
Every now and again you lovely readers send me emails with recipe requests.
One such request came recently from a mother hoping to recreate the veggie beet burger a local restaurant serves that her daughter just happens to love. All other searches for “beet black bean burger” left her a little overwhelmed at the extensive ingredient lists and time commitments.
Minimalist Baker to the rescue.

This recipe is easy to master, nutritious, flavorful, and most importantly, simple. Just 10 ingredients and roughly 1 hour required (less depending on cooking method). Plus, it’s loaded with nutrient-rich foods like raw walnuts, black beans, quinoa, and raw beets.

These burgers are loosely inspired by the beet-quinoa burgers served seasonally at LT Burger in Sag Harbor, New York. Of course, I haven’t tried them myself, but the reader who emailed just raved about it. And if her daughter who thinks most veggie burgers are “weird” loved this one, there must be something special about it.
After scanning their menu I seriously wanted to visit the area just to sample LT’s menu. But for now, recreating their recipes from afar will have to do.

I was quite pleased with how these little guys turned out. They’re
Hearty
Smoky
Flavorful
Tender and moist on the inside
Perfectly crisp on the outside
Not at all mushy
Simple
Savory
& Perfect for satisfying killer burger cravings
Another thing I love about them is that the raw beets give them a deep magenta hue that makes them irresistibly beautiful. Even veggie burger skeptics are sure to fall in love.


If you give these burgers a try, let us know! Leave a comment below, or tag a picture #minimalistbaker on Instagram so we can see how yours turned out. We love seeing your photos – it always makes our day. Cheers!
Smoky Black Bean Beet Burgers
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup cooked quinoa
- 1/2 large red onion (finely diced // 1/2 onion yields ~3/4 cup)
- 1 cup finely chopped mushrooms (shitake, baby bella, or white button)
- 1 pinch each salt & pepper
- 1 15-ounce can black beans (well rinsed and drained)
- 1 cup finely grated raw beet
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/2 tsp chili powder (or sub extra cumin)
- 1/4 tsp smoked paprika
- ~1/2 cup raw walnuts (crushed or ground into a loose meal)
Instructions
- If you do not already have cooked quinoa, prepare it at this time. 1/4 cup uncooked quinoa will yield ~3/4 cup cooked.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat and add some nonstick spray or a bit of olive oil. Once hot add the onion and sauté, seasoning with a pinch each salt and pepper.
- When the onions are soft – about 5 minutes – turn up the heat to medium and add the mushrooms. Season with another pinch of salt and pepper and cook until the mushrooms and onions are slightly browned and fragrant – about 3 minutes.
- Remove from heat and add black beans and mash. You’re looking for a rough mash, so you can leave a bit of texture if you want.
- Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl and add the quinoa, beets, spices and stir. For even more flavor, add a shake of vegan worcestershire or A-1 sauce (optional). Taste and adjust, adding more salt for overall flavor (we added another 1/4 tsp).
- Lastly, add the walnut meal a little at a time until the mixture is able enough to form into patties. Set in the fridge to chill while your oven preheats to 375 degrees F (190 C) (skip this step if cooking on the stovetop – see notes).
- Coat a baking sheet with nonstick spray or olive oil. Form mixture into roughly 1/3-cup sized patties (8-9 patties // adjust if altering batch size). I use a peanut butter jar lid lined with plastic wrap to get the perfect shape (a tip I learned from Iowa Girl Eats). You can also just take handfuls and mash them into loose patties.
- Arrange burgers on a baking sheet and brush or spray the tops with olive oil. Bake at 375 F (190 C) for a total of 30-45 minutes, gently flipping after 25-30 minutes. Cook longer to dry them out even more and achieve more crisp, but it’s not necessary.
- Serve on small buns or atop mixed greens with desired toppings. See notes for freezing instructions.
Notes
*Prep time does not include cooking quinoa. You can use leftover quinoa.
*For a quicker cook time, form into slightly thinner patties and brown in a skillet over medium heat lightly coated with olive, avocado or coconut oil. Cook until brown on both sides – 3-4 minutes each. NOTE: This method doesn’t get them as well done in the middle, but the crust is more pronounced.
* FREEZING: If you don’t want to cook the whole batch at once, form into 10 patties, par-bake them at 375 degrees F (190 C) for 15-20 minutes. Then cool and stack between layers of parchment paper and cover. Freeze for up to a few weeks. To cook, place on baking sheet still frozen and bake at 375 degrees F (190 C) until desired texture/color is reached – roughly 25-35 minutes.
*If they are falling apart when flipping, that likely means they were formed too large or flipped too early. If that happens with one burger, cook longer before flipping the rest.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate.
Kate says
Any ideas on what I could sub for the mushrooms?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Kate! We would sub additional walnuts, onions, and beets for the mushrooms. Hope that helps! If you give it a try, we would love to hear how it goes.
Alex says
Hands down best veggie burgers.
I have made these multiple times now and they turn out absolutely amazing everytime. They freeze really well so I can prepare them ahead of time for an easy meal.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Woohoo! So glad you enjoy this recipe, Alex. Thanks so much for the great review!
Steve says
Hi, I must say I followed the recipe exactly and don’t understand how so many people broke them! They were easy to flip and very tasty. I didn’t have my food processor available and it only took an hour of prep. Not a vegan myself but would make again because of the good taste. You must be lightweights if you thought this was too much work. My guests were impressed also.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! So glad this recipe was a success for you, Steve. Thanks so much for the great review!
STEPHANIE DIAZ says
Can I omit the walnuts? Or use roasted salted ones( I already have in my pantry)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Stephanie, that should be okay! Or you could sub raw almonds or pecans. Hope that helps!
Valerie says
These burgers are amazing. I made them almost per the recipe but substituted ground up sunflower seeds for the walnuts as I am sensitive to nuts. I also added some cayenne for a bit of a kick and was generous with the cumin as I love the warmth it brings to food like this. After forming the burger patties i chilled them for a good hour in the fridge before baking. They were loose-ish before I put them in the fridge but were much firmer after being chilled so I recommend not skipping that step for those who have trouble with them falling apart. I was able to flip them halfway through baking without a problem and they stayed together when plating. I served them on a bed of baked sweet plantain instead of a burger bun, topped with some guac and and they were fantastic.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yum, love that serving idea! Thank you for sharing your experience, Valerie! xo
Stacie says
Oh yeah. I have have a vegan guest visiting so, as a fish and feather eater, I was gathering some vegan recipes. I happen to have some cooked black beans, black quinoa, and roasted beets in the freezer and it came together beautifully in these delicious burgers. Even my beef burger loving husband chowed down on these. I did, however, fail to mention anything about beets.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad to hear it, Stacie! Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Amy Hunt says
I was skeptical because I thought the beets would taste too strong, but they didn’t. It was really good. Even my meat-eating husband liked it. The one change is to add a flax egg. We ate 4 at dinner and had two left over, but they fell apart as I was putting them in the container to save. Otherwise, surprisingly yummy.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you both enjoyed them, Amy! Thank you for sharing your experience. These ones are a bit fragile and have to be handled carefully!
Andrea says
These burgers taste amazing! I used couscous instead of quinoa, I used jarred beets instead of fresh beets, and I added 1 tsp of liquid smoke for extra flavour. They did fall apart during the cooking process even though I chilled the mixture first, so they definitely need a binding ingredient. Next time I’ll try adding a flax egg or some quick oats or bread crumbs. Otherwise, it’s an excellent recipe. I will definitely make these burgers again!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thank you for sharing your experience, Andrea! We’re so glad you enjoyed them overall! xo
Maddie says
This looks delicious! I love all the veg in it, and can’t wait to try it. Question: do you think you could swap out quinoa for lentils? Thanks!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Maddie! We haven’t tried that, but it might work! It might not hold together as well, but we aren’t sure. Let us know how it goes!
Kathy says
Loved this recipe!! I did add one egg and one third cup of panko to help bind it. I cooked mine in my George foreman grill for fifteen minutes at 375 and they came out beautiful!! No need to flip,crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. Thank you for sharing this healthy recipe.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thank you for sharing, Kathy! xo
Gail Miller says
I followed this recipe to the word because it was the first time I made beet burgers. My husband and I eat whole food plant based diet. No meat, fish, chicken, dairy. These burgers have good ingredients and taste good but they DO NOT stay together. I see a comment that someone added an egg but that is not vegan nor plant based. I can’t do that so my comment is this recipe is missing something.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Gail, we’re so sorry to hear that was your experience! These are a bit delicate and benefit from mashing the beans well and flipping carefully. A flax egg could help with additional binding!
Kathy says
BEST VEGGIE BURGER I HAVE EVER EATEN!!
The modifications I made were, I added one egg and 1/3 cup (any) oats, 1/3 cup panko.
I added 1/3 cup mashed chickpeas and mashed 1/2 the can of black beans and left the rest whole.
I whirled about a cup of the mixture then added it back to the rest.
Now here is where I really changed it up…. I refrigerated the well mixed ingredients for a couple of hours.
I heated a cast iron skillet with olive oil, let it get hot then cooked.
I mean dropping the heat back down and letting them do a slow cook. I flipped them after about 15 minutes and they held together nicely.
THESE TURNED OUT BETTER THAN ANY VEGGIE BURGER I’VE TRIED. …they were absolutely delicious and moist.
THE KEY IS THE SLOW COOK IN A FRY PAN ON TOP OF THE STOVE!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yum! Thanks so much for the great review and for sharing your modifications, Kathy! So glad you enjoyed!
Mary AK says
Sounds delicious! What can I use in place of the mushrooms? I can eat some but probably more like half a cup. Add more quinoa or…?
Thanks!!!
Mary
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Mary, we would sub additional walnuts, onions, and beets for the mushrooms. Hope that helps! If you give it a try, we would love to hear how it goes.
Anthea Batchelor says
This tasted delicious and I loved the ingredients It needed more binding however. I’ll add something extra next time but love this recipe.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thank you for sharing, Anthea! These are a bit delicate and benefit from mashing the beans well and flipping carefully. But a flax egg could help with additional binding!
