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My Favorite Black Bean Burgers (Baked or Pan-Fried!)

My absolute favorite Black Bean Burgers. They are filling and tasty, even meat eaters love them!

Course Main Course, meal prep
Cuisine American
Keyword black bean burger, meal prep, vegetarian, veggie burger
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Servings 4 people
Author Lillian

Ingredients

  • 30 ounces black beans, drained from 2, 15 oz cans
  • 1 tsp table salt
  • one healthy pinch black pepper
  • 3-4 dashes hot sauce I use whatever I have in the fridge
  • 1 cup panko Note 1
  • 1 small onion, grated or about 1/3 cup grated onion, Note 2
  • 1 large egg
  • 2-3 garlic cloves finely minced
  • 1 tbs oil, neutral for frying

Toppings

  • cheese Note 3
  • various vegetables topping (lettuce, tomato, pickles)
  • sauces (mayo, ketchup, etc)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350° if baking. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and use a fork to mash them together. There should still be flecks of whole beans.

  2. Use your hands and form 4 very large patties. (you can also make 6 medium patties or 8 small ones) If mixture is too warm then just place it in the fridge to get cold and firm up.

  3. Bake at 350° degrees for 15 minutes OR panfry in a hot skillet using a tbs of oil, flipping once, for 5-7 minutes. Burgers are done when edges are crisped up and the center in warm (gingerly test it with your finger). Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Note 1: I only make these with regular panko breadcrumbs. They are a bit more coarse, but still airy, than American style breadcrumbs. I've tried this recipe with American breadcrumbs and the burger doesn't hold together as well. Also, do not use gluten-free panko "bread"crumbs, they taste like bird food (sorry not sorry).

Note 2: The onion has to be either minced or grated so that you aren't left with chunks of onion that don't cook properly.

Note 3: If you want melted cheese on top then simply add a slice before you bake them and it will melt in the oven or after flipping them in the pan add a slice of cheese and cover pan with a lid for about 30 seconds until the cheese is melted.

Longer storage: Cooked patties will keep in the fridge for a few days or in the freezer for a few weeks (make sure they are well wrapped with minimal air exposure). 

Recipe adapted from Pioneer Woman's Black Bean Burger Recipe