Our 13 Best Veggie Burger Recipes (2024)

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Updated on October 18, 2022

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Our 13 Best Veggie Burger Recipes (1)

Commercial veggie burgers have come a long way in their ability to mimic meat in both taste and texture, but their vegetable-packed, whole grain counterparts still make for satisfying, toothsome meat alternatives. The beauty of preparing veggie burgers at home is that you can custom flavor the patties with your favorite spices and create texture with whole foods like beans, nuts, and mushrooms. From classic black bean burgers to cumin-spiced red lentil burgers and a ratatouille-inspired rendition made with stacked roasted veggies, these are our most delicious veggie burger recipes.

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Double Drive-Thru Veggie Burgers

Our 13 Best Veggie Burger Recipes (2)

Vegan chef Chloe Coscarelli is famous for her deliciously charred veggie burgers. For a "special sauce," she swaps out mayo for silken-tofu mayonnaise to make a tangy-sweet vegan take on Thousand Island dressing.

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02of 13

Rajma (Kidney Bean Curry) Veggie Burgers

Our 13 Best Veggie Burger Recipes (3)

Your quest for the perfect veggie burger is over. Cookbook author Chitra Agrawal's version uses mashed kidney beans, which get an umami burst with the addition of grated Parmesan and a melty slice of sharp cheddar cheese. Don't skip the piles of toppings: They make this already wonderful burger even more special.

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03of 13

Cumin-Spiced Red Lentil Burgers

Our 13 Best Veggie Burger Recipes (4)

The red lentils in these Indian-inspired vegetarian burgers don't need to be soaked and cook super quickly. The cooling homemade yogurt sauce provides a great counterpoint to the spicy patties.

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04of 13

Veggie Burgers with Pomegranate Ketchup

Our 13 Best Veggie Burger Recipes (5)

Eating vegan for a month led Top Chef winner Richard Blais to examine his pantry more closely. He discovered that ground porcini mushrooms add a meaty flavor to dishes like his veggie burger.

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05of 13

Black Bean Burgers

Our 13 Best Veggie Burger Recipes (6)

If you suspect that veggie burgers are a pale imitation of the all-beef original, try these robust DIY patties. Made with black beans and farro and topped with roasted red pepper spread, they're moist and delicious.

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06of 13

Vada Pav (Potato Fritter Sandwich)

Our 13 Best Veggie Burger Recipes (7)

This sandwich is a vegetarian's dream. It's also a nice option for meat lovers looking for a sandwich stuffed with something just as enticing as a burger. Vada pav, one of Mumbai's most popular street foods, is a potato fritter the size of a baseball stuffed into a flaky white bun, smeared with coconut and spicy green chile chutneys, and then squished until it's small enough to fit into your mouth.

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07of 13

Brown Rice Veggie Burgers

Our 13 Best Veggie Burger Recipes (8)

Another approach to veggie burgers uses the natural nutty sweetness of brown rice in the patty. Monterey Jack cheese, chipotle and poblano pepper, peas, and pumpkin seeds contribute extra flavor and texture.

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Ultimate Veggie Burgers

Our 13 Best Veggie Burger Recipes (9)

These veggie burgers hit every satisfying, savory note with a hearty mix of pearl barley, chickpeas, mushrooms, and crispy panko. For the sturdiest patties, evenly distribute the panko by stirring the patty mixture until very well-combined.

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09of 13

Spiced-Tofu Sandwiches

Our 13 Best Veggie Burger Recipes (10)

For this fantastic vegetarian spin on a burger, grilled tofu gets marinated in a smoky spice paste, then topped with barbecue mayo.

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10of 13

Roasted Veggie Burgers with Carrot Ketchup

Our 13 Best Veggie Burger Recipes (11)

Chef Edward Lee takes a different tack to the traditional veggie burger. Rather than creating a patty, Lee layers roasted vegetables and tops it off with melted cheese. "It looks like a slice of a rainbow," he says.

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Beet-Bean Cheeseburger

Our 13 Best Veggie Burger Recipes (12)

This exceptional veggie burger, created by chef Dan Barber for his WastED pop-up at Blue Hill in New York City, has a lot of ingredients; each one adds to the taste and texture and makes it exceptional. The key is cooking the burger until it's well-seared, so you get the familiar charred flavor.

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12of 13

Corn and Shiitake Fritters

Our 13 Best Veggie Burger Recipes (13)

Sweet corn kernels take two different forms in these crispy cakes. Half the corn is pureed into the batter; the other half is sautéed with shiitake and onion to give the fritters crunch. Serve them on buns slider-style or simple and unadorned.

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Crispy Quinoa Sliders

Our 13 Best Veggie Burger Recipes (14)

These crispy, light little patties are fantastic as mini vegetarian burgers, and they'd be great served alongside a salad.