Chelsea says
Is it possible to use cooked beets in this recipe?
TIA! -Chelsea
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Chelsea, we haven’t tried it with cooked beets, but it might work? It probably won’t have quite the same texture, but you could try shredding it. Let us know if you try it!
Rachael Stassen says
I just made this recipe and it turned out great! This is actually a very frugal recipe which I appreciate! I used half a packet of a microwaveable pre-cooked brown rice and quinoa blend just to save myself a step. I added about 1/4 cup of panko bread crumbs to help bring the mixture together. I ended up with 12 burgers so I have plenty leftover to freeze. The peanut butter lid trick is fantastic! Thanks for that! I enjoyed this a lot and look forward to trying other recipes from your blog.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Awesome! Thanks for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications, Rachael! xo
Suparna says
Super delicious, one of the best vegetarian burgers I have eaten in a while. My family loved it, but I think I baked it a little too much so it dried out. We ate it with smashed avocado. Will definitely make it again! Thank you, this is a definite keeper….
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Woohoo! So happy to hear the burgers were enjoyed by all, Suparna! Thanks for the lovely review. xo
Sara says
Wonderful recipe. I used lightly fried eggplant instead of mushrooms (mushrooms hurt my stomach) and replaced the walnuts with hemp hearts (I have a child with nut allergies). I pulsed all the vegetable ingredients in the food processor, then mixed in the quinoa, hemp hearts and seasoning be hand. Since there are no eggs in the recipe, I tasted before cooking and adjusted the seasoning accordingly, adding some Cheyenne pepper for kick. In regards to flipping. The recipe says to GENTLY flip. I noticed it was too delicate to flip when I took the burgers out of the oven. I waited a few minutes for them to cool slightly and they flipped beautifully, with a careful hand.
Thanks for sharing, Sara!
Darma says
Pretty good and very burger-like, in a crumbly veggie burger kinda way. Great nutrition with all the luscious ingredients but this is a one-timer for me as the flavor didn’t live up to the work involved and I really developed a hearty mushroom onion sauté. Although the patty texture seemed perfect, baking was a bomb for me as they fell apart — saved them by transferring to a grill pan.
Thanks for the helpful review, Darma! This is our new go-to method and is our most flavorful burger yet!
Rebecca says
I looove so many of your recipes and I can’t deny that the flavour of these were fantastic mind you i added cajun mixed seasoning and garlic to it as well as smoked paprika and s and p. However the ones I baked turned into a pile of baked crumbs when i tried to take them out after 35 minutes. I feel like this recipe does not create actual burgers, perhaps it would benefit from something binding like a flax egg or two? I added one chicken egg (I’m not vegan) and bread crumbs to the second half of my mixture that I’d luckily saved, i then fried them in canola oil in a steel pan on medium heat 5 minutes on each side and they turned out perfectly. Like I said I really do love so many of your recipes but I struggled to make this one work and I followed it to a tee
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Sorry to hear these gave you trouble, Rebecca! We’ll revisit this recipe and see if we can make improvements!
Nicole says
Delicious! Felt like they took awhile but worth it. Looking forward to giving them another go one day when I have leftover quinoa to make it speedier.
Lovely! Thanks for sharing, Nicole!
Sharon says
These are delicious. I’ve made this recipe three times now. I cook them for about 30 minutes before flipping them as, in my experience, they are too fragile before then. I then cook them for another 20 minutes on the other side. They are crispy on the outside but moist on the inside. I serve them on rye buns with sliced avocado and yogurt sauce. They are so good!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoy them! Thanks for sharing, Sharon!
Diana Fishman says
I didn’t have walnuts so I used a combination of pecans, oats (quick steel cut for texture) and flax meal, and added a splash of vegan Worcestershire sauce and nutritional yeast as suggested elsewhere. I thought these were incredible and while a bit time consuming not difficult. Thank you!
Yay! Thanks for sharing, Diana!
maren says
Can’t wait to try this later today, I’m planning to add a bit of vegan bbq sauce for flavor, and I’m using red quinoa since thats what I have I’ll let you know how it turns out
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Sounds amazing! We hope you love it!
maren says
wow, I just made these and they turned out so good! this was my first try making my own veggie burgers and I don’t think I’ll go back to buying them, it was easier and quicker than I expected. Like I said I added some bbq sauce, plus a dash of liquid aminos and a couple shakes of chipotle flakes. I also added some chopped sun-dried tomatoes, which I highly recommend. I served two patties on a bun with mashed avocado, mustard, chopped green onion, greens and a little of this sweet vidalia onion sauce and it was the best vegan burger I’ve had in a while.
Amazing! Thanks for sharing, Maren.
Kerry says
This recipe looks great except I cannot stand mushrooms. Can I make it and just skip the mushrooms or substitute with something else? Thank you.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Kerry, we would sub additional walnuts, onions, and beets for the mushrooms. Hope that helps! If you give it a try, we would love to hear how it goes.
Ari says
Hello! I don’t have quinoa and I don’t really like it. Are there substitutes for the 3/4 cup quinoa in this recipe? Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Ari, We think subbing brown rice should work! Let us know if you give it a try!
Jojo says
I subbed brown rice and it turned out great!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Great! Thanks for sharing!
Kate says
I don’t know if I did something wrong but The burgers fell completely apart when I cooked them. They were also really bland. :( but the walnuts in there were a really wonderful addition.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Sorry to hear that happened, Kate! Is it possible you used 3/4 cup dry quinoa instead of 3/4 cup cooked (measured after cooking)?
Judith says
This is now my favourite burger recipe. The beets give a delicate sweetness, and complement the smoked paprika and chili flavours beautifully. They’re even great cold out of the fridge the next day!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed them, Judith! Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo
Jennie says
This is the second burger I’ve made from your blog and I had a lot more success with this one! After reading through the comments I made a few modifications to ensure they didn’t fall apart:
1) On step four I added a flax egg, a bit of ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce.
2) I put the whole thing in a food processor and pulsed for step 5, adding the walnut mix little by little. I wanted to ensure I had a mush that resembled ground meat in consistency.
Note 1: This recipe is time-consuming if you don’t have a few things pre-made already. I was prepared for that and made it a fun Saturday night project, but it goes a lot faster if you have canned beans and pre-made quinoa ready to go.
Note 2: I put both parchment paper AND a little oil on the baking sheet to ensure the burgers flipped easily. They were soft for the flip but after the final 25 minutes they were great, stayed together in the bun, and went well with a little homemade slaw. Thanks for the recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed this one! Thanks so much for sharing your experience, Jennie. xo
Wyatt B says
These are love on a plate! I’m absolutely serious – long time follower here and these came out fantastic, I love beet burgers and these are a new staple meal for me :)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, yay! We’re so glad you enjoyed them, Wyatt. Thanks for sharing!
SF says
Thank you for the recipe. I followed everything and measured the 3/4 cup quinoa cooked; however, it was disappointing that the patties didn’t stay together upon flipping. I think emphasis needs to be placed on gently flipping in the instructions. Also, I think it would be helpful if you put in a bold note somewhere that the 20 minutes of prep time does not include cooking the quinoa. This recipe took me well over one hour to make – probably two overall, understanding that everyone’s prep time will be a little different depending on what they have at their disposal and how good their knife skills are. I found the taste to be bland – I’m glad I tried it and it was an interesting experience. This wasn’t a winner for me but again, I appreciate the recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re sorry to hear that was your experience! But thank you for the constructive feedback. We’ll take another look.
Caru says
Can these be grilled ? Should I pre cook them first ?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Caru, These aren’t the best for grilling. We would recommend trying this recipe instead!
Mae says
Is it possible to make this with brown rice or cornmeal or masa? Quinoa can be a little challenging for me.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Sure! Brown rice should work well.
Anna says
Can these burgers be frozen? If so, would you recommend freezing them raw or cooked? Thanks in advance for answering, Anna
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Anna, see the notes section for freezing suggestions!
Sandy says
This recipe sounds amazing to me, but my husband does not like beets.
What can I substitute for the beets?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Maybe carrots? Let us know if you try it!
Sue says
Hi- I love your website by the way. I totally appreciate the minimal and healthy ingredients in your recipes. I can’t wait to try this. One question before I do, your recipe calls for raw beet. Can you use cooked beets that come in a vacuum sealed package instead and if so how do you think it will change your recipe? This is what I have at home, otherwise can get raw beets if it makes a huge difference. Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Sue, we haven’t tried it with cooked beets, but it might work? It probably won’t have quite the same texture, but you could try shredding it. Let us know if you try it!
Stepheney says
Loved this recipe. I did half the batch on the stovetop and half in the oven. I will definitely do them all in the oven from now on just because they held up the best that way. But the ones that did crumble I put on top of salads and they were just as delicious.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing, Stepheney!
Adrienne says
Not one of these survived flipping! Probably had to much quinoa in them… Also subbed in panko crumbs for walnuts. Prob gonna have to convert to burritos (not the worst thing in the world)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
So sorry to hear that happened, Adrienne! Did you make sure to use 3/4 cup COOKED quinoa or is it possible you measured 3/4 cup dry?
Joanne says
I don’t eat nuts can you please tell me what to use in place of walnuts that’s fat free/ oil free and the amount I would use. Thanks
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hmm, you could sub sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds, but they naturally contain fats. Otherwise, maybe a lesser amount of breadcrumbs. Won’t have the same texture though.
Olivia says
I tried making some as written, and then made a few tweaks that made them more flavorful and flip-able! I sautéed the beets down a little in the pan with the onions and mushrooms, just until they got a bit soft and juicy, and then added a few tablespoons of oat flour until it came together. It flipped much easier than the original. Also highly recommend adding a few dashes of liquid aminos (I added when sautéing the mushrooms)!
I put the burgers close together and added some cubed sweet potatoes to the baking sheet for the last half of the baking time for burger + fry vibes without adding more time or dishes.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for sharing, Olivia!
