Vegan Tofu Veggie Burgers

By
Jolinda Hackett
Jolinda Hackett
Jolinda Hackett has written five books about plant-based cooking and has developed hundreds of vegan and vegetarian recipes.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 01/20/24
Tested by
Kayla Hoang
Photo of Kayla Hoang
Tested by Kayla Hoang
Kayla Hoang is a freelance recipe developer, writer, and baker whose Bangladeshi and Vietnamese roots influence all she does. Her life revolves around food and she can almost always be found waiting by the oven for a fresh batch of cookies.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
easy vegan tofu veggie burger

The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 4 mins
Total: 19 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Yield: 6 burgers

It may seem that most veggie burgers are made with beans, but this recipe proves otherwise. These easy and healthy tofu-based veggie burgers get plenty of flavor from the onion and green onion, along with garlic powder and soy sauce, and receive a nutritional boost from wheat germ. These tofu burgers are so quick and easy to make, they're definitely candidates for your weeknight meal rotation.

One important step is to gently drain and press the tofu as it helps to remove the extra moisture and prevent soggy veggie burgers. Once it's drained, all you have to do is mash the tofu together with a few simple ingredients, form it into little patties, and then pan-fry for a few minutes. Serve these tofu burgers on buns with your favorite burger toppings with oven-baked French fries on the side. Or, top a salad with the burger and accompany it with some vegan carrot ginger soup to round out the meal.

"These tofu burgers come together quickly, making them a great option for a busy weeknight. They’re also super customizable to fit whatever flavor profile you’re craving. Be sure to take the time to drain the tofu well to make forming the patties and cooking easier." —Kayla Hoang

Vegan Tofu Veggie Burgers/Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

For the Burgers:

  • 1/2 (14-ounce) container firm or extra-firm tofu

  • 1 medium onion, minced

  • 3 medium green onions, diced

  • 2 tablespoons wheat germ

  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 2 tablespoons garlic powder

  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce

  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 2 tablespoons canola oil, more as needed

Serving Suggestion

  • 6 vegan hamburger buns

  • Lettuce leaves

  • Sliced tomato

  • Ketchup, mustard, and/or vegan mayo

  • Mustard

  • Vegan mayonnaise

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    ingredients to make easy vegan tofu veggie burgers

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  2. Drain the tofu well, pressing out the excess moisture gently with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels. If you leave too much moisture in the tofu, you'll have trouble forming patties and they won't stay together. 

    patting tofu dry

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  3. Add the tofu to a large bowl and gently mash it into small pieces.

    crumbled tofu in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  4. Add the onions, green onions, wheat germ, flour, garlic powder, soy sauce, and pepper. Mix to combine. 

    crumbled tofu in a bowl

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  5. Gently press the mixture together with your hands to form patties about 1-inch thick.

    tofu burgers on a wood board

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  6. Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large nonstick skillet. When the oil shimmers, add the veggie burgers in batches if necessary to not crowd the pan, and fry until lightly golden brown and crisp, about 3 to 4 minutes on each side. Alternatively, use an oiled stovetop grill pan.

    tofu burgers cooking in a skillet

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  7. Serve on the vegan buns with your favorite toppings and enjoy.

    easy vegan tofu veggie burger

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

Recipe Variations

  • This recipe is completely vegan, but if you need the burgers to be gluten-free as well, just swap out the all-purpose flour for any kind of gluten-free flour. Chickpea flour (also called besan or besan flour) works especially well since it complements the flavor profile and tends to be "stickier" than other gluten-free flours. You can find it in just about any Indian grocery store or in the international aisle of larger well-stocked supermarkets.
  • If you need to lose the wheat germ altogether because of allergies or you simply can't find it, feel free to use almond meal/almond flour (which you can make yourself) or a little bit of extra flour instead.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
257 Calories
15g Fat
25g Carbs
9g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 257
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 15g 19%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 749mg 33%
Total Carbohydrate 25g 9%
Dietary Fiber 3g 11%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 9g
Vitamin C 7mg 34%
Calcium 168mg 13%
Iron 3mg 14%
Potassium 364mg 8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)