Vegan BBQ Meatballs

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BBQ Vegan Black Bean Meatballs

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Delicious and easy Vegan Black Bean Meatballs in BBQ sauce

Prep

20 minutes

Cook

40 minutes

Yield

12 -14

Discover the secret to perfect vegan BBQ meatballs! Made with rolled oats and black beans, these plant-based meatballs are savory, versatile, and ready to serve with your favorite sauce.

Holy meatballs! I mean, vegan meatballs! This recipe isn’t your traditional meatball recipe because it’s completely plant-based and perfect for any vegetarian or vegan in your family. However, you may just be able to trick those meat lovers in your family with this easy vegan BBQ meatball recipe. 😉

Vegan meatballs coated in rich red BBQ sauce, piled in a white serving bowl with fresh herbs sprinkled on top.

❤️ Why You’ll Love These BBQ Vegan Black Bean Meatballs

  • Almost Too Much Like Meat: These vegan BBQ meatballs are savory, sweet, and seriously taste just like the real thing.
  • Versatile: Perfect with BBQ sauce or tossed in pasta sauce – these meatballs work with any dish.
  • Meal-Prep Friendly: Great for family dinners, appetizers, or meal prep – you can even freeze them for later.

🍲 Ingredients

Bob’s Red Mill Rolled Oats: The secret ingredient that makes these meatballs incredibly meat-like! These gluten-free oats not only create the perfect texture when combined with black beans, but they’re also packed with fiber, protein, and essential minerals. Oats help bind the meatballs together while adding a hearty, satisfying texture that mimics traditional meatballs.


Black Beans: These protein-packed beans are loaded with fiber, potassium, folate, and vitamin B6. They help support heart health and lower cholesterol while creating the perfect meat-like consistency.

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Vegan meatballs simmering in rich red BBQ sauce

👩‍🍳 How to Make These BBQ Vegan Black Bean Meatballs

  1. Add your “meat” ball ingredients into the processor and blend till everything is well combined. You want to ensure there is no loose flour from the oats, this is how you know you’ve done blending.
  2. Begin rolling into “meatballs” I like using a tbsp. to measure or even a small ice cream scoop. Please note, you’re balls will cook differently depending on the size you roll them. Once your balls are rolled, set them into the fridge while you prepare your BBQ sauce.
  3. Into a medium-sized pot add your oil and heat on low for a 1 minute. Add your onions and cook for 5 minutes or until fragrant and translucent. Add your garlic and cook for another minute. Add the remainder of your ingredients and simmer on medium for around 10-15 minutes, stirring often to avoid sticking or burning. Taste and ensure it has the flavours you desire. If it’s perfect then remove from heat, once cooled enough to handle use a hand blender to thicken and blend. Set aside.
  4. Into a large non-stick, pan heat your olive oil for 1 minute or so. Add your balls and cook for around 1 minute on each side. Add your desired amount of BBQ sauce to the pot and cook for around 5-6 minutes, on medium, with the lid on, until your balls are cooked throughout. A way to test this is to cut into one and check if it’s hot in the middle and steaming. That’s when you know you’re ready to eat all this deliciousness!
  5. Serve hot with Rice, on their own or with salad!

🗒 Tips and Tricks

  • Perfect Texture: Combine the oats and black beans thoroughly for the most meat-like consistency.
  • Make Ahead: These can be frozen in a sealed container and thawed when needed.
  • Versatile Sauce: While BBQ sauce is amazing, feel free to use any sauce you prefer.

🗒 Variations

There are so many ways to make these vegan BBQ meatballs – here are a few ideas to mix it up:


🗒 Best served with

👝 How to Store Leftovers

Store these vegan BBQ meatballs in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months or in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

🤔 Common Questions

What makes these vegan BBQ meatballs taste like meat?

The secret combination of Bob’s Red Mill rolled oats and black beans creates a surprisingly meat-like texture and savory flavor that will fool even the pickiest eaters.

Can I make these ahead of time?

Yes! These vegan BBQ meatballs are perfect for meal prep and can be frozen in a tightly sealed container and thawed when needed.

How do I prevent my meatballs from falling apart?

Combine the oats and beans thoroughly, and don’t skip the binding ingredients. Let the mixture rest for a few minutes before forming the balls.

