Vegan and oil-free, these simple black bean burgers are made with only 8 ingredients and can be on your plate in about 30 minutes. Gluten-free option, too!
Let’s face it: When you follow a plant-based whole foods diet, there are some things you miss. I’m not talking about rich desserts and fried snacks. What I sometimes miss is the convenience of packaged foods, especially the ease of pulling a veggie burger out of the freezer and cooking it in the microwave in under two minutes. That’s why I decided to create a faster, easier black bean burger.
Maybe I shouldn’t be confessing this on my food blog, but the older I get, the less time I want to spend cooking. Often, it’s just a mental hurdle—once I decide what I want to make and get into the kitchen, I enjoy putting a meal together, especially if my husband is available to help with the chopping.
But for some reason, not having a child around to cook for has made me less eager to spend more than about 30 minutes on meal preparation. Maybe I’m just getting old; maybe I miss daughter E’s critical palate. Who knows? The upside is since she went away to college, I’m creating more Ridiculously Easy recipes for those of you who feel the same way about cooking. Like this recipe for 8-ingredient black bean burgers (7 if you skip the corn.)
I have lots of incredible burgers in my archives, but all of them require some vegetable chopping or cooking some ingredients in advance. My African-Inspired Sweet Potato and Black Bean Burgers, for instance, are amazing, if I do say so, but they require cooking sweet potatoes and chopping 4 different vegetables.
Instead of all that chopping, this easy black bean burger uses prepared salsa and just a few potent seasonings to create a burger that is firm yet moist, simple yet flavorful, in the least amount of time possible. I start by slightly grinding regular oatmeal so that some of it becomes powdery, helping the burgers stick together without added thickeners like flour or cornstarch.
I’ve made these burgers twice now—first on the bake setting and then on the air fryer setting on my Breville Smart Oven Air—and they came out equally well both baked and air-fried. Since all of the ingredients are already cooked (or don’t require cooking, like oats and corn), they only need to be cooked long enough to crisp up the exterior and warm the interior; letting them “meld” in the fridge for at least 15 minutes insures that they will hold together.
The first time I made these chipotle-flavored black bean burgers, I skipped the usual condiments and topped them with Green Tomato Pepper Butter, a tangy sweet-sour sauce that brought out their spiciness. (Check out the recipe plus a photo of our new puppy!)
The second time, I treated them like regular old burgers and topped them with ketchup and mustard. I think you’ll love them with whatever condiments you use.
P.S. I made the oil-free fries in my little Phillips air fryer, making this a two air fryer meal. I simply cut thin fries (I use a food processor) from Yukon gold potatoes, toss them with about a tablespoon of aquafaba (liquid from canned chickpeas) and some seasonings. Then I air fry at 360F for 18 minutes, tossing and stirring every 6 minutes.
Simple Black Bean Burger
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cups rolled oats (old fashioned oats) (use certified gluten-free oats to assure that the burgers are gluten-free)
- 16 ounces black beans (1 can, well drained)
- 3/4 cup salsa
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce (or tamari or 1/2 teaspoon salt, for gluten free)
- 1 1/4 teaspoons mild chili powder
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon chipotle chile powder (more or less, to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 cup corn kernels (fresh or frozen and thawed) optional
Instructions
- Place the oats in a food processor fitted with an S-blade and pulse 5 or 6 times until they are partially chopped (some will be powder, some will be whole.) Add all ingredients except the corn and pulse until most of the beans are blended.
- Pour bean mixture into a bowl and stir in the corn. Cover and refrigerate for about 15 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 375F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Form bean mixture into six patties using a scant 1/2 cup for each. Bake for 20-30 minutes, being careful not to overcook and dry them out. They're done when the outside is beginning to get crispy and they hold together well.
Air Fryer Cooking Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to around 375F. Place the burgers in a single layer and air fry until slightly crispy on the outside, about 15 minutes. (They have a tendency to stick, so consider using perforated parchment paper underneath them.)
Notes
Nutritional info is approximate.
Enjoy!
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KathyD
October 29, 2017 at 4:31 pmYou are not alone. I, too, find that I want simpler recipes. I think it is just because I prepare all of my own food. I also want recipes that can be doubled so that I can freeze some for later.
Risa Graves
October 29, 2017 at 7:12 pmI subscribe to your newsletter!
I thoroughly enjoy all your recipes, and these two look especially yummy! I’m new to veganism and really appreciate you.
Thanks for all you do,
Risak
Joan Rudloff
October 29, 2017 at 8:08 pmI subscribe to your newsletter and the black bean burger recipe looks awesome. Thank you.
moonwatcher
October 29, 2017 at 5:45 pmSimple and flavor-full! My kind of burger! Thanks Susan! xo
Nancy Chenh
October 29, 2017 at 6:42 pmI subscribe to your newsletter
Elizabeth
October 29, 2017 at 6:43 pmI subscribe to your newsletter.
Thanks for another recipe!
Molly
October 29, 2017 at 6:44 pmThis looks amazing! I’ve followed you on Instagram and Facebook for ages, and I was so excited when you started the newsletter way back when. By having all 3 outlets, I’m sure to never miss a recipe, even in my busiest months!
Cynthia Crumlish
October 29, 2017 at 6:45 pmHi! Love all your recipes. I subscribe to your newsletter!
Ann
October 29, 2017 at 6:45 pmThese look incredible! I subscribe to your newsletter
Elizabeth
October 29, 2017 at 6:46 pmI subscribe to your newsletter. These burgers look great!
