Smoky BBQ Black Bean Burger

GFVGVDFNS
Jump to Recipe
Three BBQ Black Bean Burgers served on buns with red bell pepper, cabbage, and lettuce

Say hello to your new favorite veggie burger.

It’s gluten-free, BIG on flavor, infused with smoky BBQ flavor, and perfect on the grill or stovetop. Let’s do this!

Display of ingredients for vegan BBQ Black Bean Burgers including mushrooms, sweet potato, pecans, black beans, BBQ sauce, coconut aminos, spices, and quinoa

This burger is easy to make, requiring simple methods and 10 wholesome ingredients you likely have on hand right now.

It all starts with black beans that are cooked down until dry and cracked, which helps keep the burgers from being mushy. Then comes toasted pecans, which are pulsed into a meal.

Black beans and pecans in the food processor ready to be pulsed for BBQ Black Bean Burgers

Then we add quinoa, mushrooms, sweet potatoes, cumin, chili powder, BBQ sauce, and salt. Quinoa adds moisture and also binds the burgers, and the rest is all about flavor: sweet potatoes for sweetness, mushrooms for “meatiness” and texture, and the spices and sauce for smoky BBQ flavor.

All the ingredients in the food processor ready to become amazing BBQ Black Bean Burgers

For these burgers, it’s best to sear both sides on the stovetop and then finish baking in the oven, where they will dry out and firm up a bit. But they are firm enough for the grill as well!

Once cooked, it’s all about the toppings. We went for vegan buns, lettuce, cabbage, red pepper, pickles, and more BBQ + a little hot sauce. Swoon.

Gluten-free and vegan BBQ Black Bean Burger patties cooking in a skillet

We hope you all LOVE these burgers! They’re:

Smoky
Tender
Hearty
Satisfying
Customizable
Easy to make
& SO delicious

These burgers would make the perfect weeknight meal for you and the family or for hosting! Serve with Crispy Baked Fries, Garlicky Kale Salad, or Garlicky Guac and Plantain Chips!

If you’re into veggie burgers, also be sure to check out our Chickpea Sun-Dried Tomato Burgers, Grillable Veggie Burgers, Sweet Potato Black Bean Burger, Black Bean Beet Veggie Burger, Simple Veggie Sliders, and Green Chili Veggie Burger.

If you like this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!

Close up shot of a BBQ Black Bean Burger on a bun with fresh vegetables

Smoky BBQ Black Bean Burger

Smoky, hearty black bean burgers with sweet potato, mushrooms, quinoa, and pecans. Wholesome, satisfying, BIG on flavor, and just 10 ingredients required! The ultimate veggie burgers for the grill or stovetop.
Author Minimalist Baker
Print
AMAZING BBQ Black Bean Burgers! 10 wholesome ingredients, BIG flavor, so satisfying #vegan #glutenfree #burger #plantbased #recipe #minimalistbaker
4.87 from 98 votes
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Servings 4 (burgers)
Course Entrée
Cuisine Gluten-Free, Vegan
Freezer Friendly 1 month
Does it keep? 3-4 Days

Ingredients

BURGERS

  • 1 cup cooked + cooled quinoa (divided // see notes for cooking instructions)
  • 1 15-ounce can black beans (rinsed and dried)
  • 2/3 cup raw pecans
  • 1 Tbsp coconut or avocado oil (plus more for cooking burgers // or water)
  • 1 heaping cup sliced and peeled sweet potato (cut into 1/4-inch rounds)
  • 2 heaping cups thinly sliced cremini or button mushrooms
  • 2 Tbsp coconut aminos (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt (plus more to taste)
  • 2 1/2 tsp chili powder
  • 2 1/2 tsp cumin powder
  • 3 Tbsp vegan-friendly BBQ sauce (I like Annie’s organic original BBQ sauce // plus more for glazing)

FOR SERVING (optional)

  • Vegan-friendly hamburger buns OR lettuce wraps (and gluten-free if needed)
  • Veggies of choice (i.e. onion, cabbage, tomato, pickles)

