Vegan Sweet Potato Black Bean Burgers (Print Version)

Hearty patties with roasted sweet potato, black beans, and spices, topped with creamy avocado lime sauce.

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Burgers

01 - 1 large sweet potato (about 12 oz), peeled and cubed
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 (14 oz) can 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 chopped fresh cilantro
13 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

→ For the Avocado Lime Sauce

14 - 1 ripe avocado
15 - 2 tablespoons vegan mayonnaise
16 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
17 - 1 garlic clove
18 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
19 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ To Serve

20 - 4 vegan burger buns
21 - Lettuce leaves
22 - Tomato slices
23 - Red onion slices

# How To Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Toss sweet potato cubes with olive oil and spread on the prepared tray. Roast for 20-25 minutes until tender and allow to cool slightly.
02 - In a food processor, pulse oats 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 just combined but still chunky, taking care not to overmix.
03 - Shape mixture into 4 equal burger patties. Place on a plate and refrigerate for 15 minutes to firm up and hold shape during cooking.
04 - Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat and lightly oil the surface. Cook patties for 4-5 minutes per side until crisp and golden brown. Transfer to a plate.
05 - Combine avocado, vegan mayonnaise, lime juice, garlic clove, cilantro, salt, and pepper in a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth and adjust seasoning as needed.
06 - Toast burger buns if desired. Layer each bun with lettuce, tomato slice, red onion slice, sweet potato black bean patty, and a generous dollop of avocado lime sauce. Serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • These burgers stay together perfectly, no crumbling or falling apart like some veggie patties I've suffered through.
  • The avocado lime sauce is genuinely addictive—tangy, creamy, and complex enough that nobody misses traditional mayo.
  • They're equally satisfying whether you're vegan or just looking to eat less meat without feeling like you're missing something.
02 -
  • Don't skip the initial roasting of sweet potatoes—boiling or steaming them leaves too much water in the mixture, and your patties will fall apart in the skillet.
  • The texture of your finished burger depends entirely on pulsing, not blending, so keep that food processor on low and check constantly.
03 -
  • Use a non-stick skillet and keep the heat at medium, not high—rushing with high heat burns the outside before the inside cooks through.
  • If avocados are hard to find or expensive, substitute half the avocado with silken tofu blended with lime juice and garlic for a similar creamy texture.
Go Back