Last updated on January 8th, 2018
Are you like me? Do you consume less meat when the weather turns hot and humid? Instead of ordinary beef burgers, I crave beefy-but-meatless Black Bean Burgers. These are quick, easy, and inexpensive to make. And unlike other vegetarian patties, they do not fall apart when you flip them. I make the burgers this way:
While La Vida Loca plays in your head (I hope you like Ricky Martin), rinse and drain some ordinary canned black beans, and transfer them to a large bowl.
Add some finely-minced onion…
And some seasoned, dried bread crumbs. You can find such crumbs at any two-bit supermarket.
Gluten-free note: I can tell you, from my own experience, that seasoned gluten-free bread crumbs work perfectly well for this recipe.
As for seasonings, you can select your own, or use what I use:
A dash of ground cumin…
A smattering of chili powder…
And a pinch of crushed red pepper. Use more than a pinch if you wanna set your tongue on fire.
To bind the works, add one beaten egg.
Now roll up your sleeves, and mix and mush the ingredients by hand. That is, crush some of the beans as you work. Patties that contain both crushed and whole beans will make the beefiest burgers.
Divide the mass into 4 equal-size patties.
Now warm some olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
When the butter melts, add the burgers, and let them cook until nicely browned on one side — about 5 minutes.
Then flip ’em over…
And cover the skillet. Cook until the patties are done — about 5 minutes. Transfer the burgers to a platter and keep them warm.
Meanwhile, drain off some of the oil/butter from the pan, and use the same pan to toast some English muffins or hamburger buns.
Put the muffin halves on a plate, and spread them with some good mayonnaise. Or, top them with your own, homemade ketchup (recipe here) or Barbecue Sauce (recipe here).
Add the black bean patty.
Then run out to your garden and return with a handful of lettuce leaves.
Add the leaves to the burger, along with some raw, red onion. You might like to add more mayo (or ketchup, or barbecue sauce) directly to the bean patty.
Put the whole thing together, and tuck into this sexy, savory sumptuousness!
Short on time? Cash? Both? Craving something wicked-delicious to eat? Give these Black Bean Burgers a try, okay?
Hungry for more? Get my email updates.
Here’s the printable recipe:
Inexpensive and hearty, these bean burgers are perfect for a fast weeknight meal. Feel free to alter the seasonings to suit your taste buds.
Ingredients
- 2 (15.5 oz) cans plain black beans, drained and rinsed under cold water
- 1/4 cup finely minced yellow or white onion
- 1 cup seasoned dried bread crumbs (gluten-free crumbs will work)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 large egg, beaten
- Olive oil and butter for frying
- English muffins, lettuce greens, red onion, and mayonnaise for serving
Instructions
- Put the drained and rinsed beans in a large bowl. Add the onion, bread crumbs, spices, and egg. Mix with hands, crushing some of the beans as you go. Form the mixture into 4 patties.
- Warm the olive oil and butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. When the butter melts, add the bean patties, and let them cook until nicely browned on the bottom -- about 5 minutes. Flip the patties over, cover the skillet, and cook until brown and hot -- about 5 minutes.
- Serve on toasted English muffins, along with mayonnaise, lettuce greens, and red onion.
Rosiland Ball says
Just wondering what the status of your cookbook was?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Rosiland – Cookbook is due this summer!
Connie says
I’ve got to have beef or bison in my burgers, but I could see adding black beans to the mix. Definitely something I till consider as I do love black beans!
Jerry Miller says
Your burger looks great! I’m a beef fan but I think I’ll give these a try. BTW, your bed of lettuce looks wonderful.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Jerry – Glad you like the lettuce patch!
Jane says
How nice that the Playschool gang came to dine with you!
Vickie P says
I have been looking for a black bean burger recipe and here it is! Thank you so much, can’t wait to make them.
Josie says
I am not a big meat eater – so I definitely going to try this recipe it looks so great
yummy yummy
Gloria says
These made my mouth water- never mind time or cash- I would make these just for the sheer deliciousness! Can’t wait for the cookbook-
Will you have a signing party and garden tour?
Sherlie Magaret says
We are meat eaters but this looks very delicious and easy to do. I will keep it in mind for the future.
Molly says
Great news on the cookbook!
Burgers sound tasty, look delicious. Thanks!
Joni D. says
Could these be grilled? Definitely going to try them, just curious if I could grill them!?
Joni D. says
Could these be grilled? Definitely going to try them, just curious if I could grill them!? Excited for your cookbook!
Maria says
Margaret and I love black bean burgers. I’ll make them next time she graces our dinner table. We like them with avacado and some chipotle seasoning as well.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Joni – I’ve not tried to grill the burgers. Consequently I can’t answer your question with any degree of certainty!
Laura Munoz says
Yummy! Also, black beans are great for diabetics – lots of fiber. Thank you once again.
Judy McCarrel says
Will definitely try this recipe since black beans are a favorite of mine. I enjoy your postings of gardening and recipes. I especially like the vegetarian recipes. Thank you.
AllisonK says
Lately I’ve been enjoying a commercial brand of black bean burger for breakfast, open-faced on a plain toasted frozen waffle (easy to eat on the go during my 20-minute drive to work). I will definitely give your homemade BBB a try in place of the purchased ones! (I’ve got to have savory for breakfast–can’t handle too much sugar at 6am!)
Mary in Iowa says
Do these freeze well so they could be formed and cooked later?
Kelly @ Middle Earth Gardens says
Kevin, can these be cooked on the grilled, as well?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
HI Mary – I haven’t tried, but I suspect the patties would freeze well. Enjoy ’em!
Hi Kelly – I’ve only cooked these burgers on a common skillet. If you try them on a grill, please let me know how they hold up for you!
