Falafel Burgers

This veggie-packed falafel burger is a simple, healthy dinner. Slather yours with yogurt dill sauce, and you're guaranteed to want seconds!

Falafel Burger

This falafel burger recipe comes from our friends Sonja and Alex’s new book Pretty Simple Cooking, and we’re completely obsessed with it! Unlike many veggie burger or falafel recipes, this one uses simple ingredients that you’ll be able to find in nearly any grocery store. It’s easy to put together, and it’s absolutely delicious.

The patties have a nice hearty texture and a robust, aromatic flavor, thanks to a slew of spices and fresh herbs. They’re the kind of thing I’d be happy to eat for dinner any night of the week, as they’re fresh and healthy, but flavorful and satisfying at the same time. My advice? Try this falafel burger recipe (and check out the book) ASAP!

Falafel burger recipe ingredients

Falafel Burger Recipe Ingredients

I LOVE that this easy falafel burger recipe uses simple ingredients! Here’s what you’ll need to make it:

  • Chickpeas – Use canned, or cook your own dried chickpeas.
  • Sesame seeds – They add crunch and a tasty sesame flavor.
  • Garlic and onion – This recipe uses a whole lotta garlic. Don’t skimp on it! It really amps up the savory flavor in this falafel burger recipe.
  • Carrots – They give the burgers a nice golden color and an extra veggie punch.
  • Cilantro – It makes this falafel burger recipe super flavorful and fresh! You’ll pulse everything together in the food processor, so feel free to use the cilantro stems as well as the leaves.
  • Whole wheat flour – It binds these patties together.
  • Cumin, coriander, and cayenne – They perfect the patties’ bold falafel flavor.
  • And salt and pepper – To make all the flavors pop!

Find the complete recipe with measurements below.

Falafel burgers on a baking sheet

This falafel burger recipe is super easy to make. Pulse the ingredients in a food processor, fold them together, and use your hands to form them into patties. Give them a quick sear in a stainless steel or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat, cooking just until golden brown. When you’re done pan frying the patties, transfer them to the oven to finish cooking. That’s it!

Pretty Simple Cooking Cookbook

Falafel Burger Serving Suggestions

Sonja and Alex finish this falafel burger recipe with a delicious yogurt-dill sauce. Similar to tzatziki, it’s creamy, bright, and fresh, and it’s fantastic with the hearty patties. I highly recommend making it, but if you’re vegan, hummus or tahini sauce would be a great substitute.

Slather on the sauce, and load up your falafel burger with your favorite fixings! I chose pickled red onions and extra cilantro, but sliced tomato, cucumber, avocado, or regular pickles would also be delicious. To take these burgers to the next level, serve them on homemade buns.

Enjoy the burgers on their own, or pair them with sweet potato fries, dressed greens, or any of these veggie side dishes:

Falafel Burger with Yogurt Dill Sauce

More Favorite Patties and Burgers

If you love this falafel burger recipe, check out Pretty Simple Cooking! This book is for anyone who feels intimidated to step into the kitchen, because Sonja has such encouraging lessons about life, love, and food. It’s also for food lovers of any level looking for creative recipes to up their veggie game.

In the meantime, try one of these veggie burger, patty, or sandwich recipes next:


5.0 from 21 reviews

Falafel Burgers

 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
Reprinted from Pretty Simple Cooking by Sonja and Alex Overhiser, with permission from the publisher.
Author:
Recipe type: Main dish
Serves: 8
Ingredients
For the Falafel:
  • 2 15-ounce cans chickpeas (3 cups cooked)
  • ¼ cup sesame seeds
  • 6 medium garlic cloves
  • 1 medium red onion
  • 2 large carrots
  • 1 cup packed cilantro leaves and tender stems
  • ¾ cup whole wheat flour
  • 4 teaspoons cumin
  • 4 teaspoons coriander
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne
  • 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
For the Dill Yogurt Sauce:
  • 2 small garlic cloves
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
  • ¼ cup lemon juice (1 large lemon)
  • 2 cups whole milk plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
For Serving:
  • pickles or pickled onions
  • cilantro, lettuce or sliced cucumber
  • 8 toasted hamburger buns
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  2. Make the burgers: Drain and rinse the chickpeas. Blot them with a paper towel or clean dish towel to remove any extra moisture, then place them in the bowl of a large food processor. Add the sesame seeds and process for a minute or so until a paste-like consistency is formed (if necessary, stop and scrape the sides of the bowl, and process again). Scrape the mixture into a large bowl.
  3. Peel the garlic, red onion, and carrots. Chop the onion and carrot in rough chunks. Add the garlic to the food processor and process until finely chopped. Add the carrot and onion and pulse several times until finely chopped. Add the cilantro to the processor and pulse a few more times until chopped.
  4. Scrape the vegetables into the bowl with the chickpeas. Stir in the flour, cumin, coriander, cayenne, kosher salt, and black pepper. Mix with a spoon or with your hands until fully combined, then form 8 round patties and place them on a baking sheet.
  5. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat. Add 4 of the burgers and fry them for 1 to 2 minutes per side, until golden brown. Remove the cooked burgers and place them back on the baking sheet. Wipe out the pan, add an additional drizzle of oil, and fry the remaining 4 burgers, keeping in mind that the pan will be hotter and the cooking time slightly quicker for the second batch.
  6. Once all burgers are browned, place them in the oven on the baking sheet and bake 15 minutes on one side, then flip and bake another 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool for at least 10 minutes.
  7. Make the sauce: Peel and finely mince the garlic. Chop the dill. Juice the lemon. In a small bowl, stir together the garlic, dill, lemon juice, Greek yogurt, olive oil, kosher salt, and 2 tablespoons water. Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for to 2 weeks.
  8. Assemble the burgers with the yogurt sauce and desired fixings.
Notes
Store leftover burgers refrigerated for up to 5 days, or frozen in an airtight container or plastic bag. To reheat, heat straight from the refrigerator or freezer in a 375°F oven until crispy and heated through; about 8 minutes for refrigerated burgers and about 15 minutes for frozen burgers.

