Recipe Roundup

45 Burgers That Aren't Made With Beef

Homemade veggie burgers (and turkey burgers, and lamb burgers) are better than anything you can buy.
Chicken burgers on buns with bacon and jalapenos
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Marina Bevilacqua

Whether you're committed to eating less beef or you're just craving a great veggie burger, these beef-free burger recipes will guide you toward a delicious dinner tonight. Some of these recipes lean on chickpeas and mushrooms, others call for lentils or quinoa. We have the secrets to the best turkey burgers and lamb burgers, too. Next, it'll be time to get working on your fry game. (Or your oven-fry game.)

  • Black bean burger with a blue background and pink table.
    Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Catherine Campbell Pearson
    1/44

    Black Bean Smash Burger

    Our genius solution for a black bean burger that’s not at all gummy: Treat it like a smash burger, griddle until crispy, and devour with lots of chipotle mayo.

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  • Photograph by Maria Be, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Marina Bevilacqua
    2/44

    Spiced Chicken Burgers

    Consider these chicken tikka kebab–inspired burgers oozing with cheese the only burger you’ll want to enjoy all summer.

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  • Photo by Chelsie Craig, styling by Claire Saffitz
    3/44

    Extra-Juicy Turkey Burgers

    Turkey burgers always sound like a great idea, but they too often taste like a fat sawdust patty. No more, friends! Mashing avocado into the turkey mixture helps prevent the meat from shrinking and drying out during cooking, which is why these stay awesomely juicy, even when they’re cooked all the way through.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Sue Li
    4/44

    Salmon Burgers With Ginger and Quick-Pickled Cucumbers

    Fresh salmon makes these ginger and scallion-laced burgers luscious and flavorful. Pile them high with peppery watercress, crunchy cucumber quick pickles, fragrant mint, and cilantro.

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  • Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Caroline Hwang, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime.
    5/44

    Crispy Golden Shrimp Burgers

    Topped with crunchy cabbage and creamy egg salad and nestled between toasted brioche buns, these extra-crispy shrimp burgers are over-the-top in the best way.

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  • Photo Alex Lau, food styling by Chris Morocco, prop styling by Emily Eisen
    6/44

    Easiest-Ever Grilled Veggie Burgers

    The vegan patties in this burger recipe go straight from the mixing bowl to the grill without falling apart—all in about 20 minutes.

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  • Alex Lau
    9/44

    Ultimate Veggie Burger

    Veggie burgers are not easy to make awesome, but we think this one nails it. We solved the “mush” factor by folding in bouncy mushrooms and pleasantly firm black beans, threw a hard sear on it for crisp texture on the outside, and seasoned it aggressively to combat any blandness. There’s no imitation protein or weird ingredients, just a rich, moist mixture of vegetables, grains, and nuts that work with any toppings you want to throw at it. It may not be vegan, but it’s pretty darn good. This is .…

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Simon Andrews
    10/44

    Spiced Lamb Burgers With Spring Slaw

    Earthy lamb burgers need something bright, like this crisp slaw made from asparagus ribbons, sliced sugar snap peas, and red onion tossed in lemon juice.

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  • Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Marina Bevilacqua
    11/44

    Chicken-Bacon Smash Burgers

    Cook a chicken burger in bacon fat, never look back.

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  • Peden + Munk
    12/44

    BLT Turkey Burgers

    Ground turkey is hardly the stuff of flavor fireworks, but turkey sausage, preseasoned and ready to cook, tends to have great flavor right out of the package.

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  • 17/44

    Turkey Burgers

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  • Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Sue Li
    18/44

    Lentil Burgers

    It's hard for us to choose a favorite meatless burger recipe, but this one has a lot going for it. The steps are streamlined enough for a weeknight dinner, and the patties are packed with protein. They're also deeply savory thanks to mushrooms and mellow white miso.

