These apple burgers with butternut squash are a unique twist on a classic meal. Seven simple ingredients make the ultimate flavor bomb!
Fall flavors in a burger is something you wouldn't expect, but the result is unreal! There is little prep needed, the oven does most of the work.
This post was originally published on July 2, 201.
Burgers are a great meal for the family, but can get boring. Switching them up with flavors helps keep them exciting. We love this butternut squash apple burger topped with caramelized onion aioli!
Ingredients
I usually keep my burgers pretty simple, just roast some veggies or cook rice if needed, pulse in a food processor, shape, and cook! The patties all freeze well or can be kept in the fridge so you can prep them before for a fast and easy dinner.
These butternut squash burgers are no different! Here's is what you need to make the patties:
- Cooked rice
- Butternut squash
- Shallots
- Granny smith apples
- Sea salt
- Fresh thyme
- Pumpkin seeds
How to Make Apple Burgers with Butternut Squash
Although there is some cooking time involved here, the active prep part doesn't take long.
- Roast the veggies and cook the rice.
- Pulse the veggies and then the rice in the food processor.
- Mix together using your hands and shape into patties.
- Cook and top with all the things!
NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!
Topping suggestions
This butternut squash burger is customizable and so flavorful on it's own, you don't even need much. You can eat it in a bun, or even with a lettuce wrap or on a salad.
However you enjoy them, load these apple burgers up with all kinds of toppings like:
- Caramelized Onion Sage Aioli
- Vegan Ranch Dressing
- Caramelized onions
- Lettuce or arugula
- Tomato
- Avocado
- Zucchini
What to Serve with Butternut Squash Burgers
Pair these burgers with any of the following sides for a whole well rounded meal!
Meal Prep and Storage Tips
- To prepare ahead of time:
- Roast the veggies and fruit
- Make the rice and sauces.
- You can also make the patties and store in the fridge until the next day.
- Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days.
- You can also freeze the patties by sealing them in an airtight freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.
More Vegan Burger Recipes
Once you're finished enjoying these apple burgers with butternut squash, try out these recipes:
Apple Burgers with Butternut Squash
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked rice (I use brown or a wild blend) , about 1 cup dry (cook according to package directions)
- 1 ½ cups diced butternut squash , about half of one small sized squash
- ½ cup chopped shallots
- 1 cup diced granny smith apples , about one small apple
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt , divided
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
- 2 tablespoons pumpkin seeds , unsalted or adjust salt
Serving suggestions:
- Caramelized Onion Sage Aioli
- Vegan Ranch Dressing
- Caramelized onions
- lettuce or arugula
- burger buns , I used pretzel rolls
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400F/ 205 C.
- Place diced squash on a parchment lined cookie sheet, sprinkle with ⅛ teaspoon salt and bake for 15 minutes.
- At the 15 minute mark, add apples and shallots to the cookie sheet and sprinkle with the other ⅛ teaspoon salt. Bake another 30 minutes. Set aside to cool while you assemble everything else.
- Put the veggie mix in a food processor with the thyme and pulse until chunky. Do not puree into a mush or paste. Add to a large bowl.
- Next add the cooked rice and pumpkin seeds to the food processor and pulse until chopped a bit but still chunky. Add to the bowl.
- Mix everything well. Add more salt if preferred.
- Shape into 4 patties, then cook on stove top in a pan over medium heat for 7-9 minutes on each side or until browned. Keep pan covered to help the burger cook throughout and not dry out. If you're mixture was on the wetter side, then leave uncovered. Let sit for a few minutes after cooking to help the burger get more stable before eating.
- Serve with toppings of choice!
Notes
- You can use any rice you prefer, just make sure it's hearty and not too mushy.
- If you want to roast the squash/apples/shallots with a drizzle of oil you can, however I did not and it turned out great.
- I like these with both the aioli or the ranch with caramelized onions on top. Mix it up however you choose!
- If your mixture seems dry, you make not have cooked the rice enough. If it is too wet, you probably overcooked the rice or used too much water to cook it.
- Roast the veggies/fruit, make the rice and/or sauces ahead of time. You can also make the patties and store in the fridge until the next day.
- Form these into small nugget sized pieces or even balls. Serve ranch as a dip.
Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.
Nutrition
Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.
Crystal
I know I’m late to the game (this post is from 2015) but I had to say how much we loved these. I’ve made them twice now and wonderful both times. I topped them with Brie cheese (somewhat melted), carmelizef onion and and a touch of bourbon peach jam (on brioche bun). Divine. I was dreaming about them the next day. Thanks for the recipe!
veggiesdontbite
Thank you so much for letting me know Crystal! That all sounds amazing!
Amanda
Can I freeze these? I have to make these ahead of time and freeze them because I’m leaving for 4 days and want my ingredients to go bad.
veggiesdontbite
Hi Amanda! Yes, you can. You can freeze them before you cook them or after. If you freeze them before you may have to shape them back up a bit once they defrost. Either way wrap in plastic, then foil and then store in an airtight container.
Cynthia A Robinson
Love this recipe because of adding the apple, have not tried it because I don't eat grains... they seriously make me bloat. So... asking... what would you suggest in place of?
Please note... I am on Keto so that makes a HUGE difference I know!
veggiesdontbite
Hi Cynthia! The rice is what keeps this together and gives it texture. Taking it out would really change the recipe especially because you don't eat grains. You could try quinoa (it's considered a pseudograin) but not sure how texture would be. I don't know much about Keto and what's allowed. So sorry!
