Vegan Classic Beef Burgers

Total time22 min

Prep time10 min

Cook time12 min

A backyard-style burger built the classic way: thick, hand-formed patties seasoned simply with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder, then seared hard in a screaming-hot skillet until a deep brown crust locks in all that smoky flavor. The patties get flipped once and cooked low and slow enough to stay juicy all the way through, then nestled into a toasted bun that's golden and crisp at the edges. Crisp lettuce, ripe tomato slices, and thin rings of white onion add crunch and freshness, while a squeeze of ketchup and mustard brings the tang this sandwich is known for. It's a straightforward, no-fuss burger night favorite, and it slots neatly into a vegan spread without losing any of that classic drive-in charm. Every bite still delivers that char-kissed, hearty bite you want from a proper burger.

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Ingredients

4 servings

1 ½ lb ground beef (80/20 blend)
Gardein Ultimate Plant Based Frozen Ground Be'f - 13.7 Oz MorningStar Farms Crumbles Plant Based Protein Vegan Meat Grillers - 12 Oz Lightlife Smart Ground Original Plant-Based Crumbles Gardein Ultimate Plant-Based Crumbles Ground Be'f RollinGreens Plant-Based Me'Eat Ground Taco
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Chef's tip
Pick the form that matches the recipe - a raw, moldable ground for patties, meatballs, or meatloaf; crumbles only for loose browned meat. Cook it in the recipe like the meat, checking doneness against the package guidance.
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp black pepper, freshly ground
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
1 tbsp neutral oil (such as canola oil or vegetable oil)
4 slices american cheese or cheddar cheese (optional)
Omit this
This ingredient likely doesn’t work for the diet.

For serving

4 hamburger buns
1 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
Chef's tip
Use a stick or block-style dairy-free butter - not a soft tub spread - and swap one-for-one.
4 leaves green leaf or iceberg lettuce (optional)
1 large tomato, sliced (optional)
½ small white onion, thinly sliced (optional)
ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise, to taste (optional)
Omit this
This ingredient likely doesn’t work for the diet.

Instructions

1
Divide the ground beef into 4 equal portions (about 6 oz each). Gently form each into a patty roughly 3/4 inch thick, pressing a shallow dimple into the center of each with your thumb to prevent doming during cooking. Season both sides generously with the salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
2
Heat the oil in a 12-inch cast iron skillet or heavy skillet over medium-high heat until the oil shimmers and just begins to smoke.

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