Vegan Mushroom Veggie Burger
on Jul 28, 2023, Updated Aug 13, 2024
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A satisfying vegan mushroom veggie burger recipe made with black beans, oats and walnuts for the perfect meaty texture and a firm patty that doesn’t fall apart.
While there are a few steps, overall the recipe is easy to make with basic ingredients. They’re perfect as a salad topper, vegetarian main dish, snack or on a bun with toppings. Pair these burgers with baked parsnip fries, hot potato salad or arugula peach salad for a nutritious and delicious meal.
Recipe Highlights
- Vegan.
- Easy to make.
- Can be made in advance.
- Baked.
- Hold together perfectly.
- Simple ingredients.
- High in protein.
- High in fibre.
Ingredient Notes
- Walnuts: Use raw walnuts without added oil or salt.
- Mushrooms: You can use any variety of fresh mushrooms like white, cremini or shiitake mushrooms or a mixture. I used a mixture of cremini (brown) and white button mushrooms.
- Onion: You can use white or yellow onion.
- Spices: The recipe calls for chili powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper and cumin. You can omit the cayenne if you’re sensitive to spice.
- Oats: You can use quick oats, rolled oats or large flake oats.
- Panko Breadcrumbs: Gluten-free or regular Panko breadcrumbs work.
- Nutritional Yeast: This adds a nutty, cheesy, umami flavour. I can be omitted but I recommend using it for more depth of flavour.
- Black Beans: Canned black beans work. You should be able to substitute another variety of bean though I haven’t tested it.
- Fresh Herbs: Use fresh parsley or cilantro, or a mixture of both!
- BBQ Sauce: Any BBQ sauce works though be sure to read the label if you’re vegan or gluten-free as not all are.
- Tamari: Substitute soy sauce or coconut aminos.
This list is not complete. Please see the recipe card at the end of the post for the complete ingredient list with measurements and detailed instructions.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Before you start, consider toast the walnuts to enhance the flavour. This is optional but only takes a few minutes and you’ll need to get a skillet out anyways. Add the walnuts to a skillet and toast over medium heat for 5-7 minutes until browned and fragrant.
Watch carefully not to burn them because it can happen quick. Transfer to a plate to cool once done.
Step 1: Chop Onion and Mushroom. I recommend using your food processor to pulse-chop the mushroom and onion. You want a fine dice so they’re distributed better for flavour and texture and to help the burgers hold together.
Do the mushroom first, then the onion, then set the food processor aside for the next step. There’s no need to clean it out.
Step 2: Cook Onion and Mushroom. Add 2 tsp oil to a skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Add the mushroom and onion and season with salt and pepper. You can now preheat the oven to 350 F and line a pan with parchment paper.
Cook for 6-8 minutes until the mushrooms release their liquid and most of it evaporates. Add the spices and cook for another minute, stirring constantly.
Step 3: Blend Dry Ingredients. While the onion and mushroom are cooking, add the oats, walnuts, Panko bread crumbs, flax, nutritional yeast and cilantro or parsley, and blend briefly to mix.
We don’t want to completely pulverize the walnuts, there should still be some larger pieces.
Step 4: Add Beans and Sauces. Add the black beans, BBQ sauce and tamari and pulse a few times to combine.
Again, don’t completely pulverize it. We want to keep some texture so some whole beans and larger pieces of walnuts are good.
Step 4: Combine. Transfer the onion-mushroom mixture and food processor components to a large mixing bowl, or add the food processor components to the skillet if you feel it’s large enough to easily mix.
I would recommend using a bowl. It’s a bit tricky mixing in up in a skillet. Use a mixing spoon to mix well.
Step 5: Shape Patties and Bake. Spoon packed 1/2-cup portions to form 8 large burgers. If you prefer, you can make them a little smaller, in which case, you’ll get 10-11 burgers.
Option to brush each burger with a little BBQ sauce.
Bake the burgers for 15 minutes, then carefully flip with a turner and bake another 12-15 minutes.
Below you can see how they look after baking. Let them cool on the pan for 5-10 minutes to firm.
Enjoy your patties as is, they make a great snack, vegetarian main or side, salad topper, or on a toasted bun with your favourite burger toppings.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. You can grill these burgers though I’d recommend using a grill tray to make sure they’re well supported until cooked and firm. Grill about 6-8 minutes per side. You can baste them with some BBQ sauce before and after flipping if you like for extra flavor and moisture.
Yes. To pan fry, heat 1 tbsp oil in a large skillet and cook the burgers 6-7 minutes per side over medium heat until browned and firm.
Freezing, Storing & Reheating
- You can prepare the raw burgers the day before baking. Shape into patties and store in the fridge with parchment between layers.
- Cooked burger patties can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days in an airtight container. Enjoy cold or reheat in the oven, microwave or stovetop in a skillet until heated through.
- Patties can be frozen raw or cooked. I would suggest baking before freezing.
- To freeze raw, shape the patties and freeze on a baking tray, then transfer to a freezer safe bag or container, or freeze with a square of parchment between the patties to prevent them from sticking together. Thaw in the fridge then proceed with baking as per the recipe.
- To freeze cooked, use the same method for freezing as above. Thaw them in the fridge, then reheat in the oven, stovetop in a pan or in the microwave until heated through.
- You can store raw or cooked patties in the freezer for up to 3 months.