Instructions

  • If you haven’t yet, cook quinoa and set aside to cool (see notes for instructions).
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 C) and spread rinsed, dried black beans onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake beans for 6 minutes. Then add pecans to the baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes more. The nuts should be fragrant and golden brown (be careful not to burn), and the beans should appear dry and cracked open (this way, they do not become mushy in the burger mix). Set aside to cool. Increase oven temperature to 375 degrees F (190 C).
  • In the meantime, heat a medium to large cast-iron or metal skillet over medium/medium-low heat. Once hot, add oil (or water) and the sweet potato. Cover and cook for 3-4 minutes, turning heat down if the potatoes are browning too quickly. Once browned on the underside, flip and cook for 3-4 minutes more or until tender and golden brown. Remove from the pan.
  • To the still-hot pan, add the sliced mushrooms and coconut aminos (optional – sub a little salt otherwise) and cook on medium/medium-high for about 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently, or until they’re browned, fragrant, and cooked down to half their size. Set aside.
  • To a food processor, add beans and pecans and blitz/pulse into a loose meal (some texture is good – you don’t want a powder).
  • Next, add cooked sweet potato, mushrooms, half the quinoa, sea salt, chili powder, cumin, and BBQ sauce and pulse a few times to combine (again, some texture is good here – you’re not going for a purée).
  • Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl and stir in the rest of the quinoa. Then taste and adjust flavor as needed, adding more cumin for smokiness, chili powder for heat, BBQ sauce for sweetness / depth of flavor, or salt for saltiness.
  • If the mixture appears too wet, add more quinoa. If it looks too dry, add more BBQ sauce (or a little coconut aminos) to moisten.
  • Divide the mixture into four even balls and form into patties with your hands or by lining a 1/2 cup measuring cup with plastic wrap, packing the mixture inside, then lifting the plastic wrap out – mash slightly into more of a disc. Refrigerate burgers for 30 minutes.
  • Once chilled, heat the cast-iron or metal pan from earlier over medium heat. Once hot, add a bit more oil (or water) and the burgers. Cook for 4-5 minutes. Then carefully flip and cook for 4-5 minutes on the other side. Then turn off heat, glaze/brush with a bit more BBQ sauce, and transfer the pan to the oven. Bake at 375 F (190C) for 10-15 minutes more. The burgers should appear browned.
  • Serve as is or with toppings. We enjoyed ours on buns with butter lettuce, shredded red pepper, shredded cabbage, pickles, radish, and more BBQ sauce. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for 3-4 days or in the freezer up to 1 month.

Video

Notes

*To cook quinoa, add 1 part rinsed, drained quinoa to a small saucepan and toast for 3 minutes over medium heat. Then add 2 parts water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, cover and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for 18 minutes or until water is absorbed. Then fluff with a fork and set off the heat uncovered to cool. (As the recipe is written, the amounts should be 1/2 cup quinoa to 1 cup water.)
*Prep time does not include cooking and cooling quinoa.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate for 1 burger calculated without optional ingredients.

Nutrition (1 of 4 servings)

Serving: 1 burger Calories: 369 Carbohydrates: 42.1 g Protein: 11.1 g Fat: 18.8 g Saturated Fat: 4.2 g Polyunsaturated Fat: 5.1 g Monounsaturated Fat: 8.2 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 823 mg Potassium: 713 mg Fiber: 11.9 g Sugar: 7 g Vitamin A: 857 IU Vitamin C: 3.6 mg Calcium: 94 mg Iron: 4.3 mg

Did You Make This Recipe?

Tag @minimalistbaker on Instagram and hashtag it #minimalistbaker so we can see all the deliciousness!

If you love this recipe...

Get Our Fan Favorites eBook Here!

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment & Rating!

Have a question? Use ctrl+f or ⌘+f on your computer or the "find on page" function on your phone browser to search existing comments! Need help? Check out this tutorial!

My Rating:




  1. Marcie says

    These are quite possibly the best black bean burgers I have ever made. They are perfectly seasoned, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. These will forever be in my regular recipe rotation. Thank you for such a great recipe :)

  2. Traci Love says

    Hey!
    I just made these today and I’m wondering if they would handle the grill ok?
    Should I pre-bake them before putting on the grill?

