Black Bean Burgers
These smoky, hearty black bean burgers hold together beautifully and pack in real flavor without any added salt.
Sodium note
Made with no-salt-added black beans and smoky spices instead of salt for depth of flavor.
Ingredients
- Two 15-oz cans no-salt-added black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/2 cup rolled oats, pulsed into coarse flour
- 1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon chili powder (salt-free)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, for cooking
- 4 whole wheat buns
Method
- 1
Mash black beans in a large bowl with a fork or potato masher, leaving some texture.
- 2
Stir in oat flour, bell pepper, onion, garlic, egg, chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika until well combined.
- 3
Form the mixture into 4 patties and refrigerate 15 minutes to firm up.
- 4
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- 5
Cook patties 4-5 minutes per side until a deep golden crust forms and the centers are heated through.
- 6
Serve on whole wheat buns with your favorite fresh toppings.
Nutrition (estimated, per serving)
- Calories
- 310
- Protein
- 13g
- Carbs
- 45g
- Fat
- 9g
- Sodium
- 180 mg
Nutrition and sodium information is an estimate only and will vary based on ingredients, brands, serving sizes and preparation methods. Always check the labels on the products you buy.
Substitutions
- Use pinto beans in place of black beans.
- Swap oats for unsalted breadcrumbs as the binder.
- Use a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flax plus 3 tablespoons water) for a vegan version.
Tips
- Chilling the patties before cooking helps them hold together in the skillet.
- Pulse oats in a blender or food processor just until coarsely ground for the best binding texture.
- These patties freeze well; stack with parchment paper between them for easy weeknight meals.
New to cooking without salt? Start with our beginner guide and 25 ways to add flavor without salt.
