Chipotle Black Bean Burgers
If you’re looking to spice up your burger routine, these chipotle black bean burgers are just the ticket! Made with hearty black beans and infused with the smoky heat of chipotle peppers, these burgers are so delicious and hearty! Ready in just a few steps, and perfect for meal prep and preparing in advance, they are ideal for a quick weeknight dinner.
To top it off, add some sweet potato fries with zesty maple mustard or crispy potato skin chips for an extra special treat.
Why You’ll Love These Burgers
These black bean burger offers a deliciously wholesome alternative to traditional beef burgers. Here’s why we love’em:
- Smoky With a Little Kick. Chipotle peppers add bold, smoky flavor with just the right amount of heat.
- Crispy Outside, Tender Inside. These burgers cook up with a lightly crisp crust while staying soft and hearty in the middle.
- Loves Every Topping. Pile on sliced avocado, crunchy slaw, pickled onions, vegan cheese, or your favorite sauce.
- More Than Just a Burger. Don’t stop at buns! Crumble the cooked patties into veggie tacos, lunch-time wraps, tofu grain bowls, or satisfying salads.
- Budget-Friendly and Filling. Black beans are affordable, easy to find, and super satisfying. You get a hearty meal without spending a lot.
Key Ingredients and Substitutions
Having a simple, go-to burger recipe is so important, especially during the warmer months!
- Cooked Brown Rice – Adds texture and helps bind the ingredients together. You can substitute cooked quinoa or bulgur, or use breadcrumbs for a firmer texture.
- Black Beans – Canned black beans provide protein and a hearty texture to the burgers. You can also use cooked lentils, chickpeas, or kidney beans instead.
- Onion – Chopped sweet or yellow onion adds flavor and moisture to the burger mixture. Swap for red onion or shallots, or omit the onion altogether.
- Smashed Potato – Microwaved smashed potato helps bind the ingredients together and adds moisture. Any type of potato (red, gold, russet, yellow) works well. Substitute for mashed sweet potato or cooked pumpkin for a different flavor.
- Cornmeal – Acts as a binder and helps absorb excess moisture. If you don’t have cornmeal, you can use breadcrumbs, rolled oats, or ground flaxseed as alternatives.
- Vegan Barbecue Sauce – Vegan barbecue sauce adds flavor and sweetness. You can use your favorite brand or substitute with ketchup, tomato paste, or even salsa for a fun twist.
- Chipotle Powder – Adds smoky heat. If you don’t have chipotle powder, you can use chili powder for a milder flavor.
- Liquid Smoke – Lends a smoky flavor. If you prefer, you can omit it or substitute with smoked paprika.
- Agave Nectar – For a little sweetness, add a little agave nectar. Feel free to use maple syrup or vegan honey as well.
- Cooked Frozen Corn – Gives texture and sweetness to the burgers. You can substitute with fresh or canned corn kernels.
How To Make Chipotle Black Bean Burgers
Here’s the step-by-step process for making these yummy chipotle black bean burgers.
Step 1: Prepare Bean Burger – Combine the cooked rice, beans, onion, potato, cornmeal, barbecue sauce, garlic powder, chipotle powder, liquid smoke, salt, and agave nectar in a food processor. Pulse until chunky, then add the corn and pulse briefly.
Step 2: Refrigerate Burger Mixture – Avoid over-pulsing to maintain texture. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (or overnight) to enhance flavors and firm up the mixture.
Then, Step 3: Form Patties – Shape the black bean burger mixture into thick patties of your desired size. Refer to recipe notes for creative shaping options.
Step 4: Choose a Cooking Method – Cook the patties either on the stovetop or in the oven. Both processes are below.
Stovetop Cooking: Heat a nonstick or well-oiled pan over medium heat. Cook each patty for 15 minutes on each side or until lightly browned and crispy. If the patty doesn’t lift easily with a spatula, let it cook longer.
Oven Baking: Preheat oven to 375°F. Place the patties on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Bake for 25 minutes on each side, checking at 20 minutes to avoid overcooking.
Allow patties to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Preparation Tips
- Prepare the burger mixture in advance and refrigerate it overnight for easy shaping and cooking the next day!
- Cook your preferred potato in the microwave or oven (avoid boiling as it adds excess moisture). To microwave, halve the potato lengthwise, place it in a microwave-safe bowl with a tablespoon or two of water, cover with a paper towel, and microwave in 5-minute intervals until soft enough to mash with a fork. Measure the potato by mashing it into a measuring cup.
Serving Tips and Suggestions
Here are a few ways to spruce up your homemade black bean burger:
- Go Gluten-Free – Just whip out your favorite gluten-free bun or lettuce wrap since the patty is already naturally free of wheat!
- Crank Up the Flavor – This buffalo queso recipe is a wonderful way to enjoy your bean burger! Or try adding a vegan aioli or even this avocado ranch dressing.
- Toppings Galore – Throw on some portobello or button mushrooms. Break out your favorite vegan cheese to slap onto your patty. How about some delicious pickled pink onion or a tangy vegan burger sauce to change it up!