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Mushroom Veggie Burger
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw walnuts, 120 g
- 3 cups finely diced mushrooms, 300 g
- 1 white onion, finely diced, approx. 1 cup, 150 g
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 2 tsp cumin powder
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/4 cup oats, 25 g
- 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs, 100 g
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast, 15 g
- 1 tbsp ground flax, 7 g
- ¼ cup packed roughly chopped parsley or cilantro, 15 g
- 1 540 ml can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 3 tbsp BBQ sauce, 45 g
- 1 tbsp tamari or soy sauce, 15 mL
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Toast Walnuts (Optional): Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the walnuts. Toast for 5-7 minutes, stirring often, until fragrant. Transfer to a plate. This step is optional but will help bring out the flavour of the walnuts.
- Chop Mushroom and Onion: While the walnuts are toasting, chop the mushroom and onion. It’s suggested to pulse-chop them in a food processor to achieve a fine dice. Do the mushrooms first, then the onion. There’s no need to clean out food processor at this point.
- Cook Onion and Mushroom: Heat 2 tsp oil over medium-high heat in the same skillet (if you toasted walnuts), then add the chopped onion and mushroom. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 6-8 minutes until the mushrooms release their liquid and most of it evaporates. Add all of the spices: chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder and cayenne. Cook for 60 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant. Remove the pan from the heat.
- Prepare for Baking: Once onions and mushrooms are cooking, preheat the oven to 350 F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Blend Dry Ingredients: Add the oats, Panko bread crumbs, walnuts, nutritional yeast, flax and herbs to the food processor and season with salt and pepper. Blend briefly to combine and break down, but not completely pulverize the walnuts.
- Add Beans and Sauces: Add the black beans, BBQ sauce and tamari to the food processor and blend briefly to combine. Again, you don’t want to completely blend the beans and walnuts, some larger bits of walnuts and whole beans should remain for texture.
- Combine Everything: Now you can either add the mushroom and onion to the food processor and pulse to combine or add the food processor contents to the pan and mix, if you think either is big enough to mix everything. If not, add everything to a large mixing bowl and stir to combine. Taste and season with salt and pepper, if needed.
- Shape Patties: Using a packed 1/2-cup measuring cup of the burger mixture, form 8 large patties using your hands and placing each on the baking sheet. You can make them a little smaller if you like, in which case you’ll get at least 10 burgers. Option to brush each patty with BBQ sauce.
- Bake: Bake for 15 minutes then carefully flip with a turner and bake for another 12-15 minutes until brown and firm. Let cool on the pan for 5-10 minutes. They will continue to firm as they cool.
- Serve: Serve on toasted buns with your favourite burger toppings like vegan cheese, pickles, mustard, mayo, tomato, lettuce and onion.
I’m not sure what I missed, but mine while flipping fell apart. I was able to salvage most of them from losing their shape. What are your tips to prevent this next time? I can’t wait to try them, no doubts that they are good!
Hi Dee, did you make any adjustments to the recipe? Let me know and I’ll see if I can help!
These burgers got rave reviews from the whole family. We’re not vegan or even vegetarian, but even so everyone wanted me to save this recipe!
Forts time around it took a while to make these, but hopefully it will go faster next time. 😉
Thank you, glad they were a hit!
This was delicious.. I added yellow, orange and red peppers and I cooked on the stove cause it was late.
These were very good, however I think the food processor is not needed. I will chop the mushrooms and onions by hand next time. Also, I guess since my processor is a little large the oats didn’t break down at all. Otherwise it was a delicious burger and will make again.
These burgers are so DELICIOUS! There are quite a few steps in the preparation, but the end results are definitely worth the effort. I crumbled a couple of the leftover burgers over steamed broccoli and buttered noodles the next day and the flavor was even better than the day before. Thank you for the great recipe!
Thanks for trying them! I’m glad you enjoyed.
These burgers are awesome! They’re moist and stay together after they’re baked. And they taste amazing! I will definitely be making these on a regular basis. Thanks for the great recipe!
Thanks for trying them! I’m glad you enjoyed.
I’ve looked at this recipe a few times and thought it looked a wee bit involved. Today is cold and gloomy so I’ve been indoors sorting out cupboards and making piles of things to give to charity.
I’ve also made these burgers. I will not be giving ANY of them away. Absolutely lovely. Great flavour and brilliant texture. Had one with a salad for lunch. Thank you again for a splendid recipe.
Thanks, Jane! So glad you enjoyed them.
Not sure how I got on your email list I never signed up. I’m glad I did. The veggie burgers are so good!! I will definitely make them again. Yum!
Hi! I’m so glad you loved the burgers! There’s no way to get on my list without signing up, haha, so maybe you just forgot you did at some point 😉 Either way, I’m glad you’re here.
We really enjoyed the burgers, 2 thumbs-up. Better than Costco bean burgers. I got 7 pretty big burgers.
Another hit…
These veggie burgers are definitely hearty with great flavor and texture. They came together easily, needing a processor, saute pan, bowl and baking sheet. They held together well and didn’t fall apart when fork-cut.
Thanks for another keeper, Deryn!
Thanks, Robin! I know they’re a bit of work equipment-wise. You could mix everything in the food processor or the pan if it’s big enough but it was easier for me to mix in a bowl. Glad you enjoyed them!