Easy Black Bean Burgers Recipe

This veggie burger recipe is super easy to make. The pre-made, frozen ones you buy at the store are fine; but honestly, nothing beats a homemade meal.

It’s an easy recipe that just requires a few ingredients you probably already have at home. And the best thing is, it comes together in just a few minutes!

Scroll down to the recipe card to get the full recipe- but first, here are some frequently asked questions!

Ingredients needed

Black beans– Canned beans are easiest, but you could easily cook dried beans in your Instant Pot!

Egg– Works as a binder to hold your patties together.

Panko bread crumbs– Regular bread crumbs may work as well, but I love the texture of panko crumbs!

Yellow onion

Bell pepper

Cumin, chili powder, salt, and pepper– These are the standard seasonings I use, but feel free to play around and see what works for you.

Other ingredients I thought of that could add a good flavor:

• Hot sauce
• Shredded cheese (Like cheddar cheese or pepper jack cheese)
• Red pepper flakes (Can you tell I like spicy foods?)

This recipe is considered vegetarian because it uses an egg. To make vegan burgers, you’d have to use an egg substitute like flax eggs. I’ve never done it before with this, so I can’t say for sure how well it works.

Can these be frozen?

I recommend you cook these before freezing! When they’re fully cooled, set them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and place in the freezer for at least 4 hours.

When they’re completely frozen, you can wrap each one in plastic wrap and place in a gallon-sized freezer bag.

And to reheat, thaw a patty in the fridge overnight (Or use the microwave). I recommend reheating in a toaster oven or on the stove; the microwave may give you mushy burgers, but it’ll still taste fine.

Absolutely! You can form these into patties and place them in a single layer on a large plate; then cover with plastic wrap and keep in the fridge until you’re ready to cook them.

You could go a few different ways with these black bean burgers!

The standard ketchup, mustard, lettuce, tomato slices, pickles, and onions would be delicious with these.

The first time I made these, I added cheese and a sauce made of Greek yogurt and salsa mixed together. I think of these as almost Mexican-inspired because of the flavor, so I tend to go more toward those toppings. Ripe avocado would be another good option!

Honestly, these homemade veggie burgers would go well with many of the standard BBQ side items. Here are a few suggestions:

• French fries
• Potato salad
• Pasta salad
• Baked beans (Too many beans? Maybe!)
• Green salad
• Roasted vegetables like zucchini
• Fresh fruit

You have other options for cooking these, for sure! I’ve only ever made them on the stovetop, but here are a couple things you can try:

• Outdoor grill: This way, you can get those lovely grill marks and amazing flavor.
• George Foreman grill: I use this a lot when I don’t feel like getting out the actual grill. It cooks my food pretty quickly!
• Air fryer: You can do basically anything in an air fryer, and I’m sure these are no exception! I don’t have an actual cooking time- but I’d guess cooking it at 375 for 10-ish minutes might do the trick. Just keep an eye on it!

In a large bowl, use a potato masher to mash the beans. It doesn’t have to be perfect; there can still be chunks of beans in there.

In a food processor, add the onion and bell pepper. Alternatively, you can just chop them very finely.

Add the vegetable mixture to the bowl. My food processor wasn’t working so I used a blender- that’s why it looks more like a liquid, but it worked out well!

Add the egg and seasonings, then mix well.

Add the panko crumbs and gently stir in. If the mixture still seems really wet, add a little more panko crumbs. The final product will be somewhat wet, but able to be shaped with your hands.

Using about a half cup of mixture, form into 4 patties. You can cook them immediately or place in the fridge for later.

Spray a large skillet with cooking spray (Or drizzle a little olive oil over it) and place the patties, cooking on medium-high heat. Cook for 2-3 minutes, then flip and cook another 2-3 minutes. The outside should look crisp and brown.

Serve on a hamburger bun with your favorite toppings and side items!

To store leftover burgers, place in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.

This is such a great recipe, especially in the Summer months! Now, this is no replacement for a burger made with meat. But if you’re looking for something different, black bean burger patties make a fun substitution!