Jonathan says
Hey! The recipe asks for a certain amount of cooked quinoa. Is this the amount of quinoa one should have before adding the water to cook it or do you mean completely finished quinoa (so already including the water it “soaked up” while cooking)?
Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Jonathan, for this recipe, we recommend 3/4 cup cooked quinoa which would be ~1/4 cup uncooked/dry. Hope that helps!
Ethan says
Very good. I would recommend adding some vegan Worcestershire sauce, BBQ sauce and nutritional yeast as it’s a bit bland otherwise. Super healthy too which is great
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for sharing, Ethan!
Mackenzie Brown says
This is a wonderful recipe! I used to live on Oahu and had black bean beet burgers from Down to Earth at least weekly (they are incredible!) Since moving away I haven’t found anything that satisfies that craving until now. This will be my go-to veggie burger recipe from now on.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Mackenzie! Thanks so much for sharing! xo
Megan says
This was a really great recipe, I loved it! Easy to make, no blending required, and the burgers have enough structural integrity to not fall apart. They tasted amazing! I ate 2 and froze the rest. I added some coconut flour to the mixture to make them a little less moist, but other than that stuck to the recipe. I had them on potato rolls with tomato, pepper jack cheese, ketchup and Sir Kensington’s special sauce. I’m bookmarking this so I can come back to it. :)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed this recipe, Megan! Thanks so much for the lovely review! xo
Jillian says
Great veggie burg recipe! The texture is great and they are much less time consuming to make than other beet burg recipes I’ve come across. I used flax meal instead of walnut and added 1 Tbsp of cornstarch based on other reviews that they were too crumbly — I put them in the freezer for 2 hours and then grilled them and they held up great. I did not add worcestershire sauce but wish I would have as they could have used a bit more flavor. Thanks MB– will definitely
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad they turned out well! Thanks so much for sharing, Jillian!
M says
Hi just a quick question- the recipe calls for 1/2c walnuts. Is this 1/2c measurement meaning before or after it has been grounded into walnut meal? (Trying to figure out what amount to sub if using oats, flaxseed, or sunflower seeds instead. Am I wanting to add a 1/2c grounded meal of these things if subbing, or i’m guessing it will be less right? You meant 1/2c of the ingredients before grinding?) Thank you so much for all your recipes. This looks great- I can’t wait to try this!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Before measuring! We’d suggest using slightly less for measuring after. Hope that helps!
Joanna says
Now I’m confused! 1/2 cup before grinding? Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yes, that’s correct. But it shouldn’t make much of a difference!
Becky says
Made these last night exactly as the recipe is written – did add a healthy dash of Worcestershire sauce! The patties got nice and crispy in the oven, and stayed together even when eating. Super delicious. Seriously one of the best veggie burgers I’ve had! I see the frozen reheating instructions, but we had a couple of left over patties (fully cooked), was wondering your recommendation for reheating next day? Thanks for the recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad they turned out well, Becky! Thanks for sharing! We’d say reheating in the oven would be ideal, but stovetop should also work.
adrienne says
This recipe will be my go-to recipe from now on to make my own veggie burgers! I ended up not having time to saute the mushrooms and onions, so I skipped that step. I am sure this would add extra delicious flavor, but I’ve got a 1 y.o. at home and extra steps are all optional. In the spirit of Minimalist Baker I opted for the prepackaged cooked beets you find in those vacuum-sealed packages. I used a blender and starting with the walnuts, pulsed them into a meal. Then, I added the whole package of beets, 1 can of beans, 2 flax eggs, and spices and mixed on low. Then I took that mixture and added cooked (red) quinoa until the mixture could form patties (*this is the key to the burgers sticking together – the mixture has to ‘look right’ and the ingredients all need to be pretty finely chopped or ground). I then baked them. They turned out so delicious! Easy-peasy 1-2-3. Even my dad said they were “okay” which is a glowing recommendation from someone who scrunchies his nose at anything that isn’t meat and potatoes! For a little extra punch next time I may add some fresh herbs and garlic into the blender. Easy clean up too – less dishes and prep than the original recipe. I took one star off because although the original recipe is simple, there is a lot of different prep work involved.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks for sharing your experience, Adrienne!
Adrienne says
Ahh I goosed the quinoa ratio. Thanks for the quick reply 💛
Rachel says
I made this using red quinoa, and canned beetroot. Aware the recipe called for white quinoa, so I had to cook the red quinoa for extra 8 mins. To prevent it from crumbling when cooking it (so many negative comments that the patty doesn’t hold) I add in some cornstarch and swap walnuts to grounded flaxseed to make sure it hold ! It was a success !! Will definitely be making this again 😀
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad it turned out well! Thanks for sharing, Rachel!
Erin Miller says
My favourite Beetroot and Black Bean patty recipe to date! Super yum! have just printed the recipe to make again!!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so glad you enjoy them, Erin! Thanks for the lovely review!
Diana Fishman says
I have pecans, flax meal and breadcrumbs but no walnuts. Would some combo of those ingredients work in place of the walnuts? Thanks!
I’d say a mix of all these might be nice!
Amanda says
Your burger recipes are always a hard FAIL. They need stay together, always fall apart. So disappointing
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Amanda, sorry to hear that’s been your experience! If they are having trouble staying together, that typically means they are too dry. We’d suggest mashing the beans more, adding a bit of BBQ sauce to the mix, and cooking a little less.
Kimberley Lieberbaum says
I made these delicious burgers last night! Wonderful! I used a grill pan and they came out perfect! Added a few dashes of cayenne to recipe.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks so much for sharing, Kimberley. 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
Luann says
These were delicious! I baked mine and added extra Worcestershire sauce. They did break a little when I flipped them halfway through the cooking time, but became more firm when the cooking time was done (but were still fragile). I have a guess as to why some people’s fell apart and others’ did not—WHITE quinoa can act as a binder if you stir it for one minute after cooking it. The grains break apart and become glue-like. It only happens with white quinoa. I’m going to give that a try next time I make these. I learned this from Feasting at Home’s Quinoa Cakes recipe.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Interesting theory! Thanks for sharing, Luann!
Heather K says
Mine also fell apart and crumbled when cooking. Did like the ingredients and if that could be fixed I think I would have enjoyed it.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Heather, thanks for sharing your experience! Next time, we’d suggest adding a bit of BBQ sauce to the mix, and cook a little less. Hope that helps!
Yuko says
Hi,
I was super excited to try these burgers and followed the recipe, but when I pan fried it – the burger totally fell apart. Any suggestions? Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Yuko, If that happens again next time, add a bit of BBQ sauce to the mix, and cook a little less. Hope that helps!
Alice says
Delicious burgers, although they were quite crumbly at the end despite adding a flax egg. Slowly turning my meat-loving boyfriend vegan with your recipes! Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you both enjoyed them, Alice! Next time, you could try additional BBQ sauce and/or cooking slightly less time to help them stay together better.
Brooke says
I love this recipe and continue to recommend it to friends and family!
I’m not vegan, just trying to eat a little less meat. I love this recipe because it’s easy, it’s great for meal prep and I find I can add and substitute ingredients if I do not have everything listed. We haven’t been going out for as many groceries lately. For example, instead of the walnuts, I just added some oats. I added a little bit of broccoli because that was going to go bad and an egg to help keep them from falling apart. I really love the peanut butter lid trick as well!
It’s a new family favourite.
How lovely! Thanks for sharing, Brooke! xo
Amy says
First recipe I have tried from your site and I loved it!
Just due to quarantine and working with what we had, made a few changes.
Instead of quinoa, swapped for farro.
Instead of a finely, grated beat, swapped for cut beets in a can. I just diced them up.
I used the first patties for tacos! I used a flour tortilla, added greens, pineapple, salsa, and a little bit of dijon mustard. Plan to use the rest of the patties for an actual burger. Also, your peanut butter lid trick worked liked a charm.
Love those changes! Thanks for sharing, Amy!
Lizzie says
I love love love this recipe!! I’ve made it twice now and both times it’s been a massive hit. I swapped the walnuts for oats that I finely chop. I even added a cube of cheese into the middle of the patties.
The second time round I made lots of smaller patties and they go much further yet one is still plenty filling. I put them in wraps with lettuce and capsicum and it goes well with bbq sauce or mayo.
Thank you!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yum! Sounds incredible, Lizzie! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Felicity Crisp says
I liked these burgers but I found they really fell apart! I think I probably made them too thick for baking… next time might spread in an even layer and then cut into squares. Also felt like an extremely fine chop was needed for the onions and the mushrooms and that really helped create a more even flavour. Maybe I could also mash them a bit better next time.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Felicity, that should help! Or you could also try additional BBQ sauce and/or cooking slightly less time.
Donna Luna says
I prepared and used all the ingredients as listed. I chose and recommend shiitake mushrooms. I added extra chili powder and smoked paprika for a stronger flavor. (I tasted the mixed before forming the burgers).
I was worried about them being crumbly, so took all the steps mentioned to help with that- mashing the black beans as much as I could, doing a little less walnut meal, and adding in Worcestershire sauce (3-4 glugs, yum)! I also added in 1 “vegan egg” for more binding from a package I never use in my pantry.
I got 6 good sized patties from the mixture. Next time I will maybe double the recipe to have more food for the effort! Used the jar lid method for forming, which worked well. I tried pan frying the first 4 in cast iron to get that nice grill effect. They were very tasty.
Flavor is great but when I bit into the burger it was a bit mushy and came out of the burger. So, for the other 2 patties, I tried the baking method as described in the recipe. Much better result! The patties held up better. The drying out while baking probably helped with all that moisture I added. So if you can wait, I recommend baking them. You can always finish on the stovetop or broil for extra crispiness/browning.
Had leftover burgers with a fried egg for brunch the next day, yum!
Bethany Reed says
Wow! This is exactly what I was looking for. I happened to have the ingredients on hand, and I wanted to make a vegan shepherds pie. I made 1/2 the recipe as directed for freezing, and the other half I crumbled into a pan with olive oil on med/high heat, tossing every few minutes until the mixture formed crumbles. The flavor was perfect and I ended up with satisfying crisp “meaty bits”.
