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This pumpkin burgers recipe with black beans and vegetables is delicious! They are hearty, healthy and the perfect comfort food. Quick, easy and ready in 30 minutes, they are perfect for a busy weeknight dinner!It's no secret that I adore veggie burgers. I just love all of the different flavors and ingredients you can pack into one delicious vegetarian burger - it's the perfect combination of health and comfort food.
Yes - healthy eating and comfort food can go together! And I'm always on the lookout for new veggie burger recipes, so these pumpkin burgers were a great way to switch things up. They're a family favorite, and the homemade ones are so much better for you than store bought!
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Vegan and vegetarian burgers are a great source of plant-protein, and make a convenient and simple dinner. One burger has all you need for a complete meal. You've got fiber from the whole wheat bun and veggies, plus loads of plant-protein in the form of beans.
The best thing about these easy pumpkin burgers is that they are done in only 30 minutes! They not only make for a simple weeknight meal, but are great for grilling season! Add your favorite seasonings and fixings to customize these to your specific taste!
How To Make Pumpkin Burgers
Recipe Ingredients and Notes
This pumpkin veggie burger recipe can easily be made with pantry staples!Black Beans: I use one can of organic black beans drained and rinsed. But honestly, any type of bean: pinto beans, kidney beans, cannellini beans, or white beans would work in this recipe. If you prefer not to use canned beans, you can use 1.5 cups of cooked black beans.
Pumpkin Puree: For convenience and the fact that I like making these burgers even when it's not pumpkin season, I use canned pumpkin.
Spices: A combination of cumin, garlic powder, chili powder, sea salt and black pepper gives these burgers extra flavor and spice! Feel free to add in your favorite seasonings!
Whole Wheat Flour: Acts as a binder in this recipe. You can also use whole wheat bread crumbs, chickpea flour, oat flour, or a gluten free flour blend for a gluten-free option.
Whole Wheat Buns: I prefer to use whole wheat buns for the added fiber and nutrients.
Fixings: Add your favorite fixings. I like to use a few onion rings, fresh crisp lettuce, a slice of tomato, and melted cheddar cheese!
Tools and Equipment You'll Need
Step by Step Instructions
Step 1: Combine all ingredients (black beans through chili powder or cayenne if you're using it) in a food processor and mix until mostly pureed - with a few chunks of black beans left. Note - you can also mash all the ingredients in a large bowl.
Step 2: Once the bean mixture is at a desired consistency, form into 2 patties.
Step 3: Spray a large nonstick skillet with olive oil cooking spray, and cook on medium heat for 5-10 min on each side until golden brown.
Step 4: Serve on whole wheat hamburger buns with lettuce, tomato, onions, and all your favorite fixings! Enjoy!
What Makes These Pumpkin Burgers Healthy?
- Rich in Vitamins and Nutrients: Pumpkin is an excellent source of potassium, vitamin A and iron.
- High in Fiber and Protein: Pumpkin is rich in fiber (each burger has 22 grams of heart-healthy fiber), which aids in digestion; and these burgers are packed with 29 grams of plant protein!
Recipe FAQS
Will kids enjoy these pumpkin burgers?
Kids will love biting into these super delicious vegan burgers. The pumpkin adds a nice moistness without adding a ton of overwhelming flavor. If your kids don't like spicy flavors, I recommend leaving out the cayenne! Dress them with your kids' favorite toppings like melted cheese and ketchup!
Is canned pumpkin good for you?
You might have heard that canned pumpkin isn't as good for you as fresh pumpkin but that's actually not true! Some fresh foods will have a higher nutrient content than their cooked or canned versions. But in this case, both fresh pumpkin and canned pumpkin are packed with nutrients, such as potassium, vitamin A and iron.
What do these pumpkin burgers taste like?
One thing to note about this recipe is that the veggie burgers aren't as "hearty" or "dense" as your normal Gardenburger or Boca burger patty. They tend to fall apart a bit more easily and are a bit softer. I really enjoyed the different consistency of the burgers. They felt a little "falafel-esque" which was fun to eat. You can't really taste the pumpkin, but the spices add a nice depth of flavor, while the black beans add tons of protein!
Are these burgers easy to make?
With just 10 minutes of prep time and 20 minutes to cook, these burgers are ideal for a busy weeknight. There is also no chopping involved, which saves tons of time! The only things you may want to chop are the fixings, if needed. These burgers are easy, healthy and delicious - a triple win!
Variations and Substitutions
There are so many different ways to change up these burgers, but here are some of my favorites!
- Gluten-Free: To make these pumpkin burgers gluten-free, sub the whole wheat pastry flour with a gluten free flour blend.
- Vegan Version: All you need to do to make a vegan pumpkin burger is to leave off the cheese, or add a dairy-free cheese slice instead. All of the ingredients in the pumpkin burger patties themselves are already vegan-friendly.
- Spices: You can customize the seasoning of this burger recipe by adding different spices. In the fall, you may want to add herbs like sage, thyme, and rosemary for autumn flavors.
How to Serve
I paired the patties with a simple combination of cheese, sliced onions, sliced tomatoes and ketchup, on a whole wheat bun of course. So satisfying and healthy! You can also serve them with these Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries on the side - yum!
Top Tips For Black Bean and Pumpkin Burgers
- Make sure you use canned pumpkin puree with no added sugars or flavoring. Do not use pumpkin pie filling.
- When you form the patties, the mixture should not stick to your hands too much. If it does, you need more dry ingredients.
- For a firmer burger, refrigerate the whole burger mix in a bowl for 30 minutes or so, and then make the patties when you're ready to cook them. They will be firmer and hold together better while cooking.
- While cooking the patties, if you try to move them too early, they will stick and break apart. When a burger is ready to be moved, it will release easily from the pan or grill.
- To store, I recommend storing the pumpkin patties in an airtight container in the fridge, and storing the buns and toppings separately. They will keep for up to 4 days.
- If you're cooking for a crowd, you can make a big batch of these at once by placing the black bean pumpkin burgers on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil and baking them in the oven at 325 degrees F for 15 minutes.