This is the best vegan burger recipe if you’re looking for a super simple beef-style burger. This uses vegan beef-style mince and vegan cheese which makes it super easy and quick to make. I added homemade caramelised onions to my burger to make it slightly more sophisticated.
Some people find meat and cheese substitutes somewhat synthetic in taste so it is important to add some freshness. This is why I also added shredded lettuce.
Which vegan cheese is best for burgers?
For the best burgers, you want to use a delicious, melty vegan cheese. I used Violife original flavour slices and, as pictured below, they melted very well.
I added a teaspoon of water and covered the patties with a lid as soon as a laid the cheese on top of them. This created steam and really helped the cheese melt.
If you cannot find Violife try out Cathedral City plant based grated cheese as this also melts very well.
Which plant-based mince is best for vegan burgers?
I used plant based mince for these burgers as it allows for smash-style, thin burgers. If you can only find plant based burger patties feel free to use these and squash them down to around 7mm thick. This helps the patties cook through quickly.
The vegan mince I used in this recipe was the Richmond meat-free no beef mince. I liked this mince as it was well seasoned and crisped up nicely in the pan.
My second choice would be the Beyond Meat plant based mince. This one has an especially meaty flavour.
Caramelised onions
I love caramelised onions in burgers. They add a delicious sweetness which contrasts the salty burgers and cheese.
The key to delicious caramelised onions is cooking them on a low heat for as long as possible. In this recipe I recommend heating the onions for one hour but feel free to cook them for a little longer, if you like.
The longer you cook the onions the more sugars will be released and the sweeter they will become. Just be careful to stir them at least every 10 minutes so they don’t burn.
I add balsamic vinegar to my onions as the acid flavour complements the sweet onions.
Which bread should I use for the best vegan burger?
A surprising amount of bread that you find in the supermarket is naturally vegan. I love a brioche bun with my burger. Unfortunately, brioche is usually enriched with butter and milk so it is hard to find a vegan version.
I used Tesco sourdough bread rolls which are vegan. I have to say, however, they did not have much of a sourdough taste. If you’d like to make your own buns I highly recommend this burger bun recipe from Jessica in the Kitchen.
What vegan sauces can I add to my burger?
I used Heinz ketchup and Nando’s vegan perinaise in my burger. These are both plant-based and the perinaise added some extra flavour to the burgers.
Another of my favourite vegan sauces is Hellman’s vegan mayo which tastes just like the real thing. The Leon burger sauce is also plant-based and delicious.
Best vegan burger: similar recipes
If you liked this recipe, check out my cheeseburger loaded fries!
For more easy vegan dinner recipes check out these recipes:
- Crispy tofu rice bowl
- Asian tofu noodle salad with mango
- Butternut squash freekeh salad
- Courgette lemon pasta
- Best vegan roast dinner
Ingredients
Method
- First, make the caramelised onions. Heat a large frying pan on a medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Once hot, tip in the onions. Turn the heat to low and fry the onions for 40 minutes, stirring every few minutes
- After 40 minutes add in the balsamic vinegar and sugar and continue cooking for 20 minutes. Set aside
- Split the vegan mince into four 60g/2.25oz balls and flatten into circles around 7mm/0.25 inch thick
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat until very hot. Fry the patties until brown and crispy. Flip and top each patty with a slice of cheese. Cover with a lid until the cheese has melted. You can add a teaspoon of water to help create steam and melt the cheese. Once the cheese has melted remove the lid and cook until the patty is crisp and brown.
- Whilst the patties are cooking split the buns in half. Place the buns under a hot grill, split sides facing up, until lightly toasted.
- Spread the bottom bun with mayo, top with shredded lettuce, a patty, caramelised onion, another patty, ketchup, and the top bun. Serve hot with fries.
Very indulgent, yum!