Deglazed pan with wine and assembled pie. Turned out BEAUTIFUL with the deep red beets, and very yummy!
This will be my go-to for patties and crumbles from now on. Thanks for the great recipe!
Thanks for sharing, Bethany!
Ash says
These were really good! They did fall apart on me, but the flavor was nice. Maybe next time I will mash the beans up more to help them hold together?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed them! And that should help. Let us know how it goes!
aaron says
I ccoked them in a baking tray as a flat slice then cut them into squares. Make it thicker and push down to get them into a rounder shape when eating.
Anh says
Hello, when I made this recipe 2 years ago, I don’t remember the onions needing to be cooked and there was smoked liquid in the recipe. Did you update it? I just want to make sure I’m not going crazy.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Anh, we haven’t modified this recipe. Perhaps you are thinking of a recipe from one of our e-books? Hope that helps!
Kathryn says
My husband really liked them, but I wasn’t too crazy about them. I am not a huge fan of mushrooms and I felt like that’s all I could taste. However, I could have subbed with more black beans or other ingredient. I also added a touch more salt as I tend to favor salty over savory. Again, my husband thought these were great! He is watching carbs so he ate it without the bun.
No, they are not as sturdy as a hamburger meat patty, but they did not fall apart on me.
Martine says
Hi! These look delicious but I’m wondering what I could use instead of walnuts to make it nut-free… assuming they are used to bind the patties, do you think wholemeal flour or besan would work? Thanks :)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Martine, we haven’t tried those, but they may work. We think bread crumbs or oats would be good substitutes for the walnuts!
Susan Anspaugh says
Mind if I use this in my cookbook with credit like this?
If you want to make your own veggie burgers, below is a great one from Minimalist Baker.
I will make it myself first, and make sure I love it first!
Please don’t republish our recipes in your cookbook. Glad you enjoyed these though!
Lee says
The flavour of these patties is just wonderful. I made my batch using previously oven-baked beetroots and otherwise followed the recipe. I made the patties only about 1cm thick, baked them in the oven and finished them off in the fry pan to make them extra crunchy on the outside. People then chose whether to have one or two patties, according to the amount of extra salad they were putting on their bun. I was really happy how they turned out. They were moist on the inside but not overly. Because I had such success using the pre-baked beetroots I’m nervous to try raw beets. I’ll keep you posted. thanks again!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed them, Lee! Thanks so much for sharing!
Gabriel Branch says
I have made this recipe several times and it is always amazing. This is hands down the best veggie burger I have ever had. It is smoky and flavorful, it never fails to impress. You can’t beat the bright red color that the beets give the burgers either. It has become one of my regular recipes.
Wonderful – thanks for sharing, Gabriel!
A says
Hi! I have everything but the quinoa. Can I sub brown rice for quinoa in this recipe? Or make it without?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We think subbing brown rice should work! Let us know if you give it a try!
Natalie says
I made this for the family tonight and it was delicious! I removed the walnuts (my daughter is allergic) and it came out great. Thank you for all the wonderful recipes :)
Gary says
Many comments stay they are time consuming….I use a food processor starting with the walnuts. This cuts prep time considerably.
This is a tasty recipe, and I’m not too bothered about the falling apart. They are best I find well chilled before cooking. If you are not wanting to keep them vegan….add an egg……
Steph says
We loved this recipe! I made it last night for my husband and our 9 month old baby and it was a win all around —-flavorful and still mild enough for the little one. I didn’t have walnuts on hand, so I used pecans instead and the result was delicious! They fell apart a bit- so I might try to add a bit of flax next time around. These were so easy and quick to make- only took me 20 minutes to whip up a double batch and now we have extra for the freezer. Thank you so much for this recipe!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! So glad you enjoyed these, Steph! Thanks for sharing! xo
Jenna says
Fantastic! Prep time is underestimated though. Lots of fine chopping, took me 45 to prepare. Will do it again with less stress but results are fab!!
Micayla says
Overall I really enjoyed this recipe! I had a black bean beet burger at the Mustard Seed Cafe in Kent, Ohio and have been trying to recreate it. My only complaint is that it fell apart easily and was a little dry but the flavor and texture were fantastic!! I’ll keep working on it but thanks for getting me off to a great start!!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Micayla, thanks for sharing your experience! If that happens again next time, add a bit of BBQ sauce to the mix, and cook a little less. Hope that helps!
Nancy Baxter says
Insane!! Best bean burger I’ve ever had.
Oh yay! Thanks for sharing, Nancy!!
Kathleen says
These were tasty, but a little dry- I live in the SW, so cooking always requires more moisture. I probably overlooked the quinoa, so next time, I’d add a little water. They are a little time consuming, but good! Thank you for sharing, I look forward to trying to make them again!
Wendy says
How far in advance can recipe be made prior to cooking? Considering these for 7/4 BBQ and wondering if I can make mixture on 7/3 and bake when guests arrive on 7/4.
Oh yeah that should work!
Dana says
Can you cook these on the grill?? Looking to make for the 4th. Always love your recipes ?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Dana, These aren’t the best for grilling. We would recommend trying this recipe instead!
Ubuntera says
Dear Minimalistbaker,
I myself am a “minus sugar omnivore” (with a strong tendency towards being a serious carnivore), but these beet and quinoa burgers are on my top fav food list since the first time I spotted them on your blog and tried them out. It’s been five years now since then and I still make them, and I even prefer them to the regular burger. So, thank you for this bliss of taste and texture and keep doing the awsome work!! ?
Sandra Tilley says
My daughter (vegan) made juice from carrot, beetroot and celery, I did not have the heart to throw away the pulp, carrots and some of the celery went into the home made dog food with chicken and rice and the beetroot went into these burgers, was a little concerned that without the “beetroot juice” they may be a little dry but I added a little of the pumpkin soup I made yesterday. Burgers turned out beautifully, full of flavour, particularly liked the walnut flavour. Have tried quite a few of your recipes and never been let down.
thank you Minimalist Baker, appreciate your tried and true recipes.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thanks so much for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications, Sandra. 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
Cris Smith says
thank you, Dana for this wonderful recipe. I am new to vegan burgers but loved the combination of black beans, quinoa, mushroom and spices. My only addition was a flax egg, following what some of the reviewers suggested.
Thanks for sharing, Cris!
Deborah Hunter says
Can you mass produce and freeze, then cook?
Yes!
Darlene Dennison says
I want to try this recipe, it looks really good. Also, today a lady and I were talking about the benefits of beets, but she refuses to eat them, so I want to make this and show her how delicious and versatile beets are. BUT, I do not eat mushrooms, cannot tolerate the textures, so what can I use to replace them. Thank you.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Darlene, we would sub additional walnuts, onions, and beets for the mushrooms. Hope that helps! If you give it a try, we would love to hear how it goes.
perri campbell says
I have also used finely shredded carrots
Jeani says
I impressed my friends greatly with this recipe! I made it again with a few tweaks and as I was eating the burgers on a bed of lettuce with tomato and cucumber and avocado I said, “Wow I really love this”! Now I’m adding a few more tweaks on my third time. Take these with a grain of salt but I am very happy with the result:)
Shitake mushrooms are a must!
I don’t saute the onions or garlic ahead of time.
I add a lot more spice than what the recipe calls for. Same ones but in bigger quantities, although I have been unable to get smoked paprika in my town so I just add regular. I added a half of a raw jalapeno finely chopped also. Tonight I added a little cilantro.
I toast my walnuts after I finely chop them.
I was having a little trouble keeping the burgers together. I tried egg which didn’t help too much and I have friends who don’t eat eggs. This time I am very happy to report that adding one medium size sweet potato mashed gave the raw burgers a great consistency for forming the burgers and I love adding another healthy vegetable.
I think I have the recipe now that I love the best. Thank you so much for this great inspiration of yum!
Ann Bennett says
I found this just recently hopefully I can get a response I made these and they were out of this world!!!! the only thing was they kind of fell apart for me a little bit I got eight burgers …do you think I added too much Walnut or not enough.. thank you
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Ann, it seems like they could use a little more moisture. Maybe try mashing your beans a bit more and scaling back on the walnut meal! Hope that helps!
Lindsay S. says
Fair Warning: These are so good, they will make it hard for you to enjoy another veggie burger anywhere else, ever! My man LOVES these. He requests them at least once every 2 weeks. So I have made these about 10 times and they only thing that would make them better is if I had a food processor with grating attachment (for grating the beets) and then I could just mix everything in there. I’m quite an experienced home cook and even after making these a LOT, they are a bit labor intensive and there is no way I can do them in the 20 min. of prep time stated. It takes me at least 5 minutes just to form the patties! Just a heads up to allow more like 2 hours from start to finish cooking. Unless you can rope in a helper. ;)
Joanne Gordon says
Hey, These sound great. Do you think it would work as a veggie loaf instead of a burger?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We haven’t tried that, but think it might be worth a try! If you make it as a loaf, we would love to hear how it goes!
B says
I made it as a loaf and put bbq sauce and ketchup on top to bake. It tasted good but the center wasnt as firm and dried out as I would have liked. Maybe I should cover and bake next time.
Kristina says
I have canned beets on hand can I use them? Can I just thinly cut them if so? Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Kristina, we would recommend fresh, as canned would make them too soggy. But if you must, make sure they are thoroughly drained and well grated or chopped!
MAJA SKUPNJAK says
Hi, what kind of sauce do you use?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi! I’d recommend a shake of vegan worcestershire or A-1 sauce :)
Cindy says
These were FANTASTIC! I substituted the walnuts with flaxmeal (nut allergy), and added more spicing with cayenne pepper for some kick. YESSSS! Baked them on parchment paper. Found out I needed more time for my oven to complete the process. Left out the oil (dietary preference). They came out crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside and they stuck together!!! Warmed one up the next day and was thrilled with it all! YUMOLA!
Thank you for sharing your recipe!!
Christina King says
Can I use cooked (steamed) beet?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hmm we haven’t tried and can’t say for sure.. if you try it out, report back on how it goes!
