Sweet Potato Black Bean Burgers are the perfect way to use up a leftover baked sweet potato. You don’t even need a food processor to make them!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Featuring canned beans and mashed sweet potato, this veggie burger recipe is naturally gluten-free and vegan. If you don’t keep oat flour on hand, you can make it at home by simply blending oats in your blender.
Paired with oat flour and BBQ sauce, these burgers have plenty of flavor without a hefty list of spices. For a grain-free option, you can use ground flax seed instead of oat flour with similar results.
If you prefer a different flavor profile, try adding a squeeze of sriracha for spice, or add in chili powder or smoked paprika for a smoky flavor.
How to Make Sweet Potato Black Bean Burgers
Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Rinse and drain the canned black beans, then spread them out in a single layer on a large, rimmed baking sheet.
Place them in the oven for 15 minutes to remove any excess moisture. Once they start to split, remove the pan from the oven and set it aside.
Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté the onion until softened, about 5 minutes, then add in the garlic and stir for one more minute. Remove from the heat.
In a large bowl, combine the sauteed onion and garlic, cooked black beans, sweet potato, oat flour (or ground flax seed), BBQ sauce, cumin, and salt.
Use a fork to stir the mixture, mashing the beans to help the batter stick together.
You don’t want to mash all of the beans, as they help add texture, but you want it mashed enough that you can form and shape the burger patties. The batter will be relatively sticky.
Use a 1/3 cup measure to scoop the black bean mixture and drop it onto a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Use your hands to flatten the mixture and shape it into a burger patty about 3/4-inch thick. (Use wet hands to prevent sticking, if necessary.)
This recipe should make 8 to 9 burgers.
Bake the burgers at 350ºF for 20 minutes, then use a spatula to gently flip them over and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes. The finished burgers will feel a little dry around the edges, but still slightly soft to the touch in the center.
As they cool, they will firm up and dry out a bit more, so don’t overcook them.
Serve warm on your favorite hamburger buns with lettuce, tomato, red onion, and any other toppings you love. Sauteed peppers or creamy avocado are also excellent additions.
Storage: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. The burgers will be slightly drier when reheated, so I recommend adding a good sauce on top for moisture.
Looking for a side dish for these burgers? Try No Mayo Potato Salad, Baked French Fries, or Cabbage Salad.
Sweet Potato Black Bean Burgers
Ingredients
- 2 (15 oz.) cans black beans , drained and rinsed
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ yellow onion , chopped (about 1 cup)
- 3 garlic cloves , minced
- ½ cup mashed sweet potato (from a baked sweet potato)
- ¼ cup oat flour , or ground flax seeds
- ¼ cup BBQ sauce (see notes)
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Spread out the black beans on a large rimmed baking sheet so that they are in a single layer. Place them in the oven to dry out until they start to split, about 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Saute the onion until softened, about 5 minutes, then add in the garlic and stir for one more minute. Remove from the heat.
- In a large bowl, combine the sauteed onion and garlic, beans, sweet potato, oat flour (or flax seed), BBQ sauce, cumin and salt. Use a fork to stir the mixture, mashing the beans to help the batter stick together. You don't want to mash all of the beans, as they help add texture, but you want it mashed enough that you can form and shape the burger patties.
- Using the same baking sheet from earlier, line it with parchment paper. With a 1/3 cup measure, scoop the black bean mixture and place the mound on the prepared baking sheet. Use your hands to shape it into a burger about 3/4-inch thick. (Wet hands will help prevent sticking, if necessary.) This recipe should make 8 to 9 burgers.
- Bake the burgers at 350ºF for 20 minutes, then use a spatula to gently flip them over and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes. The finished burgers will feel a little dry around the edges, but still slightly soft to the touch in the center. As they cool, they will firm up and dry out a bit more, so you don't want to over cook them.
- Serve the burgers warm with your favorite buns and toppings. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week, or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
If you try these black bean sweet potato burgers, please leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how you like them.
I love how easy these burgers are to make! The BBQ sauce is genius for adding extra flavor.
Do you like these better than your speedy black bean burgers?
Right now I do, but I still LOVE those Speedy ones, too! Austin likes these more I think because of the chunky texture and the BBQ sauce flavor. But if you have kids who like veggies & beans to be more disguised, the speedy ones work better in that case.
I’m asking if the recipe is calling for half a cup of corn because it says 1/2 corn
In the ingredient list? Sorry, I’m not seeing that in this recipe.
It says 1/2 yellow corn. Do you mean 1/2 Cup?
Are you referring to the yellow onion? I use half of a yellow onion, and in parentheses after that I mention that it’s roughly 1 cup chopped. Hope that helps!
Your black bean burgers are absolutely delicious. Thank you for the great and easy recipe!
Thank you for a terrific recipe. I couldn’t find a BBQ sauce at the store that wasn’t loaded with sugar so I searched my pantry for a sub and tried tomato pesto. Loved the flavor.
Hello,
I was wondering…If i wish to have additional protein added to this recipe, could i had a scoop of pea protein as a binder to the mixture?
Thanks a bunch
Do you have to soak the beans before you put them into the oven?
Thank you!
These look so good! Unfortunately I can’t eat oat flour or flax seeds. Would almond flour work? Thank you!
I love love love this recipe! Have made it 3x!
I’m so happy to hear that! Glad you’re enjoying them. 🙂
I love making these burgers. My husband and I are trying to eat vegetarian meals and this is a great one. We have a vegan friend coming to visit today so I have these made and ready for us to enjoy.
I cannot eat black Bean. Can I use something else ?
Another type of bean would probably work, otherwise I would search for a recipe using ingredients that you know you can have.
Would I be able to take out the BBQ sauce? I’m not a fan of BBQ sauce or tomato paste.
It helps with binding and flavor, but you could probably use a little water and season the mixture to your taste to replace it.
Okay Thank you!!!
These are so delicious and my little one loves them!! Plus they are super easy to make for busy moms on the go.
My husband and I made these last night. Great recipe!! We both loved them!!
Thanks Megan!
These were Delicious !! TY
We loved this recipe I have done it many times thanks
I love these and make them often! Is there a reason you freeze them after baking them, or could they be assembled, frozen, and then baked?
It’s just easier for me to bake them all at once, and then I only have to worry about reheating them for a fast meal in the future. I wasn’t sure how easy it would be to freeze the patties before baking, since the mixture isn’t as firm as it is after they are baked, and I’m not sure how long you’d have to extend the cook time when baking a frozen burger, so it would just take a little experimenting! I’d love to hear if you try it.
Amazing!!!!
Another win ! Thank you Meghan!
For the sweet potato, can I use canned?
I’m sure these will be delicious.. how long do they keep in the fridge?
Thank you!
Meagan , you are a healthy food genius ! I know you put a tremendous amount of time testing your recipes and IT SHOWS ! I for one so appreciate it ! These are hands down the best bean burgers I have ever tasted and will be the only one I make going forward . Thank you so much for all you do . Your London Fog recipe is made daily for my hubs and I have made your decedent Pots de Creme chocolate recipe for two birthdays recently . Just can’t thank you enough. Be well . Sincerely ,Pam
Megan,
Just made these black bean burgers for the first time for dinner tonight and they are really good tasting. I had a recipe for black bean burgers but it is not as good as yours. Your recipe will be my new go to for black bean burgers. Thank You so much.
This recipe looks great. If you were going to add spices, what would you add? We’re not a fan of BBQ sauce flavor in this house. 🙂
These are the best veggie burgers! So easy & and hold together very well.
Very easy, fresh, and tasty. My husband ate them, too! Will add to our rotation.