Servings: 4

½ cup mayonnaise ½ cup mayonnaise
2 Tbsp. adobo sauce from a can of chipotle chiles in adobo 2 Tbsp. adobo sauce from a can of chipotle chiles in adobo
2 Tbsp. (or more) vegetable oil, divided 2 Tbsp. (or more) vegetable oil, divided
1 medium red onion, finely chopped 1 medium red onion, finely chopped
1½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¾ tsp. Morton kosher salt, divided, plus more 1½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¾ tsp. Morton kosher salt, divided, plus more
3 garlic cloves, finely chopped 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 tsp. ground cumin 1 tsp. ground cumin
½ tsp. ground coriander ½ tsp. ground coriander
1 8-oz. block pepper Jack cheese, divided 1 8-oz. block pepper Jack cheese, divided
1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed 1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed
1 large egg, beaten to blend 1 large egg, beaten to blend
2 chipotle chiles in adobo, chopped 2 chipotle chiles in adobo, chopped
½ cup plain dried breadcrumbs ½ cup plain dried breadcrumbs
4 brioche buns, split 4 brioche buns, split
Unsalted butter, room temperature (for buns) Unsalted butter, room temperature (for buns)
Shredded iceberg lettuce, sliced red onion, and sliced heirloom or beefsteak tomato (for serving) Shredded iceberg lettuce, sliced red onion, and sliced heirloom or beefsteak tomato (for serving)

Stir ½ cup mayonnaise and 2 Tbsp. adobo sauce from a can of chipotle chiles in adobo in a small bowl to combine. Chill chipotle mayo until ready to serve.
Heat 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium. Add 1 medium red onion, finely chopped, and sprinkle with ½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt. Cook, stirring often, until onion is beginning to soften, about 4 minutes. Add 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped, and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add 1 tsp. ground cumin and ½ tsp. ground coriander and cook, stirring, until spices are fragrant, about 30 seconds. Remove from heat and let cool 5 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, cut 6 oz. pepper Jack cheese (from one 8-oz. block) into 8 slices; set aside. Coarsely grate remaining 2 oz. pepper Jack cheese.
Coarsely mash one 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed, in a large bowl with a fork. Add grated cheese, 1 large egg, beaten to blend, 2 chipotle chiles in adobo, chopped, ½ cup plain dried breadcrumbs, and 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt. Scrape in onion mixture; reserve skillet. Mix until ingredients are evenly distributed.
Divide bean mixture into 8 portions (about ¼ cup each) and roll into tight balls between your palms. Working in 2 batches and using fresh parchment paper for each batch, sandwich balls between 2 sheets of parchment paper, spacing 6" apart, and firmly smash with a meat mallet or heavy skillet to create thin 4"-diameter patties.
Spread 4 brioche buns, split, with unsalted butter, room temperature. Wipe out reserved skillet and place over medium heat. Working in batches, toast buns, cut side down, in skillet until golden brown and warmed through, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a baking sheet and let cool slightly.
Add 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil to skillet and heat over medium-high. Working in batches of 3 or 4 and adding more oil if skillet looks dry, cook patties, undisturbed, until deeply browned underneath, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook until edges are beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Place a slice of reserved cheese on top of each patty, cover with a lid, and cook until cheese is melted, about 1 minute. Transfer to baking sheet with buns.
Spread a generous amount of chipotle mayo on cut sides of buns. Build burgers with shredded iceberg lettuce, 2 patties, sliced red onion, and sliced heirloom or beefsteak tomato. Sprinkle tomato with salt, then close up burgers.

