Homemade Southwest Black Bean Burgers are one of my go to recipes! Topped with fresh guacamole these are a protein-packed flavorful vegetarian burger option.
Hi dear reader,
You might be surprised at how easy it is to whip up homemade Southwest Black Bean Burgers! They really don't take a lot of time and are super tasty. If you are a vegetarian, you need this recipe in your bag of tricks. It's one of my favorite go-to meals!
Wouldn't this be lovely at a cookout? 4th of July or Labor Day maybe???.... just sayin!
I'd even venture to say even if you do eat meat you should make these Southwest Black Bean Burgers part of your cooking repertoire. They obviously don't taste like a real burger, but they are flavorful and delicious from the cilantro, cumin and oregano.
It's a nice healthy alternative to red meat and something different to make for meatless Monday. Plus any vegetarian who comes to your house for a cookout will be super impressed with your efforts. You can grill them or cook them on the stove top!
My Southwest Black Bean Burgers are topped with fresh, homemade guacamole... so really how can you go wrong here? I've honestly been known to eat these without the buns if I'm not feeling the carbs. They honestly don't even need the bread.
You can even make a big batch and freeze them.
AND just if you weren't convinced enough, my meat loving hubby gives these 2 thumbs up!
Southwest Black Bean Burgers
Southwest Black Bean Burgers are one of my classic Running in a Skirt recipes that I finally had a chance to re-shoot! Some of my favorite recipes are the old ones on the site with terrible images. Many of those recipes are the ones I've been making for years, so I'm trying to go back this summer and redo them.
Just for fun, this is what the photos looked like the first time around. I had just gotten my nice camera, but didn't know how to use it or much about food styling! Sadly my favorite yellow plates and cutting board wasn't doing me any favors!
If you are newer reader, I really hope you enjoy them. If you've been a loyal fan from the beginning, I hope you enjoy seeing the transformation the blog has made and watching these old posts get a little makeover! I'd love to hear what you think about the idea.
And here's that handy dandy recipe. Now in printable form whoooo-hooo!....
Southwest Black Bean Burgers
Ingredients
For the burgers:
- 2 15 ounce cans low sodium black beans, rinsed and drained
- ¼ cup cilantro, chopped
- ½ onion, diced (approximately ½ cup)
- ¼ red pepper, diced (approximately ¼ cup)
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 egg or flax egg, beaten
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne or chiplote pepper
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- ¼- ½ teaspoon salt, to taste
- ½ teaspoon pepper, to taste
- Optional: 1 tablespoon Cholula or Chipolte Cholula
For the guacamole:
- 1 ripe avocado
- 2 teaspoons red pepper, diced
- ¼ cup red onion, diced
- 1 roma tomatoe, diced
- 2 tablespoon cilantro, chopped
- ½ lime, juiced
- ¼- ½ teaspoon salt, to taste
Extras:
- cooking spray
- Buns
- Lettuce or Spinach
- Lime
Instructions
- Put half of the black beans in a chopper or food processor. Process them until they become more of a paste.
- In a bowl combine all of the beans (both the processed and the whole beans), cilantro, onion, red pepper, garlic, panko, cayenne, cumin, oregano and optional Cholula. Stir mixture well. Add salt and pepper. Check spices now before you add the egg.
- Whisk the egg in a separate bowl. Add the egg to the black bean mixture in the big bowl and combine well.
- Divide the mixture in 4. Use your hands to form 4 balls out of the mixture and then flatten into a patty. They should be about a ½ inch thick. Place the burgers on a cookie sheet and put in fridge. Allow burgers to chill for approximately 30 minutes if you can. This helps them stay together.
- Make Guacamole! Dice avocados. Add all other gaucamole ingredients in another bowl and combine. Place in fridge to chill.
- Coat a nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Heat the skillet on medium heat. Add the burgers to the pan. Cook 5 minutes each side. You can just as easily cook these on a grill. Just be careful flipping because they are not as study as regular burgers.
- Top with gaucamole and serve on your favorite buns.
Notes
Nutrition
Pin for later!
Leslie says
I have only had black bean burgers once but the recipe was much more plain than this. I like that you used more ingredients in your burgers. Will definitely give more flavor!
