Step 1

Drain, rinse, and pat the black beans dry with a paper towel. Set aside.

Step 2

Warm a skillet on medium heat. Add oil, onion, and red bell pepper. Sauté for 3-5 minutes or until onion is translucent and fragrant. Add garlic and sauté for another minute.

Step 3

Add black beans, sautéed onions and peppers, oats, walnuts, corn, tomato paste, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and chipotle powder to the bowl of a food processor. Process the ingredients until a nearly smooth but slightly chunky mixture forms. If you plan to bake the burgers, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F now.

Step 4

Using a 1/3 or 1/2 measuring cup, scoop and pack the mixture into evenly formed balls. Press each ball into a patty, making sure they are tightly packed and the edges are sealed.

Step 5

If baking, line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat. Bake for 25 minutes, flipping halfway through. If pan-frying, warm a skillet on medium heat. Lightly grease the pan with oil. Cook patties for 5-7 minutes on each side.

Step 6

Serve with burger buns and your favorite toppings. I recommend lettuce, tomato, red onion, vegan cheese, pickles, and ketchup or BBQ sauce. Read the full blog post for fun serving ideas.