I used to think that a great burger could never be made with anything but fresh ground beef.

These Black Bean Cheeseburgers show how closed-minded I was. The flavor is so incredible that I don’t even care that there’s no meat. Seriously!

The black beans, egg (which keeps this from being fully vegan), breadcrumbs and seasonings make an incredible-tasting patty that combines with the toppings to rock our socks off.

Okay, so I still believe that the very best burgers are made with ground beef. There’s nothing that can replicate the combination of juicy beef, melty cheese and a hearty, bready bun. That’s what the all-American cheeseburger is!

But, if you’re open to trying new things and you like sandwiches with a lot of flavor, this is one you really should give a try.

I hear you if you’re not a fan of meatless meals. I grew up in a household where most every meal had to have a meat, and most of that meat was ground beef since my dad doesn’t like chicken, turkey or pork. While I still love recipes that use ground beef, I have evolved to be more open to trying new combinations that omit meat.

Every burger we’ve shared here on #FoodieScore has been tested extensively by our tastebuds. This one stacks up right there with the rest, and it stands out because it’s so different. And hey, even if you don’t want a black bean burger yourself, you might find yourself hosting a meal sometime where someone doesn’t eat beef. In that case, this recipe will come in handy!

 

Black Bean Cheeseburgers

What You Need:

1 can black beans (15 ounces)

1/4 cup fresh cilantro

1 shallot (small onion), thinly sliced

2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced

3/4 teaspoon chile powder

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

salt and pepper, to taste

olive oil

1 large egg

1 large egg white

3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs

4 slices pepper jack cheese

4 burger buns

1/4 cup mayonnaise

4 leaves green leaf or romaine lettuce

2 avocados, cut into slices

What You Do:

1. In a food processor with the blade attachment inside, combine beans, cilantro, shallot, garlic, chile powder, oregano, oil, salt and pepper.

2. Pulse processor 15 to 20 times to form a thick, slightly chunky paste.

3. Transfer the burger patty paste to a large bowl.

4. In a small bowl, whisk egg and egg white. Add to the bean paste, along with bread crumbs, and mix well.

5. Form four patties of equal size, about 3/4-inch thick.

6. Cover and refrigerate patties for 1 to 4 hours.

7. Prep your grill for cooking over medium-high heat.

8. With the lid closed, cook black bean patties for 6 to 8 minutes, turning once. During the last minute, place a piece of cheese atop each patty. You can also cook your patties in the oven on 400 for 6 to 8 minutes on each side, or you can cook them in a stovetop pan.

9. Toast the burger buns.

10. Build each burger with a schmear of mayonnaise, a lettuce leaf, a patty with cheese and avocado slices.

#FoodieScore Pro Tip: You can serve these burgers with fries or another form of potatoes, but we like these burgers with tortilla chips and our homemade salsa!

Did you try the burger? How did you add your own unique special touches? Comment below and let us know! And include a photo of your food. We LOVE food photos (if you can’t tell)!