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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Peg
October 29, 2017 at 7:42 pmI get your newsletter!
And I love the recipes.
Diana
October 29, 2017 at 7:45 pmHi Susan,
I subscribe to your newsletter.
I find I’m going for simple recipes whenever possible lately because I’ve gotten so busy! I really appreciate this new burger recipe, which sounds delicious! Some of the other “quick” veggie burger recipes I’ve tried taste like quick recipes – bland or the flavor is just off (too much of one ingredient, etc.). I’ve never had a problem with that with any recipes from your site.
Andrea
October 29, 2017 at 7:48 pmI subscribe to your wonderful newsletter!
Maureen Kilgore
October 29, 2017 at 7:48 pmI subscribe to your newsletter!
Can’t wait to make these!
Janet Novak
October 29, 2017 at 7:49 pmSounds great! I subscribe to your blog, but am not on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
Alice Christian
October 29, 2017 at 7:51 pmI subscribe to your blog! Thanks.
Heidi C.
October 29, 2017 at 7:52 pmI subscribe to your blog and love it! I’ve had so many successful meals by following your recipes. Thank you!
Marty
October 29, 2017 at 7:52 pmSusan, I’ve been followings you for years, prob when I went vegan in 2002, and continued when I found out I was gluten-intolerant in 2005. 🙄 I love that you’ve come up with uber simple faster recipes, esp burgers!
And, I don’t do Instagram (no time), and rarely FB (no time either!), so I’d LOVE to win one of your 2 give away cook books! I’m in!
Jenn Jones
October 29, 2017 at 7:54 pmCan’t wait to try these!
And, yes, I subscribe to the newsletter 😉
Carole Goldstein
October 29, 2017 at 7:55 pmI subscribe to your newsletter – and recommend it to many of my clients!
alyne
October 29, 2017 at 7:56 pmI subscribe to your newsletter.
Love your recipes! Thanks especially for the easy ones.
Jenn Jones
October 29, 2017 at 7:57 pmCan’t wait to try these!
And, yes, I subscribe to the newsletter.
Lynn Clough
October 29, 2017 at 7:57 pmI love that you mention the method and times for using an air fryer. My husband has been wondering what else it can do. Also agree with the feeling that as I age creating meals gets less exciting if it takes too long or is too fussy. I subscribe to your newsletter.
Chana
October 29, 2017 at 7:58 pmI subscribe to you newsletter and I can’t wait to make these burgers. Keeping a tab open on my phone
Dianna Whitt
October 29, 2017 at 8:00 pmI subscribe to your newsletter
Dee Oconnor
October 29, 2017 at 8:01 pmI subscribe to your newsletter!
Laura Blandford
October 29, 2017 at 8:02 pmI subscribe to your newsletter. But so happy that you posted such a simple, easy recipe. Ever since my son left for college my interest in food preparation declined-Theres just not the impetus to cook for “just me”. Trying to eat healthy is a challenge and these burgers make it look wonderfully simple!!!
Carol DeLaurier
October 29, 2017 at 8:03 pmI subscribe to your newsletter
Phyllis Carter
October 29, 2017 at 8:03 pmI subscribe to your newsletter and follow your FB page. U just love your recipes and can’t wait to try these burgers. Phyllis
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October 29, 2017 at 8:04 pmI subscribe to your newsletter.
Lynn Rapp
October 29, 2017 at 8:06 pmI subscribe to your newsletter! And your blog, and you, are my favorite. Thanks for all the great work you do!
Diane Rockwell
October 29, 2017 at 8:08 pmThank you for your generosity by sharing your delicious recipes. I look forward to getting your newsletter in my inbox. I’m glad I subscribed to your newsletter. I look forward to trying this recipe.
Judy Welu
October 29, 2017 at 8:09 pmI subscribe to your newsletter. Hope this reaches you!
Judy Welu
Joanna
October 29, 2017 at 8:10 pmI subscribe to your newsletter! Never made a black bean burger. Plan to try yours.
Susan Voisin
November 4, 2017 at 5:43 pmCongratulations, Joanna! You have won a copy of Vegan Holiday Kitchen. I will be emailing you soon.
Rhonda Wold
October 29, 2017 at 8:10 pmI love your recipes. I subscribe to your newsletter.
Jean Sisk
October 29, 2017 at 8:10 pmI subscribe to your newsletter.
I think i’ll make these for dinner tomorrow. Thanks for the easy recipe.
Roseanne
October 29, 2017 at 8:12 pmI am so Grateful for your newsletters! As, I don’t do Facebook, Instagram or any other social media. But, I love reading about the creation of your new recipes – especially the simple ones – and have been collecting your recipes for years! Haven’t tried this one yet, so can’t rate it; but, I give your blog and newsletter 5 Stars!!! Thank you so much for all you share!!!
elizaduckie
October 29, 2017 at 8:21 pmI subscribe to the newsletter. I always appreciate your recipes, keep up the great work!.
Nancy Brightwell
October 29, 2017 at 8:22 pmI subscribe to your newsletter.
Robin Phillips
October 29, 2017 at 8:23 pmI am very excited to try this recipe tomorrow. I am a new vegan. Can you please tell me more about holiday cooking for the vegan? Do vegan’s cook meat for the remainder of the family?
Susan Voisin
October 29, 2017 at 8:30 pmIt depends on the individual. There are a lot of vegans who are the only vegan in the family, and they may have to cook meat for others. My whole immediate family is vegan, and I only cook vegan.
Caroline
October 29, 2017 at 9:37 pmAs Susan said, some of us are the only vegan in the family and still cook meat for other family members. It is my choice to be vegan and I will not force them to eat the way I eat. I hope that eventually, by example, they will choose to be vegan, but until then …
Serene Vannoy
October 29, 2017 at 9:01 pmHi, Robin, My family is all omnivores, but what I do find is the more delicious vegan food I make, the more of it they eat and the less of the other stuff.
Donna
October 29, 2017 at 8:23 pmYep, surely do subscribe to your very fine newsletter. Enormouso Thank-You for You.
Hil
October 29, 2017 at 8:23 pmI subscribe to your newsletter! And I can’t wait to try this recipe. 😉
Nicole
October 29, 2017 at 8:25 pmI subscribe to your newsletter 😉
Also, bean burger sounds easy and delish!
N Thompson
October 29, 2017 at 8:28 pmI subscribe to your newsletter !!
Suzanne Marcella Camarillo
October 29, 2017 at 8:31 pmI subscribe to your newsletter.
Sherril Twitchell
October 29, 2017 at 8:31 pmI subscribe to your newsletter
Edith Tsacle
October 29, 2017 at 8:34 pmSuper easy and super delicious!
Edith Tsacle
October 29, 2017 at 8:35 pmOh, I subscribe to your newsletter too 😉
Carole Kenna-Nelms
October 29, 2017 at 8:36 pmI subscribe to your newsletter Susan! I am also on your facebook page and an avid fan of Maria’s blog too. Your recipes have been a great help to me since I have been plant based for 7 years. Thank you so much for all your hard work! hugs from PA
Stacie Miller
October 29, 2017 at 8:36 pmI subscribe to your newsletter
Rebekah Shearer
October 29, 2017 at 8:37 pmI enjoy your recipes. You have helped me transition to a whole food plant based diet with foods that taste great. Thank you!
Rebekah Shearer
October 29, 2017 at 8:39 pmForgot to mention I subscribe to your newsletter!