  3. Elizabeth says

    I would give this recipe 10 stars if I could. It is hands down my favorite veggie burger recipe. I’ve made it as directed, I’ve made it with mashed sweet potatoes. I’ve made it forgetting to pulse the quinoa (adding all quinoa at the end). No matter what, always amazing.

    I bake 15 minutes at 375 then cool and freeze so I can have delicious veggie burgers all summer! Reheat 10-13 minutes at 375. Serve with avocado, pickles, and ketchup or more bbq sauce. Yummmmm!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Amazing!! We’re so glad you enjoy the recipe, Elizabeth. Thank you for sharing! xo

  4. BC says

    I would love to make these this week and am wondering if there is any possible substitution for the nuts?

    I know they are a key part of the recipe, but I have a relative coming over who is on a short term zero fat medical diet. If not, I’ll move along to other oil free recipe!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi BC, unfortunately we don’t think this would work well without the nuts. Hope you find a recipe that they’ll enjoy!

  5. SusieQ says

    These are my go to vegan burgers. Delicious. Only difference is that I finely chop sweet pots and mushrooms and do not pulse in blender. Everyone I have made them for just love them. Vegans and carnivores alike.

    Minimalist baker is one of my favs!

  6. Melanie Veal says

    Question – where or how did you come up with the nutritional info? I entered it in Myfitnesspal and the calories come out to over 500

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Melanie, we use Cronometer. Is it possible you calculated with the optional ingredients? We calculate nutrition without optional ingredients. Or perhaps you calculated with dry quinoa vs. cooked? Either way, we’ll make sure to give the nutrition another look to ensure nothing is off.

        • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

          Hm, not sure why there’s a difference then! We used 130 grams of sweet potato (the metric measurement) in our calculation.

  7. Jen says

    Trying the hearty cocoa black bean burgers from your cookbook for our bbq tomorrow. Can I prep them today, refrigerate tonight and cook tomorrow?

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Jen, it should work, but they’ll be a little more prone to cracking since they dry out in the refrigerator. If that happens, you could add a little BBQ sauce to add moisture back in. Hope that helps!

  8. LiLiD says

    Been meaning to make this for ages and finally did. Replaced pecans with walnuts as pecans are very expesnive here in Australia. Made 8 small burger patties instead of 4 large patties. These were delcious just on there own to nibble on. My meat eating husband loved them also and came back for 2nds. I am going to freeze some to see how they defrost and recook. Defiantly will be making these regularly.

  9. Elizabeth says

    I’m making this right now and am wondering if I should drain the mushrooms (after cooking) before adding them to the mix. There’s lots of liquid in the pan, but I don’t want to get rid of the yummy coconut amino taste! Thanks – excited to eat these!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Elizabeth, we’d suggest cooking them longer until the moisture evaporates to concentrate the flavor. Hope that helps!

  10. Randi Steckler says

    I made these last night. They were extremely delicious! They took a long time to make. I pre made the quinoa but didn’t read thru the recipe closely enough. I should have started earlier which is my own error. My husband loved them! I had never made anything like these before. He just ate another one for lunch and we have 2 more in the freezer to enjoy another time 😃 Somehow I ended up with 5 half cup burgers.
    I omitted the chili powder and cumin and added smoky paprika. I roasted the sweet potatoes in the oven. I just sprinkled the coconut aminos on top.

    I served them on a roll with avocado on one side of the roll and ketchup on the other and added lettuce.

    Next up are the sweet potato black bean burgers!

    Dana, I have no idea how you invent all your recipes, I’m just glad you do!
    I have made many of your recipes and there has never been a dud! They all have been amazing!

  11. Claire says

    Too much cumin for my taste, it overpowered the patties. I also struggled blitzing the mix in my blender once all the veggies were added but it was easy to mush up in a bowl. I chilled the 5 large patties my mix made for more than 30 minutes but when cooked they didn’t hold their shape so when I came to each them, they just squished out the sides of my bun. This really was a lot of effort and unfortunately didn’t work at all for me.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Claire, we’re so sorry you didn’t enjoy them! Did you make any modifications to the ingredients? We ask because this recipe is a fan favorite. We think mashing in a bowl vs. using a food processor is what caused them to not hold together. A little more BBQ sauce can also help with that.

