The Best Veggie Burger Recipes: Healthy, Gluten-Free, Plant-Based

There’s nothing quite as satisfying as a big, hearty burger. Sandwiched in a bun with some crisp lettuce and fresh tomato – it’s a classic!

However, burgers can cause a challenge when you’re trying to adjust to a plant-based lifestyle.  Without the meat, how do you create delicious flavor?  How do you adapt to your new, vegan diet?

Yet veggie burgers offer tons of delicious options!  Think beyond meat. Because you can use different ingredients to make the patties, you have endless flavors. You can use chickpeas or black beans or quinoa.  You can add shredded beets or mashed cauliflower and fresh herbs. Have fun and explore a variety tastes and textures to create the best veggie burgers. Then, top them off your favorite plant-based condiments.

Enjoy all of these veggie burgers recipes at your next summer picnic…or just toss a few in the oven for a satisfying weeknight dinner.  Because they’re oil-free, gluten-free and plant-based, they’re incredibly healthy.

These are my Best Veggie Burger Recipes:

Chickpea Garden Veggie Burgers

These veggie burgers celebrate the fresh herbs and vegetables from the summer season, with healthy chickpeas as a base. This vegan recipe makes a satisfying dinner, even for meat-eaters. Serve them on sprouted burger buns or whole grain bread with fresh tomatoes and sliced red onion.

This one’s a classic!

Southwestern Sweet Potato Black Bean Veggie Burgers

These Southwestern burgers have a smoky-sweet flavor that makes them perfect for summer grilling.  Make a big batch and freeze extras for a quick healthy dinner.  This flavor-packed recipe is the best for simple, smoky satisfaction.  Top with a few slices of avocado or heirloom tomatoes.

Serve with Southwestern Baked Sweet Potato Fries, Smoky Broccoli Pecan Crunch Salad, and Guaca-Jica: Quick Corn, Bean, Jicama, and Avocado Salad.

Ultimate Vegan Portobello Mushroom Burgers

This is the ULTIMATE mushroom burger recipe for your summer grilling: Hearty Portobello caps soak in an oil-free Dijon mustard marinade, before layering up with roasted peppers, grilled onions, and spicy arugula. Your plant-based summer is now complete.  Serve with Oil-Free Roasted Rosemary Garlic Potatoes, Italian Three Bean Salad, and Grilled Corn and Easter Egg Radish Salad.

Super Green Gluten-Free Quinoa Sliders

These lean green sliders pack a mean plant-based protein punch! This vegan recipe starts with quinoa.  You add natural sweetness from basil and peas. Because this uses frozen vegetables and a few pantry items, you can keep the ingredients on-hand at all times. Freeze extras and bake for a healthy vegetarian snack that kids.

Top with Oil-Free Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto, Spinach Basil ‘Get your Greens’ Hummus, or Roasted Red Pepper Hummus.

Shiitake Mushroom Edamame Asian Veggie Burgers

These Asian-Inspired veggie burgers rock! Shiitake mushrooms, brown rice, and edamame create the base. Ginger, red chili, and scallions add authentic flavor. Serve with Asian Yam Fries and Avocado Wasabi Vegan Aioli for an awesome plant-based dinner.

Korean Red Beet Teriyaki Veggie Burgers

Red beet teriyaki what?  Yes, that’s right – FLAVOR!

These unique veggie burgers have a sweet-salty Teriyaki flavor that make them perfect adventure-seekers. Shredded beets, ginger, and red kidney beans come together for a delicious Korean spin. This recipe is the best for anyone who loves big, bold flavor. Make a batch into smaller sliders and top with avocado for a healthy party appetizer.

Feeling even more adventurous?  Make your own Steamed Korean Buns and use these as the filling.

Smoky Un-Beetable Beet and Black Bean Veggie Burgers

Looking for a different take on beet burgers? These smoky veggie burgers are un-beetable! With a hearty plant-based base of brown rice and black beans, they pack big flavor. Make a batch for a satisfying dinner.

Baked Indian Curry Samosa Cakes

Maybe these aren’t technically burgers, but they make a great appetizer for a burger party.  These chickpea, cauliflower, and potato cakes take a flavor trip with Indian curry spices. Serve with Dill Avocado Dip.

Or use the base to shape into sliders or full-sized patties.

Baked Green Chickpea Falafel

These Baked Green Falafel are a Middle Eastern spin on burgers.  Bright flavors from parsley, cumin, and coriander are mashed with chickpeas for an authentic taste of the Middle East.  Serve with whole wheat pita, tomato wedges, and Easy Oil-Free Dill Avocado Dip.  They also make tasty gluten-free appetizers.

More Veggie Burger Tips and Toppings

Looking for more veggie burger tips and the most delicious toppings? Check out these helpful articles:

• How to Build the Ultimate Plant-Based Burger at T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies
• The Best Veggie Burger Sauces and Toppings
• Are ‘Plant-Based’ Veggie Burgers Actually Healthy? at Forks Over Knives

Make One of these Recipes? Let me Know!

If you give any of these bean recipes a try, let me know! Leave a comment, or take a picture and tag it @chefkatiesimmons on Instagram. On Facebook, tag @plants-rule. Peace and chickpeas, Chef Katie