The Best Black Bean Lentil Burgers

If you're looking for a delicious and healthy vegan burger, look no further than these Black Bean Lentil Burgers! These burgers are perfect for a summer picnic or cookout.

They really are the best and they're effortless to make - mix all the ingredients, shape them into patties and cook on the stovetop or grill. How easy is that?

These lentil black bean burgers are easy on the budget, and they will leave you feeling full and satisfied since they are packed with protein and flavor.

They're gluten-free and super easy to make - perfect for a quick weeknight dinner and a great option for meatless Monday. You can customize them however you like!

I love these homemade veggie burgers because they're moist inside, and they hold together. They are not going to fall apart in your hands!

This recipe was inspired by my Easy Vegan Meatballs and pairs well with these tasty Baked Sweet Potato Fries or Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes. These homemade black bean burgers are delicious with Vegan Horseradish Aioli!

Give these hearty vegan burgers a try along with my vegan burger buns!

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• How to make Black Bean Lentil Burgers
• Substitutions
• Variations
• How to serve
• Equipment
• Storage
• Expert tips
• Black Bean Lentil Burgers

Ingredients

Here are the simple ingredients you'll need to make the best lentil black bean burgers:

Be sure to check out the Substitutions below for ideas on how to customize the recipe to your preference.

• Lentils - it takes 20 minutes to cook lentils; I often cook them the day before making this recipe. You can buy canned lentils or precooked lentils.
• Black beans - I usually keep some in the freezer after cooking a batch. You can use canned black beans instead. I typically keep some handy in the pantry for convenience.
• Onion - I used red onion, although yellow onion is delicious too.
• Garlic - I add garlic to nearly everything!
• Ground flax seeds - mix with water to make flax eggs as an egg replacement to help with binding the burgers.
• Gluten-free rolled oats - you can use regular rolled oats. Oats are used for binding the burgers.
• Psyllium husk - this acts as a binder and is rich in fiber. I buy psyllium husk powder in a small bag at Natural Grocers.
• Gluten-free oat flour - You can make your own by blending rolled oats in a blender.
• Carrot - for color and beta-carotene!
• Sunflower seeds - for texture and taste, plus they are nutritious.
• Parsley - I used Italian parsley, but you can use whichever parsley you prefer.
• Smoked paprika - to add a smoky flavor.
• Chile powder - to spice things up.
• Grapeseed oil for sauteing on the stovetop, optional.

See the recipe card for quantities.

How to make Black Bean Lentil Burgers

It's easy to make the best lentil black bean veggie burgers, even if it's your first time! Here are the steps:

To make flax eggs, combine ground flaxseed meal with warm water. Stir and let sit for 10 minutes.

The mixture should hold together easily when you pinch it with your fingers. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

The next step is to form patties with your hands and place them on a tray. Then, use a ½-cup measuring cup to scoop out the mixture and form it into patties.

Each patty is approximately 3.5 oz. Depending on the amounts of your ingredients, you may need to adjust the size of your patties slightly to get eight of them.

If your burger buns are bigger than those pictured, make bigger patties.

Heat a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add a teaspoon of grapeseed oil if you cook with oil; otherwise, omit this step. Cook the burger patties for 3 to 5 minutes on the first side until golden; adjust the heat as necessary. Repeat for the other side.

Serve these black bean lentil burgers immediately with burger buns and your favorite toppings.

I like to cook the patties all at once; however, you can keep the uncooked ones in the refrigerator or freezer until you need them. See the Storage instructions below.

Note: You can cook these patties on a stovetop grill pan, and follow the same instructions. If you want to cook these lentil black bean burgers on a grill outside, it should be fine since these burgers hold together well. I haven't tried it myself, though. Let me know in the comments!

Substitutions

Feel free to experiment! The recipe is a guide. If you make any substitutions, I'd love to hear about them.

• Lentils - you can use beans instead; rinse and drain them first if using canned beans. Want more beans than lentils? Reduce the lentils or replace them with the beans of your choice.
• Black beans - You can use other beans such as cannellini beans or chickpeas.
• Ground flaxseed - you can use chia seeds instead.
• Gluten-free oat flour - You can make your own by blending rolled oats in a blender.
• Carrot - If you don't have any, you can skip them or use shredded zucchini (remove water) or finely chopped bell pepper instead.
• Sunflower seeds - if you don't have them, you can use walnuts.
• Parsley - you can use cilantro if you prefer.
• Grapeseed oil - use avocado oil or olive oil instead.
• Smoked paprika - you can use cumin if you prefer or try another seasoning such as Italian seasoning, oregano, or poultry seasoning.
• Chile powder - you can use ancho chile powder or skip it. You can try another seasoning that you enjoy!

Variations

• Spicy - add chili pepper flakes, diced jalapeno, adobo sauce, or chopped, roasted green chile.
• Deluxe - add guacamole, crispy onions, pickled onions, or caramelized onions.
• Gluten-free - this vegan burger is already gluten-free. Be sure to choose gluten-free buns!
• Buns - Instead of buns, try making lettuce wraps.
• Crumble - Try serving in a wrap, crumbled in a breakfast scramble, in a wrap, over tacos, pasta, or in a salad.

How to serve

Serve the burgers warm with homemade burger buns and your favorite toppings:

• Ketchup
• Mustard
• Lettuce
• Red onion slices or pickled red onion
• Avocado slices
• Vegan cheese slices
• Vegan mayo
• Tomato slices
• Pickles
• Vegan horseradish aioli
• Barbecue sauce

Equipment

A non-stick skillet comes in handy for heating up these burgers.

A food processor is helpful - I love my Cuisinart. If you don't have one, you can use a fork or potato masher to mash the beans and lentils.

Storage

Place the patties side by side in a freezer bag or an airtight container; do not stack them directly on top of each other to prevent sticking.

Refrigerate: These burgers can be refrigerated for three days or up to three months, cooked or uncooked.

Freeze: These burgers can be frozen for up to three months, cooked or uncooked.

Reheat: Heat a quality non-stick frying pan over medium heat. If you cook with oil, add a teaspoon of grapeseed oil. Cook the burger patties for three to five minutes on the first side, and repeat for the other side. Watch to prevent over-browning.

If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and a rating ★★★★★ below. I love to see your creations on Instagram; make sure to tag me @resplendentkitchen and #resplendentkitchenrecipes. To get more ideas, follow me on Facebook and Pinterest.