      • Claire says

        The only modification I made was using walnuts instead of pecans but I prepared them in the same way. And I added more BBQ sauce (as per instructions) to get what I thought was the right consistency. They were fairly wet though so maybe I added too much?

        • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

          Hi Claire, Walnuts are more bitter, but we don’t think that would make too much of a difference. It’s possible they were too wet then. We hope you have a better experience with the next recipe!

  12. Ashley says

    These are the BEST veggie burgers I’ve ever had. I’m not vegetarian or vegan, I’m just trying to eat more veggies :) I like to add ancho chili powder for spice, I also use frozen sweet potato and cook these bad girls in the air fryer. Unfortunately they don’t reheat well the next day. Still trying to figure that out!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      We’re SO glad you enjoy them, Ashley! Thank you for the lovely review! Have you tried freezing before cooking and then cooking just before eating? Hope that helps!

  13. Justyna says

    I love this recipe and I can’t wait to make it again. It was a lot of time and effort for a weeknight dinner, but we froze the leftover patties and made two more quick and easy meals out of them. Thank you!

  14. Diane says

    These are really tasty, and one of the only veggie burgers I’ve found that stay together on the grill! Next time I make them, I would definitely cut the sweet potatoes and roast in the oven (the frying pan method was time consuming and not super effective for me). The “dough” did not pulse super well in my food processor, so I did end up taking everything out and mashing with a potato masher. I also nearly tripled the spices & BBQ sauce to make them super flavorful. So good!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Yum! Thanks for the lovely review and for sharing your experience, Diane! We’re so glad you like the burgers!

  15. Paige says

    I almost wish these weren’t so amazing because of the time involved, lol. But every time they are worth it! So so good. I swap butternut squash (I always have a frozen bag) for the sweet potatoes and it’s great. Can’t recommend these enough. Thanks Dana!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Woohoo! We love to hear this. Thanks for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications, Paige! xo

  16. Jan says

    These are the best black bean burgers I have ever made!!! SO good. I was inspired to try the recipe because I needed to use up some mushrooms and had of the ingredients.
    Here is what I subbed:
    Short grain brown rice for quinoa
    pumpkin seeds for pecans
    Yam for sweet potato
    Didn’t have chili powder so I made my own spice blend with smoked paprika/chipotle chili powder/oregano
    I plan to eat them with lettuce and avocado and tomato slices-no bun needed.
    Thanks for the recipe!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Yumm, thanks for sharing your modifications and such a kind review, Jan! We’re so glad you enjoyed. xo

  17. Judy says

    Great recipe! I substituted caramelized onions as suggested for the mushrooms (I have a mushroom allergy), otherwise made as written. Even my husband, who is not partial to plant-based main courses, loved them. I have one question: the recipe says to increase the oven temperature to 375° after taking the black beans and pecans out. Is this for the much later step of baking the formed patties?

  18. H says

    I’ve made this recipe twice so far and it’s the best black bean burger I’ve ever had -seriously! I’m vegan and I personally have been turned off my black bean burgers because of how overly mushy and bland they usually are :( but I’m so glad I decided to try this recipe out. Roasting the black beans in the oven to dry them out is a total game changer! I find that this recipe followed exactly can yield eight good-sized burgers. The first time I made it I doubled it for a group of 5 adults and found that it made more than enough!

  19. Nan says

    I made this last night and was pleasantly pleased! My last couple attempts at black bean burgers didn’t hold together well. These came together beautifully and were easy to form. To simplify, I added a leftover baked sweet potato rather than browning sliced sweet potatoes. Will definitely make this again.

  20. Holli Loomans-Kropp says

    Wonderful flavors, fabulous recipe! I added quite a bit more cumin and chile powder to add a real punch. Will happily make again.

  21. Tonia says

    These were delicious and a huge hit with my non-vegan friend! I made them with your Vegan BBQ sauce (which is now my favorite BBQ sauce!) from your cookbook, SO good! I misread the recipe and mixed in a bit too much quinoa but was able to salvage with adding some extra sauce. I also used butternut squash instead of sweet potato as I had leftovers from making one of your nourish bowls (also amazing!).

  22. Geri Lynn Habstritt says

    How do you think quinoa flakes would work instead of cooked quinoa? Might bind better and save cooking time? Would you use 1 cup quinoa flakes to substitute?

