About this recipe
This vegan black bean and brown rice burger is one of those recipes I lean on when I want something hearty, healthy, and completely no-drama. With just four simple ingredients — black beans, brown rice, pumpkin seeds, and chipotle — you get a plant-based burger that’s packed with flavor and holds together beautifully without breadcrumbs or binders. It’s naturally vegan, freezer-friendly, and perfect for easy dinners, meal-prep lunches, or even mini veggie-burger sliders for the kids.
This recipe for black bean burgers only needs 4 ingredients. Yes, FOUR, isn’t it incredible??? I’m sure you already know that the hamburgers from the popular fast-food restaurants have more than 72 ingredients. Crazy, right?
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Only 4 ingredients and ready in about 30 minutes
- Naturally vegan, gluten-free, and protein-rich
- Holds together without eggs, breadcrumbs, or flax
- Meal-prep friendly — they freeze and reheat well
- Works as full-size burgers, bowls, or sliders
INGREDIENT Notes
- Black beans. Canned or cooked black beans both work — just drain them well so the patties shape easily.
- Brown rice: Cold or room-temperature rice works best. White rice can be used, but brown rice makes the burger more nutritious.
- Pumpkin seeds (pepitas): My secret ingredient. Sunflower seeds work as a swap.
- Chipotle in adobo: This is where all the smoky depth comes from. A little goes a long way.
HOW TO MAKE THE BURGERS?
Super easy: mix all the ingredients in the food processor. Form the patties and cook them. You can make them in two ways: in a pan or an iron skillet, or in the oven.
✎TIP
If you want the hamburgers to be all the same thickness and shape, use a round cookie cutter mold or a jar lid.
If you use the jar lid, put a piece of kitchen plastic on it so that you can remove the burguers without falling apart.
HOW TO SERVE BEAN vegan BURGERS?
- You can serve it with cheddar cheese or vegan nachos cheese.
- With Sriracha sauce.
- With ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, and a slice of onion, Mexican pickled jalapeños, or pickled onions.
- Serve with sweet potato chips, roasted sweet potato fries, or French fries.
- They are also incredible when served with a tablespoon of roasted tomatoes or pesto on everything.
Home-Cook Tips
- If the mixture feels soft, refrigerate it for 10 minutes before forming the patties.
- If the mix looks too loose, add 1–2 tablespoons more pumpkin seeds.
- For perfectly even patties, press the mixture into a jar lid lined with plastic wrap.
- Freeze cooked patties for easy weeknight meals — they reheat beautifully in the oven or air fryer.
Best Vegan Black Bean Burger
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked black beans without the liquid
- 2 cups of cooked brown rice
- 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
- 1 tablespoon or less of chipotle in adobo paste
- a good pinch of salt
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 350ºF and prepare a baking tray with a silicone mat or parchment paper.
- Put the ingredients in a food processor bowl and pulse them until they are well incorporated. They should still have texture; you are just looking for them to hold together when formed as a pattie.
- Form the hamburgers and put them on a tray.
- Bake them for about 15-20 min. or until firm. Be careful not to overcook; they could dry out too much.
- Serve them on a hamburger bun with avocado, green leaves, and tomato slices.
Notes
- You can also make these burgers on the stove. Heat a pan on high heat and cook for 2-3 on each side. Optional, you can also add a bit of oil to the pan.
Nutrition
information
Nutritional information of this recipe is only an estimate, the accuracy for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
- About the Author
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I am Ale Graf, a Mexican living in Texas and the creator of AleCooks and Piloncillo&Vainilla. I share easy, family-friendly recipes — some Mexican, mostly plant-based — that can be enjoyed all day, every day. My focus is on recipes that bring people together around the table, making mealtime simple, delicious and meaningful. I am also the co-author of Yo Cocino Latino, and my recipes have been featured in numerous online magazines and publications. Follow along on my social accounts for daily inspiration, tips, and delicious recipes! I would love to hear about you! Send me a DM on Instagram, and we can talk all things food 🍽️✨