Fleur Gibson says
Hi, what nut could I sub for the walnuts?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
pecans or almonds!
Ren says
Thank you so much for this recipe! As I was making it I thought that it had too much moisture and that it would break apart (as always) when I bake a veggie burger. But instead it came out juicy and perfect following your instructions step by step ! <3 I love your recipes thank you for sharing and making our life healthier and colorful ;)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We are glad to hear that, Ren!
Claudia says
I want to make this as nuggets for my kids’ lunches. Do you think using the same temperature would work? And for how long?
Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Claudia! While we haven’t tried this, I think it would totally work! I’d probably recommend checking on them at the 20 minute mark to see how they look, and then deciding whether you want them crispier or not from there. Let us know how they turn out!
Gabriele says
I have made these several times. Sometimes I used different kinds of beans (whatever I have on hand) like chickpeas or white beans. I have used red beets and golden beets and both taste delicious. I sometimes add Sriracha to help form the patties and make the mixture stickier, I also usually put the mushroom, onion and bean mixture in the food processor for a few quick pulses which helps. It’s my go-to veggie burger recipe. My fiancé and I are not vegan so we usually have it with our favorite sliced cheese (pepper jack), and I always make caramelized onions to top it off. MMMMMM :)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yum! Thanks for sharing your changes, Gabriele! We are glad to hear that you and your fiancé have been enjoying them :D
Lorraine says
Super easy and tasty, but two tries and I haven’t gotten them to hold together well. I am gong to try subbing rolled oats for the walnuts or adding a flax or chia seed “egg”.
Gail says
Just made these and they are so easy and really tasty. We aren’t vegan but love a mixture of foods and the flavour was great – thank you!
Amy says
I’m not a vegitarian but I’m looking to eat less meat. Salads are too boring to keep me interested for long. I was wondering if this black bean burger recipe could work as a taco meat substitute?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
I think it could! Additionally, you may be interested in our Quinoa Taco “Meat” recipe :D
Amelia Rose says
So, so good! Love that each and every ingredient is healthful! Thank you for all of the delicious recipe(s)!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay!
Justine says
Has anyone tried subbing out the quinoa for TVP in this?
RJ says
I am allergic to nuts, what can I subsitute
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Sub bread crumbs or oats for the walnuts!
Jules says
I made these tonight and they held together perfectly and were super tasty! Loved the texture, colour and flavours – only made 6 patties though! Even the meat eaters gave the thumbs up. Delicious!
Natasha says
I made this tonight and it was excellent. I didn’t measure exactly, and also substituted carrots for the beets as my store was out of beets (!) and used cashews instead of walnuts. The patties held together very well, and the combination of cumin and smoked paprika really made it great.
Danielle says
These look good but i have a couple of questions. Can you use roasted beets instead of raw? I just roasted my last 2 beets before i found this recipe. Secondly, i DESPISE quinoa, do ypu have any suggestions for an (also) healthy alternative? Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Danielle! We haven’t tried making with roasted beet, but I think could work. Report back on how it goes! As for a quinoa sub, maybe brown rice and pecans? Use this recipe as a guide.
Sarah-Beth says
I had to walk for half an hour and back in the rain to get the ingredients because it looked so good. Worth it. High effort (I cooked the quinoa from scratch) but I’m so glad our food processor can grate because grating beetroot/carrot is my least favourite thing. I wouldn’t recommend flipping them halfway through cooking because until they’re cooked they’re quite flimsy but they held together well and I have big plans for this burger, bread, another vegan burger, vegan cheese and sweet chilli sauce to make an epic vegan big Mac. Thank you Xx
Fernanda says
Can I substitute the mushrooms with something else? Im not a fan of them.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Fernanda! I would sub additional walnuts, onions and beets!
Darlene Dennison says
Hey-you answered my previous question. I should have read through the questions before I posted mine. Thank you. What portion of each do you recommend as replacement. I’ve been vegetarian for 10 years, but happily moving to vegan…feel better and am learning the benefits of food vs medicine (in tandum with accupuncture and tai chi…I’m in my late 60s).
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We haven’t tried it and can’t say precisely, but we would think mostly onions and beans and just a little more walnuts. Hope that helps!
Chelsea says
ah-freaking-mazing recipe! I made one for myself tonight, and I’ll be bringing several for the game tomorrow. Proud to present these beauties!
Ana says
Oh my God! Thank you for this recipe! Easy and very yummy. Just making a badge of them to freeze them so when I feel lazy I’ll chuck them in the oven and… voilà
Kurt VB says
I’ve made this recipe three times now and I very much enjoy it, with a single caveat. Cumin is not a subtle spice and I found it was overpowering the rest of the flavors the first time I made this so I have reduced it from 1 tsp. to 1/2 tsp the the second time and a smidge less than a 1/2 tsp the third time. (Call it 3/8 tsp.) Overall this is a really outstanding recipe. The first veggie burgers I actually enjoyed.
Jessica says
I made these a couple months ago and told my meat lover boyfriend they were lamb and beetroot. I made him two burgers since his complaint about vegan food is the stereotypical “not enough protein” phrase. So didn’t want him to have any ammunition. He was so full after the first one and told me they were one of his favourite meals I had cooked. Asked him the next day if he was going to eat his leftover burger and he said he couldn’t wait! I then told him they were vegan. Haha! Sprung. What a delicious meal! Have just bought more ingredients to make them again and freeze them for on the go meals. Thanks so much.
Be Well Babe says
I loved this! Unfortunately, my first batch of patties nearly fell apart, haha. Two questions: 1.) Any tips to prevent that and 2.) I was wondering if I can use lentils instead of black beans to make this work, too? This is such a dope blog. Thank you for being here!
Dayana says
I loved this recipe and made it in the same day as the Pumpkin cheesecake pie, I loved both and I cannot stop recommending your website! Brilliant! Thank you for sharing your wisdom!
Lindsay S. says
Fave homemade veggie burger so far! I’ve made these 3 times now and each time they’ve been a little different even though I followed the recipe exactly.
The first time (beginner’s luck maybe!) they turned out PERFECTLY. Held together, crispy on the outside, etc. The 2nd and third times they didn’t hold together as well, but honestly I think it’s because I rushed the cooking of the onions and mushrooms so they still had too much moisture. And my beet was particularly juicy, so I should have pressed it to remove any excess liquid. All I can say is, Stick with it people! Give these another chance if you didn’t luck out the first time. Make sure your ingredients are too moist and bake them, don’t try to fry in a pan. This is one of my boyfriend’s favorite meals, served along the crispy matchstick fries :)
Anita Kishore says
Delicious and beautiful recipe. I found that my burgers needed *much* more salt than a pinch after adding in the beans, beets, and quinoa. I probably used 1/2-3/4 tsp – would be helpful to add that to recipe since I didn’t taste until the first batch had baked. I also substituted a tiny bit of days-old nut bread I had on hand for the walnita as I was out.
Sintija, the Latvian foodie says
We tried it and absolutely loved it! Me and my boyfriend aren’t vegan but wanted to spice up the regular burger recipe, and we made these together. He was absolutely astonished as to how the patties really looked like bloody beef patties due to the beets, and he really enjoyed the taste as well! He was happy :)
We used flaxseed powder instead of walnut meal, as I forgot to buy them at the store. I didn’t use paprika as I’m trying to avoid it (skin condition, and paprika is among the possible irritants) – but spiced it up with black pepper and some other herbs and spices.
Perhaps we didn’t cook the quinoa well enough, as it turned hard when cooking the patties in the oven. Also, I’d add an egg to the patty mixture, so that it all would stick together better – bigger patties like we made were pretty fragile (smaller ones as mentioned on the recipe would do better).
But overall – super awesome recipe! We’ll definitely make this again in our house!
Yolanda says
I’d like to prep this recipe, but unsure if the beets should be boiled first. A quick response would be greatly appreciated.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Yolanda! No need to boil them first!
Priya says
I just made this recipe, and it tastes amazing! I did have the problem of it being crumbley, but I didn’t mash up the beans thoroughly and will do next time! Great job!
Tanvi says
Amazing burgers! Thanks, Dana.
I’ve made them twice already. The first time, I followed the recipe but omitted mushrooms and onions. The second time, I felt it needed some zing, so I added 1-2 tsps of curry powder and some cheese. Really outstanding.
My son who doesn’t like quinoa or beets [and wasn’t told of the ingredients in this burger] said as an exception, he’ll eat quinoa and beets in THIS burger, but not for ANYTHING ELSE, OK?!
Junkyard says
Can I deep fry it..after taking it out of the deep freezer?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
That should work – I haven’t tried it but report back on how it goes!
JW says
Hi, I’m just wondering how you grate the beets and if you can use a food processor to mince them for the same effect. Also, would you possibly have any suggested substitutions for the mushrooms or are those necessary for texture purposes? Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi! A food processor should work! I would omit the mushrooms and add more beans or walnuts!
Jenlinder says
I made these tonight – unfortunately it turned out that I only had 1/2 cup of beet but I followed the rest of the recipe and it turned out great! I loved using a lid to form the patties it worked out really great. I use daily a bigger lid and only ended up with 4 burgers but they stayed together, were crispy on the outside and tasted amazing :). Double the recipe if you need more burgers unless you are making sliders.
Victoria says
Hey! I have some extra beets laying around so I’ve been searching for some recipes using them. However, I don’t have any quinoa at the moment since they are rather expensive and I find them rather unneccesary to add to my diet. Can I sub the quinoa for oats instead?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Victoria! We haven’t tried oats, if you try it let us know how it goes!
Vicky says
I actually found some quinoa in a nearby local health store! It’s a bit expensive, but I’ve been wanting to try new things so I bought it anyways. The flavour was not that strong, so I added lots of smoked paprika and subbed the chili powder for cayenne. The mix was very crumbly, it didn’t hold itself together that well. Next time, I’ll add a flax egg to help bind it together, but this is a good base recipe! Thanks, Dana!
