If there’s one food that reminds me of summer, it would definitely be burgers. I can still picture it now: Me laying out by the pool in our backyard or sitting around our patio table with my family, constantly getting a whiff of burgers that we or our neighbors were grilling outside. Even though I was never a fan of eating the burgers (I preferred hot dogs by a landslide), I always enjoyed smelling them, simply because they reminded me that it was summer! To this day, I’m still not a fan of regular burgers (never have been!), but I am a big fan of these black bean burgers!
During those hot summer months, I try to cook as many of my meals as I can on our patio grill. This way I don’t heat up the house by turning on the oven, and I also get to spend more time outside while I wait for the food to cook. And anyone who knows me that I will always jump at the opportunity to spend as much time as I can outside.
I came up with this recipe a few months ago during winter when I was looking for some classic comfort food to help warm me up. I found myself desperately wishing it was summer outside, but since I couldn’t control the seasons, I decided to do the next best thing: I made the ultimate summer food… BURGERS!
Like I said, I’m not a fan of regular burgers, or any red meat for that matter, so I wanted to create a new burger that I was a fan of. When I opened my pantry and saw tons of cans of beans staring back at me, I decided that was the sign I needed – I was going to make black bean burgers!
I’ve tried making black bean burgers in the past and they always ended up dry or bland, so I kind of gave up on them. Until this recipe, that is. I don’t like to quit something when I start, so even though it had been over a year since I tried making black bean burgers, I wasn’t going to quit until I found a recipe I liked. With that being said, I got to work experimenting and combining different ingredients.
The first time I made this recipe, it was really good. I made a few tweaks the second time around, and it was even better. Finally, after making it a third time, I think it’s safe to say that I found my go-to black bean burger recipe that I’m totally satisfied with! These burgers are flavorful, not dry at all, and are loaded with lots of plant-based protein and fiber!
So what was the key to making juicy, flavorful burgers? I found that adding the onion, garlic, and peppers to the food processor and blending them up made a huge difference. The food processor really mashed them up well, bringing out some of their juices, preventing them from being dry or crumbly.
Another great thing about these burgers is that they can be pan-cooked, baked, or grilled, making them the perfect meal for any seasoning or kitchen situation. Personally, I love grilling them to get those beautiful grill lines on them, but baking them results in equally great-tasting burgers, as well!
Next time you’re looking for a fast and delicious summer meal for that family gathering or neighborhood picnic, do yourself a favor and try out these burgers! They certainly won’t disappoint!
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- 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
- ½ of a red or orange bell pepper
- ½ of a white onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 egg, beaten
- ⅔ cup almond flour (or bread crumbs)
- 2 tsp. chili powder
- 1 tsp. cumin
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray (or line with foil and then coat with oil).
- Add the peppers, onion, and garlic to a food processor and pulse well.
- Add the beans, egg, and spices and then continue to pulse until mixture is smooth. (A few small chunks will still remain - this is okay!)
- Remove the blade and stir in the almond meal (or bread crumbs).
- Form the mixture into patties and flatten slightly with your hands.
- Add about 2 TBSP olive to a medium skillet and turn the heat to medium-high. Add the patties, a few at a time, to the skillet and cook for about 3-4 minutes on each side, or until browned. Flip the patties and cook until the other side is browned.
- Transfer the burgers to the baking sheet and bake for 5-10 minutes.
- Alternately, you can cook the burgers entirely in the stove: skip the step where you brown the patties in a skillet and instead just place the bean burgers on a greased cookie sheet and place that sheet into the oven. Cook at 375 for 20-30 minutes (or until browned), flipping halfway through.