Gale Dickert says
Love this recipe as I cook black beans often –will try it today and share with my children who, like I, must eat gluten free. And thanks for thoughtfully including options to make your dishes GF. Appreciated!! Your beautiful greens garden makes me want to go out and plant one!
Rachel says
Hi Kevin! What do you suggest as a sustitute for the egg? For visiting vegan cousins. Thanks!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Rachel — I’ve been told that a vegan “flax egg” will work: Combine 1 tablespoon ground flax seeds with 3 tablespoons warm water. Refrigerate until sticky and egg-like — about 15 minutes. Beat into the bean mixture with your hands. Good luck!
Greer Conrad says
I love bean and grain burgers. Your version, without the rice, looks delicious and I can’t wait to try it. I have all the ingredients in the pantry.
Bettye Mitchell says
Great recipe, grandson in college, now a vegetarian, comming home next week, will have these ready. Thank you.
Elizabeth says
Thanks for this. Perfect for Meatless Monday. And I love black beans. Will try soon. With homegrown lettuce! Thanks.
Angelika Carroll says
Hi Kevin,
I could give you a hug – vegan burger and a glass wear lesson. My Monday is off to a good start!
Hugs,
Francisca says
I saw your recipe on Saturday and made them for dinner that night. Easy recipe! Thank you! They look great, don’t fall apart and tasted amazing. Then I ate another patty last night. I’ll probably have another one today. Do you have a mayo recipe? I’ve always wanted to make my own. – peace from the pacific nw
Julie R says
Thanks for another great vegetarian recipe, Kevin. Always on the hunt for those. I can’t wait to try these black bean burgers, they look so good topped with the onion, lettuce and mayo.
Tammy says
Kevin, these are fabulous! We’ve been vegetarian since the 1980s and so have tried more than a few black bean burger recipes over the years. Most tasted fine but fell apart, or stayed together (sort of) and tasted blah. When I served up your burgers for dinner tonight, after one bite, my husband said, “This is the best black bean burger I’ve ever eaten.” He’s right!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Francisca and Tammy – So glad you took the time to tell me that you made the Black Bean Burgers, and that you and yours loved ’em. Music to my ears!
Eve Robinson says
I made these a couple of days ago. I have tried various black bean burger recipes for the past few years but these are by far the best! They held together so well and were quite juicy and satisfying. We did include a slice of mozzarella cheese on ours. My husband had his with ketchup. I, on the other hand, had mine with a bit of dijon mustard. Deliciousness on a bun!
Debby says
These are wonderful. By the way, both these and the homemade ketchup freeze well. I’m now officially addicted to both.
Pat says
These bean burgers are fantastic! My sister made them and added some diced mushrooms to the mix. They were most delicious. I just bought more beans to create a batch for the week.
Peggy says
Any suggestions for substitution for onion family as I have an allergy to them.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Peggy – I sometimes swap the onion for diced red bell pepper. Delicious!
Joanne in Zone 6b says
Best veggie burger ever! Thank you for this fabulous and simple recipe! I made a batch with 2 tablespoons of dehydrated minced onions instead of fresh (too rushed to chop), and they were wonderful, too.
Chris says
With all such grain- or bean-based burgers, I’ve found they hold together better during cooking if, first, you chill them for at least half an hour. Two hours even better. This seems to help lots of patties that are mostly held together by egg and bread crumbs, like cod cakes.
Kandy Staples says
Made these last week and they are not my favorite! Thank you for sharing!
Kandy Staples says
major oops I meant to say the black bean burgers are my favorite …lol
Nell says
I’m a gf vegetarian which is not an easy diet, and a busy single mother. So a lot of our meals are something-frozen-microwaved. I get your emails (your gardens are so pretty I had to subscribe a couple years ago) and this was so easy. I made it last night with fresh gf bread (breadmaker – also easy, ha) and it was delicious! I cooked the beans from scratch so had to tweak it just a little. Everyone loved it. Thanks for the recipe!
Pilar says
This is great! I always need inspiration to get myself in the kitchen as I am not the happiest camper when I’m there. This proves to be problematic when one decides to be vegetarian, again! Best of luck Kevin with the cookbook; I just discovered you yesterday and I already love you and your blog.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Hi Pilar – Welcome aboard!
Gene says
Kevin,
I’ve tried three bean burgers recipes in the past, and decided no more. But, I have always had outstanding recipes from you. So today for lunch I make your Black Bean Burgers. Yes, indeed they are outstanding. I cooked the black beans simply, in water only. Followed your recipe. Added a few slides of my dill pickles – all was outstanding. Thanks gene
Lee Lawrence says
Ah, Kevin,
Just when I’m feeling my lowest, your ideas remind me that there is life out there. Going to buy black beans now. Thanks, lee
Cher Martin says
I love this recipe. I made some of these delicious beauties today and added some corn (because it was there ), cilantro, and a “chia egg” (instead of a chicken one). I did have some red romaine and onions from my garden. I would have posted a photo but they didn’t last that long. Thanks, Kevin
Nancy says
I love bean burgers. Your recipe looks great. I am a vegan so I don’t eat eggs. Can you please suggest a substitute for the egg in the recipe. Thanks so much. I enjoy your website. Keep the veggie recipes coming!
Gene says
These bean burgers have been my go-to for a long time. Thanks
Diann MacRae says
I have a non-related to black beans question (but I will try your burgers soon).
Question: For two years I have planted zucchinis and for two years have gotten flowers but no vegetable. Any suggestions? It’s very frustrating when I know most people have too many zucchinis. And it’s getting close to planting time. Thanks so much for all your good recipes and information.
Jennifer Hearn says
Hi Kevin,
These are absolutely fabulous! I have been enjoying this recipe for the past two years. Definitely my “go-to” burger!
Thank you!