Grillable Veggie Burger. No Nuts. Easy Sunflower Seed Black Bean Burger with Veggies and spices. Pan fry, Bake or Grill. Serve with BBQ Sauce and other fix ins. Vegan Burger Recipe. Gluten-free option. Nut-free. Soy-free option
It is time to fire up the grill and flip some veggie burgers. These hearty burgers are made up of black beans, brown rice, sunflower seeds and amazing seasoning. You can grill or pan fry the patties.
Veggie burgers can be overly squishy (too many beans, too much moisture), or too crumbly (not enough binding, big unmashed ingredients such as whole beans or large chunks of onions, peppers, veggies). Both these issues can be solved with vital wheat gluten in the patties. I don’t like the texture of the patty with vital wheat gluten, so in these burgers just the right balance of cooked grains, beans and some breadcrumbs work well to make a sturdy grillable patty. With any veggie burger, mash the ingredients well and pack them well for sturdier results.
Black beans work really well in these burgers. You can also use kidney beans. The toasted sunflower seeds make these hearty. Whole coriander seeds, smoked paprika and lemon add complex flavors. These patties are a must make.
See 35+ Veggie Burger options here, no fake meats! Which beans/lentils are your favorite in a veggie burger?
More Veggie Burgers from the blog
- Lentil Quinoa “Meatloaf” Burger
- Peanut Carrot White Bean Burger
- BBQ Veggie Burger with Mango Carrot Cabbage slaw
- Lentil Walnut Burgers.
- Red Lentil and Cauliflower Burger with Onion rings and Chipotle Habanero Mayo
- Grill-able Artichoke Cauliflower Spinach Bean Burger
1 year ago today: Sweet and Spicy Gohujang Chickpea Wraps
2 years ago today: Vegan Gluten-free Blueberry Muffins
Everyone has a favorite black bean burger. When in a rush, I process up black beans with rice or quinoa and some spices and grill them up. Squishy or just right, they all go into the tummy when hungry. I think the first time I made a black bean burger version from the simple burger recipes on the web, I found that it needed some, or wait a lot of flavor. So this one puts the basic elements of the bean burger with some toasty coriander seeds, zesty lemon, old bay seasoning, bbq sauce, caramelized onions that have been spiced with smoky paprika and of course love, to make a fantastically flavorful patty. The ingredient list becomes long, but most of it is spices and herbs.
Do try this burger, and let me know in the comments if this replaced the usual black bean burger!
Toast the sunflower seeds and process with spices to a coarse meal. 
Process 1 cup black beans, rice and other ingredients until well combined. Transfer to a bowl. Mix in the remaining black beans and breadcrumbs. I use white basmati rice in the patties pictured. Brown rice adds a bit more chewy texture which also works well. But brown rice doesnt work well in my tummy. Use whichever rice works best for you.
Shape into patties.
Grill.
Assemble and serve!
mmm mmmm
- 1/2 cup sunflower seeds or pepitas or heaping 1/2 cup nuts such as walnuts or pecans if you are ok with nuts.
- 1 tsp coriander seeds
- 1/4 tsp fennel seeds optional
- 1 tsp oil
- 1 large onion
- 1 hot green chile finely chopped or 2 tbsp green bell pepper
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1.5 tsp old bay seasoning + 1/2 tsp garlic powder + 1/2 tsp oregano Or 2 tsp cajun/taco/chili powder blend of choice + 1/2/ tsp garlic powder
- 1 cup cooked brown or white rice I prefer white in these patties
- 15 oz can black beans drained well or 1.5 cups cooked
- 3/4 tsp salt more or less depending on if the beans and rice are salted
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 to 3 tbsp bbq sauce
- 1.5 tbsp flax seed meal
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs use gluten-free if needed
- 2 tbsp or more flour use rice flour or chickpea flour for gluten-free
- tomato slices onion slices
- sprouts or baby greens
- bbq sauce mustard, ketchup etc
- Toast the seeds on a skillet over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Stir occasionally to avoid burning. Add the coriander seeds and fennel seeds after 2 mins of toasting and mix in. Take off heat and set aside to cool.
- Make the smoky caramelized onions: Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion , green chile, 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp sugar. Cook for 5 minutes. Stirring occasionally. Add 1/2 tsp smoked paprika and mix. cook for a minute. Add a good splash of water and continue to cook for another 3 to 4 mins. then use.
- In a food processor, add the seeds and spices. Add the seasoning, garlic and cayenne if using for additional heat and process until coarse meal.
- Add the rice and 1 cup of black beans, salt, 3 - 4 tbsp of the smoky caramelized onions, lemon juice, flaxmeal, bbq sauce. Process until most of the beans have broke down.
- Transfer the mixture to a bowl. Mix in the breadrumbs, flour, remaining black beans. Taste and adjust salt, heat and seasoning. Add more is needed and mix in. Add more flour if needed. I usually add some cayenne if using old bay seasoning. Chill for 10 minutes in the fridge.
- Shape into patties using a cookie cutter (press mixture into a cookie cutter until packed. Tap to release. Even out the top). Heat up the grill over medium heat. When hot, grill for 3 to 5 mins per side. Or pan fry in a skillet over medium heat with a little oil.
- Dress with the smoky caramelized onion, tomato slices, bbq sauce or ketchup and mustard, or vegan ranch.
To make the patties gluten-free use gluten-free breadcrumbs and rice flour or chickpea flour.
To make the patties soy-free, use soy-free bbq sauce
For variation: Add zest of half a lemon with the lemon juice.
Use ketchup + sriracha instead of bbq sauce.
