Lentil Burger Recipe

A stack of lentil patties on a cutting board.

Looking for a tasty veggie burger? Try this lentil burger recipe that's easy to make & full of surprising flavors like Fresno chili, goat cheese and a tangy-sweet yogurt sauce!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save

Sandwich

American

249 kcal

Ingredients

1 large shallot
2 cloves garlic
¼ cup Italian parsley leaves
2 Fresno chili, remove stem, roughly chop (see notes)
1½ tsp ground cumin
1 tsp kosher salt, divided
fresh cracked black pepper
⅓ cup seasoned breadcrumbs
1 large carrot, shredded
1 large egg
2 cans lentils (15 oz each, about 3½ cups), rinse, drain + pat dry, divided
4 oz goat cheese, crumbled (or feta)
5.3 oz plain Greek yogurt, (that's a serving size container or use a generous 1/2 cup, I use 5% fat)
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
½ tbsp honey
cooking spray, or olive oil, to cook the burgers
6 burger buns, or pitas
6 slices tomato
3 handfuls arugula

Instructions

Cut the shallot in half. Roughly chop one half; mince the other. Smash one clove of garlic; mince the other. Keep these separate as they'll be used in different parts of the recipe.
To the bowl of a food processor fitted with an s-blade, add the rough chopped shallot, smashed garlic clove, parsley leaves, Fresno chili, cumin, ¾ tsp kosher salt, and a few grinds of black pepper. Pulse a few times to mince the shallot, garlic, parsley and chili.
Next, add the breadcrumbs, shredded carrot, egg, and half the lentils (you can eyeball it, or measure a generous 1½ cups). Process until well blended, scraping down the sides a couple of times.
Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl. Fold in the remaining lentils and crumbled goat cheese until well distributed. Pop the bowl into the fridge for about 10 minutes. Form the lentil mixture into 6 equal patties just before cooking.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the yogurt, reserved minced shallot and garlic, apple cider vinegar, honey & ¼ tsp kosher salt to make a burger sauce.
Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat (I like cast iron for this). Generously coat the bottom of the skillet with cooking spray or oil. Cook the lentil burgers for 3 to 4 minutes on each side; add more cooking spray/oil as needed.
Spread some yogurt sauce on each bun, then build your burgers topping them with tomato and arugula.

Notes

Fresno Chilies – Fresnos are a little spicier than jalapeños, and have a fruitier quality. To limit the amount of heat, remove the seeds and membranes from the inside of the chili. Likewise, use some or all of the membranes and seeds to increase the level of heat. Or, omit altogether.
For vegetarian or vegan options, please see Helpful Recipe Tips in the post.
For storing, freezing, and reheating instructions, please see Storing and Reheating Your Lentil Burgers in the post.

Nutrition

freezer-friendly, stove top, vegetarian

Drop a comment or question!Have a question about recipe variations or techniques? Did this recipe make your taste buds do a happy dance? Let me know in the ratings and comments! Your feedback keeps our kitchen sizzling and helps us cook up more free, mouthwatering recipes for you.