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hmm, I’m not share! I’d think it would be slightly more flakes than quinoa since they’re less dense? Let us know if you try!

  23. Stephanie Ciancio says

    Hey there! I made these last night and my mind wandered while I was pulsing the food processor. I added in extra millet and less-dried black beans, but I’m wondering if you have further advice for someone who is dealing with pate burgers. The taste is super delicious, at least I haven’t tried to pan fry or grill them just yet.

  24. Ayodele says

    I made this tonight after eating them at my sister-in-law’s house. They were DELICIOUS, but OH.MY.GOODNESS this was time consuming! Quarantine is the perfect time to make this! Just a tip, make extras and freeze!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      We’re so glad you enjoyed them, Ayodele! Definitely a great one to keep in the freezer. Thanks for sharing!

  25. Kianna says

    Silly question but how much is 1 heaping cup of sweet potato when you’re just cutting into rounds and not dicing? Want to make these this weekend!

  26. Selma says

    Hi! I love the recipe, but I have a serious taste aversion against sweet potatoes. Is there anything I could swap them with? Thanks!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hmm, we wonder if maybe butternut squash would work? We haven’t tried it though. Let us know if you do some experimenting!

      • Selma says

        I was thinking of cooked normal potatoes maybe? Unfortunately, I don´t like butternut squash either… anything orange, starchy, and sweet at the same time :D I know what a shame! Such versatile vegetables.

  27. Sue Ranford says

    Very tasty. Had them for dinner last night. I added a diced onion and clove of garlic fried until golden and soft. I also had some Mexican chilli powders I used. Gave the patties a nice tex mex taste. Yum!

  28. Amanda says

    Very very tasty! They took more time to make than my average night’s dinner, however, I froze some and one recipe fed me 5 times (recipe made 5 burgers for me) so overall, definitely worth it. Have eaten these over a bed of lettuce, in an English muffin, and in your spelt roll recipe topped with fried onions, avocado, etc.. Will do a double batch next time to freeze even more.

  29. Sheridanfield@gmail.com says

    Love all your recipes, in particular your salads and vegetables burgers.
    How can I but back the nut content and still keep the texture of this burger?

  30. Cheryl says

    LOVE these burgers. Once the components are cooked/prepped they come together so nicely. They are tasty and satisfying. This has become a foundational recipe in our house. I’ve subbed walnuts for pecans, pintos for black beans, and any kind of mushroom on hand. They always work out great. Thank you!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      We’re so glad you enjoy them, Cheryl! Thanks so much for the lovely review!

  31. Anna says

    Hi
    Can I use dry black beans in the place of canned black beans, and if so what should I do? Tinned black beans are in short supply around us at the moment!
    Thanks
    Anna

  32. Myra says

    Hello , I am excited to try this recipe out it is going to be my 1st time making veggie burgers and this looks like a delicious recipe. The only mushrooms I currently have or baby Bella mushrooms will they work?

  33. ellie says

    Brilliant veggie burgers!! I used carrot instead of sweet potato just because that’s what we had in, ketchup works instead of bbq sauce and i added crushed crackers instead of pecans as i’m not the biggest fan of them. Great recipe and i definitely recommend :)

  34. ellie says

    Brilliant veggie burgers!! I used carrot instead of sweet potato just because that’s what i had in, ketchup works instead of the bbq sauce and i left out the pecans because i’m not the biggest fan of them. Great recipe definitely recommend :)

  35. Luisa O says

    Subbed walnuts for the pecans, food processor wasn’t big enough so pulsed the pecans and black beans then combined everything with a potato masher. Delicious recipe and I’m usually a meat eater!

  36. Layan says

    Yes!! I’ve been looking for a good veggie burger for a while! This burger isn’t dry, and i think the trick to dry the beans first helped it stay together. I didn’t add bbq sauce just because i dont like that. I like the use of quinoa instead of rice or oats because i found those to dry veggies burgers out. Personally, i didn’t enjoy the pecans the first time i made them, but the second time i chopped them more finely and they did add a nice nutty flavour but most importantly, they helped the burger stay togher more. I made this without the nuts a third time, and it was still great and i added about a tablespoon of chickpea flour to bring it together (i think i jsut used too much sweet potato that time).
    I definitely recommend this recipe! Not only does it taste good, you can use it as a base recipe for any additions you want to have.

