12 Must-Try Vegan Burgers

August 01, 2019

#Recipe #Foody

Say goodbye to boring veggie burgers! This collection includes 12 of the most scrumptious vegan burgers…from Greek burgers to black bean burgers to spicy Korean barbecue tofu burgers. You’ll want to try them all!

Do you buy lots of frozen veggie burgers? No judgement! There was a time when I practically lived on store-bought vegan burgers. I thought there was some mysterious secret to making them and that I’d never be capable of creating my own, muchless making them taste as good as the commercial ones.

But guess what? DIY veggie burgers are actually super easy. Easy to the point where these days I can practically create a delicious burger on a whim by throwing stuff into my food processor.

Vegan Burger Ingredients

There are a few elements to making a great vegan burger.

The main ingredient. This is usually beans, but as you’ll see below, it can also be other things, like tofu or tempeh.

The absorber. This is usually breadcrumbs or oats, but it could also be rice flour, chickpea flour, cornmeal, etc. Basically, it’s something dry that absorbs the excess moisture so your burgers don’t fall apart.

Seasonings. Here you’ll need aromatics, like onions, garlic, ginger, or hot peppers. You’ll almost certainly use some dried spices, and probably some liquid seasonings, such as soy sauce or hot sauce.

Oil. This is recommended but not required! You’ll generally want to brush your pan or baking sheet with oil to prevent sticking during cooking. If you eat oil free, try using a good nonstick pan, or parchment paper for baked veggie burgers.

That’s all you need!

How to Make a Great Veggie Burger

I usually mix up my ingredients in a food processor. If you do this, make sure not to over-blend everything! This will give you a mushy veggie burger. If you don’t have a food processor, you can usually chop everything finely and mash it in a bowl.

Shape the mixture into patties, and cook them, either by pan-frying in some oil, or baking.

Are vegan burgers grillable? Maybe. Vegan burgers tend to be more delicate than meat-based burgers, so they can easily fall apart on the grill. If the mixture feels super sturdy in your hands and you think it’ll hold up, give it a shot! Otherwise, I usually recommend cooking your burgers on the stove or in the oven until they’re almost done, then finishing them on the grill.

Vegan Burger Recipes

Here are a few of my favorite vegan burgers to try out.

Vegan French Onion Burgers

If you love French onion soup, then you need to try these burgers! The patties are made with lentils and caramelized onions, and served with a topping of herbed cashew cheese.

Teriyaki Tempeh Burgers

Tempeh has the perfect texture for making a veggie burger, and it’s loaded with protein! In these hearty burgers, tempeh gets mixed with sweet and savory teriyaki sauce, for an Asian-inspired burger that’s loaded with flavor.

Greek Chickpea Burgers

Hearty chickpeas and fresh herbs are a great combination in a vegan burger, but it’s the juicy kalamata olives that really give these patties their distinctive flavor. Bonus: they’re super easy to make!

Korean Barbecue Tofu Burgers

If you’re a fan of spicy food, these are the burgers for you! Fiery gochujang-spiked barbecue sauce gives these burgers their distinctive Korean flavor.

Balsamic Beet Burgers

Why would you want to add beets to your veggie burgers? In addition to supplying a vibrant red color, beets add nutrition and a touch of sweetness that goes perfectly with zippy balsamic vinegar and the creamy dill cashew cheese that gets piled on these burgers.