Nan Bröchner says
I’m sorry but this recipe simply doesn’t work. The burgers fall apart and behave like granola. There is no way you could fry them on a skillet, I couldn’t even turn them around on the oven plate. Trying to and move them to the bun with a spatula resulted in a little pile of granolalike shreds. Wasted work :-(
Natalia says
I tried making these and they fell apart. I tried adding a number of binders but it was a dud. Went into the garbage.
Leanne says
Currently making these for the second time this week, with a little Billie Holiday playing in the background. It’s quite a good combination:) Thank you for such a delicious recipe!
Diane says
This looks good! In terms of cup measures (like 1/2 cup) how much should go In each patty to yield 8-9?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Diane! Hmm, I’m not sure as I used a peanut butter jar lid lined with plastic wrap to get the perfect shape which yields 8-9 burgers! I would say maybe 1/4 cup. Hope this helps!
Karen says
I made these burgers about a month ago as have two family members who are vegan . They were so delicious will be making them again on weekend for another family get together. I did mash my beans fairly well and they held together just fine which i was surprised as have made vegan burgers before which were not as tasty and fell apart.
Sarah says
I’d love to make these but onions cause me terrible heartburn. Can I make these without onions or try to substitute with shallots which are milder?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
You can leave them out, Sarah!
Jeanette says
Hi I have whole cooked beetroot can I use this instead of raw beetroot.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi! We haven’t tried, but I think could work. Report back on how it goes!
Mike says
I tried these and although they tasted really nice, they did not hold together and were extremely messy to eat. They need something else to help bind them together better.
mary says
made this tonight and really loved it. used brown rice in place of quinoa and almond flour in place of walnut meal. a little crumbly after they were baked but i don’t really mind that. i served with without a bun with sliced avocado and hot sauce.
Emely says
This recipe was what convinced the rest of my family that they could be vegetarians too! Awesome recipe. We make it multiple times every summer.
Stephanie says
Hi! I love these burgers and made a ton to freeze! Will they still be good after a couple months?
Karen Thomas says
Best veggie burger yet. I added a little Island Teriyaki by Kona company. Smoky and meaty and looks like a real burger. Yum!
Gina says
I did all the tricks; added eggs, smashed the beans, refrigerated the mix, and still end up with crumbly burgers! They taste great, but need help holding their shape. Any suggestions?
Jennifer says
Loos amazing! Is there a substitute for the mushrooms? I’d like to make for a family BBQ and my sister is allergic. Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Jennifer! I would sub additional walnuts, onions and beets! Have a great BBQ!
Jennifer says
Thank you so much! Our family loves your cookbook – there is not one day that we do not use it! Have a great day!
Susan Holl says
AWESOME recipe and I’ve made this recipe twice. First time as written. Was good but kind of were looking for a little more flavor. Second time subbed leftover brown rice because I was out of quinoa and it worked out fine, plus we quadrupled the cumin and chili powder and used 1T instead of 1/4 top of smoked paprika (I love this stuff!). Topped it with tomato, avocado, horseradish and vegan mayo. Food of the gods…
Kelly Davis says
Just made these tonight and they were excellent! Hearty, filling, not too beet-y (I think beets taste like dirt). My husband was quite impressed too! We added Worcestershire to the mix and some mayo and A1 on top of the cooked burger (we’re not vegan but we are dairy free). We actually grilled these in an air fryer at 380 degrees for 20 minutes and they turned out perfectly. Very VERY delicious! Can’t wait to try your Mexican chili burger!
Ian Vanin says
Gong to try these today using some of your quinoa taco meat in place of cooked plain quinoa and adobo sauce instead of paprika for a smoky Mexican inspired burger ??
Rachael says
I had trouble getting these burgers to stay together. They did “ok” in the pan, a few bits and pieces fell off the edges, but if I’d tried to grill them, I would’ve had no luck. But no, fear! Almost anything can be fixed with tortilla! I broke them up like “ground meat” in warmed corn tortilla (for there is no other kind) with mixed baby lettuce and the avocado, lime, cilantro dressing from the MB Mexican lettuce cups recipe (YUM) and they were fabulous. With the leftovers, I did cheat and added an egg (I suppose one could use a flax egg? Haven’t tried it, so I can’t speak to how well it binds) and reformulated the patties, pan fried them again just long enough to cook the egg through and it worked like a charm. I must not have mashed up the beans, or chopped up the nuts or missed some step somewhere down the line, but next time I’d save myself the head and heart ache and use the egg and call it a day. These were a hit with my carnivorous boyfriend!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Rachael! Next time, be sure to mash your beans up quite a bit and that should help your patties form (and stick together) much better. Hope this helps!
Taylor Van Antwerp says
Made these tonight. Topped with Avocado. Great! Problem: burger entirely crumbled. Which ingredient is supposed to hold the burger together?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Taylor! If the beans are mashed well, they should hold together!
Taylor Van Antwerp says
That explains the crumbles. I took “rough mash” to the extreme. Thank you.
Linda L Sweet says
These were very yummy, not at all bland. They did fall completely apart. I will try bread crumbs next time with a little veggie stock. Will definitely make these again soon. Thanks
Helen says
Hi! How much quinoa am I meant to use? I’m trying to figure out the conversation and get the proportions right but am not sure what 3/4 cup cooked quinoa is in grams of uncooked quinoa? Please help!
Ps. It would be amazing if grams were included in your recipes as the cup isn’t a measure we have in the UK
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Helen! 3/4 cup of cooked quinoa is about 1/4 cup of dry quinoa! Good luck!
Thea Sauve says
What kind of slider buns do you recommend? I can’t seem to find any good ones!
Thanks!
Elle says
I’m not really fan of mushrooms, is there anything I could sub this with? Sweet potato?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
I would sub additional walnuts, onions and beets!
char says
Flavour is great but they definitely need a binding agent as mine totally fell apart.
Dineen Speer says
Insanely awesome! Make this once, you’ll make it for life! I am grateful! Thanks for giving this to the world!
Julie says
Could I sub almonds for walnuts?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Julie! You sure can!
elly says
there isn’t any mash in ingredients but then in how to make it it suddenly appears. So my question is what mash are you talking about?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi! When I say ‘mash’ I refer to mashing the mixture up! You are going to want to mash the black beans up to ensure that the patties hold together. Good luck!
Melissa Clayton says
So I made these and while the taste is good they fell apart when i tried to flip em. I put them back together but they just wouldn’t stay together ? any hints? Did I do somethinget wrong? I followed directions.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi! I’d say mash your beans more thoroughly next time for a better hold!
Melissa Clayton says
I’ll definitely try again. For right now I have some yummy sloppy joe type things! But the taste is great!
Kelly Angel says
Made these the other night, they were absolutely divine. I’m not vegan, but always looking for healthier dinner options. Everyone gobbled them up so quickly! Loved, loved, loved them!
Rosa says
So, this looks delicious and while I would probably love the texture of the burger, my husband prefers things to be more…homogeneous.
Do you think that these would hold up if I, uhh, blended it to death in a food processor?
Patricia says
Cheeseburgers are my favorite food but, I made a New Year’s resolution to eat more vegetables. I was skeptical of this recipe as I only recently realized I can at least stomach beets. I’m glad I gave it a try because it is PHENOMENAL. I’m giving it to all my friends and marking it a favorite. Will make many, many more times.
Kate says
The absolute best veggie burger I’ve ever made at home AND bought at the store. Reminds me of the texture and flavor of my favorite burger spot in San Francisco, Roam Burger. Truly tasty even on it’s own, great after being frozen, and easy to make.
We paired ‘tejano style’ like my Roam Burger favorite – avocado, pepper jack, lettuce, tomato, jalapeno red pepper relish, a dash of Ranch sauce and a few tortilla chip strips for crunch. Heaven!!!!
JP says
Very tasty, but same problem as some others with them falling apart. Pan frying seems to keep them together a little better. Had a few with vegan mayo, tomato, etc and they were awesome. Going to make the remaining into sliders and test some toppings like Guac, Sauteed Portobella and maybe Hummus. Very good though.
Kate says
Any suggestions for how to get these tasty burgers to stick together? I made these the other night, and while totally delicious, they were also totally crumbly and impossible to flip or add onto a sandwich in one piece. I think I followed the proportions pretty carefully. What should the consistency of the final mix be before shaping into patties and baking?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi! Hmm, seems like they could use a little more moisture. Maybe try mashing your beans a bit more and scaling back on the walnut meal a bit! Let me know how it goes!
Derick says
Tasted great! But fell apart when flipping. Any suggestions? Maybe a vegan binder?
Fiorya says
Wow! I knew they were going to be amazing when I went to flip them halfway through the bake time, and they were already looking juicy and smelling like heaven. And I was right. They’re amazing! I didn’t have any smoked paprika, but they still proved to taste great regardless. Also subbed the nuts for 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs. Topped my burger with some ketchup and guacamole. Will be making again! (Although I might need to invest in a food processor for next time. So much grating and chopping.)
Anastasia says
AMAZING recipe, thank you so much Dana! Made these yesterday and I was so surprised, I honestly wasn’t expecting much but they delivered in flavor and texture in a huge way! I am eating them again today (for lunch AND diner) and I cant get over how good they are. I am so tempted to make a huge batch of them to freeze in for a quick and super satisfying meal for those days I am feeling lazy.
SUCCESS!!
Anastasia says
Hi Dana!
If I cook the beans myself (I dont like canned products) should I still measure 15-ounce cooked black beans?
Anastasia says
For anyone wondering, I measured 1,5 cups of cooked beans and it came out perfectly!
Jacqueline Meldrum says
I love a good homemade burger and I love beetroot. I don’t know why I’ve never put the two together. This is going on my to-do list.
Celina says
That’s it. I’m calling it. Best veggie burgers ever!
I’ve tried a lot (and I mean A LOT) but none are as hearty, smoking and delicious without being greasy or heavy.
Definitely going to become a regular on the menu!
Tina says
I have to add these were not mushy at all, perhaps the commenter who said they were didn’t bake them long enough.
Tina says
These burgers are incredible! The next day I mixed a leftover burger with vegan chili and it made a delicious sloppy joe!
