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    Home ▸ Vegan Burgers, Wraps and Sandwiches

    Vegan Falafel Burger Recipe

    Last modified: October 5, 2022. Originally posted: May 23, 2020 By Sophia DeSantis

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    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Collage of a falafel burger with toppings on a plate, the mixture in a food processor and the burger open faced on a bun with overlay text.
    Falafel burger with lettuce, tomato and red onion and a bite out of the front.
    A falafel burger piled with toppings next to crisp potato halves on a white plate.

    There is no reason you can only eat falafel in ball form! This vegan falafel burger is the perfect way to switch up your burger game. Baked and delicious!

    A falafel burger topped with lettuce, tomato, red onion and sauce on a white plate
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    We love falafel but sometimes we need to switch it up so it doesn't get boring. So I decided to change up the style and got this burger piled high with all the things on the dinner table with success!

    Falafel Basics

    Traditionally falafel are round shaped balls of ground chickpeas that are fried to gain that crispy outside texture. They are served in pitas, over salads, and as a wrap.

    You can smother them with tahini sauce or tzatziki and top them with anything you love.

    So I basically took the basic falafel recipe on this website, added a little bit to the recipe and reshaped it into burger form!

    Ingredients

    The base of these falafel burgers is very similar to my regular falafel recipe, with a few ingredients switched up or added:

    • Chickpeas (I use dried for the best texture)
    • Red onion
    • Cilantro (you can sub parsley if you must)
    • Red pepper
    • Garlic
    • Starch
    • Cumin
    • Salt

    How to Make a Falafel Burger

    Most of the time put into this meal is the baking that the oven does. Human effort is pretty low, making this a great low energy meal! Here's how to do it:

    1. Add ingredients into a food processor and pulse until crumbled and the mixture sticks together. Top view of a food processor with falafel burger mixture in it
    2. Shape into patties and put on a cookie sheet lined with parchment. Uncooked falafel burger patties on a parchment lined baking sheet
    3. Bake. A parchment lined baking sheet with baked falafel burgers on it
    4. Top with all your favorites! White plate with an open faced falafel burger on a bun surrounded by toppings

    Serving suggestions

    You can serve these burgers on anything you prefer. It's great to mix it up so you can keep it exciting. Anything goes, but here are our favorite ways we've eaten these:

    • On a bun
    • In a pita
    • On sliced bread
    • In lettuce wraps
    • In a tortilla
    Falafel burger with lettuce, tomato and red onion and a bite out of the front

    Topping ideas

    Because this is a burger, and we all have different tastes, you can switch this up any way you want. The topping ideas are endless! These are some of our favorites:

    • Lettuce
    • Tomato
    • Red onion
    • Jalapeños
    • Nacho slices
    • Cucumber
    • Tahini Sauce
    • Tzatziki
    • Fresh Salsa
    Hands holding half a falafel burger over a whole burger

    Optional sides

    While this falafel burger is awesome all on it's own, adding sides makes for a delicious all around meal. Especially if your sides add extra veggies! Here are some of our go-to recipes:

    • Baked Oven Fries
    • Baked Asparagus Fries
    • Baked Eggplant Fries
    • Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts
    • Broccoli Cauliflower Tots
    • Baked Onion Rings

    Tips and Tricks

    This is a pretty full proof recipe, but here is some info to help you along the way!

    1. Make sure to drain the chickpeas well before adding to the food processor. Extra water will make the filling thinner.
    2. When blending the filling, you want a medium sized crumble. If they are too large, the mix won't stick. If they are too small, you'll get hummus.
    3. Check to see if the mixture sticks together before you stop blending. If it doesn't, it needs to be blended more.
    4. When shaping, make a large ball, then flatten a bit in your hands. Place on the parchment and flatten a little more. Press the mixture gently.
    5. These are best baked on parchment so they get a nice crisp on both side.
    6. Flip carefully, if they crack at all just shape back into place with the spatula.

    Common Questions

    What does a falafel burger taste like?

    The main ingredient in falafel is chickpeas and since those are mild in flavor, most of the taste comes from the other ingredients used. The spices and seasonings are what gives falafel their signature taste.

    This falafel burger has a fresh garlicky taste, with a little earthiness from the dried chickpeas and cumin. The texture is grainy with a chew, almost like a meatball.

