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    Home » Recipes » Main Courses

    Copycat Chili's Black Bean Burger Recipe

    Modified: May 12, 2023 by Addison LaBonte · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    This Chili's Black Bean Burger recipe will be your new favorite vegetarian burger! It's made with healthy ingredients and ready in 30 minutes.
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time 25 minutes minutes
    JUMP TO RECIPE
    Chili's black bean burger placed on a marble board lined with parchment paper.

    This copycat version of Chili's black bean burger recipe is packed with a bold, smoky flavor. It's charred on the outside and is tender, but not mushy, on the inside!

    My family and I love having the Impossible Burger from time to time because it has a rich meaty flavor, very similar to a beef burger. But sometimes you just crave something more wholesome and made from fresh ingredients, which is where this recipe steps in.

    These homemade black bean burgers pair perfectly with French fries and chipotle mayo, but if you want a lighter meal, you can serve them with a side dish of veggies fajitas or a green salad.

    Chili's black bean burger on a marble board lined with parchment paper.
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients You'll Need
    • How to Make Chili's Black Bean Burger Recipe
    • Top Tips
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Serving
    • Storage
    • More Vegetarian Burger Recipes
    • Copycat Chili's Black Bean Burger

    Ingredients You'll Need

    Get all the details on these simple ingredients in the recipe card at the post's bottom.

    • Black beans: Use 2 cans of black beans to make this recipe easier and more convenient.
    • Onion and garlic: You can use white or red onion or 2-3 shallots.
    • Breadcrumbs: If you want to make this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free breadcrumbs or crackers.
    • Worcestershire sauce: If you don't have it on hand, you can use soy sauce instead.
    • Egg: It helps to bind the ingredients together, but you can use a flax egg to make this recipe vegan.
    • Spices: You'll need cajun seasoning (you can find it in your local grocery store), oregano, thyme, salt, and black pepper. If you want to make the patties spicy, you can add a dash of chili powder or red pepper flakes.
    • Parsley: It's best to use fresh parsley for a pop of flavor. You can also use cilantro.
    • Olive oil or vegetable oil: For cooking.
    Gathered ingredeints for making black bean burgers.

    How to Make Chili's Black Bean Burger Recipe

    1. In a large pan, heat some olive oil until hot. Add the onion and cook for 4-5 minutes, until golden. Then, add the minced garlic cloves and cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Set aside to cool.
    2. Add the onion, garlic, beans, and spices into a food processor. Pulse for a few seconds to mix roughly.
    Sautéed diced yellow onion in a black cast iron skillet with a wooden spoon in it.
    Cooked onion and garlic, black beans, and spices added in a food processor.

    3. Add the egg and breadcrumbs, and pulse for a few more seconds until well combined. Do not over-mix!

    4. Divide the mixture into three. Using your hands, shape it into 3 big patties, and them to the hot skillet.

    Blended black bean mixture in a food processor.
    Cooking three black bean patties in a black cast-iron skillet.

    5. Fry the black bean patties for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown. Serve with burger buns, mayo, lettuce, or anything you want.

    Three cooked black bean patties in a cast-iron skillet.

    Top Tips

    • Dry the beans well. The worst part about a vegetarian burger is that the patty can be mushy inside. To prevent that, use a paper towel to soak any excess liquid. Better, yet, if you have the time, bake the beans for 10-15 minutes, until they are dry and cracked (and let them cool completely!). Now that will make for the best vegetarian burgers.
    • Let the onion and garlic cool completely. This further prevents adding too much moisture to the burgers. It takes just a few minutes, but small things like that make a difference.
    • Don't over-mix! You don't want the mixture to be completely pureed but rather to have texture. Blend just until the ingredients are well combined.
    • Use a cast-iron skillet for best results. A cast iron can get pretty hot and retain the temperature for a long time, which gives the food an even and deep browning.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can you freeze Chili's black bean burger recipe?

    Yes! You can freeze the patties either before or after cooking. Let them cool to room temperature, then transfer to a freezer-safe container, layering parchment paper between each patty to prevent them from sticking.

    Can I bake the patties?

    Yes, but expect them to be a bit drier. Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC) and add the patties to a baking sheet. Spray with cooking spray or oil and bake for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and dry to the touch.

    How do I make this recipe vegan/egg-free?

    You can easily make this recipe vegan by making an egg replacer. Mix 2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal with 4 tablespoons of water and let it sit for 5 minutes to thicken.

