These Chipotle Black Bean Burgers hold together super well. Smoky, filling, and ready in about 20 minutes (plus optional chill time), it's a great weeknight meal.
Many of us have been there. You're excited to eat a delicious veggie burger, and then... plop! It falls apart like a culinary Jenga tower.
Well, this may be a game-changer for you. Just like Vegan Chickpea Burgers, these black bean burgers are my undisputed champions of burger stability, even on the BBQ grill.
If you're looking for more recipes with black beans, check out Quick Cuban Black Beans, Moros y Cristianos (Cuban Black Beans & Rice), and Black Bean Tostadas With Spanish Rice.
Jump to:
- Why These Chipotle Black Bean Burgers Work
- What You'll Need
- Substitutions and Variations
- How to Make Chipotle Black Bean Burgers
- Tips for Black Bean Burgers That Don't Fall Apart
- Can You Make These Ahead or Freeze Them?
- What to Serve with Black Bean Burgers
- Chipotle Black Bean Burger FAQS
- Related Recipes
- Recipe Card
- Comments
Why These Chipotle Black Bean Burgers Work
Black bean burgers have a reputation problem - most of them turn to mush the second you flip them.
These Chipotle black bean burgers are designed to hold together. The secret is in the technique - the black beans are only partially mashed, leaving some whole beans intact for structure and texture. The ratio of dry to wet ingredients is carefully balanced so the patties are firm without being dense or dry.
And while chilling the patties before cooking is optional, giving them 30 minutes or more in the fridge allows them to firm up even further, making them easier to handle on the grill or in the pan.
What You'll Need
Here is a picture of everything you'll need. For quantities, see the recipe card.
- Black Beans: If you're using homemade black beans, you'll need about 3 cups.
- Chipotle in adobo sauce can be found in the international or Latin foods aisle of most major grocery stores, or you can order it on Amazon.
- Corn: I use canned corn, but frozen or fresh work as well.
- Topping Suggestions:
- Guacamole
- Cucumber Pico de Gallo
- Crispy Shallots
- Classic Vegan Coleslaw
- Mango Habanero Salsa or Mango Cucumber Salsa
- Easy Chipotle Aioli Sauce - highly recommended for this burger
- Tofu Mayo - Mix with a chipotle pepper and adobo sauce to make spicy
Substitutions and Variations
- Finely dice red bell pepper and mix it into the patty for texture and sweetness, but cut it really fine so the burgers don't fall apart.
- Reduce the heat by adding just one chipotle pepper.
How to Make Chipotle Black Bean Burgers
If you like to see what you'll be doing, here is a quick visual strip. For the full recipe, see the recipe card below.
Step 1: Add about ⅔ of the beans and the rest of the ingredients to a food processor.
Step 2: Pulse a few times until the mixture is crumbly and mixed together.
Step 3: Add the rest of the beans and mix in gently.
Step 4: Mold the mixture into about half-an-inch-thick patties.
Step 5: Optional - Place all the patties on a baking sheet and chill in the freezer for 30 minutes.
Step 6: Cook the black bean burger patties in olive oil for 5-8 minutes, leaving them alone so they crisp up.
Step 7: Flip and cook for another 5-8 minutes until heated through and crispy on the outside.
Step 8: Serve on your favorite buns with your favorite toppings. I highly recommend pairing this burger with the Easy Chipotle Aioli Sauce or 5- Minute Tofu Mayonnaise.
Tips for Black Bean Burgers That Don't Fall Apart
- Chop all the ingredients before putting them into the food processor. This helps it combine quickly without overprocessing.
- If grilling, consider using a cast-iron pan or a grill mat.
- Properly drain and rinse the beans. This helps remove excess moisture, starch, and sodium.
- Use a cast-iron skillet if you have one. It creates a perfect sear on the outside of the burgers, resulting in a delicious, crispy crust.
- Don't fully mash the beans. Leave about a third of them whole - the texture holds the patty together better than a smooth paste.
- Use a hot pan, not a warm pan. The cooking surface needs to be properly hot before the patties go on. That's what gives you the crust.
Can You Make These Ahead or Freeze Them?
Yes to both. Form the patties and refrigerate them (covered) for up to 24 hours before cooking - they'll actually hold together better after chilling. To freeze: place uncooked patties on a parchment-lined sheet, freeze until solid, then transfer to a bag. Cook from frozen at 375°F for 30-35 minutes, or thaw overnight and cook as usual. Cooked patties keep in the fridge up to 4 days.
