Try This at Home: How to Make Veggie Burgers

Ree's veggie burgers call for canned black beans, but you can make them with dried beans too. Find Ree's recipe for black beans here.

"Before I met my husband, I was a vegetarian. I don't make many meatless dishes on our cattle ranch, but I still love this one," says Ree.

Mash the beans: Using a fork, mash the beans in a medium bowl until they are mushy but still have some whole-bean pieces throughout.

Make the burger mixture: Mix breadcrumbs, grated onion, chili powder, egg, and some salt and pepper into the beans.

Add a splash of water if the mixture looks dry. Set aside for 5 minutes. Preheat a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat and add a few tablespoons of canola oil.

Form the patties: Divide the bean mixture into 4 equal balls and form into 4 nice, neat patties.

Black bean burgers don't shrink when they cook, so whatever size you make them when they go into the skillet will be the size they are when they come out.

Cook the burgers until browned, 4 to 5 minutes on each side.

Add a slice of Swiss cheese to the top of each burger.

Invert a second skillet on top of the first skillet and continue cooking, 2 minutes, until the cheese is melted.