    How do you store falafel burgers?

    If you make the mixture and don't plan to use it all, store it uncooked in an airtight container in the fridge. Then cook more burgers the next day as you need them.

    If the burgers are already cooked, I like to seal them with plastic wrap, then put them in an air tight container.

    Can you freeze a falafel burger?

    Yes! Once you cook them, allow them to cool. I like to individually wrap each burger in plastic wrap, then wrap all of them in foil and put in an airtight container. This helps prevent freezer burn.

    You could also freeze the raw mixture, but I wouldn't shape them until after you defrost when you are ready to make them.

    Can you prep falafel burgers ahead of time?

    If you want to prep ahead, the best thing to do is make the mixture and save in the fridge until ready to use. You can also prep all the toppings so that dinner is quick and easy.

    Can I sub canned chickpeas?

    Using canned chickpeas will give you a mushier result. Dried soaked chickpeas have a chewy more firm texture. So just be aware of the texture different canned will give.

    What if I forget to soak the chickpeas?

    You can always use the quick soak method if you forget. Learn how to quick soak chickpeas in this post all about cooking dried chickpeas.

    Other Recipes with Falafel

    If you love falafel, here are some other awesome recipes to try!

    • Baked Vegan and Gluten-Free Falafel
    • Falafel Sandwich
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    White plate with a falafel burger dripping with sauce next to roasted potatoes.

    Falafel Burgers Recipe (Vegan, Gluten Free)

    Sophia DeSantis
    These easy falafel burgers are made with simple fresh ingredients and require only 5 minutes of prep. They are satisfying, nourishing and the perfect meal!
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Shop Ingredients
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 35 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American, Mediterranean
    Servings 8
    Calories 153 kcal

    Equipment

    • Food processor

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 ½ cup dried chickpeas , soaked overnight
    • 1 cup chopped red onion
    • ½ cup cilantro , or sub parsley if preferred
    • ¼ cup chopped red pepper , or 1 tablespoon diced hot pepper
    • 3 cloves garlic , chopped
    • 1 tablespoon tapioca starch
    • 2 teaspoons cumin
    • 1 ½ teaspoons sea salt

    To serve:

    • Burger buns
    • Red onion
    • Lettuce
    • Tomato
    • Tahini sauce
    • Vegan Tzatziki

    Instructions
     

    • Put everything into a food processor and blend until you get medium sized crumbles or until mixture sticks together.
    • Shape into burgers and place on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
    • Bake at 350 F/ 175 C for about 15 minutes on each side.
    • Serve with toppings of choice!

    Notes

    • If you forget to soak the chickpeas you can do the quick soak method. 
    • Nutrition facts are for the burgers alone.

    Recipe by Veggies Don’t Bite, visit our site for more great plant-based recipes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 153kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 8gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 401mgPotassium: 386mgFiber: 7gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 245IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 51mgIron: 3mg

    Nutrition and metric information should be considered an estimate.

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    1. Jessica

      August 13, 2020 at 9:03 am

      This may be a silly question but when you call for 1 1/2 cups of dried (soaked) chickpeas are you measuring 1 1/2 cups before or after they soak? Trying the recipe for dinner tonight. Thanks!

      Reply
      • veggiesdontbite

        August 13, 2020 at 2:02 pm

        Hi Jessica! Measure BEFORE!! It's supposed to have a comma there, I will fix it now!

        Reply
    2. amelia sasso

      May 28, 2020 at 7:37 am

      Another winner here! This was really tasty and easy to make. I brought it in to work and 3 people asked for the recipe. I led them to your site and said I make tons of your recipes. Thanks!

      Reply
      • veggiesdontbite

        May 28, 2020 at 5:02 pm

        I am so happy you liked them Amelia!! Thank you so much for letting me know and the great review!

        Reply
    3. Renee

      May 26, 2020 at 5:46 pm

      Great tasting falafel!! We had them in a bowl, not as a burger. I’ve made many different falafel recipes, the dried chickpeas make all the difference!! I used parsley, can’t wait to make another batch with cilantro - thanks Sophia!
      PS I got the tapioca starch 😉

      Reply
      • veggiesdontbite

        May 26, 2020 at 7:06 pm

        I am so happy you liked them Renee!! Definitely use the cilantro next time! It's so good. Thanks for the great review!

        Reply

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