Thank you for sharing your talent with all of us!
Tina
Eva says
I found these very bland, unfortunately! And I followed the recipe exactly as its written on here–usually I veer my own course with these types of things, but this recipe definitely needed more oomph. Also the texture is the stereotypically mushy veggie burger, and they really don’t crisp up very much at all. I think a tastier burger would include more black beans and perhaps bread crumbs and eggs to help hold it together.
Baygo says
I added a little more beans than what was called for and walnuts. Also I cooked mine a little longer but it did fall apart a little but that may have been because I didn’t cool it down as long as I probably should have.
But I did find it tasty. I would give it four stars.
Amal says
Hi there :)
I made these tonight, but for some reason the mixture wasn’t sticking together. It felt it had a lot of juice and no binding agent, what can I do to avoid this??
Hmm, add more dry ingredients next time, especially walnuts! In a pinch, bread crumbs are a good fix as well. Good luck!
Amal says
Thank you!! I’ll definitely try that! The recipe itself was delicious!! When I flipped them over they completely broke. Hopefully more walnuts will avoid that. Thanks for the recipe :)
Gaby says
LOVED these!! I was even tempted to eat all the mixture before cooking the patties! The only thing I want to add is that they made fewer than 8-9 burgers, so I’d say double the recipe if that’s the crew you’re feeding.
Rachael says
Hi there,
I would love to make these (and many of the amazing recipes on your blog!) but I’m living in a small studio apartment with no oven :(. I have been able to make do with lot’s of curry, pasta, eggs etc but would love to figure out some ways to use my stove top to make new meals. Is it possible to pan “fry” these burgers to cook them? Thanks so much!
~Rachael
Shelley says
I made these today and they’re the bomb!!!! So good…who needs beef?! Thank you for sharing. I used to hate veggie burgers and you have made a believer out of me! I can be done and done WELL indeed!
Sarah says
If we can’t eat all of these within a few days, would you recommend freezing the patties before or after cooking them?
Looks so tasty, planning to try tonight! Thanks for the great recipe!
Jessica says
Saw this recipe and cooked the quinoa the night before. Just a random tip, make sure you cook the quinoa using the absorption method to keep in all the nutrients :). Was too lazy to grate beets to I bought Beetroot dip instead, super juicy! I fried them on a hot skillet since the oven broke.
maria says
Ummmm.. WOW!
These are the type of recipes that make me adore vegetarian/vegan meals.
I’m neither of those things but absolutely love playing with these gorgeous recipes. Eating nutritious foods just got absolutely delicious!
Thank you for all of your incredible recipes!
Brooke says
Could I sub panko breadcrumbs for the walnuts? Just made your grillable veggie burgers which were delicious so I’m going to try these next!
Mavourneen says
These are SOOOOOOO good!!!! They’re a pain in the butt to make with all the chopping and mashing (I pull out the food processor), but completely worth it. They freeze really well so when I go through the effort to make them, I make A LOT. Haven’t been able to figure out how to keep them together, but I eat them with a fork and no toppings and there is PLENTY of flavor.
Thank you!!
Yay! Thanks for sharing!
Bridget says
If I don’t really like beets, can I still make these? Beets are really good for you and I would like to find ways to incorporate them into my diet! Are they really beet-y? Thanks!
Irene says
Loved the taste of these burgers. We made them on the grill and although they were very moist they crumbled quite a bit. Next time I’ll follow the directions and cook them in the oven.
Mona H. says
Best Vegan burger we have had and most likely will not eat another one out. My hubby said mine tasted better than the spot we go to that has a Vegan quinoa and black bean burger!! I agree with the comments about them not staying together well but we just stuffed it where we were going to bite next; added Worcestershire to the mix. We topped with sautéed onions with a spicy mustard. This is a keeper!! Don’t like beets but used them, didn’t taste them and think they made a great filler.
Sara says
Silly question, but do you think substituting brown rice would work just as well as using quinoa?
Thanks for your help and ALL of your delicious recipes!
I think that would work here!
Ellen says
Hi Sara, I was wondering if you had tried this with brown rice as sub for quinoa – and if so, how did they turn out?
Emily says
LOVED these burgers. I froze half the recipe and served the rest to my family along with homemade zucchini tater tots from Izzy’s blog. The omnivores and the vegans/vegetarians in the house loved the burgers. I increased the smoked paprika because that stuff is so good and I added tamari to round out the flavor a bit. I will definitely be making these again. Thank you so much!
Sara says
We made these tonight and they tasted great! The burgers fell apart a little when I flipped them halfway through baking (I didn’t measure out how much beetroot I put in, so maybe it was too much), but that didn’t bother us. We plan on making them again. :)
Nasrin says
These are delicious. My husband liked them as well. I will certainly make these again
Carolina says
Loved this! Still cant believe how tasty it was! Best burger ever!
We also had the problem that they fell apart, try to add an egg the next time since we are not vegan or more quinoa?
Anybody more tips?
Thanks so much!
Hi Carolina! They can be a little tender. I haven’t tried adding an egg so let me know if that helps. Otherwise, you could try adding some of the liquid from the beans, which can help bind. Hope that helps!
Kaitie says
Anything I could sub for the walnuts?
A seed, such as sunflower?
Ely says
Don’t grill these. They fall right through and they don’t cook at all only crumble apart and turn black. I’ve even tried putting tinfoil over the grill. I’m baking the rest, but I just wasted four perfectly good patties.
M D says
Wonderful. Holds together quite well and very tasty. I substituted 1tlbs liquid Aminos instead of Worcestershire sauce. All else same as recipe ingredients. Instead of baking or pan frying, I used my George Foreman grill sprayed with a little avocado oil. Filled between two leaves of Boston bib lettuce with vegan mayo, spicy mustard, tomato, jalapenos. Yum yum. Also tried with sauerkraut, mayo, spicy mustard. Wonderful as well. Thank you so much for a great recipe.
Cindy says
Hi Dana! I’ve made this recipe several times, and I love it. I wanted to share a slight alteration that I use. The first time I made these burgers, they came together perfectly and were delicious. The next time, I couldn’t get the patties to stay together. So I got really frustrated and started breaking the patties apart in the pan. With only 20 minutes or so until dinner and no other options, I decided to improvise. I found some long forgotten (but thankfully not expired) BBQ sauce and ketchup in the pantry, and I added them to the mixture along with Dijon mustard and a little apple cider vinegar until it tasted right. Then I served up a pile of this mixture on burger buns for some really fantastic sloppy joes! I’ve made them this way ever since. Thank you so much for providing this great recipe!
Michael Fishman says
I’m not a particularly good cook and by that I mean I generally rely on tasteless frozen veggie burgers (or other frozen meat analogues) or just beans and some combination of veggies to add to rice, grains, pasta. But I miss burgers and I crave a good and tasty veggie burger and this one, with not only just 10 ingredients (really only nine because I don’t count salt and pepper!) but no specialty ingredients, looked like one that even this tenderfoot vegan cook could handle. So I made it and this recipe was not only super easy, but super duper delicious! I baked them in the oven and they crumbled a little when I took them out but I think that’s because I formed them a little too big so next time (and I can’t wait for next time!) I’ll try the peanut butter jar lid thing to form them. I was also thinking that rather than form them into patties, this recipe would also be good heated up loose on the stovetop and then eaten as a substitute for Sloppy Joes. Anyway, sorry for going on so long and thank you for this recipe! Anyone who ever tells me that veggie burgers are boring and tasteless will get a copy of this recipe!
Judy Tauriello says
Do I need to peel the beets?
Only if they’re super dirty.
Megan says
I LOVE these! I used cooked beets which cut down the prep and cook time a little. Love the earthy flavor. Will definitely make them often!
InNumericOrder says
Horrible, like eating cardboard. It’s recipes like this that make people cringe when they hear “veggie” burger.
Lauren says
What can I substitute in the case of a nut allergy?
Erica Bee says
Sunflower seeds. They still turn out delicious!
Rebecca says
Hi Dana,
I just made these burgers for my family today and we all enjoyed them very much. I topped them with pineapple slices, avocado, tomatoes and a greek yogurt sauce and served them with your baked sweet potato fries. The burgers were so flavorful, something which lacks in many veggie burgers (in my opinion) and delicious too. It’s a real winner in my book, thanks for the recipe!
ellie says
Has anyone tried a flax egg?
I tried these last night. They were simply fantastic. Best veggie burger I’ve ever had. Alas, they just barely stayed together.
If you are out there and have never loved veggie burgers before, I implore to try this recipe!!!
THANKS AS ALWAYS MB!
cate says
Wow. made a batch and put 2 patties in the fridge for tomorrow. Tonight we balled up the rest for “meat” balls with pasta and marinara sauce. yum. totally delicious totally worth the minimal effort. Can’t wait for tomorrow’s burger with pickles, lettuce, tomato, onion and vegan mayo. thank you sooooo tasty.
Dawn says
My son has a slight nut allergy that hasn’t gone full blown to date (fingers crossed). Could you suggest a substitute for walnuts? Sunflower seeds?
Erica Bee says
I used sunflower seeds (ground them up like the recipe indicated for walnuts) and they still turned out amazing.
Rhonna says
I used sunflower seeds and mine turned out great– I I creased my quinoa a bit and did 1.5 flax egg too to get more binding… My beans didn’t smooth enough.
Sandra says
I made these for the first time last night. I didn’t have any mushrooms so I left them out. I did grate 1 sweet potato and added that to the mixture as well as a large garlic clove minced. Added extra Smoked Paprika because I have a love affair with it ;) and a few dashes of Worcestershire, I added about 1/4 cup of extra Quinoa to help firm it up a bit. I made 5 BIG burgers out of the mix and stuck in the freezer to chill for about an hour. Baked on a cookie sheet sprayed with coconut/olive oil for around 40 minutes then put in a cast iron pan with coconut oil and finished them off by browning both sides for a min or 2. Served on homemade Italian Beer Buns/Rolls. I had melted Swiss on mine and hubby had melted blue cheese on his. They were absolutely delicious! A keeper! Thanks for sharing!