Joseph E Dante
October 29, 2017 at 6:47 pmI subscribe to your newsletter and I’m making your black bean burger recipe tomorrow unless work gets in the way…again.
Waneta Drew
October 29, 2017 at 6:48 pmI subscribe to the newsletter.
Carol
October 29, 2017 at 6:49 pmI subscribe to your newsletter. Thanks for the black bean burger recipe.
dara
October 29, 2017 at 6:49 pmYummy again Susan! You never disappoint! You are my #1 go-to vegan cooking resource! &… I subscribe to your newsletter!:)
Agnes DeRoma
October 29, 2017 at 6:50 pmI marked this to my saved recipes which means I will be trying it this week for dinner. My husband and two sons are a big fan of yours, subscribe to your newletter and make your recipes daily!
Lisa Smith
October 29, 2017 at 6:50 pmI subscribe to your newsletter 🙂
Pam Burnham
October 29, 2017 at 6:50 pmI follow you on Faebook, and I subscribe to your newsletter.
Janet
October 29, 2017 at 6:50 pmGuess what? I subscribe to your newsletter! (and I’m a long time follower of your fab recipe!)
Dawn
October 29, 2017 at 6:52 pmI, too, have a daughter away at college and am not too eager about cooking! Hubby is not vegan so that doesn’t help. I’ve been looking for a good. Lack bean burger that holds together well. This looks like it will do the trick! Can’t wait to try it!
I do subscribe to your newsletter and would love a chance to win the cookbook!
Thanks!
Dawn
October 29, 2017 at 6:53 pmBlack not lack!
Valerie
October 29, 2017 at 6:53 pmPlease enter me in the cookbook giveaway! Thank you.
Janet
October 29, 2017 at 6:57 pmLOL I follow you both on Facebook and Instagram an I subscribe to your newsletter. Better yet I make your recipes and love them! Thank you.
Jackie
October 29, 2017 at 6:57 pmHi Susan, well I don’t have FB and I don’t do Instagram. I do however receive your news letter. I will try the black bean burger. I do your thanksgiving meatless loaf. I love it and I actually bake it in muffin cups. I have them for lunch with potatoes and gravy and veg. Or I’ll mush it up and use it as a sandwich filling. Love, love, love it!!!
Happy puppies!! I also have just adopted 2!!
Alayna Angus
October 29, 2017 at 6:58 pmI subscribe to your newsletter!!
Patti
October 29, 2017 at 6:58 pmI subscribe to your newsletter! Great black bean burger recipe! I look forward to trying it!
Sandi
October 29, 2017 at 6:58 pmAnother wonderful recipe…thanks! I subscribe to your newsletter.
Cathleen
October 29, 2017 at 6:59 pmHello – I follow you on Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to your newsletter. Would love to win a book. 🙂 Happy Holidays!
Caroline Jones
October 29, 2017 at 6:59 pmI subscribe to your newsletter! 😀
Sharon Herbitter
October 29, 2017 at 7:01 pmI subscribe to your newsletter!
Catherine M. Hess
October 29, 2017 at 7:02 pmI think you’re awesome, your food is great, and … I subscribe to your newsletter. I love it all!
Halina
October 29, 2017 at 7:03 pmI subscribe to your newsletter and look forward to it each month
Tina
October 29, 2017 at 7:03 pmI subscribe to your newsletter.
These look great! Can’t wait to try.
The older I get, the more I want simple and basic, too.
Barb
October 29, 2017 at 7:03 pmI subscribe to your newsletter. And follow you on Facebook. Thanks for sharing your recipes.
Ed
October 29, 2017 at 7:04 pmBoy howdy! Happy to be a happy subscriber to ✿ NewsBites!
marti
October 29, 2017 at 7:05 pmhi susan
i’ve been following your blog for several years
and have thoroughly enjoyed selecting the recipes that appeal
you’ve utilized so many different cuisines and veganizaed them
thanks
unfortunately, Mexican is not one of my favorites
so, i made your burgers with the beans, corn, oats
and then slid east
i included ginger, chopped garlic, and a bit of miso
it worked!
thanks for the springboard
please do enter me in the cookbook contest
thanks for that too
Cindy
October 29, 2017 at 7:05 pmLooks great! I subscribe to your newsletter!
Kathy Baker
October 29, 2017 at 7:05 pmI subscribe to your newsletter! And, I can’t wait to try this recipe! I love corn but it’s nice that it’s an option because my family doesn’t. I can put corn in mine and not theirs 😉
Thanks for inspiring me in this whole food plant based life I’m living!
Kathy
Luisa Bertoli
October 29, 2017 at 7:05 pmI subscribe to your newsletter. You have some great recipes especially the black bean burger. Sounds wonderful
Stephanie
October 29, 2017 at 7:07 pmI subscribe to your newsletter, thank you for lol the great recipes!
Sarah
October 29, 2017 at 7:09 pmI subscribe to your newsletter.
Julie
October 29, 2017 at 7:09 pmI subscribe to your newsletter.
This recipe = yum! It looks so easy ~ thank you!!
Nancy Davis
October 29, 2017 at 7:09 pmI subscribe to your newsletter.
JoAnn M Lakes
October 29, 2017 at 7:10 pmGuess what I don’t do intagram, but I subscribe to your blog/newsbites and love them! 🙂