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  • Brian Leatart
    19/44

    Moroccan-Spiced Lamb Burgers with Beet, Red Onion, and Orange Salsa

    He may be executive chef at London's luxe Conservatory at The Lanesborough, but Paul Gayler knows a thing or two about American cuisine, too. In The Gourmet Burger, he rethinks the barbecue classic using premium and international ingredients. Here, he adds mildly spicy North African flavors.

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  • Photo by Brian Leatart
    20/44

    Tamarind-Glazed Turkey Burgers

    As culinary director for Balducci's, Katy Sparks brought take-out food to a whole new level. Instead of the typical fried chicken and heavy potato salad, the market offers horseradish-crusted salmon and grilled fingerling potatoes with lemon. In this recipe she's taken the often-bland turkey burger to a higher plane, with the addition of tamarind.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
    23/44

    Black-Eyed Pea Burgers With Creamy Barbecue Sauce and Chowchow

    These vegan burgers from Jocelyn Jackson start with creamy black-eyed peas that get a flavor boost from mushrooms, miso, tamari, and Scotch bonnet chiles. Slick them with a sweet-and-tangy barbecue sauce and pile on a spoonful of refreshing chowchow.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Liza Jernow
    24/44

    Chickpea-Mushroom Veggie Burgers

    You can make these gluten-free veggie burgers ahead and freeze them up to three months before cooking. Smoked paprika amps up the savory flavor; top with your favorite sharp cheddar or vegan cheese.

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  • Photo by Joff Lee
    27/44

    Halloumi and Sweet Potato Burgers

    It's fun to say “grilled cheese burger” and it's fun to eat this sweet potato and halloumi number. Feel free to serve it in pita bread if you prefer, but don't skip the mashed avocado.

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  • 28/44

    Chicken Zucchini Burgers

    When you combine chicken with shredded veggies and a tangy Greek yogurt sauce, you get a thick, juicy, and totally satisfying burger.

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  • Photo by Romulo Yanes
    33/44

    Turkey Cheddar Burgers

    There's a slice of extra-sharp Cheddar hidden inside these turkey burgers. And a super-savory, tangy sun-dried tomato mayo on top.

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  • Photo by Peden & Munk
    34/44

    Spiced Lamb Burger

    As the lamb cooks inside the pita, the fat will render into the bread, creating a crunchy, compact, vibrantly flavored meat pie.

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  • Lisa Hubbard
    35/44

    Chicken Parmesan Burgers

    If you love burgers and you love chicken parm, you'll adore this mashup burger recipe, which gets a stretchy layer of mozz and a few radicchio leaves for crunch.

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  • Photo by Romulo Yanes
    36/44

    Black-Bean Burgers

    There are lots of meatless burgers in the world, but this one is truly a keeper. Cumin, oregano, cayenne, and cilantro amp up the flavor of this pantry-friendly patty mix.

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  • Photo by Romulo Yanes
    37/44

    Creole Crab Burgers

    Here, tender lumps of sweet crab are seasoned (in the manner of traditional Louisiana deviled crabs) and lightly bound with egg and bread crumbs, then panfried until the cakes have a golden crust. A thin layer of tangy tartar sauce and crisp lettuce joins in for a truly special sandwich.

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  • Stephanie Gaudreau
    38/44

    Spinach and Olive Turkey Burgers

    These turkey burgers are my nod to the Mediterranean, packed with fresh herbs, lemon, and red onion.

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  • Romulo Yanes
    43/44

    Chipotle Pork Cheeseburgers

    Unless you're shopping for "meatloaf mix," it's easy to overlook ground pork. Smoky pork burgers topped with melted Muenster and creamy avocado will broaden your horizons. Don't skip the sliced tomatillo—its crisp tartness really perks things up.

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  • Levi Brown
    44/44

    Black Bean-Corn Burger

    This veggie-licious burger provides 12 grams of filling fiber, nearly half of your recommended daily intake. Cool beans!

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