While it's true that these meatballs aren't exactly a good fit for pasta and marinara, you can put them in wraps, tacos, burritos, and even make them into meatball sliders. They'd be delicious in a taco salad or in a bowl full of rice and fajita veggies. But if you don't want to mess with all of that, just serve 'em up as is with a little salsa, sour cream, or smoky garlic aioli.
Recipe
Servings: 12 meatballs
Calories: 27kcal
Ingredients
- ½ cup old-fashioned oats
- 1 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained (or 1 ½ cups cooked black beans)
- ⅓ cup frozen corn kernels
- ¼ cup thinly sliced green onions
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 tablespoons salsa tomato-based
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 egg beaten
- Salsa for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Put the oats in the small bowl of a food processor and process until coarsely ground—it shouldn't be flour-like, but there should be very few whole oats left when you're finished.
- Place the black beans in a medium bowl. Use a fork to partially mash them, then fold in the oats, corn, green onions, garlic, and salsa. Sprinkle the cumin, chili powder, oregano, paprika, and cayenne over the top of the mixture and then stir them in too. Add salt and pepper to taste, then mix in the beaten egg.
- Spray a mini-muffin tin with oil. Form the black bean mixture into 12 balls and place each in a muffin cup. Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until the tops of the meatballs are dry to the touch and just beginning to brown. Let the meatballs cool for about 5 minutes, then carefully run a butter knife along the edges of the muffin cups to loosen them and pop them out of the muffin tin. Serve with salsa or in wraps, burritos, as meatball sliders or subs, etc.
Nutrition
Calories: 27kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 14mgSodium: 38mgPotassium: 64mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 200IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 1mg
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Cassie says
These are fabulous, Kiersten. I might have to change dinner plans tonight so that I can try these!
Kiersten Frase says
They are totally worth changing plans for. 😉
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl says
These look so amazing!! Happy Birthday!!!
Kiersten Frase says
Thank you, Liz! 🙂
Melissa @ nourishbymelissa.com says
Perfect! I was trying to find a use for the leftover black beans in the fridge....found today's lunch!
Kiersten Frase says
Yay! I hope you like them! 😀
Abby @ The Frosted Vegan says
Oh yeahhhh, I can see plopping these on a crunchy piece of baguette and chowing down, love it!
Kiersten Frase says
Meatball subs for the win!
Jennie says
I can't have oats... Would cooked quinoa work okay, or maybe rice?
Kiersten Frase says
I would try panko breadcrumbs--maybe 1/3 of a cup instead of a full half cup, though.
Laura @ Kneadwhine says
These look brilliant - definitely pinning for future adventuring!
Kiersten Frase says
Thanks for the pin!
Deena Kakaya says
Oh they look very lovely Kiersten, are they moist xx
Kiersten Frase says
It's hard to tell from the photos, but they are moist from the salsa added to the meatball mixture. 🙂
dishing up the dirt says
These look fabulous! I'm attempting to make vegetarian meatballs in a harissa tomato sauce. Do you think these ones would be best or would you suggest the lentil mushroom ones? I'm not pairing them with spaghetti but would love to hear your suggestion. Thanks Kiersten!
Kiersten Frase says
I think I would go with the Lentil Mushroom ones since harissa can be pretty spicy itself. Unless you have a high tolerance for spicy foods, in which case, you could pair spicy with spicy. 🙂
dishing up the dirt says
Thanks Kiersten! I'm going to whip up a recipe this weekend. I'll report back! Happy Monday!
Kiersten Frase says
Good luck! 😀
Liz says
It's your BIRTHDAY?! I know, I know -- you're not a birthday gal. But, well, don't think of this as a birthday. Think of it as a day for everyone who loves you and is thankful that you're in their life, in some way or another, to voice their gratitude and wishes for you to stick around another year or so. 🙂 So, let me take the time now to tell you I'm glad you're here and hope you'll consider hanging around for awhile. 🙂
Kiersten Frase says
HA! Did I mention before that I wasn't into birthdays or are you just making the assumption based on my general curmudgeonry? 🙂 I just feel awkward being the center of attention! It's weird! But thank you! 😀
Liz says
You've mentioned your non-celebratory nature in previous posts. 🙂
I'm like you on the front of being the center of attention, even on birthdays -- it all makes me very uncomfortable, as well. I appreciate recognition and acknowledgement, but I do NOT want any fuss to be made over me so I get here you're coming from. Regardless, I hope you don't mind the birthday wishes. 🙂
Kiersten Frase says
Ha ha, yeah, that's me, very non-celebratory. And then people think I'm a jerk. No! I'm not a jerk! I just get embarrassed when people make a big deal about my birthday. 🙂
Nancy/SpicieFoodie says
I have been wanting to try out meat-free meatballs. These sound delicious. I'm also appreciating that you tested the recipe using gf oats -- a stable for me. Thanks for sharing another great recipe, Kiersten. Have a great week.:)
Kiersten Frase says
My Lentil Mushroom meatballs also use oats instead of breadcrumbs--I like them better that way! 🙂 Hope you have a great week too!
