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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Marie
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Kathy
I subscribe to your newsletter and am looking forward to trying this recipe! I love corn but my family doesn’t so I’m glad that it’s an optional ingredient. It will definitely go in MY burger 😉
Thanks for being such an inspiration for this way of eating!
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Can’t wait to try this. Yes, I subscribe to the newsletter and appreciate it! Thanks.
Kary
You are not alone. I like some easy recipes during the week.these look really good!
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I subscribe to your newsletter, but not on facebook or instagram. These black bean burgers look yummy!!!
Thank you 🙂
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I’m a LONG time subscriber to your blog/newsletter! Love it! You made my transition to plant based easy and delicious!
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HI, Susan, sorry, I don’t use Facebook but I’ve been following you since I went plant-based about 2007 and yours was about the only site for plant-based recipes (or the only good one!). I LOVE your recipes, have enjoyed your family and animals for ten years now and admire your spunk and determination through that health setback. I teach people WFPL, oil-free cooking and the first site I tell the about is always yours! Good luck to you always and I won’t tell anyone about the Secret giveaway! SHhh!
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I receive your news letter so please enter my name in your free cookbook giveaway. I don’t use Facebook or any other electronic communication so your help to enter the contest would be so helpful. Thanks so much. I’m so glad the whole food movement has been growing so rapidly. When I first started buying veggie cookbooks there were a handful on a bottom shelf at Barnes and Noble, now we get a whole section and sometimes the end cap as well. Have a very VEGAN holiday! CW
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Hi Susan – I subscribe to your blog – I am not on Facebook or instagram. I am interested in the holiday cookbook.
I also relate to wanting things easier and faster in the kitchen but you have been my teacher as I’ve gone vegan and learned to cook without oil – you have pulled me through time again with your recipes. I took the Mexican lasagna to the last family gathering and it was inhaled. The cheesy sauce remains a constant! I can’t thank you enough for your blog.
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Sarah Kay
Hi Susan! Longtime reader who recently subscribed to your newsletter. Am excited to try this recipe – but your Vegetable Gumbo will always be my favorite!
Desiree
I have all the ingredients on hand. I’m making my burgers extra spicy!!! I’m so glad I subscribe to your newsleter
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You’re still my fave blogger (found you through the McDougall group years ago), which is why I subscribe to your newsletter! 😀
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Perfect. Longtime fan and of course I subscribe to your newsletter.
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Hi Susan! I’m another long-time blog and newsletter reader who already likes and follows your social media. I’m also a fellow vegan cancer survivor (so far! lol) diagnosed and treated after decades of eating right. I’d like to enter your book drawing via this comment. Thank you!
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Karen Banuelos
I subscribe to your newsletter!! These burgers look great.
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I suscribe to your newsletter. I’ve been cooking with you since early 2011, I love your recipes! I’ll make this in a couple days.
Barb
Yup, these are in the oven for dinner!
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Zoe
I already subscribe to the newsletter and also need easy few ingredient recipes.
This looks perfect! Any non perishable subs for the salsa?
Thanks!
Susan Voisin
Can you find Rotel tomatoes with chilies in your area? They’re canned and they make a good substitute for salsa.
Pam Patek
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The Black Bean Burgers look simple and delicious.
Sandy
Hi Susan –
I subscribe to your newsletter! And live it! And will be making these black bean burgers!
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I’ve been following for years. Just made jackfruit ribs today. I subscribe to your newsletter.
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Katie Loss
I already am a fan of yours and already subscribe to your newsletter! However, it may be under a different email address than the one below.
This recipe looks delicious! Thank you, Susan!
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Sherry
Simple pantry ingredients, what could be better. We will be trying these out on our next RV outing. Thanks Susan…we have been following your blog for many moons!