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    Homemade Quinoa Burgers

    Sandwiches, Burgers, and Wraps Gluten Free Main Courses Vegetarian Recipes April 27, 2023 | By Kristen Chidsey | 12 Comments | *This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe
    Veggie Packed Quinoa Burgers are a high-protein alternative to a burger! This quick and easy healthy meal is made with quinoa, veggies, and cottage cheese. Have a bite of this gluten-free, family-friendly healthy recipe for lunch!

    These Quinoa Burgers are a delicious vegetarian alternative to a classic burger. Made with quinoa, cottage cheese, and fresh vegetables, these quinoa burgers are hearty, healthy, high in protein, and gluten-free. 

    Serve these meatless burgers with Oven Fries, Old Fashioned Baked Beans, Instant Pot Corn on the Cob, and Fruit Salad for the perfect summer meal.

    Quinoa Burger on silver plate on bun topped with lettuce


    Quinoa Burgers are not your typical Veggie Burger. Unlike my Black Bean Burgers, these veggie burgers are not made with beans. Nor do they feature breadcrumbs or oats.

    Instead, quinoa burgers are made with quinoa, which gives them a unique texture and pumps the burger full of protein and fiber.

    why you will love these quinoa burgers

    • Gluten-Free. Because quinoa burgers are made with quinoa, not breadcrumbs, they are naturally gluten-free.
    • Protein-Packed. These vegetarian burgers are made with cottage cheese and quinoa, which both work to pack these burgers with tons of protein.
    • Absolutely Delicious. These Quinoa Burgers are tangy, cheesy, and moist, and yet have a crispy golden exterior. They have amazing texture and flavor.
    • Freezer-Friendly. These quinoa burgers freeze well after baking, making them an easy, healthy vegetarian burger option to always have on hand.

    Notes on Ingredients

    • Quinoa: This recipe calls for cooked quinoa. You can opt to prepare your quinoa according to the package directions or use my recipe for perfect Instant Pot Quinoa. Any variety of cooked quinoa works for these burgers.
    • Cottage Cheese: Use full-fat or reduced-fat cottage cheese, not fat-free cottage cheese for the best texture and flavor. The cottage cheese adds a creamy, cheesy flavor to the burgers and helps to keep the burgers moist and tender.
    • Vegetables: Adding carrots and zucchini to the quinoa burgers adds flavor and nutrients. Be sure to squeeze out excess moisture in the grated zucchini, just as you would when making Zucchini Bread, to keep the vegetarian burgers from becoming watery.
    • Egg: An egg will help to bind the burgers together and keep them from falling apart when baked.
    • Seasoning: These quinoa burgers are seasoned simply with fresh parsley, salt, pepper, garlic, and onion powder. Feel free to omit the fresh parsley if you don't have it on hand.

    How to Make Quinoa Burgers

    Step One: Prepare Quinoa.

    You will need two cups of cooked quinoa to prepare these burgers. You can use leftover quinoa you have on hand, prepare quinoa in the Instant Pot, or follow the directions in the recipe card to prepare quinoa on the stove.

    Just be sure to allow your quinoa to cool to the touch before proceeding with preparing your burgers to prevent the hot quinoa from scrambling the egg that is added to the burger.

    Kristen's Tip

    After the quinoa is cooked, spread it out on a sheet pan and pop it in the freezer. The quinoa will be ready to be used to make the quinoa burgers in just 5 minutes!

    Step Two: Form Burgers

    Once the quinoa has cooled, you will want to combine it with the remaining ingredients. The mixture is a bit delicate, so I have found that it is best to scoop the quinoa mixture onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and then use slightly damp hands to shape it into a "burger patty."

    Step Three: Bake

    The easiest way to cook these quinoa burgers is to bake them. This ensures they hold their shape and achieve a nice crispy exterior, giving these burgers great texture.

    Step Four: Serve

    Serve the Quinoa Burgers on a lettuce wrap or on a bun with toppings of your choice. I personally prefer tomatoes, lettuce, and a bit of mustard.

    Quinoa burgers on silicone baking mat next to burger on bun.

    Storage & Make-Ahead Instructions

    This recipe makes twelve Quinoa Burgers, meaning you may have several burgers left over--which is a good thing! These quinoa burgers can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3 days or frozen for 3months in a freezer-safe container.

    To freeze the cooked burgers, let the quinoa burgers cool, then place them on a parchment-paper-lined sheet pan and freeze until solid. Once frozen solid, transfer the burgers to a freezer-safe bag or container, separating the burgers between layers of parchment paper. To reheat, remove as many burgers as desired and bake from frozen for 5 minutes per side in a 450-degree F oven, or until warmed through.

    More Quinoa Recipes

    • Mexican Quinoa Salad
    • Greek Quinoa Salad
    • Instant Pot Quinoa
    • Quinoa Spinach Salad
    • Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili

    If you tried these Quinoa Burgers, please be sure to leave a review and comment below.

    Quinoa Burger on Bun with Lettuce

    Quinoa Burgers

    Made with quinoa, cottage cheese, and fresh vegetables, these quinoa burgers are hearty, healthy, high in protein, and gluten-free. 
    4.73 from 11 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Mediterranean
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Prepare Quinoa: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 125kcal
    Author: Kristen Chidsey

    Ingredients

    Quinoa

    • 1 ½ cups dry quinoa
    • 3 cups water
    • ½ teaspoon salt

    Quinoa Burgers

    • ½ cup cottage cheese
    • ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
    • 1 large carrot grated
    • 1 large zucchini grated & squeezed dry to remove excess moisture
    • 2 large eggs
    • 1 teapsoon onion powder
    • 1 teapsoon pepper
    • 1 teapsoon salt
    • ½ tablespoon minced garlic
    • 2 cups cooked quinoa slightly cooled
    • cooking spray
    Prevents your screen from going dark while preparing the recipe.