  37. Sadie G says

    Best black bean burgers ever!! Have made these for my family twice now and they get better every time. This time, paired them with homemade brioche buns, YUM. 10/10 recommend. Leftovers freeze very well!

  38. Jane says

    This recipe takes a bit of time, but it is 100% worth it. The recipe makes my absolute favourite veggie burgers. I often swap the sweet potatoes for parsnips, which are more likely to be grown locally where I live. I think I like the parsnips even better than the sweet potatoes.

  39. Cynthia Deal says

    I made this recipe and loved it. I’d like to make it again, but I only have 3 oz mushrooms. Can I substitute zucchini, or is it too watery?

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      That might work if you sauté it first to remove most of the water? But we haven’t tried it and can’t say for sure. Let us know if you give it a try!

  40. Levely says

    I made this and it was soooooo good!!! One of the best I’ve ever eaten. Only problem was it was falling apart? Any suggestions on how to make them bind.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      Mix a bit more (the quinoa and beans) and add a date or two when blending (to help bind). You can also try adding more BBQ sauce if they appear crumbly.

  41. Elizabeth Cancade says

    Just made a double batch for freezing. The mixture tastes great – haven’t pattied it yet. Do you suggest par-baking or anything before freezing or just freeze them uncooked?

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Elizbeth, we recommend freezing prior to frying, and then when ready to use, bake them to thaw, followed by frying. Hope this helps!

  42. Nadine says

    Wow! You do get a lot of comments! But I also wanted to tell you that this recipe is delicous and I keep craving it and wanting more. I also love your pics and the way you write the instructions. You are amazing! Thank you!

  43. Hannah says

    Yum! These burgers are perfect, the combination of ingredients makes them so tasty. Once I cooked the recipe once I flew through it each time after, so simple.

  44. Kate says

    These burgers were so good I will never buy frozen or store bought black bean burgers ever again!
    I didn’t have any issues with the burger not sticking together – we ended up not using mushrooms and left the pre made patties in the fridge for 24 hours so idk if that made a difference. Definitely my new favorite go to.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Whoop! Thanks so much for the lovely review, Kate. We are so glad you enjoyed them! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo

  45. Bethany Renner says

    This is a delicious recipe! To keep the burger together better I add 1-2 flax eggs per recipe, this really helps!! Freezes well for a last minute meal.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your modification, Bethany. We are so glad you enjoy them! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Thanks so much for the lovely review, Hermann. We are so glad you everyone enjoyed them! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo

  46. Jude says

    Been wanting to try this recipe for ages but didnt have the right ingredients so I subbed rice for quinoa, walnuts for pecans, soy sauce for coconut aminos and ommited the salt. They were still absolutely delicious! My husband has only just started eating a plant based diet so any recipe that gets his approval is staying! The 2 1/2 tsp chili powder did make for a fiery burger but we really enjoyed it!
    I made them up the night before, cooked them for lunch the following day and they were great. Nice to know I can pre prep for bbqs or quick meals. Perfect ?

  47. Anna says

    The first time i’ve cooked it as written, but the amount of chili made it inedible (maybe I have some kind of extra spicy one), the second time with reduced chili it was amazing! Thanks for a great recipe!

  48. Hillary says

    Everything was amazing! We don’t usually have pecans on hand so I just use whatever nut we have so I’ve used almonds and cashews, still turned out amazing! We have also made a bunch and instead of cooking them right away froze them and they were still amazing when we ate them later, just fried and cooked as the reciepe indicates. They are so delicious and definitely added to the weekly meal plans!

  49. Carina says

    Just made these for our family dinner and I did not expect them to taste this delicious. Omg! It was hard not eating the batter alone. The bbq sauce just takes it to the next level. These will be my new veggie burger staple recipe.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Thanks so much for the lovely review, Carina. We are so glad you enjoyed these! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! xo

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Yes! We recommend freezing prior to frying, and then when ready to use, bake them to thaw, followed by frying. Hope this helps!

