The mixture should be sticky and a bit wet to hold its shape. If the mixture feels too wet to handle, chill the patties in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes to firm up, or mash the beans a bit more to improve cohesion.
Cook on stovetop: Heat a cast-iron skillet over medium heat and brush lightly with extra-virgin olive oil. Place the patties in the skillet and cook for roughly 5 minutes per side, or until they develop a nice char. Adjust the heat as needed to ensure they cook through without burning.
Alternatively, grill the patties: Preheat an outdoor grill to 400°F. Lightly brush the patties with olive oil to prevent sticking. Spray the grill grates with cooking spray. Grill the patties for about 8 minutes on the first side, then flip and grill for an additional 4 minutes until cooked through and nicely charred.
Serve: Place the cooked patties on hamburger buns and add your favorite toppings and fixings. Enjoy immediately for the best flavor and texture.

Notes

If the burger mixture is too wet, chilling in the fridge helps firm up the patties and makes them easier to handle.
You can substitute tamari with soy sauce if preferred, but tamari is gluten-free and provides a smoother flavor.
For a vegan version, replace the egg with a flax egg or mashed chia seeds mixed with water to bind the patties.
Cooking times may vary depending on your stove or grill — cook until the patties are firm and nicely charred but not burnt.
Feel free to customize the fixings to your taste: avocado, pickles, lettuce, tomato, vegan cheese, or spicy mayo all make great additions.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: black bean burger, vegetarian burger, chipotle black bean patties, healthy burger recipe, meatless burger, easy black bean burgers