Delicious! Even my partner, who's usually a skeptic about black bean burgers, was a fan and said we should make them again! We didn't have pepper jack cheese so we substituted feta, which was a delight. In hindsight, this may have contributed to a crumbling issue (see my next paragraph), but honestly, it tasted so good and was so minimal that I still think the feta was worthwhile. Like other reviewers have stated, the trickiest part was removing the black bean patties from the parchment paper. Several partially broke up as we tried to unstick them, so we had to reform them in the pan. Apart from that, I found the recipe took minimal effort and cleanup honestly wasn't bad. I'd love to try these again with other kinds of cheese!  Delicious! Even my partner, who's usually a skeptic about black bean burgers, was a fan and said we should make them again! We didn't have pepper jack cheese so we substituted feta, which was a delight. In hindsight, this may have contributed to a crumbling issue (see my next paragraph), but honestly, it tasted so good and was so minimal that I still think the feta was worthwhile. Like other reviewers have stated, the trickiest part was removing the black bean patties from the parchment paper. Several partially broke up as we tried to unstick them, so we had to reform them in the pan. Apart from that, I found the recipe took minimal effort and cleanup honestly wasn't bad. I'd love to try these again with other kinds of cheese!
Irvy  Irvy
Boise, ID  Boise, ID
8/22/2024  8/22/2024
Absolutely amazing. Easily the best veggie burger I’ve ever made. Only issue: they are very tricky to remove from the parchment paper. Here’s what I did instead: I cut the parchment into squares around the veggie burgers, then grabbed one square/veggie burger, flipped it upside down into the hot pan, and then slowly peeled off the parchment paper. Worked like a charm.  Absolutely amazing. Easily the best veggie burger I’ve ever made. Only issue: they are very tricky to remove from the parchment paper. Here’s what I did instead: I cut the parchment into squares around the veggie burgers, then grabbed one square/veggie burger, flipped it upside down into the hot pan, and then slowly peeled off the parchment paper. Worked like a charm.
Autumn  Autumn
Missoula, MT  Missoula, MT
8/2/2024  8/2/2024
Nothing wrong with recipe, but I've found better. Also recommend spreading beens on sheet pan and baking to dry out a bit before mashing. For the person seeking gluten free alternatives to bread crumbs, most GF grains will work and I've often used rice or oats in veggie burgers with success.  Nothing wrong with recipe, but I've found better. Also recommend spreading beens on sheet pan and baking to dry out a bit before mashing. For the person seeking gluten free alternatives to bread crumbs, most GF grains will work and I've often used rice or oats in veggie burgers with success.
Southofboston  Southofboston
Boston  Boston
5/15/2024  5/15/2024
The best veggie burger I’ve ever had. I made some adjustments though. I used a 19oz can of black beans and mashed them really well. Instead of red onion I used two shallots and instead of the adobo peppers I used a few tbsps of adobo sauce. Rather than the chipotle mayo, I made classic burger sauce with mayo, mustard, ketchup, and chopped dill pickles. I toasted the inside of the bun and rubbed it with a garlic clove for a little extra punch. Not sure what the negative reviews are talking about. These came together in 20 minutes and the mess was minimal. I froze some of the patty balls for future use since it yielded so many. Love!  The best veggie burger I’ve ever had. I made some adjustments though. I used a 19oz can of black beans and mashed them really well. Instead of red onion I used two shallots and instead of the adobo peppers I used a few tbsps of adobo sauce. Rather than the chipotle mayo, I made classic burger sauce with mayo, mustard, ketchup, and chopped dill pickles. I toasted the inside of the bun and rubbed it with a garlic clove for a little extra punch. Not sure what the negative reviews are talking about. These came together in 20 minutes and the mess was minimal. I froze some of the patty balls for future use since it yielded so many. Love!
Nes  Nes
Canada  Canada
3/30/2024  3/30/2024
Normally, I find that a BA recipe with a 4.8 average review is solid but this one didn't come together for me. Patties stuck to parchment and got totally destroyed on the dismount into the pan. After reforming and smashing into pan, they cooked ok. But this one trashed my kitchen, was more work than it read on paper, and for how much cheese there was, this also wasn't super tasty/flavorful.  Normally, I find that a BA recipe with a 4.8 average review is solid but this one didn't come together for me. Patties stuck to parchment and got totally destroyed on the dismount into the pan. After reforming and smashing into pan, they cooked ok. But this one trashed my kitchen, was more work than it read on paper, and for how much cheese there was, this also wasn't super tasty/flavorful.