 

129 comments

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Rate this recipe (after making it):  

  1. Sabine Hettle
    08.21.2019

    Very, very good. My meat lovers thought so too!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      08.23.2019

      Hi Sabine, I’m so happy to hear you all enjoyed these!

  2. Thi
    02.25.2019

    These were delicious. I sweetened the yogurt dill sauce with a bit of honey…then added some Tabasco and a dash of smoked paprika. Thanks for this great recipe.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      03.01.2019

      I’m so glad you loved the burgers!

  3. Leslie King
    01.16.2019

    Your falafel burgers are awesome. I would give it a 10 rating. Thank you for the recipe. I would love to have a copy of your cookbook.

  4. Sheri from sheribostondesign%20%20%20%20Insta
    01.11.2019

    Thanks for the great recipes ❤️ I am going to try the chickpea falafel burgers – Sheri

  5. Jo
    11.29.2018

    Trying this out. Never had a falafel burger, but I love falafel wraps.

  6. Fredrick
    07.29.2018

    This is the best veggie burger I’ve made. I think I’ve found my ultimate recipe! I made one substitute: I used non-fat Greek yogurt instead of 2%. For everything else, I followed the recipe exactly, and I will make it over and over, I know. I serve it open-faced on toasted whole-wheat toast, topped with lots of the yogurt sauce, toasted sesame seeds, my own pickled red onions, and a huge amount of baby arugula. This is outstanding in every way.

  7. I had gone through your site it provides very useful information for more details visit http://hotmaildeep.blogspot.com
    After letting the cheese soften from the heat of the bread, top with sliced tomatoes and a little ground pepper. Voila! This works any time of day or night or any seaso

  8. Wow this looks incredible! Putting this recipe on my list to try for sure.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      04.04.2018

      they are so good! I hope you enjoy 🙂

  9. Rutuja
    03.19.2018

    Ohhh this looks soo good for you! Can’t wait to try out and have it for lunch!

  10. Jess
    02.28.2018

    Love your blog! Is the browning step necessary if I’m just reheating the burgers anyway? Thanks!

  11. Gabrielle
    02.21.2018

    Can you use regular flour instead of whole wheat?

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      02.22.2018

      hmm, I can’t be sure without trying it, but I think it should be fine.

  12. Brilliant! Just what I was looking for. Every month I have a family get together and its my turn to cook. I wanted to do Burgers, but I was struggling for a nice veggie option for a family member. Thanks for this, I am sure it will go down a treat!

  13. lisa
    02.15.2018

    I’ve never made falafel before, but this recipe looks like the one that will finally inspire me to give it a try! Thanks for sharing.

    My favorite pretty simple recipe is usually a pasta + veg + poached egg (or, if we’re being honest, sometimes a fried egg for simplicity’s sake). Usually I throw together whole wheat spaghetti, chopped kale, garlic, onion, chili flake, poached egg, and toasted bread crumbs. It’s exactly what I always crave… after a long day of work, after a weekend of too much wine… it’s satisfying and easy!

  14. Joan L
    02.12.2018

    I love to make Philly Portabella-Steak sandwiches. Portabella mushroom strips cooked in skillet with colorful peppers and onions – seasoned with Braggs, creole seasoning, and garlic. Top with slice of Daiya Vegan mozzarella cheese and serve on a toasty roll. So far, everyone loves this quick and tasty meal.

    Made the falafel burgers last night. Very good. Went together quickly too. Lots of ingredients, but this was easy. Will make again.

  15. Susan Peninger
    02.12.2018

    My go-to meal depends on what’s in the fridge/freezer; a favorite is to toast rustic sourdough bread and when just out of the oven, top with thinly sliced sharp cheddar (a good domestic like Tillamook; or a hearty English). After letting the cheese soften from the heat of the bread, top with sliced tomatoes and a little ground pepper. Voila! This works any time of day or night or any season.

    This is definitely “Pretty Simple Cooking!”

  16. Jsameen from Instagram.com
    02.11.2018

    I love to make avocado pesto. It’s great with pasta or as a dip or a tasty edition to buddha bowls! Simple and delicious 😉

  17. Carolyn
    02.11.2018

    A simple recipe I like to make is homemade muesli.

  18. MamaSarah
    02.11.2018

    I love butternut squash soup with lots of fresh ginger…lots.

  19. Christine
    02.11.2018

    Simple soup with boullion, chopped veg and noodles.

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.