Get the best of both worlds with these real beef burgers loaded with fiber from black beans. These easy and flavorful burgers only need three ingredients!
I’m sure you’ve heard of black bean burgers but thought they were only for those hippie vegetarian types. (I’m kidding, vegetarian friends.) I actually am quite fond of black bean burgers at restaurants and will often order them to save some calories, but at home I always make my burgers with beef, turkey, chicken, or even buffalo. Basically, it’s all meat all the time at Weary Chef HQ.
For some reason, I got an idea to try making black bean burgers last week. I almost shrugged it off thinking it wasn’t my thing, but then I thought maybe I could add black beans to regular burgers! This adds fiber and stretches the meat, allowing you to get six good-sized burgers out of a pound of beef. We all know beans are cheaper than beef, so this is a good thing!
Thanks to seasoned black beans and prepared salsa, you don’t even need to season this burger mixture (unless you want to add a little hot sauce like I did). You literally just have to add three ingredients to a food processor, blend until smooth, and shape your patties. Super easy!
If you want to serve your Mexican burgers with guacamole on top as shown here (which you totally should), you only need to add one more ingredient: Avocados. I let you in on my secret for 60-second guacamole in my Enchilada Chicken Quesadilla post, but I’ll tell you again in case you missed it. All you need to do is stir a couple tablespoons of drained fresh salsa into a mashed avocado. Bam! Guacamole! You can doctor it up to taste with salt, lime, cumin, or cayenne if you like, but I usually don’t need to add anything at all. It’s hard to bring myself to make guacamole from scratch when this shortcut works so well.
Oh, one last thing. I am showing this on a bed of lettuce because that’s how we ate ours, but of course you could put it on a bun. Another fun idea would be to cut it in half and wrap it with guacamole in a tortilla like a burger taco! However you enjoy it, this is sure to be a fun dinner.
Add beef, drained beans, and drained salsa to food processor. Pulse of blend on lowest speed until combined.
Divide meat into six equal balls, and shape balls into patties. Heat skillet or grill to medium high. Spray with cooking spray or carefully rub lightly with oil.
Cook burgers approximately six minutes per side or until cooked through. Remove from heat.
Meanwhile, mash flesh of avocados with a fork, and stir in remaining drained salsa.
Serve burgers on lettuce leaves or a bun topped with avocado.
Author:Andi
Prep Time:5
Cook Time:15
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Andi Gleeson
14 comments
kilian
1 year ago
Super easy recipe. Tasted wonderful! My only issue is that the burgers came out mushy.
Rosie
1 year ago
Hi, Kilian! Indeed, this is a super easy burger recipe, and it’s best to serve it while it’s hot because the burger will turn mushy when the beef starts to cool down. How about sharing some photos of your delicious burger?
Jessica @ Sprinkle Some Sugar
9 years ago
These look so delicious, Andi! Gotta love a good burger recipe. I LOVE topping my burgers with guac! So good!
Andi Gleeson
9 years ago
Thanks, Jessica! :)
Sara
9 years ago
What a great idea! My kids actually eat black beans so I think they’ll go for these :)
Andi Gleeson
9 years ago
Thanks, Sara! My kids like black beans too, and you can really hardly see that they are there once they are blended in. I need to start mixing other veggies in my burger patties too since burgers are one of the few foods they’ll both eat!
Deb @ Cooking on the Front Burner
9 years ago
I’m going to have to give these a try – we’ve never made our own!
Andi Gleeson
9 years ago
Hope you like them, Deb. Thanks!
Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron
9 years ago
It’s meat central at my house too! Anytime I propose a vegetarian meal, my husband totally squashes the idea. This looks like a great compromise! And I love your fast guacamole tip! Will definitely have to try that one :)
Andi Gleeson
9 years ago
Thanks, Denise! Cramming more veggies into a carnivorous dinner is just about as close as I get to a vegetarian meal ;)
Nora @ Savory Nothings
9 years ago
What an awesome idea to combine “regular” burgers and black bean burgers! I need to think of this the next time I’m feeding a load of hungry mouths :)
Andi Gleeson
9 years ago
Thanks so much, Nora! It’s definitely good for feeding burgers to a crowd on the cheap ;)
Cou
9 years ago
What a great idea to combine a beef and bean burger! Best of both worlds. :)
Mariah @ Mariah's Pleasing Plates
9 years ago
Love black beans! What a great way to stretch out your ground beef!
These look so good! Especially since you topped them with guacamole!
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14 comments
Super easy recipe. Tasted wonderful! My only issue is that the burgers came out mushy.
Hi, Kilian! Indeed, this is a super easy burger recipe, and it’s best to serve it while it’s hot because the burger will turn mushy when the beef starts to cool down. How about sharing some photos of your delicious burger?
These look so delicious, Andi! Gotta love a good burger recipe. I LOVE topping my burgers with guac! So good!
Thanks, Jessica! :)
What a great idea! My kids actually eat black beans so I think they’ll go for these :)
Thanks, Sara! My kids like black beans too, and you can really hardly see that they are there once they are blended in. I need to start mixing other veggies in my burger patties too since burgers are one of the few foods they’ll both eat!
I’m going to have to give these a try – we’ve never made our own!
Hope you like them, Deb. Thanks!
It’s meat central at my house too! Anytime I propose a vegetarian meal, my husband totally squashes the idea. This looks like a great compromise! And I love your fast guacamole tip! Will definitely have to try that one :)
Thanks, Denise! Cramming more veggies into a carnivorous dinner is just about as close as I get to a vegetarian meal ;)
What an awesome idea to combine “regular” burgers and black bean burgers! I need to think of this the next time I’m feeding a load of hungry mouths :)
Thanks so much, Nora! It’s definitely good for feeding burgers to a crowd on the cheap ;)
What a great idea to combine a beef and bean burger! Best of both worlds. :)
Love black beans! What a great way to stretch out your ground beef!
These look so good! Especially since you topped them with guacamole!