The Lunch Bunch: Black Bean Chia Burger Recipe

asweatlife_The Lunch Bunch- Black Bean Chia Burger recipe

It seems like I’m on a burger craze lately, but this black bean chia burger recipe hit the SPOT on Monday! I like to limit my red meat consumption to about once a month as part of a heart-healthy diet, thus I’m always in the market for a great veggie burger. Burgers also do wonders for an easy meal. Creating a new healthy burger recipe that I enjoy is a huge win and keeps my lunches exciting – which is exactly the point, right?!

These black bean chia burgers are both vegan and gluten-free (shhh don’t go telling anyone without a diet restriction, because I promise they are delicious!). In this recipe, I used chia seeds to form a gelatin, which then serves as an egg substitute and helps bind the patty. This method not only allows this recipe to become vegan, but also adds a ton of nutrition to the mix.

In recent months, I’ve discussed chia seeds and for good reason! They are PACKED with heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Omega 3’s are known to be important for brain health, so let’s keep that thinking cap buzzing. The high fiber content and gelatinous coating (formed when exposed to liquids) helps with digestive health. Did you know that a one-ounce serving of chia seeds contains a whopping 11 grams of fiber – 1/3 the recommended daily intake for adults? If this wasn’t enough, the significant calcium and manganese content supports our bone health and helps to prevent Osteoporosis – very important for women in their teens and 20s, who are still building up bone density!

A higher (healthy) fat, high-protein diet is key to a healthy, active lifestyle. It will give you the energy you need to stay active throughout the day and assists in maintaining a strong, lean body mass. The more muscle our bodies are made up of with a lower fat composition, the harder and faster our metabolisms will be working. That’s something I believe we can all work towards.

For lunches this week, you can go light or heavier on the carbs depending on your workouts, activity levels and overall goals. The following are five suggestions with limited ingredients to make shopping easy. Lastly, always remember adjust to what YOU need and have fun!

A healthy life is a happy life.

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Lunch Bunch_15 02 25

Grocery List:

Produce:

  • 1 large carrot
  • 3 scallions
  • Fresh cilantro
  • Garlic

Pantry:

  • Chia seeds
  • 1 Can black beans
  • Spices: Cayenne pepper, cumin, salt, pepper
  • Extra virgin oil (or coconut oil)

Frozen/Other:

  • Corn, organic

Optional add-ins:

  • Avocado, tomato, arugula, sweet potato, beet, whole wheat tortilla

Recipe:

Ingredients:

  • Chia egg substitute: 1 Tbsp. chia seeds + 3 Tbsp. water
  • 1 can (15ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ cup corn, frozen organic
  • 3 scallions, chopped
  • 2/3 cup shredded carrots (1 large carrot)
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, minced
  • 1 tsp. cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp. cumin
  • ½ tsp. pepper
  • Dash of salt
  • Toppings: Sliced avocado (b/c I pretty much put this on everything J), tomato, arugula, lime wedges for serving

Directions:

  1. Mix 1 Tbsp. chia seeds with 3 Tbsp. water. Let sit for 10 minutes while preparing the burgers. Mix again and let sit for another 5-10 minutes. You will see the chia seeds expand and become a gelatinous texture as the mixture settles.
  2. Add all prepared ingredients to a food processer or blender. Add the chia egg last, allowing it to form while you prepare the ingredients. Pulse a few times until it blends into a thick pattie-like texture. *DO NOT over-blend/liquefy – you want to be able to see the colors of each ingredient!
  3. Form into 5 patties.
  4. Heat 1 Tbsp. EVOO (or coconut oil) in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté for 5-7 minutes each side, or until browned and the pattie is solid throughout. *You may need to flip more than once.
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About Patty Duffey

Patty is a Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Coach in the Chicago area. She is Ohio bred and received her bachelor’s degree in dietetics at Miami of Ohio, while continuing on the following year to complete her Dietetic Internship at Mount Carmel Hospitals in Columbus. Upon becoming an RD, Patty made the remarkable decision to work abroad in Australia for one year. She loved the active and healthy culture, and it seemed that most Aussies shared a common view that is was better to be proactive as opposed to reactive when it came to health and wellbeing. She knew that the health and fitness industry was exactly where she wanted to be. Since moving to Chicago three years ago, Patty has gained experience as a dietitian and nutrition coach at both Life Time Fitness and My Fit Foods. Her goal is to continue to build her health coaching skills as a nutrition entrepreneur. She currently works at Lululemon and loves working for a company where she can bring fitness and nutrition together in such an inspiring environment!

2 thoughts on “The Lunch Bunch: Black Bean Chia Burger Recipe

  1. Looks awesome! I have some recipes that call for a “flax egg” which is similar to the chia in this one. I posted a 60 sec chocolate chip mug cookie recently and someone asked how to make it vegan, so that was the way to substitute the egg.

    I love to put chia in my smoothies so that it thickens them up. Thanks for the recipe!

    1. absolutely! The “flax egg” and “chia egg” are the exact same concept, and they’re both great substitutes for eggs when baking or acting as a binder agent in burgers. I will definitely check out your choc. chip mug cookie recipe – sounds great!!

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