Add more smoked paprika for smokier onions.
I’m lovin’ it <3 ;)!
yay!
This is very similar to the post for a grillable burger from minimalist baker a few weeks ago….coincidence?
I havent seen that one. A lot of black bean burgers on the web are pretty similar. Black beans, rice or grains, onion, some other additions. See food.com, marthastewart. or pretty much every other black bean burger result on google search.
I’ve had these in my drafts for about 2 months waiting for Summer. There are many more ingredients in this bean burger compared to the basic black bean burger. the spices, herbs, lemon, smoky caramelized onions, green chile etc. i was looking for keywords that i havent used and grillable burger was what i decided on. Its like chocolate chip cookie. Everyone has a version, similar ingredients and similar measures with a twist here and there.
And, to be fair, it’s also the season of burger recipes. Just like autumn and pumpkin recipes 🙂
PS: Thanks for a grillable recipe – it’s nice to be able to take home-made veggie burgers to an omni bbq!
What do you think about quinoa flakes instead of bread crumbs. Perhaps more nutritional value yet binds burgers?
If they behave like oats, then they should work. You can always adjust the mixture after making a trial patty and add more flour if the flakes dont absorb enough moisture.
Made these for Dinner and served them over crisp lettuce. The flavors are Amazing!
Awesome!
Made these last night but cooked them in the oven. Great recipe. It’s replaced my previous favourite veggie burger recipe! Thanks for sharing your hard work.
Awesome!
Made these at the weekend and thought they were very good … next time, though, I will double the onion / chilli (or capsicum) portion to give me more ‘sauce’ to add to the hamburger bun.
Sure. the medium onions are pretty big here so i had a good quantity. you can easily double or triple the caramelized onions. i love them as a topping.
This recipe is great! I love Vegan Richa and always come here to find something new and tasty. Thank you so much.
Awesome! Thanks!
Richa I have recently found your site and am looking forward to making some of your delicious recipes.
Does flax meal or chia meal mean it is ground seeds, or does it mean chia or flax mixed with water?
Also I assume if your recipe states flax seeds I can use chia seeds.
Thanks
flax seed meal is just dry meal/powder. For mixed in water the reipe will say flax egg or chia egg. Generally you can swap them. Sometimes they dont behave equally, but either should work to make the recipe ok in general.
Thanks Richa. Sorry I asked again in another recipe as I am not familiar with vegan products.
Making a batch of these amazing burgers for a weekend treat!! If I double the recipe, is it possible to form the patties and freeze them? How do they hold up after thawing out to cook them?
Shape and freeze on a tray and once frozen put them in a box or ziplock. Bake or cook on the skillet.
Thanks a million!! These are so delish, I would love to make a large batch and just grab one out the freezer and cook when I want one, and don’t have to stress making another batch!! 🙂
Do you have to thaw before cooking?
nope
Can I freeze them?
Looks delicious!
yes, most beany burgers work well in the freezer. i usually shape and freeze then panfry or bake later.
are you saying that if you take them from the freezer then you must panfry or bake vs grill?
it depends on various factors with the moisture and the patty being tightly packed or not etc whether they get crumbly on the grill or not. try grilling a few
Can you actually grill these? I’d love to find a burger that you can grill.
yes. Just use smaller chopped ingredients and pack them well. A well packed patty does fine on the grill. Add more flour if needed for binding.
Dear Girl, I absolutely love your Lentil Quinoa Meatloaf Burger and have made them 3 different times, keep them in the freezer for my go to. Thank you for sharing your beautiful recipes. God Bless!
Had these for dinner–used walnuts in them. Fabulous taste and texture. Stayed together when grilling it on the grill pan. Served with spiralized baked sweet potato fries and a cuke/tomato/onion salad. So good! Thanks so much. I have no desire to try ready-made vegan burgers when I can make healthier and more delicious ones at home.
those are amazing sides! so fun!
Wow these were the best black bean burgers yet!! Thank you so much for a fabulous, tasty recipe!! Definitely a keeper 👍🏽👍🏽
awesome!
Hey Richa!
I read your answer to Tracy re: grilling for this particular burger, which I copied here. My question is would I follow the same rules you mention in your answer for any of the wonderful looking burger recipes in your Everyday Kitchen cookbook? I want to use my friend’s outdoor gas grill: what setting is best for burger grilling?
Was pondering: I wonder if some readers default to the oft stated rule of NOT overpacking ground animal meat mixtures when making burgers and this is why they don’t remain cohesive. It’s just another paradigm shift way of thinking when cooking vegan. 🙂
Tracy says
May 3, 2018 at 4:35 pm
Can you actually grill these? I’d love to find a burger that you can grill.
REPLY
Richa says
May 4, 2018 at 7:33 pm
yes. Just use smaller chopped ingredients and pack them well. A well packed patty does fine on the grill. Add more flour if needed for binding.
Yes with veggie burgers, you need well packed burgers. The veggie, bean, grain burgers cook differently that meat. The veggies leak moisture. Larger pieces interfere with keeping the patty together and so on. So you just have to feel the mixture while packing into a patty and adjust it then, with more flour/breadcrumbs, if the patty is squishy/soft, with a flax egg, if the patty mixture is dry and crumbly and so on. Different beans behave differently as well. black beans are squishy and need other hardy ingredients like rice, chickpeas tend to dry out more, so need moist ingredients such as quinoa, veggies etc. You can pretty much grill any patty if you adjust the mixture to make sturdy patties.
Thank you, Richa, that is most clarifying‼️I love food science, so it’s fascinating learning how ingredients react to each other and their varied cooking environs!