Quinoa Burgers

If you’re looking for a new veggie burger recipe, you’ve got to give these quinoa burgers a try! Not only are they easy to make but every patty is loaded with fiber and 12 grams of plant-based protein.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a lot of bad veggie burger patties. Whether they are dry and crumbly or just lacking in flavor, so many veggie burgers just seem to miss the mark, which is exactly why I wanted to make this quinoa burger recipe.

Made with black beans, cooked quinoa, and loaded with spices, these black bean quinoa burgers are full of flavor with the perfect veggie burger texture.

Why You’ll Love These Quinoa Burgers

• Easy – Made in one bowl, these quinoa burgers are super quick and easy to make.
• Vegetarian – Made with black beans and quinoa, this veggie burger recipe is vegetarian with options to make them vegan.
• High Fiber – The combination of beans and quinoa ensures these veggie burgers contain 9 grams of fiber per serving.
• Protein Packed – With 12 grams of protein per patty, these quinoa burgers are packed full of plant-based protein.
• Meal Prep – These burgers keep well in the fridge making them a great meal prep idea for a healthy lunch or dinner.

Ingredients for Quinoa Burgers

Here’s what you’ll need to make this quinoa burger recipe:

• Quinoa – You can use any kind of cooked quinoa for these veggie burgers.
• Black Beans – To add more protein and bind the burgers. If you don’t like black beans, you can use other types of canned beans such as pinto beans, cannellini beans, or kidney beans.
• Breadcrumbs – To bind the burgers and absorb excess moisture. You can use regular or panko bread crumbs, or gluten-free bread crumbs, oat flour, or almond flour to make them gluten-free.
• Egg – To further bind the burgers, add texture, and a small boost of protein. You can swap the egg for a “flax egg” to make the burgers vegan.
• Tomato Paste – To add a bit of earthy flavor and bind the burgers.
• Spices – A combination of paprika, cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt to season the quinoa burgers. You can also add a bit of chili powder if you want to kick up the spice level.
• Olive Oil – To cook the burgers.

In addition to the ingredients for the burger patties, you’ll need buns and toppings. I’ve included some suggestions below.

How to Make Black Bean Quinoa Burgers

1. Cook the quinoa. Begin by cooking the quinoa in a pot of water until tender and fluffy. If you want to add extra flavor, you can cook the quinoa in chicken broth or vegetable broth instead of water.
2. Mash the black beans. Drain and rinse the black beans, removing as much excess water as possible, and then add the black beans to a bowl and mash them into a paste.
3. Make the burger mixture. Once the black beans are mashed, add the cooked quinoa, breadcrumbs, egg, tomato paste, and spices to the bowl and mix until well combined.
4. Form patties. Divide the mixture into four balls and then shape each ball into a burger patty.
5. Cook the patties. Cook the burgers in olive oil in a pan on medium heat for 4 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy.
6. Serve as desired. Once the quinoa burgers are cooked, serve them on burger buns with toppings of your choice.

The detailed instructions can be found in the recipe card below.

Tips for this Recipe

Here are some recipe tips to ensure you make the best quinoa burgers:

• Use pre-cooked quinoa. Cut down on prep time by using leftover quinoa or purchasing pre-cooked quinoa at the grocery store. Simply use 1 ½ cups of cooked quinoa in the recipe.
• Drain the black beans well. Ensure that the black beans are well drained to remove as much excess water as possible, this will help to ensure your burgers are crispy when cooked.
• Use a food processor. Instead of mashing the black beans with a fork, you can purée them in a food processor until formed into a paste.
• Combine the mixture well. Be sure the ingredients are well incorporated in the bowl before forming the burgers to ensure that the spices are well distributed in the burgers.
• Cook them in a pan. While these burgers can be cooked on a grill, cooking them in a cast-iron skillet or pan with olive oil will ensure they cook more evenly and hold together well.
• Only flip the burgers once. Constant flipping the burgers will cause the burgers to crumble and, if you flip too soon, the burgers will stick to the pan. Ensure that the quinoa burgers are golden and crispy on the bottom before flipping them.
• Finish them in the oven. If you find your burgers slightly undercooked or if they are getting too dark or burnt in the pan, you can finish the quinoa burgers in the oven for 5-10 minutes at 400°F.

Frequently Asked Questions

Serving Suggestions

I like to serve these quinoa burgers on whole wheat buns with a buffet of toppings so you can pick your own. My favorite toppings for these veggie burgers include:

• Lettuce
• Sliced tomatoes
• Sun dried tomatoes
• Sliced red onion
• Sliced cucumber
• Grilled veggies
• Mayonnaise
• Garlic aioli
• Smashed avocado
• Cheddar Cheese
• Feta cheese
• Fresh herbs

In addition to the toppings, these quinoa black bean burgers pair well with oven fries, sweet potato fries, and/or a simple green salad. You can also serve the patties in lettuce wraps for a lower-carb and calorie option.

More Veggie Burger Recipes:

• Black Bean Burgers

Quinoa Burgers

Author: Stephanie Kay

These black bean quinoa burgers are full of fiber and plant-based protein. They can be served on a burger bun or as a topping to your favorite salad.

• Author: Stephanie Kay
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 20 minutes
• Yield: 4 burger patties 1x
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

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Ingredients

• 1/2 cup quinoa, raw
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans
• 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 egg, cracked
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

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Instructions

1. Place the quinoa in a saucepan with 1 cup of water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer, cover with a lid, and cook until all of the liquid is absorbed, about 15 minutes. Once cooked, remove the saucepan from the heat and allow the quinoa to cool slightly before making the burgers. (If using leftover or pre-cooked quinoa, you can skip this step and see adaptation instructions in the Notes section below.)
2. Drain and rinse the black beans in a fine mesh colander, then shake them well to remove as much excess water as possible.
3. In a large mixing bowl, add the black beans and, using a fork or a potato masher, mash the black beans into a paste until no beans are fully intact. (Optional: Instead of mashing the beans in a bowl, you can add them to a food processor and pulse them until a paste forms.)
4. In the bowl with the mashed black beans, add the cooked quinoa, breadcrumbs, egg, tomato paste, paprika, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Then, using a spoon or your hand, mix the ingredients until well incorporated.
5. Once mixed, divide and shape the mixture into 4 equal-sized patties. 
6. In a large pan on medium heat, warm the olive oil, then add the burger patties and cook for 4 minutes per side until lightly crisp and golden brown.
7. Once cooked, remove the burger patties from the pan and serve on a whole wheat or brioche bun with toppings of your choice.
8. Any leftover quinoa burgers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Notes

To Use Pre-Cooked or Leftover Quinoa: Skip step #1 and use 1 ½ cups of cooked quinoa in step #4. 

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 patty
• Calories: 223 calories
• Sugar: 1 gram
• Fat: 3 grams
• Carbohydrates: 37 grams
• Fiber: 9 grams
• Protein: 12 grams