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These Black Bean Quinoa Burgers are a veggie burger recipe I turn to again and again. They really do have it all - a touch of heat from chipotle chili, garlic and crushed red pepper, sweetness from tomato paste, cheesy goodness from Monterey Jack cheese, and a punch of flavor from cilantro and chili powder.

Overhead photo of a white plate with a black bean quinoa burger on a bun.

Looking for a veggie burger that won't let you down?

You are going to love these quionoa black bean burgers.

They are packed with a kick of heat from the chipotle chili peppers, garlic, and crushed red peppers that is perfectly balanced with a subtle sweetness from the tomato paste.

I love to serve this on my bread machine hamburger buns, with a slice of tomato, chopped onions, and spinach. It is especially good with a touch of mayo or cashew lime crema.

Let me know how it goes if you decide to give this black bean quinoa burger a try!

Ingredients Needed

Photo of black beans, onion, breadcrumbs, quinoa, spices, cheese, tomato paste, garlic, and chipotle chili pepper in small prep bowls.

Ingredients Needed

Black Beans: Use canned, or cook your own with my slow cooker black beans recipe.
Chipotle Chili: You will find these in a small can in the ethnic section of the grocery store. Freeze the leftovers for another use.
Onion: Either white, yellow, or red onion work in this recipe.
Garlic: Mince the garlic or buy pre-minced.
Tomato Paste: This adds a great depth of flavor and subtle sweetness.
Chili Powder: You could use ancho chili powder if you prefer.
Crushed Red Pepper: For a milder flavor, use less or omit altogether.
Salt and Pepper: Feel free to adjust these to your preference.
Quinoa: Cooked quinoa is used in this recipe for binding. If you are new to cooking quinoa, you can read this for how to cook quinoa on the stove top, this one for cooking quinoa in a rice cooker, or check out this post on how to make Instant Pot quinoa.
Breadcrumbs: Use gluten-free breadcrumbs if needed or crush gluten-free crackers and use them instead.
Cilantro: Fresh cilantro adds a great flavor to this recipe.
Cheese: Use shredded Monterey Jack or Daiya shreds if you want to make a vegan quinoa butter.
Eggs: Two large eggs work best for binding this recipe together, but flax eggs could be used as well.
Oil: I like avocado oil for cooking, but you can use your favorite oil.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Veggie Burgers Good for You?

Homemade Veggie Burgers are very good for you!

Loaded with legumes, whole grains and seeds like quinoa, they are an excellent source of plant-based protein.

Some packages veggie burgers are good for you, but it is essential that you read the labels. Stick with veggie burgers that have ingredients you recognize.

Do Veggie Burgers Taste Like Hamburgers?

While Veggie Burgers taste great, you will likely enjoy them more if you don't try to compare them to traditional burgers. The taste and texture are significantly different, but both can be uniquely delicious.

Can This Recipe Be Cooked On a Grill?

This recipe is best cooked on the stove top. Gluten-free veggie burgers have a tendency to fall apart when cooked on the grill. Cooking them in a skillet allows you to form a crisp crust before flipping.

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How to Make a Black Bean Quinoa Burger:

#1: Measure Your Ingredients

#2 Make Bean Mixture - Pulse together ½ cup of black beans with the chipotle chili pepper in a food processor. Add it to a bowl with the black beans. If you don't have a food processor, us a potato masher or fork to mash them.

Photo of whole black beans and mashed black beans in a white bowl.

#3 Saute - Spray a skillet with oil and cook the chopped onion for 7 minutes. Add in tomato paste and seasonings.

Photo of onions cooking with spices and tomato paste in a large skillet.

#4 Combine Ingredients - Remove from heat and add to the bowl with the black beans. Stir in breadcrumbs, quinoa, and cilantro.

Photo of quinoa, black beans, breadcrumbs, cilantro, chipotle chili pepper, onion, garlic, and spices in a white bowl.

#5 Add Eggs and Cheese - Allow to cool for 3 to 4 minutes and stir in eggs and cheese.

Photo of uncooked Black Bean Quinoa Burger Patties on parchment paper.

#6 Form Patties - You can do this by hand or use a burger press if you like.

Photo of Black Bean Quinoa Burger Patties cooking in a skillet.

#7 Cook - Then cook in oil for 3 to 6 minutes per side.

#8 Serve - Serve this quinoa black bean burger recipe on a white or whole wheat bun with lettuce or spinach, tomato, and red onion.

Variations for This Recipe

Add in 2 teaspoons of gluten free tamari or coconut aminos and 2 teaspoons of liquid smoke.
In place of the chipotle chili, use 1 diced jalapeño, a teaspoon of ground cumin and a teaspoon of smoked paprika.
Add in ⅔ cup thawed organic corn.

Photo of a white plate with a quinoa black bean burger.

Enjoy!

Black Bean Quinoa Burger

For a healthy lunch or dinner try a Black Bean Quinoa Burger! This easy recipe is gluten-free and loaded with spices - perfect for Meatless Monday. Vegetarian with a vegan option.

Prep Time20

Cook Time16

Total Time36

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Gluten Free, Healthy, Quinoa

Diet: Vegetarian

Keyword: garlicy, spicy

Servings:

Calories: 350kcal

Author: Wendy Polisi

Ingredients

1 ½ cups cooked black beans divided
1 chipotle chili in adobo sauce
1 onion chopped fine
1 tablespoon garlic minced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
½ teaspoon chili powder
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper more or less to taste
Salt and Pepper to taste (I used ¾ teaspoon sea salt, ½ teaspoon ground pepper)
1 cup cooked quinoa
½ cup breadcrumbs gluten free if necessary
¼ cup cilantro minced
½ cup Monterey Jack cheese shredded (or Daiya Shreds)
2 eggs beaten, or 2 flax eggs
2 tablespoons avocado oil for cooking

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Place ½ cup of black beans in the bowl of the food processor with the chipotle chili. Pulse until well combined. Combine with the remainder of black beans in a large bowl.
Heat skillet sprayed with oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 7 minutes. Stir in garlic, tomato paste, chili powder, crushed red pepper, salt, and pepper and cook for one more minute. Remove from heat and combine with black bean mixture.
Stir in quinoa, breadcrumbs and cilantro. Allow to cool for 3–4 minutes and add in eggs and cheese.
Form patties and place in the freezer for 10 minutes. Heat oil large skillet over medium heat. Cook for 3 to 6 minutes per side.
Optional: For firmer burgers in the center, bake in a 350 degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes.
Serve on buns with desired fixings. Also great over a bed of greens.

Notes

For Vegan Black Bean Quinoa Burgers:

Use Daiya shreds in place of cheese and substitute flax eggs for the eggs. It will not hold together quite as well, so be careful when flipping. Cooking in an Air Fryer works great here.

Nutrition

Black Bean Quinoa Burgers

Ingredients Needed

Ingredients Needed