Black bean burgers. We’ve all had them, and we’ve all sighed in exasperated disappointment after taking that first bite. These are different. They’re epic (not an exaggeration). Like, forget craving beef burgers, you will legit want to make these for the sake of eating them over and over again.

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And for what it’s worth, beef burgers are high up on my list of foods that I simply would not, could not live without. They’re my happy place on a sad day (yes, we occasionally eat our feelings around here). Given all that, I still crave these black bean burgers.

And we have the fabulous Kenji Lopez to thank.

If you’re not subscribed to Serious Eats you are missing out on a breadth of knowledge regarding the science behind food. Kenji is a regular contributor and is known for breaking down myths about cooking and, more generally, food, in a way that enhances flavors, textures, and the overall experience of eating. If he shares a recipe, the world listens.

When my friend introduced me to these burgers a couple months back, I was blown away. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt that way after eating a veggie burger.

Guys, let’s discuss: They’re insanely flavorful, and the mix of cashews, black beans, and feta (DON’T HATE, just trust) gives these a texture more comparable to a fish patty (looser than a beef burger, but holds together beautifully) than a traditional black bean burger, which frequently falls apart on the grill.

These will for sure be the star of your summer cookout and you shouldn’t wait one second longer to make them. They will not disappoint!

Ultimate Black Bean Burgers

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 60 minutes
Yield: 0 patties 1x

Scale

Ingredients

2 (15 oz) cans black beans, (rinsed and drained)
4 Tbsp vegetable oil, (divided )
1 medium (about 1 cup) onion, (finely chopped )
1 large (about 1 cup) poblano pepper, (finely chopped)
3 medium cloves garlic, (minced)
1 chipotle chili in adobo sauce, (finely chopped, plus 1 tsp sauce)
¾ cup roasted cashews
½ cup finely crumbled feta or cotija cheese
2 Tbsp mayonnaise
1 whole egg
¾ cup panko bread crumbs
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Cheese as desired, (such as pepper jack, cheddar, muenster, or Swiss (optional))
6–8 hearty hamburger buns, (toasted)
Tzatziki
Caramelized onions
Avocado
Arugula or arugula micro greens
Condiments as desired, (such as chipotle mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, or mayonnaise )

Instructions

Adjust oven rack to center position and preheat oven to 350°F. Spread black beans in a single layer on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Place in oven and roast until beans are mostly split open and outer skins are beginning to get crunchy, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly.
While beans roast, heat 2 tablespoons oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add onion and poblano and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add chipotle chili and sauce and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Transfer mixture to a large bowl.
Place cashews in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until chopped into pieces no larger than 1/3-inch, about 12 short pulses. Add to bowl with onions and peppers.
When beans are slightly cooled, transfer to food processor. Add cheese. Pulse until beans are roughly chopped (the largest pieces should be about 1/3 of a full bean in size). Transfer to bowl with onion/pepper mixture. Add mayonnaise, egg, and bread crumbs and season with salt and pepper. Fold together gently but thoroughly with hands. Patty mixture can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days at this stage.
To cook on the grill: Light 2/3 chimney full of charcoal. When all the charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and arrange the coals on one side of the charcoal grate. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Alternatively, set half the burners on a gas grill to the medium-high setting, cover, and preheat for 10 minutes. Clean and oil the grilling grate. Form bean mixture into 6 to 8 patties as wide as your burger buns and brush top sides with oil. Place on hot side of grill oiled-side down and cook without moving until first side is well browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Brush tops of burgers with oil. Carefully flip and continue cooking until second side is browned, 3 to 5 minutes longer, topping with cheese if desired.
To cook indoors: Form bean mixture into 6 to 8 patties as wide as your burger buns. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large non-stick or cast iron skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add 4 patties and cook, swirling pan occasionally, until well browned and crisp on first side, about 5 minutes. Carefully flip and cook until second side is browned, about 5 minutes longer, adding cheese if desired. If cooking more than 4 burgers, cook in batches, keeping cooked burgers on a rack set in a rimmed baking sheet in a 200°F oven while second batch cooks.
Spread top and bottom buns with chipotle mayonnaise or other condiments as desired. Add toppings to top or bottom bun as desired. Place patties on bottom buns, close burgers, and serve immediately.