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Simple Black Bean Burger

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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!

Simple Black Bean Burger

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.)

Simple Black Bean Burger

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.

Simple Black Bean Burger

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
4.86 from 147 votes
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Simple Black Bean Burger

Gluten Free
Nut Free
Soy Free
Sugar Free
The chipotle chile powder gives these burgers smokiness with an edge of spiciness. If you'd rather them not be spicy, substitute mild smoked paprika.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 6
Author Susan Voisin

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.)
    Simple Black Bean Burgers in Breville Air Fryer

Notes

These are easy to freeze either baked or unbaked. Just shape the burgers and wrap them tightly to store in the freezer for about 3 months. Thaw unbaked burgers well before cooking.
Each burger is 2 Weight Watchers Smart points.
Nutrition Facts
Simple Black Bean Burger
Amount Per Serving (1 burger)
Calories 158 Calories from Fat 12
% Daily Value*
Fat 1.3g2%
Sodium 690mg30%
Potassium 351mg10%
Carbohydrates 30g10%
Fiber 9g38%
Sugar 2.7g3%
Protein 8g16%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutritional info is approximate.

Have you made this recipe?Mention @SusanFFVK and tag #fatfreevegankitchen in your photos on Instagram.
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Enjoy!

Susan

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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!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Diana

    Hi 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.

    Reply

  8. Marty

    Susan, 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!

    Reply

  13. Lynn Clough

    I 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.

    Reply

  17. Laura Blandford

    I 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!!!

    Reply

  19. Phyllis Carter

    I subscribe to your newsletter and follow your FB page. U just love your recipes and can’t wait to try these burgers. Phyllis

    Reply

  22. Diane Rockwell

    Thank 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.

    Reply

  27. Roseanne

    I 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!!!

    Reply

  30. Robin Phillips

    I 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?

    Reply

    • Susan Voisin

      It 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.

      Reply

      • Caroline

        As 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 …

        Reply

  38. Carole Kenna-Nelms

    I 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

    Reply

  40. Rebekah Shearer

    I enjoy your recipes. You have helped me transition to a whole food plant based diet with foods that taste great. Thank you!

    Reply

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