Best Black Bean Burger We Found in a Taste Test

If you ever dabbled in veganism or vegetarianism in the ‘90s and early aughts, you probably have a soft spot for black bean burgers. Before there were dozens of extremely meat-like veggie burger options at the grocery store, black bean burgers were the hearty vegan sandwich patty. When they’re good, they’re really good—flavorful and rib-sticking. But black bean burgers can be bland, mushy, and kinda crummy, too. We busted out our low-rise jeans and baby tees to find the best black bean burger at the grocery store. 

Here’s what we were looking for in the best black bean burgers: Good texture (creaminess is great, but black bean burgers should have some bite), flavor that doesn’t lean too hard on any one spice (enough with the cumin!), and moisture. Hoo boy, some black bean burgers are dry as hell! Not these. Here are the three best black bean burgers we found in a taste test—and yeah, those MorningStar Farms spicy black bean burgers you know and love made the cut.

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Best Veggie Forward

Actual Veggies black bean burgers are a little mushy, but they have a lot of good qualities, like a pleasant spice mix (I can definitely taste garlic powder and cumin, but neither is overpowering) and, best of all, loads of veggies. These remind me of real ‘90s health food in the best way possible. Every patty is packed with beans, peppers, onions, and lots of carrot. If you hate carrot, you’ll probably hate these burgers, but I love that they add texture and make the burgers feel like a square meal. This is the best black bean burger for veggie lovers, but you do need the right sauce—I’m thinking Heinz Mayoracha (or another top notch spicy mayo) or a punchy burger sauce with lots of horseradish (I like J.L. Kraft).

Credit: Merc / Sprouts

Rating:

8/10

Sporks

Best for Bean Lovers

These Dr. Praeger black bean burgers are great. Flavor-wise, they bring to mind a very simple bean burrito. And they contain quinoa, which helps them crisp up on the outside. (I cooked all these burgers in a countertop oven, so I bet they’d crisp up even more in a skillet; that said, these probably aren’t great in the microwave.) Of all the black bean burgers we tasted, these had the creamiest beans. They need seasoning—a little salt and garlic powder will go a long way—but they’re a great blank slate for loading up with toppings, like the best vegan cheese. If this ranking were based solely on my personal preferences, this would be named the best black bean burger, but I have to admit that I think our #1 pick has more mass appeal. This one’s for the real bean freaks. 

Credit: Merc / Instacart

Rating:

9/10

Sporks

Best of the Best

When I set out to find the best black bean burger, I was hoping for some more revelatory results, but MorningStar’s Spicy Black Bean Burger is a dang classic for a reason. The beans are creamy and there’s lots of other veggies in here for texture. You get onions and peppers and corn kernels. The patties even look so much better than a lot of their competitors—nice and toasty brown. The best part is the smoky chipotle flavor, which makes them much more satisfying to eat—these are gonna taste good on the grill (just don’t forget about them or they’ll dry out on you real fast). Yes, they need salt (all of these need salt), but MorningStar Farms still makes the best frozen black bean burgers you can buy.

Credit: Merc / Ralphs

Rating:

9.5/10

Sporks

Other black bean burgers we tried: Amy’s Organic Black Bean Veggie Burger, Earth Grown Vegan Southwest Style Black Bean Chipotle Burger

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