Black Bean Burgers

These black bean burgers have become a part of our regular dinner rotation. They’re easy enough for busy nights and tasty enough to please both the vegetarians and meat-eaters in our house. These don’t fall apart, or have a mushy texture, like other bean burgers. And thanks to a secret ingredient, they don’t contain any eggs. So, if you’re looking for a good vegan recipe, you’ve found it.

Cook your black bean burgers on the stove; grill them; or bake them in the oven. You can even freeze them cooked, or uncooked, for quick grab-and-go meals.

Vegan Black Bean Burger Recipe

This recipe makes 4 black bean burgers or 8 black bean sliders.

Ingredients:

• 2 (14.5-ounce) cans black beans
• 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs (Here’s how to make your own)
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
• 3 Tablespoons aquafaba (see note below)
• 1 Tablespoon cooking oil (for oiling pan)
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce (we use Sriracha)
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder (or your favorite seasoning)

What is Aquafaba? It’s just a fancy name for the liquid that comes in a can of beans. It’s an excellent substitute for the eggs in many recipes, including this one.

What You Do:

Drain the black beans, but don’t rinse them. Reserve the liquid from the beans.

Transfer the beans to a large bowl, and mash them with a fork. You want some of the beans to be left unmashed.

Add the breadcrumbs, onion, aquafaba, chili powder and hot sauce. Stir to combine.

Divide the black bean burger mixture into four patties. These make big, filling burgers. If you have a smaller appetite, consider making eight slider-sized patties, instead.

To cook your black bean burgers on the stove, oil and pre-heat a large skillet or griddle. Cook the burgers on one side, until browned (about five minutes). Then, flip them over, and cook them on the other side. If you want cheeseburgers, add your cheese now, so it’ll have time to melt.

To cook your black bean burgers in the oven, place the patties on an oiled baking sheet. Then, bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Flip halfway through.

How to Freeze Black Bean Burgers

These black bean burgers freeze beautifully. Make up a bunch of patties, and freeze them cooked or uncooked. To keep them from sticking together, place a piece of parchment or freezer paper between each patty. Then, place in a freezer bag.

Thaw them in the refrigerator, before cooking, or cook them from a frozen state.

More Uses for Aquafaba

Since this recipe only calls for three Tablespoons of aquafaba, you’ll have a bunch left over. Stick it in the fridge, and use it as a replacement for the egg in other recipes. Three Tablespoons is the equivalent of one large egg. Aquafaba can be used as a stand-in for the eggs in baked goods, as a binding agent (when making breaded foods), and as an emulsifier for homemade mayonnaise. It can even be whipped, like egg whites, to create meringue. Check out this post on egg substitutes for more information.

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