The Simplest Bean Burgers Mark Bittman
Meet your new go-to vegetarian dinner solution: Mark Bittman’s Simplest Bean Burgers. This quick and easy recipe transforms pantry staples like black beans, white beans, or chickpeas into hearty, flavorful patties with minimal effort. With just 15 minutes of prep time, these burgers combine the creamy texture of mashed beans with savory seasonings like garlic, cumin, and optional chili powder for a subtle kick. Bound together with oats or breadcrumbs and an egg, they pan-fry to golden perfection in just minutes. Perfectly customizable, serve these protein-packed bean burgers on a bun with fresh toppings like avocado and tomato, or go bun-free for a lighter option. Whether you're a vegetarian or just looking to shake up your weeknight meal rotation, these homemade bean burgers are a wholesome, delicious treat.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 425 grams cooked or canned beans (like black beans, white beans, or chickpeas)
- 60 grams rolled oats or bread crumbs
- 1 large egg
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 0.5 teaspoon chili powder (optional)
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, for cooking
Instructions
Drain and rinse the beans if using canned beans. Place them in a large bowl and mash them with a fork or potato masher until mostly smooth, leaving some texture.
Add the oats or bread crumbs, egg, minced garlic, cumin, chili powder (if using), salt, and black pepper to the bowl. Mix everything together until well combined. If the mixture feels too wet, add a small amount of additional oats or bread crumbs. If it feels too dry, add a splash of water.
Divide the mixture into 4 equal portions and shape each into a patty about 1/2 inch thick.
Heat a skillet or non-stick pan over medium heat and add the olive oil. Once the oil is hot, place the burger patties in the pan.
Cook the patties for about 4-5 minutes per side, or until they are golden brown and firm. Be careful when flipping to avoid breaking them.
Remove the burgers from the pan and let them cool slightly before serving.
Serve the bean burgers on buns with your favorite toppings, such as lettuce, tomato, avocado, or a dollop of yogurt or mayonnaise.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
276 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 11.3 g | 15% | |
| Saturated Fat | 1.9 g | 9% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 47 mg | 16% | |
| Sodium | 512 mg | 22% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 35.8 g | 13% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 7.9 g | 28% | |
| Total Sugars | 1.9 g | ||
| Protein | 11.2 g | 22% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.3 mcg | 1% | |
| Calcium | 71 mg | 5% | |
| Iron | 3.3 mg | 18% | |
| Potassium | 480 mg | 10% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
