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Black Bean Mole Burgers

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on August 8, 2025

Time

40 minutes, plus 30 minutes chilling

Yield

Serves 4

Black Bean Mole Burgers

Ingredients

½ cup panko bread crumbs 2 tablespoons raw, unsalted pepitas ¾ teaspoon ground cumin ¾ teaspoon ancho chile powder ½ teaspoon smoked paprika ¼ teaspoon ground allspice ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed, divided⅓ cup finely chopped onion 1 large egg, lightly beaten2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted2 tablespoons golden raisins 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro 2 garlic cloves, minced1 teaspoon table salt ¼ teaspoon grated lime zest plus 1½ teaspoons juice1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided4 hamburger buns, toasted if desired

Before You Begin

Top with your favorite burger toppings.

Instructions

  1. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Process ½ cup panko bread crumbs in food processor until finely ground, about 30 seconds. Add 2 tablespoons raw, unsalted pepitas and process until finely chopped, about 15 seconds; transfer to large bowl. Toast ¾ teaspoon ground cumin, ¾ teaspoon ancho chile powder, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ¼ teaspoon ground allspice, and ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon in 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until spices are fragrant and begin to darken slightly, about 1 minute; add to bowl with panko mixture.
  2. Add half a rinsed (15-ounce) can of black beans, ⅓ cup finely chopped onion, 1 large lightly beaten egg, 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds, 2 tablespoons golden raisins, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1½ teaspoons minced canned chipotle chile in adobo sauce, ½ teaspoon adobo sauce, 1 teaspoon table salt, ¼ teaspoon grated lime zest, and 1½ teaspoons juice to now-empty processor and process until coarsely ground, about 20 seconds, scraping down sides of bowl as needed; add to bowl with panko mixture.
  3. Stir remaining beans into bean-panko mixture, then divide into 4 equal portions. Using your lightly moistened hands, firmly pack each portion into 3½-inch-wide patty and place on prepared sheet. Cover and refrigerate until chilled and firm, at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.
  4. Heat ½ tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Reduce heat to low and carefully place patties in skillet. Cook until burgers are crisp and deep golden brown on first side, about 7 minutes. Gently flip patties, add remaining ½ tablespoon oil to center of skillet, and cook until crisp and golden brown on second side, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer burgers to 4 hamburger buns and serve.
Black Bean Mole Burgers
Styling by Molly Gillespie.

Black Bean Mole Burgers

Headshot of America's Test Kitchen
By America's Test Kitchen

Published on August 8, 2025

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Time

40 minutes, plus 30 minutes chilling

Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

½ cup panko bread crumbs
2 tablespoons raw, unsalted pepitas
¾ teaspoon ground cumin
¾ teaspoon ancho chile powder
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
¼ teaspoon ground allspice
⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed, divided
⅓ cup finely chopped onion
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted
2 tablespoons golden raisins
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon table salt
¼ teaspoon grated lime zest plus 1½ teaspoons juice
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided
4 hamburger buns, toasted if desired

Ingredients

½ cup panko bread crumbs
2 tablespoons raw, unsalted pepitas
¾ teaspoon ground cumin
¾ teaspoon ancho chile powder
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
¼ teaspoon ground allspice
⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed, divided
⅓ cup finely chopped onion
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted
2 tablespoons golden raisins
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon table salt
¼ teaspoon grated lime zest plus 1½ teaspoons juice
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided
4 hamburger buns, toasted if desired

Ingredients

½ cup panko bread crumbs
2 tablespoons raw, unsalted pepitas
¾ teaspoon ground cumin
¾ teaspoon ancho chile powder
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
¼ teaspoon ground allspice
⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed, divided
⅓ cup finely chopped onion
1 large egg, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted
2 tablespoons golden raisins
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon table salt
¼ teaspoon grated lime zest plus 1½ teaspoons juice
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided
4 hamburger buns, toasted if desired

Why This Recipe Works

These sturdy black bean patties are extra-flavorful and sure to satisfy your burger cravings. Drawing inspiration from the complex and assertive heat in Oaxacan moles, we layered three forms of chile peppers: ancho chile powder for its earthy aroma, smoked paprika for a whisper of sweetness, and canned chipotles in adobo sauce for smokiness. This gave us well-seasoned, deeply aromatic patties. To ensure the patties held their shape, we found a ratio of panko bread crumbs, pepitas, and sesame seeds that did an excellent job at binding the mixture. Briefly chilling the patties further improved their cohesiveness. To build a gratifyingly crispy crust while keeping the inside tender, we browned them over low heat.

Before You Begin

Top with your favorite burger toppings.

Instructions

  1. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Process ½ cup panko bread crumbs in food processor until finely ground, about 30 seconds. Add 2 tablespoons raw, unsalted pepitas and process until finely chopped, about 15 seconds; transfer to large bowl. Toast ¾ teaspoon ground cumin, ¾ teaspoon ancho chile powder, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, ¼ teaspoon ground allspice, and ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon in 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until spices are fragrant and begin to darken slightly, about 1 minute; add to bowl with panko mixture.
  2. Add half a rinsed (15-ounce) can of black beans, ⅓ cup finely chopped onion, 1 large lightly beaten egg, 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds, 2 tablespoons golden raisins, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1½ teaspoons minced canned chipotle chile in adobo sauce, ½ teaspoon adobo sauce, 1 teaspoon table salt, ¼ teaspoon grated lime zest, and 1½ teaspoons juice to now-empty processor and process until coarsely ground, about 20 seconds, scraping down sides of bowl as needed; add to bowl with panko mixture.
  3. Stir remaining beans into bean-panko mixture, then divide into 4 equal portions. Using your lightly moistened hands, firmly pack each portion into 3½-inch-wide patty and place on prepared sheet. Cover and refrigerate until chilled and firm, at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.
  4. Heat ½ tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Reduce heat to low and carefully place patties in skillet. Cook until burgers are crisp and deep golden brown on first side, about 7 minutes. Gently flip patties, add remaining ½ tablespoon oil to center of skillet, and cook until crisp and golden brown on second side, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer burgers to 4 hamburger buns and serve.

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