This is a variation of our vegetarian meatball base recipe. We mash black beans with earthy cumin, fresh garlic, and smoky chipotle peppers to create an irresistible flavor that is mouthwatering delicious! Serve these black bean meatballs as an unique appetizer, or make them the center of a beautiful Whole Life Plate.
Must-Know Cooking Skills to Level Up your Kitchen Game
To make this recipe even easier, check out these videos to master the basics:
Plus, we’ve got an awesome Knife Skills 101 course to help you slice and dice like a pro!
Culinary Tips for the Best Black Bean Meatballs
Drain the beans in a colander to remove the liquid. If you drain the beans using the can lid, they might be too wet!
Mash to the texture you like. You can leave them slightly chunky or keep mashing to resemble refried beans.
If you have picky eaters, dice the onion or shallot finely so they don’t notice them.
Use a portion scoop to form the meatballs. It’s a game changer for time savings and perfect portioning.
Do not overcook the meatballs, or they will dry out! Once the edges are brown, remove them from the oven.
This recipe easily scales up. Simply double or triple the ingredient quantities. You may have to use two baking sheets to cook the black bean meatballs; overcrowding the pan will prevent browning. Browning or caramelization adds delicious flavor!
Ingredient Swaps & Substitutions
- Black Beans: substitute canned pinto beans. You can also use 1 ½ cups of leftover beans from our stovetop or Instant Pot beans base recipes.
- Panko Bread Crumbs: substitute plain, whole wheat, or seasoned bread crumbs, but cut back on the added salt if you do. Panko is very low in sodium.
- Cheddar Cheese: substitute any shredded cheese. Monterrey Jack or a Mexican blend would be delicious choices.
- Cilantro: substitute chives or Italian parsley. Their flavors are much different than cilantro, but will still complement the recipe.
- Chipotles in Adobo: substitute ¾ teaspoon chipotle powder to add heat and smokiness. However, it will be missing the tang of the tomato-based sauce. Reference this article for other ideas!
- Red onion: substitute white or yellow onions. You can also substitute ¼ teaspoon onion powder.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: substitute canola or avocado oil. Try out Enzo’s Table for delicious oil that also shares the name of Chef V’s oldest son!
- Egg: to make vegan black bean meatballs, substitute 1 flax egg. Stir together 1 Tablespoon ground flax with 3 Tablespoons water and let rest for 10 minutes or until mixture has thickened.
- Garlic: substitute ½ teaspoon pre-minced garlic, ½ teaspoon garlic flakes, ¼ teaspoon granulated garlic, or ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder.
- Cumin: substitute another Mexican inspired spice, such as paprika or mild chili powder.
We like to buy our spices from the Spice House. They have great quality, variety, and flavor!
Black Bean Meatball Recipe Variations: Make it Your Own!
Add more spices or take away, and make this recipe to YOUR taste!
Want some vegetarian meatball flavor inspiration?
Use our vegetarian meatball base recipe as a guide, and have fun exploring different flavors, ingredients, and textures!
Equipment Recommendations: The Essentials
You just need a few basic tools for this recipe. Here’s your shopping list:
- Colander – drain and rinse your beans and more.
- Nested mixing bowls – great for mixing, great for storing!
- Masher – so much easier and better than a fork.
- Measuring Spoons & Cups – precision makes a difference.
- Cutting board & Chef’s knife – to cook like a chef, of course!
- Portion scoop – for game changing portioning.
- 13 x 18 Baking Sheet – no overcrowding, please!
Want to level up your kitchen game? Check out our Essential Equipment Guide for all the must-have tools!
Is this black bean meatball recipe healthy?
These easy black bean balls are a healthier choice than their greasy counterparts. Unlike beef, beans provide fiber and no saturated fat. The featured ingredients in this recipe are black beans, extra virgin olive oil, and cilantro.
Black Beans
Beans of all varieties contain plant-based protein, complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. These nutrients promote gut health, decrease the risk of developing heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, and promote a healthy weight. Beans play a significant role in longevity diets around the world.
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Extra virgin olive oil is a key component of the Mediterranean Diet. It contains high amounts of heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids and polyphenols, which may reduce inflammation. This recipe replaces the saturated fat typically found in 100% beef meatballs.
Cilantro
Cilantro isn’t just a garnish—it’s packed with vitamins A, C, and K, along with powerful antioxidants that support immunity and decrease inflammation.
Dive into our ingredient guide to discover the freshest, tastiest picks for all your recipes—because great ingredients make all the difference! 🌟🍎
Serving Suggestions
Serve baked black bean meatballs as an appetizer with salsa, guacamole and sour cream, stuff a pita along with some fresh veggies, or top a salad.
Meatballs are an easy finger food for kids. Pair with roasted vegetables and a side salad for a meal the whole family loves!
Learn how to build a healthy balanced meal with our Whole Life Plate, meal plan, and book!
Storage & Reheat Tips for Black Bean Meatballs
Cool leftover meatballs completely, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
Leftover meatballs can also be frozen for up to 3 months. To freeze, place on a baking sheet and freeze for 1-4 hours. Once partially frozen, transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before heating.
To reheat, place bean meatballs on a pan and place in a cold oven. Turn the oven to heat to 350ºF. Once the oven hits 350° F, your bean meatballs should be warmed and ready!
Want more bean-based dinner recipes? We have got plenty!
We are sort of bean obsessed here at To Taste, so we have no shortage of bean recipes to try!
Healthy Burrito Bowl Base Recipe
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Unlike many other recipe blogs, we actually encourage you to tweak our recipes. Not because they’re in need of change, haha, but because we believe one of the secrets to success in the kitchen is cooking to YOUR taste. Make the recipe, leave us a review, and tell us if you made any changes! We love hearing how you’ve made it your own.
Black Bean Meatballs
Ingredients
- Cooking spray
- 15- ounce can low-sodium black beans, drained and rinsed
- ¼ cup Panko bread crumbs
- ¼ cup finely shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 Tbsp minced chipotles in adobo
- 1 Tbsp finely diced red onion
- 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large egg
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
- ½ tsp cumin
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- Dash of pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425ºF. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
- Place beans in a large mixing bowl and mash until almost smooth or leave slightly chunky.
- Add bread crumbs, cheese, cilantro, chipotles, onion, extra virgin olive oil, egg, garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper. Mix until combined.
- Use a portion scoop or spoons to create golf ball sized meatballs and place on the pan, spaced ~1” apart.
- Cook 8-10 minutes or until cooked through and slightly brown on the edges. Enjoy!
Nutrition
FAQ Questions:
How do you keep black bean meatballs from falling apart?
Can I make black bean meatballs vegan?
Are black bean meatballs healthy?
Can I freeze black bean meatballs?
Yes, black bean meatballs freeze very well. Let them cool completely, then freeze in a single layer before transferring to a freezer-safe container or bag. They can be frozen for up to 3 months.
This Post Has 2 Comments
I just made these for dinner and they were amazing! Super flavorful and a great vegetarian option even my family loved them. Thanks for the recipe!
Love when the whole family is a fan!