- Fries – Keep it on the sweet side with these air fryer sweet potato fries or these delicious herbed vegan polenta fries. Or if you’re feeling extra adventurous, you could even fry up some vegan onion rings to enjoy!
- Side Salads – Serve with our fresh picnic pasta salad or super easy vegan pasta salad. Check out our vegan salad guide for endless ideas.
FAQs
Yes, chipotle black bean burgers can be a healthy option when made with whole food ingredients. Black beans are rich in protein, fiber, and essential nutrients, while ingredients like brown rice and vegetables provide additional vitamins and minerals. Choosing whole grain buns or serving the burgers over a bed of greens, you can also boost their nutritional value.
A black bean burger is typically made from mashed black beans mixed with ingredients such as cooked grains (like rice or quinoa), onions, garlic, and various seasonings. This mixture is formed into patties and cooked until golden brown and crispy, creating a delicious plant-based alternative to traditional burgers.
Yes! While black beans give this recipe its classic flavor, you can swap them for any cooked beans such as pinto beans, kidney beans, cannellini beans, or even chickpeas if that’s what you have on hand.
Yes! Simply place the burgers on a flat tray and let them cool completely. Once cool, stick the entire tray in the freezer until the burgers are frozen solid in about 3-4 hours. Take the tray out of the freezer and put the burgers in a freezer-safe container. When ready to use, just take your patty out to reheat.
More Yummy Vegan BBQ Recipes
Listen while you cook! Tune into my podcast, The Plant Powered People Podcast, while you’re cooking, folding laundry, or taking a bath. It may just change your life!
Chipotle Black Bean Burgers
Ingredients
- 1 cup cooked brown rice
- 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
- ½ cup chopped sweet or yellow onion, save some rings of onion to use as an optional topping
- ¼ cup microwaved smashed potato, any type (red, gold, russet, yellow)
- 2 tablespoons cornmeal
- 1 tablespoon vegan barbecue sauce
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons chipotle powder
- 1½ teaspoons liquid smoke
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon agave nectar
- ¼ cup cooked frozen corn, defrosted to room temp or fresh corn
To Serve
- 4 to 5 buns
- lightly grilled rings of sweet or yellow onion
- lettuce
- tomato
- vegan barbecue sauce
Instructions
- Advanced Prep (Optional): You can make the burger "batter" ahead of time (Step 2 and 3) and let it rest in the fridge overnight so they're ready to shape and cook for dinner!
- Advanced Prep: Cook your potato of choice in the microwave or oven (boiling it will add too much moisture). To cook the potato(es) in the microwave, slice them in half lengthwise and place in a microwave safe bowl with a tablespoon or two of water. Cover with a paper towel and microwave for 5 minute increments until the potato is soft enough to smash with a fork. Measure the potato by mashing it into the measuring cup.
- Add the cooked rice, beans, onion, potato, cornmeal, barbecue sauce, garlic powder, chipotle powder, liquid smoke, salt and agave nectar in a food processor. Pulse a few times until chunky. Add the corn and pulse a few more times. Don’t pulse too long or the mixture will become overly soft and will be hard to form into patties.
- Place in a bowl, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (or overnight). This helps all the flavors marinate and leads to a sturdier burger.
- Shape the black bean burger mixture into thick patties—any size you choose. See the recipe notes below for some creative options!
Stovetop Cooking
- Heat a nonstick or well oiled pan over medium heat. Cook each patty on the pan for 15 minutes (or until lightly browned and crispy), flip, and cook the other side for another 15 minutes. Tip: If you try to slide your spatula under a patty and it doesn't lift up easily, then it isn’t ready—let it cook longer.
Oven Baking
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Place the patties on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat, and bake for 25 minutes on each side, checking at 20 minutes to prevent overcooking. Remove from the oven and allow to cool and set for 5 minutes before handling.
To Serve
- Serve on buns with the toppings of your choice.
Notes
- Potatoes: Any type of starchy potato works (red, russet, gold, etc.). Cook the potato in the microwave or oven. I don’t recommend boiling it because it makes the potato too wet. Measure the potato by mashing it into the measuring cup.
- Make Black Bean Sliders: Make patties into a smaller slider size or into nuggets. Serve sauce on the side as a dipper.
- Have fun with shapes: Use large cookie cutters to cut your patties into shapes—like stars, hearts, or even dinosaurs!
Nutrition
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Leave a Comment
YUM! Big burger fan over here!!!
WOW This burger is amazing! I want it right now hahaha
I always prefer bean and rice burgers over plant based meat substitutes, so this is the perfect recipe for anyone who is like me. The texture is excellent and the BBQ sauce is so good! This is now my favorite new veggie burger recipe and I could eat them every day of the week. Yum!
These burgers are so incredible!!! Need to make them again! 🙂
Helloooooo burgers!! I’ve been feeling a little turned off by the super meaty vegan burgers these days so a wholesome homemade recipe is very welcome. Yum!
I love black bean burgers and this one is great! The sauce has just the right amount of sweet and spicy. Mmmmm.
Love these!
What a great recipe! I love how accessible all of these ingredients are and I can’t wait to try making my own bbq sauce!