Add These Sweet-and-Spicy Black Bean Burgers to Your Weeknight Rotation

You'll want to put these delicious veggie burgers on repeat, Meatless Monday or not.

1023fea-Acorn-Squash-Black-Bean-Burgers
Photo:

Christopher Testani

Prep Time:
35 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 15 mins
Servings:
8 servings

Acorn squash is a winter stunner with creamy, tender flesh that’s mild and subtly sweet in flavor. Instead of roasting the squash right off the bat, it’s peeled and diced before being blitzed in a food processor. It’s then mixed with black beans and seasoned with fragrant cumin.

Eggs, mayonnaise, and panko all act as binders to ensure this veggie burger doesn’t fall apart at first bite. The patties are baked, which brings out the sweetness of the squash and makes much of the meal-prep hands off. Sriracha-mayo and fresh toppings are the delicious finishing touches. Pro tip: if you'd rather not peel raw acorn squash, swap in an equal amount of peeled butternut squash.

Get creative with the amped-up mayonnaise. For a smoky twist, try adding a few dashes of chipotle hot sauce or for a milder version, try a green chili-based sauce.

Ingredients

  • 1 2-lb acorn squash, halved lengthwise and seeded

  • 1/2 cup sliced white onion

  • 1 15-oz can black beans, drained, rinsed, and patted dry

  • 2 large eggs, beaten

  • 3/4 cup plus 2 tbsp. mayonnaise, divided

  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin

  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt

  • 1 1/3 cups panko

  • 1 Tbsp sriracha, or more if desired

  • 8 hamburger buns

  • Romaine lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and sliced red onions, for topping (optional)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F. Place squash on a cutting board, cut side down. Cut between ribs with a long, sharp chef's knife. Peel off skin with a vegetable peeler and discard. Coarsely chop flesh into roughly 1-inch pieces (you should have about 6 cups).

  2. Transfer squash to a food processor. Add onion; pulse until vegetables are in small, flaky pieces, 25 to 30 times (do not grind fully). Transfer to a large bowl. Add beans, eggs, 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, cumin, salt, and panko. Stir to combine.

  3. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Fill a 1-cup measuring cup 3/4 of the way full with squash mixture, pressing down to pack. Turn out onto baking sheet. Using your fingertips, press mound into a patty so burger is just under 3⁄4 inch thick and about 3 1⁄2 inches in diameter. Repeat with remaining squash mixture to form 8 patties.

  4. Bake burgers until golden brown on both sides, about 40 minutes, flipping halfway through. Meanwhile, combine sriracha and remaining 3⁄4 cup mayonnaise in a small bowl. Serve burgers on buns with sriracha mayo and desired toppings.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

494 Calories
20g Fat
66g Carbs
14g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Calories 494
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 20g 26%
Saturated Fat 4g 18%
Cholesterol 55mg 18%
Sodium 879mg 38%
Total Carbohydrate 66g 24%
Dietary Fiber 11g 39%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 14g 28%
Vitamin C 16mg 18%
Calcium 204mg 16%
Iron 5mg 29%
Potassium 815mg 17%

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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