What to Serve with Black Bean Burgers
- Vegan German Potato Salad pairs great with veggie burgers.
- Fries are a timeless favorite, but if you want to indulge without the guilt, Air Fryer Fries are the answer for a healthy, homemade classic.
- Slow-cooked baked beans can feed a large crowd and taste even better when made ahead of time and reheated.
- Classic vegan coleslaw is a perfect side dish for burgers with a crunchy texture that stands up to bite after bite.
Chipotle Black Bean Burger FAQS
The recipe includes canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, which give the burgers a smoky, spicy flavor. If you prefer a milder taste, you can reduce the amount of sauce, reduce the size of the pepper, or omit it altogether.
These burgers are gluten-free. Ensure all other ingredients you use, including the buns and adobo sauce, are gluten-free.
Yes, you can grill the veggie burgers for a smoky flavor. Preheat your grill to medium-high heat and lightly oil the grill grates. Cook the burger patties for approximately 3-4 minutes on each side or until they develop grill marks and are heated through.
While black beans add great texture and flavor to this recipe, you can experiment with other types of beans, such as kidney beans, pinto beans, or chickpeas. Each bean will lend a slightly different taste and texture to the burgers, allowing you to customize them to your liking.
If you prefer to avoid using oil for cooking, you can bake the burger patties instead of pan-frying. Place the patties on a parchment-lined baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for about 20-25 minutes, flipping them halfway through baking. The baking time may vary, so keep an eye on them to prevent overcooking.
I'd love for you to dive into the comments and rate this Chipotle Black Bean Burger recipe. Your feedback is invaluable-did you love it? Did you make any fun twists? Let me know how my directions worked for you so I can keep improving my recipes. Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for inspiration.
Recipe Card
Chipotle Black Bean Burger
Equipment
- Charcoal Grill optional
Ingredients
- 2 15-ounce cans black beans drained and rinsed; divided
- 2 cups brown rice cooked
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ½ cup corn canned, fresh, or frozen
- ¼ heaping cup red onion finely chopped
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1-2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce add a teaspoon or two of the sauce from the can if you want it spicier.
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt adjust to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1-2 tablespoons olive oil for cooking
Instructions
- Pulse: In a food processor, combine about two-thirds of the black beans with all of the ingredients. Pulse until crumbly, careful not to over-mix, until smooth.
- Mix in black beans: Place mixture into a bowl. Add the remaining whole black beans to the bowl and mix. Mix all the ingredients until well combined. The mixture should be slightly sticky and hold its shape when formed into patties.
- Make the patties: Divide the mixture into equal portions (about 150-155 grams each, roughly the size of a tennis ball). Using your hands, firmly compact each portion into a tight ball first - this helps the burgers hold together. Then gently flatten into patties about ½ to ¾ inch thick. If the edges crack or start to break apart when you flatten them, simply press and pat the edges together to create smooth, even burger patties.
- Chill: (Optional) You can chill the burgers in the freezer for 30 minutes to help them firm up and hold their shape during cooking. This step is especially helpful if the mixture feels soft or if you want cleaner edges when flipping.
- Cook: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the black bean patties to the skillet. Cook for 5-8 minutes on each side, until they develop a golden-brown crust and are heated through. Avoid flipping too early so they can form a firm crust.If using a grill, I recommend using a cast-iron skillet or grill pan to prevent sticking and help the burgers hold their shape. Preheat the skillet on the grill, lightly oil it, and cook as directed above.
- Serve: Serve the black bean burgers on your favorite buns with toppings like, tofu mayo, lettuce, tomato, avocado, sliced red onion, or a dollop of chipotle aioli sauce.
Vger says
These held together perfectly on the grill — that never happens with black bean burgers! The chipotle gives them such a great smoky kick. I added a little extra adobo sauce and topped them with the chipotle aioli. Definitely making these again this weekend.
Regi Pearce says
Okay this is the ultimate black bean burger compliment
I’m so happy they held together on the grill — that’s always the big test! And yesss to the extra adobo sauce + chipotle aioli… yum. That smoky heat combo is everything.
Amy W says
While I usually don’t like these types of patties, these were absolutely fantastic! I will definitely be having these again.
Regi Pearce says
That's awesome to hear, especially coming from someone who's usually not a fan of these types of patties! I'm thrilled that the chipotle black bean burgers won you over.