  50. Kay M. says

    This was an awesome recipe! I added 1/2 quinoa and 1/2 brown rice. I omitted the salt, as I’m watching my sodium intake, and didn’t miss it! The texture was amazing! I kept some pieces of the beans and nuts intact, which allowed the burger to have some nice crunchiness throughout. I was pleasantly surprised by how firm the patty was without being dry. Baking the black beans was a genius move! I thought the recipe called for too much of the cumin and the chili powder, but I was wrong – the seasoning along with the BBQ sauce added so much flavor. Thank you for a tremendous recipe! I look forward to trying your other veggie burger recipes soon.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      Thanks for sharing! I borrowed the baking beans step from a friend! Genius, I agree!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      We haven’t tried it without nuts, but think oats could potentially work. Let us know if you give it a try!

      • Karen says

        We have nut allergies, so I’m wondering if I substitute with oats, would I cook them first, or bake them with the black beans, like you would do with the pecans?

  51. Sarah says

    My beef loving husband loved these as well as the rest of the family. I love all of your recipes. They are no-fail and taste delicious!

  52. Mari says

    Hi Dana,

    I have your cookbook, and I noticed that several of your burger recipes include quinoa. However, quinoa doesn’t sit well with my stomach. Can I substitute another grain successfully with this or other quinoa included recipes on your site or in your cookbook? Thanks!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Mari, we haven’t tried these or the cookbook recipes with other grains, but think rice or millet might work! If you give it a try, we would love to hear how it goes! Hope that helps!

  53. Alan says

    Hi there, love the recipes. Just a quick question regarding the nutritional info as I am into my fitness and bodybuilding. I was thinking 289 calories seems a little low with the listed macronutrients of 19g fat, 46g carb and 12g protein. Using these macros, the calorie count comes to 403. There is perhaps something I don’t know regarding nutrition. Any help on this? Thank you :)

      • Alan says

        Thanks for the reply but that is an article about calorie counting and I’m not sure if you understood my original comment. For this recipe, the macronutrients don’t add up to the calories. So either the calories or the macros are wrong. It’s not a huge deal because I track them myself but I do use them as a guideline as to what the ratios for your recipes are. I know I’m probably in the small minority of readers who care about this stuff but, as the article you linked states, it is important to look at the nutritional info of the food you are eating.

        • Jane says

          I would probably find me a recipe that was more suited to my micro needs. She does these recipes for whoever wants to try them, those who are concerned about certain ingredients and nutritional information should probably just find a more suitable recipe. #justsaying

  54. Lindsey says

    Just made this tonight and substituted the barbecue sauce with bulgogi sauce and swapped the spices for ginger and garlic. Served it with kimchi as well. It was delicious! One of the best veggie burgers we’ve had! Thanks for the great recipe.

  55. Cyd says

    Loads of comments already here, but I made this last night and have to say: THESE ARE DELICIOUS! Make some right away!

  56. DiscoOwl says

    Superb! My favorite part is that it doesn’t fall apart like 100 other veggie burger recipes i’ve tried. Flavors are fantastic. I will definitely be making this again as my go-to veggie burger. My one and only complaint is the amount of time involved — it literally took up my whole evening to make this. But it was well worth it. I’m happy I have leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

    • Cyd says

      Yes, yes, yes to your comments that they do not fall apart and have great flavor! I cooked the potatoes (steamed chunks) and rice (used some in other dishes) a couple of days ago, so these came together pretty quickly. I can imagine doing all the steps in one evening took your whole night!

  57. Kaitlyn says

    HI! I’m a adoring fan of your work :)

    Would it effect the outcome too much to roast the sweet potato slices with and/or after the black beans and pecans? why not since the oven is already hot and the pan dirty? i love to avoid using another dish if at all possible..heheh..

  58. Lauren says

    Do you think a cast iron pan is important? It looks like it gives a good sear to the veggies that I don’t get in my metal pan.

  59. Katie says

    SO GOOD! I topped mine with sautéed mushrooms (leftover from the burgers), mashed avocado, and pickled red onions.

    My meat-eating boyfriend said the texture was the “meatiest” out of all of the veggie burgers I’ve ever made. We like thinner burgers so we ended up getting 8 out of the recipe & paired it with sweet potato fries.

