11 Protein-Packed Veggie Burger Recipes for Your Meatless Menu
Going plant-based doesn't mean you can't enjoy a delicious burger and fries. And while there are plenty of trendy (and rather tasty) meatless substitutes at the supermarket, it's easy to make a delicious veggie burger at home using beans, mushrooms, and other fresh produce. Here you'll find a selection of some seriously delicious vegetarian burgers that will make even meat eaters' mouths water. There are also some filling vegan burger options here as well if you don't eat eggs or dairy.
Greek Spinach Veggie Burgers
Going green has never been more fun. This amazing veggie burger recipe packs some of the best Greek-inspired flavors including tangy feta and sharp garlic. The trick to getting these meatless burgers to hold together is a couple of eggs and a package of herb-seasoned stuffing mix.
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Lentil Veggie Burgers
Cremini mushrooms and a bit of soy sauce give these veggie burgers an irresistibly rich and meaty umami flavor. Use a food processor to easily combine all the vegan burger ingredients into a nearly smooth texture before shaping. Serve on pita or keep things light by eating on a bed of greens with your favorite dressing.
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White Bean Burgers with Spinach
Beans are an excellent source of plant-based protein. Here cannellini beans are combined with bread crumbs, shredded carrot, and onion. Dipping the vegetarian burger patties into a parsley and bread crumb mixture provides the perfect crunchy exterior.
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Black Bean Chipotle Burger
Talk about veggie-packed! Black beans, corn, corn chips, brown rice, salsa—this vegan burger recipe has it all. A couple of canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce add an unforgettable smoky flavor to every bite. Serve the Mexican-inspired veggie patty on tostada shells with extra salsa, radish, avocado, and cheese (or vegan cheese).
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Mushroom-Kidney Bean Burgers
This veggie burger recipe by cookbook author Joe Yonan has a few tips for getting a super meaty texture to the patties: chopping and mixing the ingredients by hand and parbaking in the oven. Finishing the vegan mushroom burgers in a skillet gets the exterior perfectly crispy without drying them out.
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Black Bean Burgers with Sweet Corn Salsa
For a grilled veggie burger recipe that will actually rival real meat at the cookout, use walnuts! That's right, walnuts (toast them first for optimal flavor), bread crumbs, and black beans combine for a delicious meatless burger. If you want to make them vegan, try swapping the eggs in the recipe with a vegan egg substitute.
Related:Â 6 Plant-Based Protein Foods When You Want a Vegan Protein Option
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Southern-Style Veggie Sliders
Two cans of black-eyed peas provide the "Southern" flair to these mini veggie burgers. Celery, green, onions, and garlic salt add flavor and crunch. Serve the cuties atop soft dinner rolls with Cajun-seasoned mayonnaise and dive in.
Related: Meatless Dinner Ideas That Taste Just Like Your Favorite Comfort Foods
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Zucchini-Carrot Burgers
Have a bumper crop of zucchini from the garden to go through? Whip up a batch of these plant-based burgers. The Mediterranean-inspired patties pair perfectly with the homemade sauce made of plain yogurt, garlic, and lemon peel. Enjoy with sweet potato fries.
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Pinto Bean Burgers
By using mashed and whole pinto beans in these vegetarian burgers, you'll find the texture is very similar to meat. A bit of cumin and chili powder add just the right amount of spice. Cook these on the grill or a grill pan to get those nice charred marks and flavor.
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Cumin-Crusted Veggie Burgers with Pineapple Salsa
If you have any plant-based meat burgers already in the fridge, this is a great way to doctor them up. Toast cumin seeds to extract the flavor before crushing and coating the vegan burgers. Topped with grilled pineapple salsa, you'll be craving this easy recipe every time you have a cookout.
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Portobello Burgers
Portobello mushroom burgers are a classic for any vegan diet. The meaty mushroom caps are just the right size for serving on a bun (with cheese, if you like) and enjoying just like a burger. We gave these mushroom burgers a bit of Italian flair by topping them with fresh basil leaves and roasted red peppers.
Related: Each of These Easy Vegan Dinner Recipes Can Be Yours in 30 Minutes (or Less!)