Name: Grillable Homemade Veggie Burger
Prep time: 40 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 14
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 cups quick oats; 1 can chili beans; 1 can black beans; 1 TB mustard; 1 TB minced garlic; Pepper to taste; 1/2 TB dried cilantro; 1/2 TB cumin; pinch red pepper flakes

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homemade veggie burgers cooking on a grill grate

When I created this homemade veggie burger, I wanted to achieve two things; 1. I wanted to be able to make it on the grill (some homemade veggie burgers are way too mushy for that to work). 2. I wanted a recipe with chili beans, because. I’m kind of obsessed with them (which you can see in my pantry staples video or my Creamy Vegetarian Bean Bowl recipe.)

Why Make Homemade Veggie Burgers

I actually am not a fan at all of real hamburgers, but this is the best analogy I’ve got. Think about the burger you get at a fast food joint – typically it’s a thin, over processed frozen patty. A real, homemade burger is so much more satisfying. The same goes for veggie burgers. You can control the flavor, the ingredients, the thickness. Most of all, they just taste so much fresher. There are some very complicated homemade veggie burger recipes out there, but it’s really not necessary. This one offers all the flavor but the recipe is very easy to make. It’s really pretty hard to mess this recipe up.

bowl with veggie burger mixture next to parchment lined cookie sheet with formed veggie burger patties

Can You Bake These Veggie Burgers

Absofreakinglutely. Not all weather is grilling weather. They are pretty good baked. However, I think they’re even better when you get that slightly crispy texture on the outside. I’d recommend pan frying with a little olive oil or cooking spray, or using an indoor grill like a George Forman or a Dash.

white plate with homemade veggie burger on bun with toppings

Are Homemade Veggie Burgers Healthy

As with most recipes, veggie burgers can be healthy or unhealthy. If you make a veggie burger recipe filled with five kinds of cheese and fried in butter, it’s going to be a heart attack on wheels. (It’s 2020, who knows, a recipe like that probably exists).

This one is pretty healthy, coming in at just 2 MyWW points. It weighs in at about 75 calories. Let’s be real though – that’s for the itty, bitty slider size – most of us can take on two or three of those bad boys. So two would put you at about 4 points and 150 calories.

Veggie burgers aren’t really the problem though. Toppings are where people get themselves in big trouble – most of all, me. My ultimate veggie burger involves peanut butter, cheddar, mayo, ketchup, AND mustard. Yep, condiment junkie over here. My brother was shocked when he learned about this obnoxiously indulgent combo. Of course, on a normal day, I try to reign it in. That’s why I created this kickass Healthy Burger Sauce with Greek Yogurt.

Other options for keeping it healthy are doing an open face with just half a bun, staying from fatty toppings (stick with veggies, mustard and pickles) or eating your burger on a bed lettuce (aka a veggie burger salad.)

Chili Bean Veggie Burger Recipe

14 servings