    Can I make this recipe without a food processor?

    Yes! You'll need to add everything into a large bowl and mash it well with a potato masher.

    A hand placing the top bun on a copycat Chili's black bean burger.

    Serving

    The best way to enjoy this Chili's black bean burger recipe is to add your favorite toppings like fried pickles, red onion, hot sauce, etc.

    As for the spread, try it with vegan mayo, ranch dressing, or garlic pizza sauce. And of course, we can't forget the fries. I suggest serving it with either sweet potato fries, waffle fries, or home fries.

    If you're looking for more ways to enjoy it, you can serve it alongside Mexican rice and veggie fajitas, and with a generous drizzle of vegan avocado ranch dressing for good measure.

    Storage

    Let the black bean burger patties cool to room temperature and transfer them to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 1week.

    More Vegetarian Burger Recipes

    Sweet Potato Black Bean Burgers

    Vegan Ranch Chickpea Burgers

    Buffalo Chickpea Burgers

    Chili's black bean burger placed on a marble board lined with parchment paper.
    Print Recipe Pin Save RecipeSaved!
    5 from 6 votes

    Copycat Chili's Black Bean Burger

    This Chili's Black Bean Burger recipe will be your new favorite vegetarian burger! It's made with healthy ingredients and ready in 30 minutes.
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Gluten-Free, Vegan, vegetarian
    Keyword copycat recipe, vegan, vegetarian, veggie burger
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time 25 minutes minutes
    Servings 3
    Calories 209kcal
    Author Sireesha A.

    Ingredients

    • 3-4 tablespoon cooking oil, divided
    • 1 medium - small yellow onion, finely diced
    • 1 can (14 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
    • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
    • 1 teaspoon vegan Worcestershire sauce
    • 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning
    • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
    • ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
    • 4 tablespoon regular breadcrumbs
    • 3 tablespoon chopped parsley
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 large egg (use a flax egg to make it vegan)
    • freshly cracked pepper, to taste

    Instructions

    • In a large pan, heat 1 tablespoon oil until hot. Add the onion and cook for 4-5 minutes, until golden. Then, add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant. Set aside to cool.
    • Add the cooked onion and garlic, beans, and spices into a food processor. Pulse for a few seconds to mix roughly. Add the egg and breadcrumbs, and pulse for a few more seconds. Do not over-mix!
    • Divide the mixture into three. Using your hands, shape it into 3 big patties. In the same skillet as before, heat 2 tablespoons of oil over medium heat until hot. Add the patties and fry for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown.
    • Serve with burger buns, mayo, lettuce, or anything you want.

    (Please refer to the post above for instructional photographs and other helpful information for this recipe)

    Suggested Equipment/Tools

    Food Processor

    Notes

    • Dry the beans well. The worst part about a vegetarian burger is that the patty can be mushy. To prevent that, use a paper towel to soak any liquid that's left. Better, yet, if you have the time, bake the beans for 10-15 minutes, until they are dry and have a crack (and let them cool completely!). Now that will make for the best vegetarian burgers.
    • Let the onion and garlic cool completely. This further prevents adding too much moisture to the burgers. It takes just a few minutes, but small things like that make a difference.
    • Don't over-mix! You don't want the mixture to be completely pureed but rather have texture. Blend only until the ingredients are well combined.
    • Use a cast-iron skillet for best results. A cast iron can get hot and retain that temperature for a long time, which gives the food an even and deep browning.
     
    The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. Accuracy is not guaranteed. Information shown should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 209kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Fiber: 1g

    Post photography by: Petranka Atanasova.

    ©Watch Learn Eat. All content and images are copyright protected. Recipes and photos are not to be used or republished without prior permission. If you adapt this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words, and link back to this post for the original recipe.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 6 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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    1. Sara L.

      January 26, 2025 at 9:49 am

      5 stars
      These were fabulous and I’ve tried a lot of veggie burgers. I use a very easy homemade brioche bun recipe I can link if someone wants it but it kicks them up a lot! Chili’s let me add avocado and blue cheese.
      My son who isn’t vegetarian friendly loved these! I added crispy bacon to his. Six stars out of five, many thanks!!!

      Reply

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    About Sireesha

    Hi There! I am the recipe developer, content writer, and owner of Watch Learn Eat. A lifelong foodie, I enjoy cooking, baking, traveling, and spending time with my two little twin daughters.

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