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
I love all the spices you incorporated, these would be great in a pita!
Kiersten Frase says
Yes, they would make an awesome pita too! 🙂
Joanne says
Spicy meatball subs?! Ummm yes please. And totally convenient because the.boy will deem them too spicy. So more for me.
Kiersten Frase says
It's the best when things work out like that, isn't it? 🙂
Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health says
love the idea of using them for my subs.
Kiersten Frase says
They would be perfect in a sub for sure!
Emma says
These look great for stuffing in a pita or in a wrap. Love that they're made pretty much just with pantry ingredients too 🙂
Kiersten Frase says
Yes, the only thing I had to buy for these was the green onions, which made me very happy! 🙂
Meg @ Beard and Bonnet says
Hello beautiful flag embellished veggie meatball! I need you on my plate. This recipe is right up my alley. Thanks for sharing!
Kiersten Frase says
I think more foods need to be embellished with flags, yes?
Jill says
Hi they look wonderful, thank you for the recipe!
What can I use to sub out the egg? I am assuming it is a binder?
Thanks,
Kiersten Frase says
I would try a flax egg--1 tablespoon of ground flax seed combined with 3 tablespoons of warm water.
Natalie @ Once Upon a Cutting Board says
Is it weird that I think these would still be great on pasta (like a southwest version)? All the ideas you gave sound delicious, though, and unlike meat meatballs (which I don't like on their own usually), these would be great on their own!
Kiersten Frase says
I was thinking that too, actually--that you could use salsa in place of pasta sauce and top it with avocado, cheese, etc. I was going to suggest that in my post, but then I thought people would think that was crazy, so I didn't. 🙂
Louisa [Living Lou] says
This recipe combines all of my favourite flavours into a meatball, so genius! I feel like these would be a great thing to pack for lunch!
Kiersten Frase says
They would definitely be good for a lunch--or even added to a salad!
Steph says
Oh yum, these look absolutely delicious- I love how you can see all the different ingredients in that little ball- makes them look more colourful and appetizing than just grey mush- like regular meat balls! Also one of my favourite meals are meat-less meat ball wraps and subs 🙂
Kiersten Frase says
Yes, there's definitely more stuff in these than a regular meatball! When I make meatballs and burgers and things like that, I like there to be substance to them. 🙂
Jill @ Fitness, Health and Happiness says
Yum! Your recipe (and photos) is making my stomach growl. Pinned for my menu next week 🙂
Kiersten Frase says
Thanks for the pin--I hope you like them! 🙂
Ashley says
Oh my gosh I need these meatballs in my life! haha I love the play on regular meatballs - with two of my favorites - black beans and corn! I would definitely enjoy these just by themselves with some salsa!
Kiersten Frase says
I know corn is so random in meatballs, but I HAD to add corn. I had to! 🙂
mjskit says
I think I would just serve these on top of a salad and call it good! Love these!
Kiersten Frase says
That would definitely work! 🙂
Genevieve says
I love that these have so much texture with the black beans and corn, and that they don't look like regular meatballs so I wouldn't feel as weird about eating them! Meatball sliders sound like the perfect idea for them (actually, I don't think I've ever had a meatball sub or slider, but it sounds good here!)
Kiersten Frase says
I think meatball subs are my favorite subs! Well, at least the ones made with homemade veggie meatballs. 🙂
Brooke says
Have been wanting to make these since they were first posted.....and they are DELICIOUS!!! Just the right amount of heat without being too much but makes you come back for more and more!! I did use an egg replacer and they came out great. Loving all your recipes! Your website has been one of my go-to for great veggie recipes! Thanks for the wonderful ideas and inspirations! Keep them coming!
Kiersten Frase says
I'm happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe! I don't want to admit how many times it took me to get the seasoning just right. 😉
Karrie Damm says
Did I miss the serving size and nutritional info somewhere? It's what's for dinner tonight!
Kiersten Frase says
We don't calculate nutritional info for our recipes, but we recommend using this site for it: http://caloriecount.about.com/cc/recipe_analysis.php