Easy Lentil Burgers

side view of a lentil burger on a bun with a bite taken out of it.

These Easy Lentil Burgers pack a whopping 14 grams of plant protein into each patty! Meaty and savory on the inside, crispy on the outside, and made with budget-friendly ingredients, they're one of the best homemade veggie burgers of all time.

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Total Time45

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: burgers

Calories: 309kcal

Author: Nora Taylor

Ingredients

3/4 cup dried green or brown lentils
3 cups water
1/2 small red onion chopped small
3 cloves garlic minced
1/2 cup walnuts chopped small
2 tablespoons ground flaxseeds
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons vegan Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
2 tablespoons chopped parsley or cilantro
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs or oat flour
olive oil for pan-frying (optional)

For Serving

Burger buns
Ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce, vegan mayo
lettuce or arugula
avocado slices
tomato
red onion slices

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Cook the lentils: In a medium pot, add the lentils and water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 15-18 minutes, until the lentils are tender but not mushy. Drain in a fine mesh colander, then spread them in an even layer on a clean dish towel or paper towels to absorb excess water. We don't want mushy burgers!
Add the cooked lentil to a food processor and pulse several times, until there are just a few whole lentils left. Transfer the mashed lentils to a large bowl.
To the large bowl with the lentils, add the chopped red onion, minced garlic, chopped walnuts, ground flaxseeds, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, ground cumin, smoked paprika, parsley or cilantro, salt, and breadcrumbs. Mix with a large spoon until well combined. Alternatively, mash the lentils in a bowl and then add the rest of the ingredients and mix with a spoon.
Using about 1/2-3/4 cup per burger, shape into burger shapes about 1-1 1/2 inches thick. I got 4 thick burgers from the recipe.
To Pan Fry: Add 2-3 tablespoons olive oil to a non-stick or cast iron pan over medium heat. Add 3-4 burgers at a time and cook on one side until crispy and golden, about 4 minutes. Flip and cook for 3-4 minutes more, then transfer to a plate.
To Bake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the burger patties on the pan and bake for 15 minutes, then flip carefully and bake for 15 more minutes.
Serve on buns with toppings of choice and enjoy!

Notes

Gluten-Free: Make the burgers with oat flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs instead of regular breadcrumbs and gluten-free vegan Worcestershire sauce.
The nutrition facts do not include a bun or any toppings.

Nutrition