White Bean Burgers Recipe (2024)

By Martha Rose Shulman

White Bean Burgers Recipe (1)

Total Time
30 minutes, plus 2 hours' refrigeration
Rating
4(1,291)
Notes
Read community notes

These have a delicate texture and a wonderful savory taste. They’re a little tricky to turn, as they can fall apart. Don’t make them too thick and use an offset spatula, and it will be easier for you. They should be cooked on a flat griddle or pan; don’t try to grill them on a barbecue.

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Ingredients

Yield:6 patties

  • 2cans white beans, drained and rinsed
  • 2tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1small onion, finely chopped
  • Salt to taste
  • 2 to 3large garlic cloves (to taste), green shoots removed, minced
  • cup finely grated carrot
  • 3tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • ¼cup finely chopped parsley
  • 2teaspoons minced fresh sage or thyme
  • ½cup fresh bread crumbs
  • 1egg, beaten
  • Freshly ground pepper to taste
  • Whole grain hamburger buns and the condiments of your choice

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

266 calories; 6 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 4 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 41 grams carbohydrates; 9 grams dietary fiber; 2 grams sugars; 14 grams protein; 504 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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White Bean Burgers Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a medium-size skillet and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until tender, about 5 minutes. Add a pinch of salt, the garlic and the grated carrot, and continue to cook for another minute or two, until fragrant and the carrot has softened slightly. Remove from the heat.

  2. In a food processor fitted with the steel blade, puree the beans with the lemon juice. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the onion mixture, the parsley, sage or thyme, the bread crumbs and the egg. Season to taste. Shape into patties, ½- to ¾-inch thick. Set on a parchment-covered baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.

  3. Step

    3

    Heat the remaining oil in a large, heavy skillet or on a griddle over medium heat and brown the patties for 4 minutes on each side, being very careful when you turn them over. An offset spatula works well for this. Serve on whole grain buns, with the condiments of your choice.

Ratings

4

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1,291

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Peter

Really enjoyed this recipe. I don't have a kitchen, so I just ordered take out. Figured it was easier than reading a recipe then changing it entirely like most of the commenters lol.

Mike D in NC

This is going to sound crazy but try using instant potato flakes. They make a handy binder and thickening agent too.

Eila

I really enjoyed this recipe, but did make a couple changes: added about 1/4 cup parmesean cheese, and to season, added rosemary, a dash of lemon pepper, salt, and a dash of regular pepper.

Maya

If u look up similar recipes, they call for 2 of the
15 1/2 oz cans.

Mark from LaPorte IN

Try brushing some beaten egg white mixed with sesame on the surface of the burgers just before cooking. This coats the surface of the burger, providing some insurance against breakage during turning. Works for me . . .

Mike D in NC

I halved the basic recipe but used a whole egg, plain store bought breadcrumbs, diced banana pepper, diced vidalia onion and a 1 tsp of Red Curry powder. I used my immersion blender to puree everything yielding 2 rather large but thin cakes. I skipped chilling and I sauteed them in coconut oil. They held together just fine. With a dollop of sour cream and Major Grey Chutney, they were crunchy and golden on the outside with a lovely creamy curry infused texture. Delicious! A keeper for sure!

zucchini, chickpea and farro bowl

Mash beans rather than purée. Add Worcestershire sauce. Chill everything in a bowl before forming patties.

Liza

Update: Though I think these miss the mark as burgers, I keep in them in the freezer and defrost them in tomato sauce to eat with rice or pasta. Also nice crumbled up and cooked in oil with a little chipotle/adobo puree, also with rice or pasta. Convenient protein hit for vegetarians.

Bela

Yes would be nice to know the can size - I am guessing the 15 ounce cans because the recipe makes 6 burgers. If you used the large cans, you would need more egg and other ingredients, I think, but just guessing which we shouldn't really have to do!

Gabby

I didn't have any white beans or carrots so I substituted with black beans and sweet potatoes. I grated raw sweet potato, and microwaved it for 5 minutes with a wet paper towel over them and then followed the recipe as is above. Worked great.

AnnLouise

Added chopped sweet red pepper and chopped walnuts, doubled the carrots, dredged in self rising flour to make a crust. Delicious

Linda

I've made this a few times, really like it. Added white miso because I love the flavor, some sharp cheese I had in the fridge and coarsely ground oatmeal for that gluten free thrill.

Mussa

Followed recipe but made into balls, baked on oiled parchment lined sheet pan, then stashed in freezer.