Deborah Brooks says
I am always looking for new variations on my veggie burgers. Thanks for the ideas and look forward to trying these out
Amie says
These were yummy! Fell apart a bit, but I didn’t have time to chill before cooking so that probably didn’t help! My husband loved and wants me to make again very soon!
Thanks for the recipe!
Barbara Alfeo says
I absolutely love your recipe! I am writing vegetarian recipe round ups on my blog in 2018 (to encourage people to try meatless monday- everyone has to start somewhere) and would love to feature you. You can check out my blog (for beginner environmentalists) at sunshineguerrilla.com. Is it alright if I share this link to your recipe?
JulieWunder says
Thanks Barbara! No problem! Thanks for sharing.
Robin says
Made them several times, they are two thumbs up but, they fall apart and we end up eating it with a fork. Your's looks so perfect in the picture. Any suggestions?
Suzanne says
Thanks for sharing! Do you form them into burgers before you freeze or into balls?
JulieWunder says
Hi Suzanne! Go ahead and make them into burgers. Enjoy!
Vanessa says
Yum! I'm excited to try this! Are they very crumbly?
JulieWunder says
No! The egg holds them together well! I hope you enjoy them! Just don't overcook them!
Kim says
I made these tonight and they were a hit! I have a 5 year old, so I made mini burgers or sliders, instead of the full size, because little food tends to go over well. I wish I had followed your advice to put the burgers in the fridge for a while before cooking because a few of mine did fall apart. Aside from that, everyone including my husband loved them. Thank you for sharing your recipe!
Brandy says
Looks great! When freezing do you recommend wax paper or just a zip lock bag alone? Also do you cook from frozen or thaw first? Thanks!
Sarah- A Whisk and Two Wands says
These look amazing! Can't wait to try them, hoping we get at least one BBQ in this summer. Thank you for linking up with us for Meatless Monday!
JulieWunder says
Thank you so much Sarah! I hope you enjoy them.
[email protected] says
I don't like ground beef so I never eat burgers but I would totally go for this black bean burger. And anything is delicious when guacamole is added to it. Yum!
JulieWunder says
It's really good and tasty! I hope you get a chance to try them.
Farrah says
Aughhhh, these look so good! I need to make a big batch of em'! <3!
JulieWunder says
You do! They would freeze great!
Christina Bauer says
OMG yum! The way to my heart is definitely paved with delicious black bean burgers 🙂
JulieWunder says
Hahaha!! Love that :-)))))
Miz Helen says
I love the Southwest Flavors for your Black Bean Burgers, they look delicious. Have a great weekend and thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Annmarie says
This looks amazing, Julie! Love the guac!
Holly says
I LOVE all the flavors going on in these Southwest Black Bean Burgers - YUM! And your photos are absolutely gorgeous!
dixya @food, pleasure, and health says
i have not been successful at making homemade black bean burger yet but your version looks so good. i will definitely making this one of these days 🙂
Mikki says
I am HUGE fan of black bean burgers. This recipe looks delicious and totally doable!
JulieWunder says
Hi Mikki! It is totally doable. Make a double batch and freeze them for the rest of summer.
Hollie says
Those pictures made my mouth start watering! Yummm! These look flavor packed! Adding to my must-try list! 🙂 Thanks!
JulieWunder says
Hi Hollie! Thank you so much! That means so much to me!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
I love a good veggie burger! Especially if it had a Southwestern flare. The Cholula is never optional for me. 🙂
JulieWunder says
Hi Laura! Never optional 🙂
Blane Sherer says
I do like the flashback posts with
new text and photos. They also
take me back to that time. This must
do that for you with your big life change
leaving WLOS. I'm glad all has turned
out so well for you. You were fantastic
at WLOS but you certainly needed to
make the change.
JulieWunder says
I'm so glad you liked them! I did need to make a change. Much happier and healthier now.
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
I used to think that veggies burgers were so boring, but I am now discovering that they are definitely now. There is so much that you can do with them.
JulieWunder says
They are really versatile! They might not taste like a "real" burger but it doesn't mean they aren't good!
JulieWunder says
Thanks Annette!
Annette Cocke says
Looks wonderful!