  60. Janine says

    Delicious! I didn’t have exact ingredients so subbed cooked brown rice for quinoa and added a little curry powder. So yummy! Thanks.

  61. John says

    What is the best way to reheat these from a frozen state? I’d like to make a bulk amount and store them in the freezer, and heat one up for something quick and healthy to eat. Thanks and cheers!!

  62. Emma says

    This was really tasty. I added in smoked paprika too to add to the bbq flavour because it’s my fav.

    My burgers fell apart tho, they were squishy. My mix made 6 so I dunno if maybe I used too much veg? My quinoa was a little damp too. I’ll be interested to try again rectifying the above & see if they stay in 1 piece.

  63. Solène Buffet says

    Thanks you so much for this receipe ! These parties are so delicious! I am a slow cook so it did take me quite a while to make them but so worth it! I usually do not like store brought “burgers” here is France and making your receipe was the best decision ever ! They are so good ! Thank you!

  64. Jennifer says

    A friend recently recommended your website. This is the first recipe I’ve made, and I absolutely loved it! The flavour and texture were perfect. This will definitely make it into our meal rotation. Thank you so much!! xo

  65. Marie says

    Can’t thank you enough, Dana!! These burgers were sooooooo delicious!! Going to make another batch and put them in the freezer for one of those nights when I don’t feel like cooking.

    Question – once thawed, would you reheat on the stovetop or in the oven?

    Thanks so much, again!

  66. Liz says

    I made this – they were delicious, a little more time consuming than other vegan burgers I’ve made but the taste and texture is worth it! Don’t even hesitate to invest your time in them, just do it!

  67. Lisa Marie Ware says

    I made six batches of this recipe and for my daughter’s first birthday barbecue. It was a crowd pleaser! My sister asked if they could take some home. Ha! Thanks for yet again another delicious recipe.
    I send people to your website often when they need recipe inspiration!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Bulgur might work! Or cooked rice, amaranth, or millet? If you try it out, let us know how it goes!

  68. Gabi says

    Just finished making these! Haven’t tasted yet (lol) but they look awesome. I don’t have a food processor so I used my blender… if using a blender, I recommend blending beans + pecans/sweet potatoes + mushrooms and putting them in a separate bowl and then combinging together. It will help avoid the beans and pecans from becoming a purée while the potatoes stay whole. Thanks for the recipe!

  69. Sue S says

    Great recipe. Wonderful flavor. Made a double batch a few weeks ago for vegan family who LOVED them. Also a huge hit with the non vegans!

    There are quite a few steps and it seemed to take me longer than I usually like to spend cooking a meal. So about to repeat for tomorrow so I’m pre cooking quinoa, drying beans and cooking sweet potatoes and mushrooms a day ahead as I’m serving left overs tonight! Hoping that splitting across two nights will make it seem less burdensome.

  70. Sara Meyers says

    These were excellent! Loved the flavor and consistency. Made a double batch and was able to get 10 burgers out of it. Does require several steps but so worth it. Unlike many other veggie burgers I’ve tried I had no issue with them falling apart. I really think getting those beans super dry is the reason — so smart! So we made 2 as directed and I’ve now frozen 8 pre frying/baking. I’m serving them on Friday at my bday BBQ dinner. I’ve read all the comments and still a bit confused as to the best strategy for cooking them out of the freezer — if it’s bake for 10 min then fry, for 8-10 min when does the BBQ sauce on top make an appearance. Thanks so much! Can’t wait to serve to my omni friends, along with your macaroni salad. :-)

  71. Abigail says

    Last night I made this for me and my partner. We subbed extra black beans because he doesn’t like quinoa. I didn’t have any vegan bbq sauce, so I just used the Hunts or whatever it was in my fridge. The burgers were a perfect consistency after briefly frying in a pan and then baking. We had them on potato rolls with tomato, onion, cheese, and pickles. My predominately carnivorous partner said he would totally eat them again. Good amount of prep work and dishes involved, but a fun date night in.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Yay! We are glad you enjoyed these burgers, Abigail! If you could leave a rating, that would be super helpful for us!

  72. O.W. says

    I have made these before exactly as recipe says, and they’re delicious, thank you!

    I would like to make a double recipe and freeze some. Do you suggest freezing before or after baking? Thank you!