Randy

Yes, I believe you can blame the beans for the texture. Butter (Lima) beans have a very distinctive pasty texture which is very different from the firmer texture of Cannellini (white Kidney) beans.
With a recipe such as this it is necessary to make adjustments as you go and tinker with it, trusting your senses and intuition. If the
beans you are using seem "pasty" then compensate by making the vegetables more coarse or even increasing the quantity of vegetables. MRS would approve.

Mark from LaPorte IN

Gabby. Great post. Jacques Pepin says that's what recipes are - a jumping off point for your own creativity. Except for baking, where success is based on precise measurements, most other recipes are an open door to experimentation, which usually yields improvements. Have fun!

Susan

I sprinkled the patty with panko to help hold it together in the skillet. Very hard to form the patty and move it to pan and flip it over. Once in the pan, four minutes per side, it had a golden, light crunchy crust. The taste was AMAZING. I added avocado, sauteed onion, melted swiss cheese on rye bread plus a little ketchup. Extra time, I will add a slice of tomato. A most delicious veggie burger. I like the idea of workig with frozen patties and i bet that would make cooking these easy.

Alison S

These are lovely - had no issues with binding/cooking. Added some chilli powder in for a bit of extra kick!

Rachel W

We enjoyed them. I actually did half in the pan and the other half in the oven (400 for 20 minutes then flip and then 20 more minutes). We liked the oven baked ones best. Still soft but a better texture for us.

Rachel W

Hi, can you recommend a baking temp instead of skillet please?Thanks! Rachel

Shanna

Very nice base recipe - used panko and added an extra quarter cup, felt like it needed a little more flavor, so zipped in a little grainy mustard and some Tapatio. Texture was lovely and delicate, flavor was good. Keeper - :)

Robin

Made them last night and tonight, still sticking really badly and falling apart when turned. Had to add a lot of seasoning too. Just bummed

sarah

Just don’t make this recipe—it takes a long time, the burgers don’t cohere together, we ended up needing to pan fry them first and then put them in the oven, they burned and my whole apartment smells like charcoal and they don’t even taste that great. Save yourself time and buy some veggie burgers at the store!

Grandmadoc

Bake in loaf pan.

Michelle

As others have said, the texture was a bit mushy and they don't make good burgers. They were pretty tasty otherwise, so I'll try them again as part of a grain bowl or with roasted veggies.

Anne

Yes they are a bit mushy. Veggie “burgers” are mushy!! I’ve never had one that wasn’t. I’m a bit perplexed by the comments saying the recipe is bland. If you taste before forming into patties you can adjust the seasoning (as she instructs) to your liking. I thought these were quite yummy.

ali

Delicious flavor but they fall apart massively. Hard to believe this recipe was really tested!

anjru

Really good, consistency like a crab cake. Might be better with a piece of lettuce for some crunch. Definitely needs a sauce too. I made the NYT Cooking fry sauce. Worked well!

Carol

I made these per recipe and my husband and I thought they were favorable but they had the consistency of mashed potato cakes. Don’t think I’ll make again, too labor intensive and too many dirty dishes for the end product.

Kathy

Easy to make, but mushy in the center. I even made them thin as I wanted to make sandwich. Where did I go wrong?

mimi

Underwhelming as is. Yes it’s healthy and different but flavors were bland and texture was also very mushy. Addition of cumin may be good. Something crunchy is also sorely needed, maybe some nuts in the patties or crisp lettuce on the burger? I did serve w sliced tomatoes and onions, and making these cheeseburgers w sharp cheddar made it much better.

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White Bean Burgers Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep bean burgers from falling apart? ›

One Green Planet recommends chia seeds and arrowroot powder as egg replacements, as well as nut butter, mustard, and dry oats, among other things, to imitate what they call the "sticky" saturated fats that keep burgers together.

What binds bean burgers? ›

Consider incorporating ingredients like breadcrumbs, brown rice, quick oats, whole wheat flour, or panko to bind the mixture together. These ingredients not only add texture but also help absorb excess moisture. NOTE: use quick oats as they will hold the burger together much better than regular rolled oats.

How do you keep bean burgers together? ›

Veggie burgers need a binder to hold them together. Think of it as the glue that makes the patty's ingredients stick. Check to make sure that the recipe you use has a binder included in the ingredients list. Eggs are the most common and effective binder, and egg replacers are an excellent alternative for vegan burgers.