KM  KM
Oakland, Ca  Oakland, Ca
3/19/2024  3/19/2024
These are absolutely great. I cook them on a Kamado clay BBQ which gives the black bean burgers a nice, smokey flavor. My family loves them!  These are absolutely great. I cook them on a Kamado clay BBQ which gives the black bean burgers a nice, smokey flavor. My family loves them!
Mike D.  Mike D.
Sacramento, CA  Sacramento, CA
2/26/2024  2/26/2024
This is a great vegetarian recipe, definitely a little bit of a project but a delicious end result.  This is a great vegetarian recipe, definitely a little bit of a project but a delicious end result.
Jess  Jess
Los Angeles  Los Angeles
2/13/2024  2/13/2024
Most panko is NOT gluten free unless is specifically says made without gluten. Just a heads up as those with gluten intolerance should not assume panko is ok.  Most panko is NOT gluten free unless is specifically says made without gluten. Just a heads up as those with gluten intolerance should not assume panko is ok.
Anonymous  Anonymous
Oakland CA  Oakland CA
2/9/2024  2/9/2024
These were a hit with my boyfriend (and me)! Absolutely yum. My only trouble was that my patties stuck to the parchment, I had better luck smashing them directly in the pan like a classic smash burger. Next time will try with American cheese/classic burger sauce but otherwise love the southwestern flavors to switch it up.  These were a hit with my boyfriend (and me)! Absolutely yum. My only trouble was that my patties stuck to the parchment, I had better luck smashing them directly in the pan like a classic smash burger. Next time will try with American cheese/classic burger sauce but otherwise love the southwestern flavors to switch it up.
Greer  Greer
NYC  NYC
10/22/2023  10/22/2023
Boring. A true Nothing Burger.  Boring. A true Nothing Burger.
Scott Citron  Scott Citron
NYC  NYC
10/21/2023  10/2½023
Great flavor from simple ingredients I usually have on hand.  Great flavor from simple ingredients I usually have on hand.
Anonymous  Anonymous
Denver, CO  Denver, CO
5/28/2023  5/28/2023
Great recipe, I love these burgers. I started doubling the recipe and refrigerating leftovers - they're just as good heated in the toaster oven the next day(s). I like to add extra shredded cheese to the mixture to help hold the burgers together also.  Great recipe, I love these burgers. I started doubling the recipe and refrigerating leftovers - they're just as good heated in the toaster oven the next day(s). I like to add extra shredded cheese to the mixture to help hold the burgers together also.
Anonymous  Anonymous
Chicago  Chicago
1/2/2023  ½/2023
These were sooooo good! Will make again! Also the instructions were well written.  These were sooooo good! Will make again! Also the instructions were well written.
LittleRutabaga  LittleRutabaga
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia  Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
8/17/2022  8/17/2022
These were very good. The instructions for making the patties are well written—made exactly as written. Even the 11 year old gobbled it up!  These were very good. The instructions for making the patties are well written-made exactly as written. Even the 11 year old gobbled it up!
Anonymous  Anonymous
Los Angeles, CA  Los Angeles, CA
8/16/2022  8/16/2022
These can be gluten free if made w. panko crumbs. I do the same w. crab cakes any they are delicous w. panic and GF!  These can be gluten free if made w. panko crumbs. I do the same w. crab cakes any they are delicous w. panic and GF!
Anonymous  Anonymous
Philadelphia  Philadelphia
8/14/2022  8/14/2022
This looks delish! And, black bean burgs are also my favorite veggie burg. Would love to hear if anyone figured out how to make these gluten free - I am sure the breadcrumbs are very necessary to keep the burger together so not sure if just omitting them would be work.  This looks delish! And, black bean burgs are also my favorite veggie burg. Would love to hear if anyone figured out how to make these gluten free - I am sure the breadcrumbs are very necessary to keep the burger together so not sure if just omitting them would be work.
fernie420  fernie420
Worcester, MA US  Worcester, MA US
8/10/2022  8/10/2022