This is the best veggie burger recipe! These burgers are 100% vegan and won’t fall apart on the grill. Hearty, satisfying and flavor packed, even meat eaters will love them!

veggie burger recipe with a photo of 1 burger

What makes a perfect veggie burger?

The perfect veggie burger, first of all, has to be easy enough to make (not too complicated). It also has to be packed full of flavor, and go with a variety of toppings.

But most importantly, it holds together so you can pan fry, bake or grill it. It’s moist but not mushy. And has less beans than most, balanced by plenty of vegetables (it is a veggie burger after all). It also doesn’t pretend to be meat!

Ingredients

Flax eggs – Just ground flaxseeds and water, this helps keep the burger from falling apart.
Black beans – You could also use a different bean, such as kidney, chickpea or pinto.
Ground/chopped fine cashews – May also use sunflower seeds, pepitas, or almonds. Omit if needed, but they add a lot of texture.
Cooked brown rice – Or substitute quinoa
Fresh chopped parsley
Shredded carrots
Chopped green onions
Breadcrumbs – For gluten free, substitute with gluten free breadcrumbs, rolled oats or almond flour
Smoked paprika
Chili powder
Salt

How to make them

Mash the black beans in a large bowl, leaving a few beans whole. Now add the flax eggs and all the other ingredients to the bowl, and mix well with a large spoon.
Shape into patties about 3/4 inches thick.
They should keep their shape quite well at this point, but of course still handle them gently, as they are more fragile than beef patties.
Pan fry, bake or grill them!

(Full instructions and ingredient amounts are in the printable recipe card below.)

Make ahead option

If desired, you can make the burger mixture, form the patties and store in the refrigerator for a day or so before cooking.
I do recommend making the rice ahead of time. Often I use leftover rice from a meal the night before. Or use frozen rice that cooks super fast.
You may also make the burgers, cook them, and then cool and freeze. I don’t recommend freezing the uncooked patties, it does not work as well.

What goes well with veggie burgers?

Serve on buns with typical fixings such as lettuce, onion, tomato, pickles, vegan mayo, ketchup and/or mustard. You could also use barbecue sauce, grilled onions, arugula, and so on. Vegan sides to consider: Oven Roasted Potato Wedges, Easy Air Fryer Fries, Vegan Potato Salad, Vegan Caesar Salad or Classic Vegan Coleslaw.

How to store leftovers

Refrigerator: Cooked leftover burger patties can be kept in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or stovetop until warm.
Freezer: I prefer to freeze the burgers in a covered container that is freezer friendly. Once frozen, to re-warm let them thaw in the refrigerator overnight or simply bake/pan fry until warm throughout.

Want more vegan burger/sandwich recipes?

*This recipe was posted September 2018 and has been updated with better writing and options. The recipe is unchanged.

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