Description
Homemade vegetarian black bean burgers are thick, hearty, flavorful, and delicious. They are easy to make and have the best texture ever (no mushy burgers here!).
Ingredients
For the black bean patties:
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
- 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper (or to taste)
For the burgers:
- 6 hamburger buns, sliced
- 6 pieces of lettuce
- 1/4 cup ketchup or mayonnaise
- 2 medium tomatoes, sliced
Instructions
Make the patties:
- In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat until sizzling hot, about 1 minute. Add onions and garlic and sauté until tender and nicely browned, about 3-4 minutes. Set aside on a plate to cool off for 5 minutes.
- Gently pat dry the rinsed and drained black beans. Set aside 1 cup of the black beans and transfer the rest into a food processor.
- Add the sautéed onions along with the rest of the ingredients (breadcrumbs, feta cheese, egg, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, salt, and pepper) into the food processor. Pulse mix on and off for 1 minute until coarsely chopped. Alternatively, you can mash everything with a fork or potato masher in a large mixing bowl until evenly combined.
- Transfer the bean mixture to a large mixing bowl, and add the reserved cup of black beans. Stir together until evenly distributed. This creates some texture and makes the patties a bit firmer.
- Take 1/2 cup of the bean mixture at a time and use your hands to shape into 6 large patties.
Cook the patties:
- To cook, you can pan fry, grill, bake, or air fry the patties.
- To pan fry: Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat until sizzling, about 2 minutes. Place the patties on the skillet and cook until nicely browned and firm, about 5 minutes per side.
- To grill: Preheat the grill on medium-high until hot. Brush some oil onto the grilling grate and place patties on top. Brush some more oil on top of the patties as well. Cook for 3-5 minutes and then carefully flip over and cook on the other side.
- To bake: Preheat oven to 375F. Place patties on a large parchment-lined half sheet baking pan and bake for 15 minutes until nicely browned, flipping once halfway.
- To air fry: Add patties in batches to the air fryer basket and cook at 375F for 12-15 minutes until nicely browned.
Assemble the burgers:
- Slice the hamburger buns and toast the slices on the grill, if desired.
- On the bottom half of each hamburger bun, add a piece of lettuce and a patty on top. a patty. Drizzle 1 to 2 tablespoons Ketchup or mayo (or both) on top of the patty, and top with a slice of tomato. Place the top half of the bun on top to assemble the hamburger.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Make ahead instructions: Make and shape the patties in advance and store the uncooked patties in the refrigerator (in an airtight container) for a 2-3 days, and cook them fresh when you’re ready to eat.
How to store: Store the burgers, buns, and any toppings separately in airtight containers. The black bean patties will last up to for 4-6 days in the fridge. Buns are best kept at room temperature for a few days. I would also recommend that you wait to heat the buns until you’re ready to eat them.
How to freeze: You can also freeze the uncooked patties for up to 3 months. Shape them and then place them on a lined baking sheet to freeze for 1-2 hours until hard. Then, wrap them tightly in plastic cling wrap and store in an airtight container or freezer bag.
How to reheat: Reheat black bean burgers the same way you cooked them — in the oven, air fryer, or on the grill.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Sandwich
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American