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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
Grillable Veggie Burger _ Black Bean Sunflower Seed Burger
Ingredients
- 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, such as Serrano, finely chopped or 2 tbsp green bell pepper
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1.5 tsp old bay seasoning , Or 2 tsp cajun/taco/chili powder blend of choice
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3/4 cup cooked brown or white rice, I prefer white in these patties
- 15 oz can black beans drained well, or 1.5 cups cooked
- 1/2 tsp salt, more or less depending on if the beans and rice are salted
- 2 to 3 tbsp bbq sauce
- 1.5 tbsp flax seed meal
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs, use gluten-free if needed
Toppings:
- tomato slices, onion slices
- sprouts or baby greens
- bbq sauce, , mustard, mayo etc
Instructions
- Toast the seeds : add sunflower seeds to a skillet over medium heat, toast for for 2 minutes. Stir occasionally to avoid burning. Add the coriander seeds and fennel seeds and toast for a minute. 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 the smoked paprika and mix. Add a splash of water if the pan is drying up. cook for another 3 mins. then use.
- In a food processor, add the sunflower seeds, fennel and coriander seeds and spices. process until coarse meal. Flavor variation: add some oregano, add cayenne for heat.
- Add the rice and 1 cup of black beans, salt, 3 - 4 tbsp of the smoky caramelized onions, flaxmeal, bbq sauce. Process until most of the beans have broke down.
- Transfer the mixture to a bowl. Mix in the breadcrumbs, remaining black beans. Taste and adjust salt, heat and seasoning. Add more if needed and mix in. Add flour or breadcrumbs if the mixture is too moist.. Chill for 10 minutes in the fridge.
- Shape into patties using a cookie cutter or by hand (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. Brush some bbq sauce or a mix of bbq sauce and hot sauce, on both sides and grill half a minute, then remove from grill.
- Dress with the smoky caramelized onion, tomato slices, bbq sauce or ketchup and mustard, or vegan mayo/ranch between toasted burger buns or lettuce!
Notes
Use ketchup + sriracha instead of bbq sauce.
Add more smoked paprika for smokier onions.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
My roommate and I love these burgers! 🍔 thanks 🙏 for sharing your recipe with us! I will try them with white rice 🍚 next time instead of brown rice 🌾. You rock! 🤘
Awesome!! So glad you liked them.
*****Love this recipe! Followed it exactly as written. Very pleased how the burgers held together and the taste was fantastic. Love your recipes! Thank you!
Awesome!
What is the texture of this burger? I have been looking for a bean burger that is not squishy on the inside — something closer to a real beef patty.
It’s not squishy. it isn’t beef like chewy. It’s a sturdy veggie burger texture. For extra chewiness, add a bit of wheat gluten.
Is it possible to make these burgers ahead and cook them the next day?
Yes, shape them and leave them in the fridge. Cook the next day.
Another fantastic recipe! I will say it took me way longer to make than 45 minutes. But I’m perhaps a bit slow in the kitchen.
just takes a little practice, and 45 minutes is not always including prep time!
your lentil walnut burgers are amazing. so good I make them for special occasions. For Christmas I am going to try a few new ones as gifts (Frozen). I like the heavy spices in some of your recipes. nice work
Made these tonight and they were delicious ! We used 1/2 Sunflower seeds and 1/2 pecans . We also used taco seasoning and divided the mixture into 6 patties . Each one was 105 grams . I had made a wonderful seasonal Blackberry Barbeque Sauce from the Oregon Blackberry Council and added 4 Tablespoons of it to the patty mixture and added more on top when serving . Wonderful recipe again . Thank you for a grillable Black bean burger . 😋
That sounds scrumptious !
Sooo delicious. It’s now one of my partner’s favourite dinners (mine too). I serve it with a slaw of red cabbage and vegan ranch dressing, in a pita pocket.
sounds great