Pauline
I used chickpea instead of rice as have effect. I also threw in some sweet potato it was great. Served with camerlised onion hummus, Delia Smith’s cheat camerlised onion & either sour cream or creme Fraise if not vegan ☺️
veggiesdontbite
Glad you liked them Pauline!
Sharoyn
Have you tried scrambling the mixture instead of forming into patties? I was wondering about how this would do as a yummy substitute for ground beef for tacos and such?
veggiesdontbite
Hi Sharoyn! I haven't tried that but I bet it would be delish!
Grant
Amazing, delicious patties.
I used a mix of seven grains (emmer, barley, durum wheat, buckwheat, red rice, black rice and oats) plus toasted sesame, pumpkin and sunflower seeds and because the mixture was a little loose I bound it with some gram (chickpea) flour.
They cooked up a dream in a fry pan with a little rapeseed oil, lovely and crunchy on the outside but moist (not mushy) on the inside. A real variety of textures and perfect flavour from the roasted butternut squash, apple (I used Russet rather than Golden Delicious) and red onion (rather than shallots).
Thank you for the great recipe, it will definitely be used again and again.
veggiesdontbite
Thank you so much Grant! I am so happy you liked the recipe. And I really appreciate the great review!
Elizabeth
These look amazing1 Going to have to try them I think. 🙂
veggiesdontbite
Thank you Elizabeth! Let me know if you do!
Laura
The flavor on these was awesome! So tasty on toasted sourdough with caramelized onions aoli. My mix was super dry and there was no way it would form patties so I added a flax egg. It helped but they were still pretty crumbly so I guess next time I'll try cooking my rice longer? Or adding more flax egg.
veggiesdontbite
Hi Laura! So happy you liked them! I love sourdough so I bet it was amazing. Yes, I am guessing your mix was dry because you didn't cook the rice long enough and didn't have enough liquid. I'm curious what kind of rice you used? Long grain rice is more al dente and not as chewy as short grain, so it may not hold together as well. Also, your butternut should be roasted well enough to blend a bit in the food processor and help keep the burgers together. You can definitely use a flax egg if you want!
Samantha Cabaluna
I made these last night — wow! Simple and divine. I did do the veggie and apple roasting in advance, which males these super quick from pulsing to chowing. 😊 My husband and I devoured them. Probably the best homemade veggie burger I have ever had. I used red rice and we ate them on our burger bun of choice — english muffins. If you haven’t tried that, I recommend it. Texture and bread ratio is ideal. Thanks!
veggiesdontbite
Thank you so so much Samantha! Yes! I too prep the dat before to make them quick and easy the day I want to eat them. It does take some time to roast all those yummy veggies, and roasting really does bring out the best flavor. But it's a good thing I can get a lot of other stuff done while the oven takes care of that! I am LOVING the idea of the English muffin. Totally trying that next time!
Tami
So I saw this recipe and thought how good it sounded. It was - but so time consuming that I wouldn’t try to make it again. Too bad, as my husband really liked it and getting him to eat vegan is a miracle! I just added chopped garlic to regular mayo to save time.
veggiesdontbite
Hi Tami, I am happy to hear how much your husband liked the recipe. As mentioned in the recipe, it does take about an hour cooking time. Unavoidable as you need to roast the veggies that go in it. I (along with a bunch of others that have made this) like to roast the veggies and cook the rice the day before (and even prep any toppings you like to use), this helps with keeping them pretty quick the day you make them. Unfortunately some delicious recipes do take longer to make!
Cassie Thuvan Tran
I love a deliciously flavorful veggie patty that contains all types of various veggies and ingredients. I never really had a burger that was mainly composed of rice, but hey, I'm down to try new things! Combining butternut squash and apples sounds remarkable--I'd totally pair them with barbecue sauce and caramelized onions!
veggiesdontbite
Thank you so much Cassie! I love the idea of the bbq sauce!!
The Vegan 8
I love this recipe of yours girl and totally need to try them! I love how hearty the texture looks and on a pretzel bun?? I know these babies are good! My mouth is watering!
veggiesdontbite
Thanks so much! Pretzel buns are so so yum!
Emily Kemp
These look so delicious, I can't think of a better burger to celebrate Autumn!
Wendy
Can I substitute quinoa for the rice? Should the measure be adjusted
veggiesdontbite
Hi Wendy! I wouldn’t suggest using quinoa as the texture will be much different. Quinoa tends to be really mushy in burgers and it takes a lot of trial and error to get that right texture with quinoa. You’re welcome to experiment but I’d definitely reduce the liquid a bit to start.
Allison
Just curious, how well do these freeze? I live alone and don't want to eat the same thing for multiple meals in a row
veggiesdontbite
Hi Allison! They do freeze. The only thing would be that when they defrost they have a little more moisture from the freezing so texture may be affected a bit but other than that they are great! I would wrap them well with saran wrap, parchment and/or tin foil! put in a freezer safe container too.
Clara
I've only been vegan three months and have tried several bean burger receives,all have ended up really dry,well these.....are amazing,so moist and easy to make. All my family loved them. Yummy ?X
veggiesdontbite
Thank you so much Clara!! I so appreciate you telling me! And I am so happy you loved them!