Sweet Potato Black Bean Burgers

Featured in: All-American Desserts

These satisfying burgers combine roasted sweet potatoes with black beans, aromatic spices, and fresh cilantro for a hearty texture. The patties hold together beautifully thanks to rolled oats, while a quick chill in the fridge helps them maintain their shape during cooking. Pan-frying creates a crisp exterior and tender interior. The crowning glory is a velvety avocado lime sauce that adds bright, creamy notes to complement the earthy spices. Serve on toasted buns with crisp lettuce, juicy tomato slices, and sharp red onion for a complete, crowd-pleasing meal that proves plant-based eating can be indulgent and delicious.

Updated on Wed, 11 Feb 2026 07:33:26 GMT
Crispy, golden-brown Vegan Sweet Potato Black Bean Burgers cooling on a wire rack with fresh buns beside them. Save
Crispy, golden-brown Vegan Sweet Potato Black Bean Burgers cooling on a wire rack with fresh buns beside them. | dashofstates.com

Discover a plant-based favorite with these Vegan Sweet Potato Black Bean Burgers. These hearty, flavorful patties combine the natural sweetness of roasted sweet potatoes with the protein-packed richness of black beans. Topped with a creamy, zesty avocado lime sauce, this recipe offers a satisfying and nutritious meal that is perfect for any day of the week.

Crispy, golden-brown Vegan Sweet Potato Black Bean Burgers cooling on a wire rack with fresh buns beside them. Save
Crispy, golden-brown Vegan Sweet Potato Black Bean Burgers cooling on a wire rack with fresh buns beside them. | dashofstates.com

The secret to these burgers lies in the texture. By pulsing the oats into a coarse meal and keeping the sweet potato and bean mixture chunky, you achieve a bite that is substantial and satisfying. This recipe yields four generous burgers that are as beautiful to look at as they are delicious to eat.

Ingredients

For the Burgers:

  • 1 large sweet potato (about 350 g), peeled and cubed
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 (400 g) can black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1/2 cup (50 g) rolled oats
  • 1 small red onion, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

For the Avocado Lime Sauce:

  • 1 ripe avocado
  • 2 tablespoons vegan mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

To Serve:

  • 4 burger buns (vegan)
  • Lettuce leaves
  • Tomato slices
  • Red onion slices

Instructions

Step 1
Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F). Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
Step 2
Toss the sweet potato cubes with olive oil and spread on the tray. Roast for 20-25 minutes until tender. Let cool slightly.
Step 3
In a food processor, pulse the oats into a coarse meal. Add roasted sweet potato, black beans, onion, garlic, cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, pepper, cilantro, and lime juice. Pulse until just combined but still chunky (do not overmix).
Step 4
Shape the mixture into 4 equal burger patties. Place on a plate and refrigerate for 15 minutes to firm up.
Step 5
Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Lightly oil the surface and cook the patties for 4-5 minutes per side until crisp and golden brown.
Step 6
For the sauce, blend all avocado lime sauce ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth. Adjust seasoning as needed.
Step 7
Toast the burger buns if desired. Assemble the burgers with lettuce, tomato, red onion, the sweet potato black bean patty, and a generous dollop of avocado lime sauce. Serve immediately.

Zusatztipps für die Zubereitung

If you prefer to skip the stovetop, the patties can be baked at 200°C (400°F) for 20 minutes. Simply flip them halfway through the cooking time to ensure an even crispiness on both sides.

Varianten und Anpassungen

To add even more texture and color to your burgers, try folding in a handful of sweet corn or finely diced bell peppers into the burger mixture before shaping the patties. For a gluten-free version, ensure your oats and buns are certified gluten-free.

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Serviervorschläge

Serve these burgers alongside a side of crispy baked sweet potato fries or a light, fresh garden salad. They also pair excellently with a cold glass of lime-infused sparkling water.

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| dashofstates.com

These Vegan Sweet Potato Black Bean Burgers are a testament to how flavorful and filling plant-based cooking can be. Whether for a summer barbecue or a cozy weeknight dinner, they are sure to become a recurring favorite in your kitchen.

Recipe FAQ

Can I make the patties ahead of time?

