Hearty Veggie Burger (Printable)

Savory chickpea and vegetable patties seasoned with cumin and smoked paprika, served on toasted buns with classic garnishes.

# What You’ll Need:

→ For the Veggie Patties

01 - 1 can (15 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 medium carrot, grated
03 - 1 small zucchini, grated and excess water squeezed out
04 - 1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2/3 cup rolled oats
07 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
08 - 1 tsp ground cumin
09 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
10 - 1/2 tsp salt
11 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
12 - 1 egg (or 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 2.5 tbsp water for vegan option)
13 - 2 tbsp olive oil (for frying)

→ For Assembling

14 - 4 whole wheat burger buns
15 - 4 lettuce leaves
16 - 1 large tomato, sliced
17 - 4 slices cheddar cheese (use vegan cheese for vegan option)
18 - 1 red onion, sliced into rings
19 - 4 tbsp mayonnaise or vegan mayo
20 - 2 tbsp ketchup
21 - 2 tbsp yellow mustard
22 - 8-12 pickle slices

# How-To:

01 - In a large bowl, mash the chickpeas with a fork or potato masher until mostly smooth, leaving some texture for bite.
02 - Add grated carrot, grated zucchini, red onion, garlic, oats, parsley, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Mix until thoroughly combined.
03 - Add the egg (or flaxseed mixture for vegan) and stir to bind. Let the mixture rest for 5 minutes to allow oats to absorb moisture.
04 - Shape the mixture into 4 equal patties, pressing firmly to ensure they hold together during cooking.
05 - Heat olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook patties for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and heated through.
06 - While patties cook, lightly toast burger buns in a separate pan or toaster for added texture.
07 - Spread mayonnaise on bottom bun halves. Layer with lettuce, veggie patty, cheddar cheese, tomato, onion rings, pickles, ketchup, and mustard. Top with remaining bun halves.
08 - Serve immediately while patties are warm and cheese is melted.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • These burgers actually stay intact on the grill and in your hands, no more crumbly disasters
  • The smoky spices and fresh herbs create depth that makes you forget you are eating vegetables
  • Everything comes together in under an hour with ingredients you can actually find
02 -
  • Squeezing excess water from the grated zucchini is the difference between burgers that hold together and ones that fall apart
  • Letting the mixture rest for five minutes before shaping is not optional, the oats need that time to work their magic
  • Do not press down on the patties while they cook, you will squeeze out the moisture and end up with dry burgers
03 -
  • Use the back of a spoon to really press the chickpeas against the side of the bowl, breaking them down more thoroughly than a fork alone can achieve
  • If the mixture feels too wet to shape, add another tablespoon of oats, but do not add flour which can make the burgers dense
  • Invest in a good nonstick skillet for this recipe, it makes flipping the patties so much easier and cleaner
Go Back