Crispy Black Bean Quinoa Burgers for Busy Nights

Crispy Black Bean Quinoa Burgers are the perfect solution for busy weeknights. After making these many times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping them together is to cook the quinoa until it’s slightly overdone. This helps bind the patties without eggs or breadcrumbs. The result? Golden, crispy burgers that are better than takeout and ready in just 20 minutes. Keep reading for my best tips or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Delicious Pesto Pasta with Summer Vegetables in 35 Minutes and Delicious Summer Quinoa Salad for Vibrant Meal Prep Fun.

What You'll Need for Crispy Black Bean Quinoa Burgers for Busy Nights

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup cooked quinoa
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 bell pepper, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tbsp olive oil, for cooking
• Optional: Lettuce and tomato
• Optional: Avocado slices
• Optional: Pickles
• Optional: Red onion
• Optional: Your favorite burger sauce or condiments

How to Make Crispy Black Bean Quinoa Burgers for Busy Nights

1. Step 1: In a food processor, combine black beans, cooked quinoa, onion, bell pepper, garlic, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Pulse until well combined but still chunky.
2. Step 2: Form the mixture into 4-6 patties, about 1/2-inch thick. Heat olive oil in a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the patties and cook for 5-7 minutes on each side, or until golden and crispy.
3. Step 3: Serve the patties on buns with your favorite toppings and condiments. Enjoy!

Storing & Reheating Crispy Black Bean Quinoa Burgers for Busy Nights

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftover patties in the fridge for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: Prepare the patties ahead of time and store them in the fridge until ready to cook.

Freezing Crispy Black Bean Quinoa Burgers for Busy Nights

Freeze cooked patties for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven or on the stove.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For extra flavor, try adding a diced chipotle pepper or a spoonful of adobo sauce to the mixture.
• Best substitution: If you don't have quinoa, you can substitute it with cooked brown rice or oats.
• Make-ahead: These burgers can be made ahead and reheated in the oven or on the stove.
• Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to serve a crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If your patties are falling apart, try cooking the quinoa until it's slightly overdone to help bind them together.

Crispy Black Bean Quinoa Burgers for Busy Nights

⏱

Prep

10 minutes

🍳

Cook

15 minutes

⏳

Total

25 minutes

🍽

Serves

4-6 servings

🥗

Diet

Vegetarian

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup cooked quinoa
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 bell pepper, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Seasonings

• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 tbsp olive oil, for cooking

Optional Toppings

• Lettuce and tomato
• Avocado slices
• Pickles
• Red onion
• Your favorite burger sauce or condiments

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a food processor, combine black beans, cooked quinoa, onion, bell pepper, garlic, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Pulse until well combined but still chunky.
2. Step 2: Form the mixture into 4-6 patties, about 1/2-inch thick. Heat olive oil in a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the patties and cook for 5-7 minutes on each side, or until golden and crispy.
3. Step 3: Serve the patties on buns with your favorite toppings and condiments. Enjoy!

Notes

• Chef tip: For extra flavor, try adding a diced chipotle pepper or a spoonful of adobo sauce to the mixture.
• Best substitution: If you don't have quinoa, you can substitute it with cooked brown rice or oats.
• Make-ahead: These burgers can be made ahead and reheated in the oven or on the stove.
• Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled to serve a crowd.
• Troubleshooting: If your patties are falling apart, try cooking the quinoa until it's slightly overdone to help bind them together.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftover patties in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: Freeze cooked patties for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven or on the stove.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.
• Make ahead: Prepare the patties ahead of time and store them in the fridge until ready to cook.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 220
• Protein: 12g
• Fat: 5g
• Carbs: 35g
• Fiber: 9g
• Sugar: 2g
• Sodium: 450mg
• Cholesterol: 0mg
• Sat. Fat: 0.5g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Crispy Black Bean Quinoa Burgers for Busy Nights FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Crispy Black Bean Quinoa Burgers for Busy Nights and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!