Tina says
Wanna try but I’m nervous. I hate beets. Does the beet flavor (a.k.a. dirt) come through? :)
Sandra says
Did not taste the beets at all. The only way my hubby guessed there were beets in it was by the color ;)
Emily says
Thank you! I tried these are they are sooooooo good. A little dry though and totally fell apart. Do you think if I crushed the beans more or used less walnuts they wouldn’t be as dry?
Also I snuck in a chopped jalapeno I think I should have cooked it with the mushrooms/onion but I liked it :)
Now I have a bunch of extra beets and after reading these comments maybe I’ll try a beet recipe. Or make more of these!
Ida says
Great taste but unfortunately they completely fell apart! I wonder if this recipe calls for a flax egg or something.
Emily says
Thinking the same thing mine totally crumbled but were delicious
Wendy says
Can you freeze these cooked or raw??
Aurora says
Delish! Made these last night – lots of cutting, but very easy. The taste was full of flavors, you can not even taste the beets, mushrooms, or onions really – the bean and smoky flavor was the primary. We topped it with butter lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, avocados, and spicy mustard. Wonderful! Very filling as well!
Howat Nadine says
Hello!
I was wondering if the yellow sauce (deliciously spilling out of your burger) was just mustard or some home concoction? I’m a sucker for toppings/sauces especially when it comes to burgers! Not enough vegan ones in the world ..
Thank you!
It’s mustard!
Angela says
I am loving your recipes so thank you so much for the amazing posts!
Just a question, I am really not a fan of mushrooms, do I need these in this recipe? Will I taste them?
I don’t think you taste them, no! I’d leave them in if you can stand it ;D
Jen Pack says
I have never had a veggie burger with beets, but I feel like it would add great flavor to a black bean burger. I will definitely try these out the next time I have a “killer burger craving,” which happens once in a while for me. I’m so glad that it doesn’t have any eggs, either! Thanks for posting this recipe!
Nadia says
Pretty good flavorwise…. I suggest to make them thick… Mine were too thin…
Abby says
Delicious!
I accidentally skipped the step of cooking the onion and mushrooms. But they still turned out amazing! I also fried mine on a cast iron skillet on high heat with olive oil…. I love the crusty, burnt edges. So good!
patsy says
The recipe looks great and I’m going to make them tomorrow….I was wondering if you thought it would work to use the beet pulp after I have juiced my beets…I had been thinking for awhile that I would like to use the pulp for beet burgers, then I saw your recipe…there is still some moisture in them and I wonder what you think?
I think that would work! Let me know if you give it a try!
patsy says
The taste was great but the burgers didnt hold together when I flipped them, I think too dry. I’ll try it again and grate the beets rather than use the juice pulp. Great taste though!
Christine says
I’ve had the same issue with the burgers falling apart slightly when flipping. I’m going to add a flax egg this time and see if that holds them together better.
PTally says
What type of bun did you use for your burger? Also, do you have a recipe to make a gluten free burger bun?
I don’t have a GF bun recipe yet. The buns I used were a basic whole wheat bun from the store. But any bread or roll would work, too.
Sarah says
I figured since I make these somewhat frequently and came to the recipe page to write out my grocery list, that I might as well write you a review! Seriously, these things are amazing. I love the earthiness of the beets and mushrooms combined with the smoky spices and black beans. This recipe takes a lot of ingredients that my picky self had formerly disliked (beets, onions, mushrooms) and convinces me that if done right, I can be a fan of any vegetable. I love to pair these with a quick Greek yogurt sauce, greens, and red bell pepper. Plus, I love any excuse to use beets so that my hands turn hot pink from their juice :) thanks for another great recipe and I can’t wait for the cookbook!
Ah, thanks Sarah!
Munz says
Hi,
Please can someone clarify the amount of beans. 1 15 ounce is how much in cups. It seems to be integral for the proper binding
Thanks
Elizabeth says
I know this is an old comment, but 1 15 ounce can of beans is about 1 1/2 cups.
Hannah says
So delicious! Why do you bake before freezing?
You can freeze uncooked as well!
Sorry for the delayed reply! 1 15-oz can of beans is usually ~ 1 1/4 – 1 1/2 cups beans.
Melanie says
Also been trying to find ways to use up the garden beets, excited to give it a go. Any tips for a non-mushroom lover? What else would you try instead of the mushrooms?
You could sub more beets!
Villainesse says
People who don’t like mushrooms usually object to their texture. With these chopped so finely, there is no mushroom texture left to object to. My younger brother hated mushrooms as a kid, but discovered later as a chef that certain dishes that he loved just couldn’t be made without them. These could certainly be made without, but would lose a depth of flavor that nicely balances the composite.
Erin says
I made these tonight and they were SO good! My only issue with them is that it takes quite a few steps to make them, but they were extremely flavorful and easy to form into patties. I will definitely make them again!
Rachel says
i just noticed i don’t have any raw beets, only cooked. will it work too?
Reebi says
Fantastic burgers. Really enjoyed these and so did the pesky husband. Really good texture and held together well. Put the vegan Worcester sauce in with a bit of tamari. Think you could cook these on a griddle, will try next time – these are going to be a big fave in our home. Thanks bundles.
Wonderful! thanks for sharing, Reebi!
Rachel says
hi! i would love to try this recipe but i’m not really a fan of quinoa and i’m allergic to walnuts. can i sub them for something else? (:
Maybe brown rice and pecans? Use this recipe as a guide.
Gaby says
These are amazing! My friend made these and I immediately asked for the recipe. I was looking for a good vege burger recipe for the longest time and this is it. Thank you!
So great! Thanks for sharing, Gaby! xoxo
kylie says
i jut stumbled upon this after, what, a year after you have posted and WOW these are amazing! – And i didn’t even have quinoa to put in so i subbed- I cannot wait for hubby to try these, I think they are going to be in our routine meal plan!
So wonderful! Thanks for sharing, Kylie. Glad you found us! xoxo
Tess says
Can you suggest something to substitute the mushroom, I’m making these for a mushroom-hater but I don’t want them to come out wrong
Dawnsuela says
Let me first say that I never comment on recipes I stumble across on the Internet. This is a first for me, because I had to tell you that these are fantastic. Even my picky 9 year old happily ate these. They’re going into my recipe box I keep in the kitchen. Thank you for the keeper!
So kind! Thanks for sharing! xoxo
marina colerato says
Just tried these and they turned out great. I doubled the recipe and substituted the walnuts for 1 cup of almond meal and one cup of cornmeal. It worked just fine!
Christine says
Hello! Can I use canned beets instead? I have a can of beets that has been staring back at me everytime I open my pantry.
I would recommend fresh, as canned would make them too soggy. But if you must, make sure they are thoroughly drained and well grated or chopped!
Elise says
What is the affect if I used cooked beets instead of raw? I cooked all my beets last night for a salad and didn’t read this recipe ahead of time, but I still want to make it. Do you think it will be okay? Too dry? Thoughts? Thank you! I can’t wait to try these!
leah says
I don’t know what I did wrong but these turned out way too mushy no matter how long I cooked them!
Chiara says
I’ve made these three or four times now, and they’re a really great basic recipe, with a few little tweaks. I find they tend to turn out crumbly, so I like to add some puree pumpkin or sweet potato (inspired by your excellent sweet potato burgers!). I’ve also made them with leftover rice instead of quinoa. I’ve started making heaps of rice when I need it and save half of the leftovers for fried rice and half for a veggie burger concoction that’s a mixture of these and the sweet potato burgers.
Thanks for all the wonderful vegan/vegetarian inspiration, Dana!
Faye says
I’ve made these twice now and they are delicious! Plus, talk about nutrition-packed! Only down side is that my cutting board looks like a crime scene after I grate the beet…
The only changes I made was using ground oatmeal in place of the walnuts and adding 1 T vegan worcestershire. They got nice and firm while cooking and didn’t fall apart, so that’s a big plus in the world of veggie burgers! Thanks Dana!
So wonderful! Glad you enjoyed them, Faye1
Karen Davidowicz says
Spray the cutting board with nonstick oil before you start cutting/grating. Keeps the board from staining :)
Rupal says
Tasty recipe! Mine turned out a bit dry – any suggestions on how to make them more moist?
Hmm, add a bit of BBQ sauce to the mix, and cook less?
Nina says
These look amazing! I really want to try the mixture as a loaf. Any tips or adjustments to the ingredients? LOVE your blog! :)
Hi Nina! I don’t have any recommendations as I’ve never attempted that. But let me know if you give it a try!
Marie says
Just tried those. I was looking for something to make with the beets from my garden. It was delicious! Thank you! The only thing I changed was almonds instead of walnuts.
Wonderful – thanks for sharing, Marie!!
Darlene says
I mixed a batch of these and formed them into burgers last night. Going to cook them for dinner this evening. Can’t wait to try these I love beets ❤️
What condiments do you suggest on them?
Really anything, ketchup and mustard are great!
Natasa says
Did you add the quinoa ‘raw’ to the mixture?
The quinoa was cooked.
Maddie G. says
I recently moved in with my boyfriend, who grew up with meat as the staple of his diet; but somehow he’s open to trying all of my vegan creations. We made these together, and he loved them so much that he now opts for them over meat burgers any time I offer to make them! And of course, I ate about three of them in one sitting. We were too excited to dig in to get any fancy toppings together, but just a little guacamole and sriracha spread onto the bun was the perfect lazy finisher.
Can’t wait to try more of the recipes on this site!!
So great! Glad you guys enjoyed these, Maddie!
Sage says
You have my heart. These are DELICIOUS! As a newly minted vegetarian-turned-vegan, I’ve totally fallen in love with your blog. I’ve tried several of your sweet recipes (major sweet tooth) but this was the first savory one I tried. My, oh my. I can’t thank you enough for this recipe.
Ah yay! Glad you enjoyed these and my other recipes, Sage! xoxo
Gargi says
The recipe is a keeper. The photos are amazing. I would love to try this sometime.
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