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Our 13 Best Veggie Burger Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How to make veggie burgers taste better? ›

Spices and tomato paste: Smoked paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper combine to make these burgers a little smoky and incredibly delicious. Tomato paste adds color, sweetness, and an umami flavor to the burgers (highly recommended!). Cooked rice: Adds more texture to the veggie burgers.

What makes a good binder for veggie burgers? ›

The binder holds the patties together and keeps them from falling apart as they cook, and can also add extra flavor to your burger. Common veggie burger binders include eggs, flax egg, wheat germ, breadcrumbs, oats, miso paste, or even water.

What are the best veggie burgers out there? ›

  • Runner-up best veggie burger. ASDA Vegetarian Harissa & Feta Burger. ...
  • Best mushroom burger. Devil's Kitchen Shiitake Mushroom Burger 226g. ...
  • Best frozen veggie burger. Morrisons Plant Revolution Vegetable Burger 454g. ...
  • M&S Chickpea & Courgette Harissa Burgers 380g. £4 at Ocado. ...
  • Best bean burgers. ...
  • Best halloumi burger.
Apr 30, 2024

What to season veggie burgers with? ›

Smoked paprika and sriracha make these burgers smoky and spicy. Finely chopped garlic and shallots add depth of flavor. Crushed walnuts give them a meaty bite. Short grain brown rice, panko bread crumbs, and ground flaxseed help these burgers hold together.

What is the best binder agent for veggie burgers? ›

Common binding agents include flax eggs (a mixture of ground flaxseed and water), chia seeds, mashed potatoes, tapioca flour, or even your favorite nut butter. These ingredients help hold everything together and prevent your burger from crumbling.

How do you keep homemade veggie burgers from falling apart? ›

The more pulverized the veggie burger mixture gets, the better the patties will stick together. (But don't puree them, or the final texture will be off.) Keep the patty size reasonable. If you make the veggie burgers too large, they are more likely to fall apart.

How do you elevate a veggie burger? ›

For a festive flavor, especially during Thanksgiving or Christmas, I love to make these with rosemary, sage and thyme. For the everyday meal, I just use parsley or thyme, and top with caramelized onions, arugula, and avocado. For a Mediterranean flavor, cilantro and mint. For a French touch, tarragon.

How do you keep vegetable burgers from being mushy? ›

Breadcrumbs, oats, and even flax meal can serve as additional binding agents for your veggie burgers. These ingredients also soak up excess moisture and aid in the formation of uniform patties.

What brand of veggie burger does McDonald's use? ›

McPlant® A vegan burger made with a juicy plant-based patty co-developed with Beyond Meat® featuring vegan sandwich sauce, ketchup, mustard, onion, pickles, lettuce, tomato, and a vegan alternative to cheese in a sesame seed bun.

Are veggie burgers actually healthier? ›

A veggie burger, when compared with a beef burger, may contain: More fiber. Fewer calories. Less saturated fat.

What is a good egg substitute for veggie burgers? ›

Ground flax – Once it's mixed with water, ground flaxseed takes on the same consistency as real eggs. They bind the meaty mixture together and help prevent the patties from falling apart.

How do you make frozen veggie burgers taste better? ›

Slice up some onions and (optional) beets thinly. The onions help to keep the burgers moist and add steam and flavour during cooking. If you don't like onions, try sliced mushrooms. Spices like garlic powder and a good barbecue sauce are also important for that authentic barbecue flavour.

What makes veggie burgers taste like meat? ›

Heme gives the Impossible Burger the appearance, cooking aroma and taste of beef.

How do you make frozen veggie burgers taste good? ›

Slice up some onions and (optional) beets thinly. The onions help to keep the burgers moist and add steam and flavour during cooking. If you don't like onions, try sliced mushrooms. Spices like garlic powder and a good barbecue sauce are also important for that authentic barbecue flavour.

How do you make vegetable meat taste better? ›

Blend chili powder, paprika, oregano, cumin, coriander, mustard powder, brown sugar, salt, and pepper to create your own spice rub for seitan steaks.

What can I put on my veg to make it taste better? ›

Adding something tangy will instantly brighten up your veggies and make them more interesting. Try a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime before serving, or make a zingy dressing with equal parts vinegar and oil, a touch of mild mustard and a pinch of salt.

How can I make my burgers more flavorful? ›

When building a perfect burger, pick toppings that will add appealing texture, color, and flavor.
  1. Sliced cheese (our favorite is thick-sliced, medium cheddar)
  2. Dill pickle slices.
  3. Fresh red onions (or caramelized onions)
  4. Tomato,
  5. Green leaf or iceberg lettuce,
  6. Avocado.
  7. Bacon + pineapple + the BBQ sauce below.
Jun 27, 2023

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