Mediterranean Quinoa Mushroom Burgers with Black Beans have so much flavor you'll never miss the meat! Stuffed with garlic, sundried tomatoes, and tons of herbs, these will be your go-to bean burgers in no time. The addition of quinoa gives them a pleasant crunch, and the mushrooms help keep them juicy in the middle. They've got everything!
Are Black Bean Burgers Healthy
Of course flavor is number one, but these quinoa black bean burgers are also heart healthy, so you can enjoy all summer long! These babies are high in fiber, protein rich, and contain heart healthy polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, instead of artery clogging saturated fat and cholesterol in typical burgers. They're also high in iron and magnesium. Not to mention all the antioxidants you'll get from the beans and herbs! Keep your taste buds and your heart happy!
Healthy Black Bean Burger Toppings
I love a good tomato and onion on my black bean quinoa burgers, but here are some other great options to mix it up!
- Caramelized onions
- Low Sodium BBQ Sauce
- Southern Style Sauteed Cabbage and Mustard
- Low Sodium Ketchup
- Baked Beans
- Go lighter with a simple tossed salad and Italian Dressing
- Sundried Tomato Bruschetta
- Roasted Red Peppers (see our how-to roast red peppers)
FAQs and Substitutions
Yes, any type of cooked "dry bean" will work. Dry beans are black beans, pinto beans, chickpeas, lentils, etc. Green beans and wax beans are not dry beans, and won't work in burgers. I chose black beans for these burgers mainly because of their color, and the fact that they are so easy to find in stores. Feel free to experiment with different varieties, though!
For this recipe, you might want to overcook your quinoa a bit. It will help the burgers hold together better. In any case, you want to bring a pot with 1 cup of water, and ½ cup dry quinoa to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, and continue simmering until all the liquid is gone; about 20 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat, and put on the lid. Let it sit for at least 10 minutes before fluffing with a fork and using.
Some quinoa brands require a quick rinse before you start cooking, and some don't. Read the package beforehand, or just rinse it anyway to be on the safe side.
If you want to use whole grain bread crumbs, you can make your own breadcrumbs with my recipe. Alternatively, you can use regular bread crumbs or panko breadcrumbs. Just know they'll be lower in fiber and nutrients.
In this quinoa mushroom burger recipe, we use ground flax to mimic an egg to keep the burger together along with the quinoa. Another option is to use one whole egg instead of the flax. If you are someone who doesn't consume high cholesterol foods usually, this could be a good option. Make sure to cook the burgers well so the egg isn't raw on the inside of the burger.
The secret to binding burgers without eggs is to use an ingredient that will both absorb extra liquid and become somewhat sticky to hold things together. There are several options for this. I like using either ground flax or ground chia the best. Both of these can be used at about 1 tablespoon per 1 egg the recipe calls for.
Using ground seeds will help reduce potential grittiness you may notice, and help them absorb liquid better. Most people combine the seeds with water before adding them to the burgers, making a "flax egg" or "chia egg." But I find I get better results by sprinkling the dry ground seeds directly into the burger mixture, and allowing the them to absorb extra liquid from the mix to bind it.
Do you need some advice on the healthiest burgers for your summer BBQ? Make sure to check out my Burgers 101 article, for a nifty chart comparing some of the most popular burgers!
And you will also want to try these recipes to complete your summer picnic:
If you try Quinoa Mushroom Burgers with Black Beans, tell me in the comments!
📖 Recipe
Quinoa Mushroom Burgers with Black Beans
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups (1 can) No Added Salt Black Beans
- ¾ cup cooked Quinoa (slightly overcooked is better)
- ½ cup Whole Wheat Bread Crumbs (or gluten free option)
- ¼ cup minced Mushrooms
- 2 tablespoon minced Red Onion
- 2 tablespoon minced Sundried Tomatoes (not in oil)
- 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 tablespoon Ground Flax
- ½ teaspoon dried Basil
- ½ teaspoon Paprika
- ¼ teaspoon dried Oregano
- (Optional) ⅛ teaspoon each Salt and Pepper
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil, for pan frying
For serving:
- Whole grain buns or large lettuce leaves for wraps
- Sliced red onion
- Sliced tomato
- Leafy lettuce
- Mustard, ketchup, etc.
Instructions
- Combine all the burger ingredients in a food processor, and pulse until everything is chopped small. You don’t want it to turn into a paste. The mixture should be sticky enough to hold together easily.
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Meanwhile, divide the bean mixture into 4 equal portions, and form them into patties, about ½ inch thick, or whatever size is reasonable for your bun size.
- Pan fry the patties over medium heat, about 5 minutes on each side, being careful not to burn them. Flip carefully to avoid smashing the patties.
- Serve hot, on whole grain buns or in lettuce wraps, with condiments, and veggies as desired.
Nutrition
*Nutrition information is an estimate, and will change based on the brand and individual ingredients and amounts you use. This is provided for your convenience only.
Dee says
Could I leave the oil out of this recipe without the taste being very different?
Laura Yautz says
Hi Dee, I think you could probably leave out the oil in the burgers without a change in flavor. If you have some issues with adhesion of the burger, you could always add a little water or even something like a dijon mustard to help hold things together. If you are pan frying them, you'd still want to use the oil, but you could also bake them without oil. Hope this helps!
Paula says
I made these a few weeks ago for dinner. I used dried black beans instead of canned. Well, a bag of black beans makes way more beans than are needed for this recipe!!! So, I made the recipe over about three times to use all the remaining beans then froze the patties. I wrapped each individual patty in wax paper and froze them in freezer bags with two in each bag.
They are delicious and the frozen ones are just as good as the fresh ones only quicker.
Love them and will definitely make them again!
Laura Yautz says
Wonderful! Happy to hear they were a hit!
Great tips on freezing them for later. Thanks so much for taking the time to try the recipe and write a review! 🙂