Delicious and easy Vegan Black Bean Meatballs in BBQ sauce

Vegan BBQ Black Bean Meatballs

4.19 from 60 votes
Discover the secret to perfect vegan BBQ meatballs! Made with rolled oats and black beans, these plant-based meatballs are savory, versatile, and ready to serve with your favorite sauce.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Course Mains
Cuisine Vegan, Vegetarian, Dairy-Free
Servings 12 -14

Ingredients
  

For the “Meat” Balls:

For the BBQ Sauce:

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Instructions
 

  • Add your “meat” ball ingredients into the processor and blend till everything is well combined.  You want to ensure there is no loose flour from the oats, this is how you know you’ve done blending.
  • Begin rolling into “meatballs” I like using a tbsp. to measure or even a small ice cream scoop.  Please note, you’re balls will cook differently depending on the size you roll them. Once your balls are rolled, set them into the fridge while you prepare your BBQ sauce.
  • Into a medium-sized pot add your oil and heat on low for a 1 minute.  Add your onions and cook for 5 minutes or until fragrant and translucent.  Add your garlic and cook for another minute.  Add the remainder of your ingredients and simmer on medium for around 10-15 minutes, stirring often to avoid sticking or burning.  Taste and ensure it has the flavours you desire.  If it’s perfect then remove from heat, once cooled enough to handle use a hand blender to thicken and blend. Set aside.
  • Into a large non-stick, pan heat your olive oil for 1 minute or so.  Add your balls and cook for around 1 minute on each side.  Add your desired amount of BBQ sauce to the pot and cook for around 5-6 minutes, on medium, with the lid on, until your balls are cooked throughout.  A way to test this is to cut into one and check if it’s hot in the middle and steaming. That’s when you know you’re ready to eat all this deliciousness!
  • Serve hot with Rice, on their own or with salad!

Notes

Balls will last in the fridge, in a tightly sealed container for up to one week.
BBQ Sauce will last for around one week or so in a tight sealed jar in the fridge.
Get creative with your Balls and BBQ Sauce, if you know your family likes a certain cuisine or flavour then add it to the mix! Have fun in the kitchen!
Review This Recipe Let us know how it was!
Grace

Is there anything you can substitute the oats with?

Maria Koutsogiannis

I haven’t tried it with anything but oats. Is this an allergy?

Ali Gonzalez

Can you omit the flaxseeds?

Maria Koutsogiannis

Yes, that should be fine but please let me know how it goes!

amy

can something besides oil be used in the recipe? I will bake them, but I am asking for the recipe itself?

Maria Koutsogiannis

if you’re oil-free then just omit the oil entirely, should be fine! but let me know!

bee monk

confused. instructions say to blend until there’s no loose flour, but there’s no flour on the ingredients list…….help!

Maria Koutsogiannis

I just mean from the oats, no panic! They’re are foolproof, you can do this!!

Candace Temple

Soooo yummy. I made a big batch and froze some, I cooked them in the oven to get them super crispy on the outside (personal preference) and loved them! Once they’re prepped they’re perfect to fill you up when you’re in a rush and can be eaten so many ways!! Love this recipe.

Maria Koutsogiannis

Yes!!! These are amazing, Candace! So glad you love them too!

Andria

Something is missing from the recipe. I made these before and I remember that it used to say 1 cup oat flour or something like that, but this is gone. I am trying to make these now and it’s very wet and I cannot make them into balls…

Maria Koutsogiannis

Hey Andria! We tested the recipe and removed the extra full of oat flour (1 cup). People were finding them a bit too dense and dry. Please let me know if that helps but when I redid the recipe this worked out perfectly. I have had around 10 others reviews since too and they all turned out ok. Please let me know though so I can help adjust.

Ashley Gilbert

Made these tonight and they turned out so amazing! I baked the balls instead of browning them in the pan because I was lazy but otherwise followed the recipe quite closely and it turned out so incredibly! Super pumped I get to eat these for lunches all week!

Maria Koutsogiannis

YESSSS!!! Thanks so much for the love, Ashley! These are a family favourite!

Adina Beck

So delicious, even the kids liked them and they’re usually not thrilled about beans in any form.

Maria Koutsogiannis

This is such an incredible compliment! So glad the little kiddos liked this!

Lianna Edwards

Tried these numerous times and they are amazing. So delicious and very easy to make.

Maria Koutsogiannis

YESS!! thank you so much Lianna! So glad you enjoy them as much as we do!

Sue

Can I process the rolled oats in a regular blender?

Charla Perry

Would almond flour suffice instead of oat flour 🤔 Im so excited to make these for my husband who is in the process of converting to full veganism ❤✌🥑

Maria Koutsogiannis

Hey Charla, it might work! I didn’t test it that way but you should be fine! We are in the middle of reworking this recipe. I would actually just use either the rolled oats or oat flour (in your case almond flour) and let me know how it goes!

4.19 from 60 votes (59 ratings without comment)

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