How do you make bean burgers less mushy? ›

Hearty chopped cashews add textural variation, while panko bread crumbs help bind the patties without turning them mushy.

How do you thicken bean burger mix? ›

The flour which you add will help to bind the burger together and dry it out. Some people will also add tapioca starch or cornflour which thicken when cooked, and again these will help bind the burger and give it some texture. When it comes to cooking fresh bean burgers, you want to avoid overcrowding your pan.

What can I use instead of eggs in bean burgers? ›

To replicate 1 large egg, mix 1 tablespoon flaxseed with 2 to 3 tablespoons water and let sit for a few minutes. Add to the veggie burger mix just as you would an egg.

What is a good binder for homemade burgers? ›

One of the most important steps to making hamburger patties from scratch is binding the ingredients together. If they aren't bound well, the patties will start to fall apart as soon as you start cooking them. The most commonly used binding agent for hamburger patties is eggs.

What is a good binder for veggie patties? ›

Use Silken Tofu, a Flax Egg, or Aquafaba as a Vegan Binder.

It is nice and thick, firms up similarly to how an egg cooks, and it's almost impossible for anything to fall apart when using it. It does need to be blended with water first; not a big deal, just a little less convenient.

How do you make homemade burgers stick together? ›

Add 1 egg yolk per pound of hamburger. It won't add appreciably to the fat content and will bind the meat beautifully. The other thing you can do is add canned, drained, crushed black beans or chickpeas to the hamburger. The starch from the beans will bind the meat together and add an interesting taste.

What is the best binding agent for patties? ›

Egg: Adding beaten egg as a binder helps to hold the ingredients together. The proteins in the egg coagulate during cooking, helping the patty keep its shape. Breadcrumbs or Panko: Mixing in breadcrumbs or Panko (Japanese-style breadcrumbs) can help absorb moisture and provide structure to the patty.

What if bean burger mix is too wet? ›

The Simplest Bean Burgers

If you don't have a food processor, put everything in a large bowl, and use a potato masher. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes. You want a moist consistency that will easily form cakes. If it is too wet, add more oats.

What is a non egg binder for burgers? ›

What can you use to bind burgers instead of egg? In theory, you could use bread crumbs—I recommend using coarse, crustless fresh white bread crumbs—or even grated Parmesan cheese. The best way of getting your burgers to hold together is by using a medium grind 80% beef 20% fat ground chuck and a burger press.

How do you make beans taste meaty? ›

Traditional seasoning meats such as salt pork, bacon, and ham are what provide that savory, meaty flavor in a pot of simmering beans.

What keeps a burger moist? ›

Ground Chuck – 80/20 is ideal. Yes, it's a high fat content, but you don't eat burgers every day! Egg Yolk – This helps add just a touch of extra moisture to your burgers and makes the patties easier to form. Olive Oil – This is the ultimate key to trapping a little extra moisture into your burgers!

What is a black bean burger made of? ›

Ingredients: Water, cooked black beans (black beans, water), cooked brown rice (water, brown rice), onions, vegetable oil (corn, canola and/or sunflower), whole kernel corn, soy protein concentrate, onion powder, wheat gluten, egg whites, tomatoes, bulgur wheat, green chiles, calcium caseinate (milk), cornstarch.

How do you bind a vegetarian burger? ›

If you want a veggie burger that holds together, use binding agents like cooked grains (rice, quinoa, millet), eggs, flax eggs, bread crumbs, oats, flour or nut/seed flours like almond flour. The amount of grains or flour will depend on the recipe, but it's usually anywhere from ¼ to 1 cup.

How do you get vegan burgers to stick together? ›

Breadcrumbs: Help hold our burgers together. Veggie and bean burgers don't hold together as well as meat burgers, but the breadcrumbs in this recipe help a lot! Eggs or flax eggs: I make this recipe with eggs, but we have tested it with homemade flax eggs, and they work!

How do you keep homemade burgers from crumbling? ›

Chill or freeze your burgers

"This will help them keep their shape when they're cooking and stop them falling apart." You can also freeze them before cooking. Lay them on a tray in the freezer and, once they're frozen, pop them into freezer bags to save space. To defrost them, lay them back on the tray.

How do you fix burgers that fall apart? ›

If you mix in other things like breadcrumbs or veggies or whatever, consider adding some egg or mayo to help hold it together. don't move the burgers until they are cooked enough to hold their shape. Don't ever press down on the top.

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