Absolutely. Shape the uncooked patties and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before cooking. You can also freeze them between parchment paper for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before cooking.

What can I substitute for rolled oats?

Quinoa flakes, breadcrumbs, or crushed crackers work well as binders. For a grain-free option, use almond flour or extra cooked quinoa. The texture will vary slightly but still hold together nicely.

How do I prevent the patties from falling apart?

Refrigerating the shaped patties for at least 15 minutes helps them firm up. Don't overprocess the mixture—keeping it slightly chunky provides better structure. Cooking until properly browned on both sides also ensures they hold together when assembled.

Can I bake these instead of pan-frying?

Yes, bake at 200°C (400°F) for 20 minutes on a parchment-lined baking sheet, flipping halfway through. The result will be slightly less crispy but still delicious and perfect for batch cooking.

How long does the avocado sauce last?

The sauce stays fresh in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. The lime juice helps prevent oxidation, but press plastic wrap directly onto the surface to minimize browning. Give it a quick stir before serving.

Can I grill these outdoors?

These work great on the grill. Use a well-oiled grill basket or place directly on grates that have been cleaned and oiled. Grill over medium heat for 4-5 minutes per side. The smoky flavor from grilling complements the cumin and smoked paprika beautifully.

Sweet Potato Black Bean Burgers

Hearty patties with roasted sweet potato, black beans, and spices, topped with zesty avocado cream on toasted buns.

Prep duration
25 min
Cook duration
35 min
Complete duration
60 min
Created by Jordan Miller


Complexity Medium

Heritage American

Output 4 Portions

Nutritional considerations Plant-Based, No dairy

Components

For the Burgers

01 1 large sweet potato (about 12 oz), peeled and cubed
02 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 1 can (14 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
04 1/2 cup rolled oats
05 1 small red onion, finely chopped
06 2 garlic cloves, minced
07 1 teaspoon ground cumin
08 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
09 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
10 1/2 teaspoon salt
11 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
12 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
13 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

For the Avocado Lime Sauce

01 1 ripe avocado
02 2 tablespoons vegan mayonnaise
03 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
04 1 garlic clove
05 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped
06 Salt and pepper to taste

To Serve

01 4 vegan burger buns
02 Lettuce leaves
03 Tomato slices
04 Red onion slices

Method

Phase 01

Preheat and Prepare: Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Phase 02

Roast Sweet Potatoes: Toss sweet potato cubes with olive oil and spread on the prepared baking sheet. Roast for 20-25 minutes until tender. Remove from oven and let cool slightly.

Phase 03

Prepare Burger Mixture: Pulse oats in a food processor into coarse meal. Add roasted sweet potato, black beans, red onion, garlic, cumin, smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, pepper, cilantro, and lime juice. Pulse until combined but still chunky, avoiding overmixing.

Phase 04

Shape and Chill Patties: Form mixture into 4 equal burger patties. Place on a plate and refrigerate for 15 minutes to firm up.

Phase 05

Cook Patties: Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Lightly oil the surface and cook patties for 4-5 minutes per side until crisp and golden brown.

Phase 06

Prepare Avocado Lime Sauce: Blend avocado, vegan mayonnaise, lime juice, garlic clove, cilantro, salt, and pepper in a blender or food processor until smooth. Adjust seasoning as needed.

Phase 07

Assemble and Serve: Toast burger buns if desired. Layer lettuce, tomato, red onion slices, patty, and generous dollop of avocado lime sauce on each bun. Serve immediately.

Necessary tools

  • Oven
  • Baking sheet
  • Food processor or blender
  • Non-stick skillet
  • Spatula
  • Knife and cutting board

Allergy details

Review each component for potential allergens and seek professional medical guidance if you're uncertain.
  • Contains gluten if using regular buns and oats. Use certified gluten-free oats and buns for gluten-free version
  • Contains soy if using soy-based vegan mayonnaise
  • Always check product labels for hidden allergens

Nutrient breakdown (each portion)

These figures are approximate and shouldn't replace professional health advice.
  • Energy: 420
  • Fats: 13 g
  • Carbohydrates: 65 g
  • Proteins: 12 g