    Instructions

    • Prepare quinoa by bringing placing dry quinoa, water, and salt in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes, or until quinoa is tender. Fluff with a fork. Alternatively, follow my directions for Instant Pot Quinoa, cooking 1-½ cups of quinoa with 1-½ cups of water for 1 minute on high pressure with a natural pressure release.
    • Measure out 2 cups of cooked quinoa and spread it out on a sheet pan to cool slightly for 10-20 minutes before preparing burgers. Speed up the process by popping the pan into the freezer for 5 minutes.

    Prepare Quinoa Burgers

    • Preheat the oven to 425℉ and line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper, or grease well with cooking spray.
    • In a large mixing bowl, mix the eggs, seasonings, cottage cheese, parsley, zucchini, and carrot together until well combined. Add the cooled quinoa and thoroughly mix.
    • Scoop ¼ cup of the quinoa mixture unto the tray, forming 12 mounds in total, spaced 4 inches apart. Using slightly damp hands, form the mound into a burger shape, that is about ½-inch thick. Spray the top of the burgers with cooking spray.
    • Bake the burger patties for 20-25 minutes on the first side, Remove from the oven, gently flip, return to the oven, and continue to bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden and set.
    • Let cool on the baking sheet for 5-10 minutes and then serve as desired.

    Notes

    Alternative Cooking Method: These burgers do not hold up well to grilling. They achieve the best texture when baked at a high temperature. However, they can be pan-fried over medium-high heat for 7-8 minutes per side, if desired.
    Cottage Cheese: Use full-fat or reduced-fat, not fat-free cottage cheese for the best texture and results. 
    Zucchini: Finely grate the zucchini on a box grater or in a food processor. Place the zucchini in a clean kitchen cloth or in cheesecloth and squeeze excess moisture out before adding to the quinoa. 
    Storage: Leftover Quinoa Burgers can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3 days. Alternatively, freeze the burgers for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container. To reheat, remove as many burgers as desired and bake from frozen for 5 minutes per side in a 450-degree F oven, or until warmed through.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 125kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 487mg | Potassium: 276mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 2080IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 1.5mg
    Liked this Recipe? Tag me Today!Snap a picture and tag #amindfullmom on Instagram - I would love to see!

     

     

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    About Kristen Chidsey

    Hi, I am Kristen, creator of A Mind "Full" Mom. I believe that making a wholesome family meal does not need to be hard or expensive! I love nothing more than to share with you delicious solutions for your hungry family.

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    1. Jenn Terbeek

      April 29, 2023 at 11:23 am

      5 stars
      Definitely going to try this recipe. Do you think you could put it in the food processor before baking? Would it still hold together do you think?

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        April 29, 2023 at 11:38 am

        Hi Jenn! I would pulse everything BUT the quinoa together until combined. Then add in the cooked quinoa and gently pulse to combine.

        Reply
    2. Mim

      May 27, 2021 at 4:48 pm

      What would you sub for cottage cheese for a nondairy burger?

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        May 28, 2021 at 6:54 am

        I would use firm tofu and blend it up before adding to the burger patties.

        Reply
    3. Alyssa

      January 30, 2020 at 9:16 pm

      5 stars
      FINALLY a veggie burger that holdS up and has bite!! Loved this recipe. Way better than mushy black bean burgers. I added a smidge of bread crumbs and it was a nice touch. Thanks!!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        January 31, 2020 at 6:38 am

        I am so glad you enjoyed these Alyssa! They are certainly a change up from the traditional.

        Reply
    4. Sheryl Trujillo

      June 02, 2019 at 8:44 pm

      5 stars
      My husband and I just made these and they are really delicious. Very easy to make. I especially like the crispiness on the outside. We were not sure what oil to use, so we tried olive oil, it worked fine. Such a nice change from the same old black bean burger. Though these are delicate they held together well and a lot better than the black bean burger recipes We’ve tried. These taste so good without a bun, I can see these in place of hash browns with a morning breakfasts.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        June 03, 2019 at 6:21 am

        I am so glad you enjoyed Sheryl! I use an olive oil cooking spray, but any light cooking spray works. And the idea for hash browns has me drooling!

        Reply
    5. Barbara Miller

      August 09, 2017 at 8:15 am

      5 stars
      Thanks for sharing with Christy Jordan's Southern Plate.

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        August 09, 2017 at 2:02 pm

        Thank you <3

        Reply
    6. shelby

      July 05, 2017 at 5:37 am

      I have to try this and share it with my parents (who eat vegetarian all the time now). This looks and sounds really delicious. Mom was a vegetarian all my live and while I am not, I crave vegetarian foods liks this. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
      • Kristen Chidsey

        July 05, 2017 at 12:00 pm

        Thanks Shelby! I bet your mom will LOVE this (and you will too). I like you, am not vegetarian, but often crave veggies over meat 🙂

        Reply

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    Veggie Packed Quinoa Burgers are a high-protein alternative to a burger! This quick and easy healthy meal is made with quinoa, veggies, and cottage cheese. Have a bite of this gluten-free, family-friendly healthy recipe for lunch!

    Meet a Mind "Full" Mom

    A Picture of A Mind"Full"Mom

    Hi! I'm Kristen. I want to welcome you into my kitchen and my REAL, imperfect life. Let me share with you tips and tricks to help you make healthy eating a reality for your family in the chaos of life and on the constraints of a budget. Read more

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    Veggie Packed Quinoa Burgers are a high-protein alternative to a burger! This quick and easy healthy meal is made with quinoa, veggies, and cottage cheese. Have a bite of this gluten-free, family-friendly healthy recipe for lunch!

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