Pumpkin Black Bean Burger sits on a white plate.

I think black bean burgers were one of the first standard “healthy” foods I learned to make at home for myself. I was a fledgling home cook, and I had recently read In Defense of Food. I knew I wanted to start trying to cook more foods from scratch, but homemaking a version of the frozen veggie burgers I loved so much for quick work lunches seemed so intimidating!

Then, I was sharing my veggie burger fear with one of my health-minded coworkers at the time, and she said she had a recipe for black bean burgers that were super easy, super tasty, and not at all intimidating. She emailed me the recipe, and I think I made them that night after work. They were great! I did some tweaking to that recipe, and eventually found a perfect recipe for our family (Homemade Black Bean Burgers). We almost always have a few of those black bean burgers stashed in the freezer for easy lunches!

A Pumpkin Black Bean Burger sits on a white plate.

Ever since I first got over my fear of the veggie burger, I’ve been experimenting! I love playing with different textures and flavors to make a tasty, hearty, and crazy-healthy veggie burger.

I’m not nearly as awesome at veggie burgering as my friend Jenn (seriously, homegirl has some amazing recipes on her blog), but I could hold my own in the veggie burger Olympics! I probably wouldn’t end up on the medal stand, but everyone would say my performance was “respectable.”

Ingredients to make burgers sits in a food processor - oatmeal, sweet potato, onion, seasonings and sweet potatoes.

I will say that this particular veggie burger is wayyyy better than just respectable. These pumpkin black bean burgers are amazingly delicious! The pumpkin puree isn’t super pronouncedโ€”there is just enough pumpkin flavor to add some sweetness. And that sweetness pairs really nicely with spicy chili powder and earthy cumin.

Remember a few days back when I was talking about how pumpkin is an ingredient that spans the healthy spectrum? Sometimes it’s used in more decadent recipes (ahem, I’m looking at you, Three Layer Pumpkin Brownies), but other times, it can be used in a super nutritious way? Well, these pumpkin black bean burgers are nutrition-packed to the max! They are vegan, gluten-free, and packed with whole grain fiber and plant-based protein.

Formed patties for pumpkin black bean burgers sit on parchment paper, ready to be cooked.

If you’ve ever had a veggie burger that is mushy in the middle, you know that getting the right texture can be tricky. I tend to like my veggie burgers to be moist, but not mushy at all, and crunchy on the outside. I like ’em to crumble a bit (just like a ground beef burger would).

To get them this way, I bake them low and slowโ€”at 325ยฐ for about 45 minutes. That really allows the burger to dry out all the way through. If you prefer a softer burger, you could always cook these babies in a skillet or over the grillโ€”those methods tend to cook the burgers more quickly, making the outside crisp and delicious, and the inside tender.

A Pumpkin Black Bean Burger sits on a white plate with a bite taken out of it.

Just like my original black bean burgers, these guys freeze wonderfully. You can freeze them before cooking, if you likeโ€”just freeze them flat on a baking sheet after forming, and then transfer to a zip-top bag once they’re solid. Or, you can do what I like to do, and freeze them after cooking. That way, all you have to do is pop them in the microwave or toaster oven to warm before lunch.

If I do plan on making these for freezing, I tend to undercook them just a touch so they can stay tender after reheating.

A burger sits on a white plate, with sliced onion on the side.

As far as toppings go, I like to top my veggie burgers with more veggies! We always have homegrown sprouts in our fridge (this time I had alfalfa sprouts), so those normally go on all sandwiches. If I have it, ripe avocado, fresh tomatoes, and onions are also favorites. And sometimes, I melt some cheese on top of the burger. And always, I top the whole thing with sriracha mayoโ€”AKA: the best burger condiment on the planet. Have fun with your toppings! Enjoy.

 

 

Pumpkin Black Bean Burgers

Pumpkin Black Bean Burgers

Yield: 4 large patties
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes

These vegan, gluten-free Pumpkin Black Bean Burgers are hearty, healthy, and super tasty. They are also freezer friendly! Perfect for a speedy lunch.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 small onion, halved
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 cup old fashioned, rolled oats
  • 1 14-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed, divided (about 2 cups cooked black beans)
  • Buns and toppings

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
  2. In the bowl of a food processor, pulse together the pumpkin puree, olive oil, chili powder, garlic cloves, onion, cumin, salt, oats, and half of the black beans until mostly smooth. You might have to scrape the sides a few times to get it really blended together.
  3. Add in the remaining black beans, and pulse until just slightly chopped.
  4. Form the mixture into four large patties. The mixture will be soft, so wet hands with help to keep it from sticking while you form the patties.
  5. Place the patties on the prepared baking sheet and bake in preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the top of the patties look golden brown and are beginning to crack.
  6. Serve on buns topped with your favorite burger toppings.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 324Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 960mgCarbohydrates: 48gFiber: 13gSugar: 3gProtein: 13g

At Wholefully, we believe that good nutrition is about much more than just the numbers on the nutrition facts panel. Please use the above information as only a small part of what helps you decide what foods are nourishing for you.

 

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21 Comments

  1. I loooove this recipe!!! I’ve made it about 10 times now and it always turns out great and really tasty. Tonight I’m making the addition of Swiss chard (we have an over abundance in the garden) So I’m intrigued how that will turn out! Towards the end of cooking I always add thick slices of whatever cheese I have on hand to melt over the top….soooo good! Thanks for this recipe….it’s got me out of a “I dont know what to cook for supper tonight” quandary many times!

  2. THESE WERE AMAZING! Made them for dinner tonight as an open faced sammie with spinach and sprouts. Even my boyfriend that is very wary of any meal that doesn’t include meat was happy! Will definitely make again!

  3. Wowsers!! that looks so good, will be giving this ago on the weekend. that’s for sure. Thanks.

    Simon

    1. This looks like a great recipe. I’m going to try this today. I’ve got lots of cans of black beans and pumpkin on hand. I like the idea of combining dry oats with it. Most recipes call for some type of egg replacer. So, I’m very curious how this will play out.

      Also, thanks for the tip about reducing the temperature to 325 and slow baking for 45 minutes. I’ve had some issues in the past with the burgers being a bit too moist in the center. This should solve that problem!

  4. Made these last night and they were out of this world delicious. LOVED THEM! Thanks so much! I topped mine with mashed salted avocado and my husband did as well with bbq added on top. LOVE!

  5. Really though… how can one not love this. I may try this meatball style like your chickpea meatballs and hide it in sauce! That way my littles eat it a bit better. I’m so impressed with this recipe!

  6. What a great idea to add pumpkin puree! You’re right — there are sooooo many things you can use to make veggie burgers (hooray!). Keeping this recipe on hand for my next batch! Love it!

  7. This looks amazing! A girl can never have too many veggie burger recipes! I can’t wait to give this one a try ๐Ÿ™‚

  8. These look amazing, especially since I’m on a plant-based, gluten-free plan! Can’t wait to try them. Thanks for posting!

  9. All of the flavors in this burger sound amazing. The Mexican notes of cumin with the pumpkin… I bet it’s wonderful.