If you’re looking for a plant-based burger recipe, consider these delicious Gluten-Free Lentil Burgers without breadcrumbs that are also grain-free, vegetarian, and vegan-friendly. This is a baked burger that everyone loves!

A gluten free lentil burger on a bun.

A lentil burger is simply a meatless, vegetarian patty made with cooked lentils and other vegetable ingredients.

It’s a nice alternative to regular burgers, and this homemade version is healthier than the packaged ones (read more about why I don’t like fake meats).

Why You Need This Recipe

  • This veggie burgers recipe uses mushrooms, onions, spices, and almond flour, in addition to cooked brown lentils or green lentils.
  • Most plant-based burger recipes use oats or breadcrumbs as one of the main ingredients, but this version is oat-free and 100% grain-free. I used almond flour instead of breadcrumbs in the burger mixture.
  • These delicious Lentil Burgers can also be made vegan by replacing the egg that binds the ingredients. For the vegan option, I recommend using a flax egg which is made by mixing together 1 tablespoon of ground flax seed with 3 tablespoons of water. I have noted that substitution in the printable recipe that you can find below.

Why You Need This Recipe

Lentil burgers are really satisfying and nutritious! They have fiber and nutrition from the lentils, plus all wholesome ingredients. I think you are really going to love these.

Each of these lentil patties has approximately:

  • 200 kcal
  • 7.5 grams fat
  • 24 grams carbohydrate
  • 1.2 grams sugar
  • 4.5 grams fiber
  • and 11 grams plant protein!

Key Ingredients

Ingredients for gluten free lentil burgers
  • Brown lentils are the perfect base for a veggie burger in place of black beans or chickpeas. You culled also use black lentils or green lentils; don’t use red lentil though, as they will be too mushy.
  • Sunflower seeds add a nutty flavor as well as Vitamin E and healthy fats to your cooked burgers.
  • Mushrooms give the burgers a meaty and umami flavor.
  • Garlic cloves add flavor, along with salt and black pepper.
  • Almond flour helps bind the patty together without any grains or breadcrumbs. Feel free to substitute bread crumbs or oat flour if you don’t have almond flour.

Please see the full recipe card at the end of this post for the exact measurements.

Recipe Steps

collage with four photos on how to make lentil burgers

Making lentil burgers is pretty easy, especially if you have cooked lentils on hand. I have a whole blog post on how to cook lentils, so you might want to check that out.

Step One

To make the burgers, simply combine the ingredients in a food processor.

Step Two

Process on high until the lentils are broken down, about 60 seconds.

Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.

Step Three

Form the mixture into burger patties from the lentil mixture.

Step Four

Bake the burgers on a baking sheet until they are golden brown.

Enjoy hot, with your choice of burger buns and favorite toppings including vegan mayo, red onion, or whatever you like.

Close up of a lentil burger

Recipe FAQs

What do lentil burgers taste like?

Lentils burgers have a mild flavor that goes well with typical burger toppings, such as lettuce, pickle, onion, tomato, mustard, ketchup, or whatever you like with your burger.

My recipe doesn’t have a ton of texture since it didn’t include oats or breadcrumbs, but the outside of the burger is crisp and the inside is moist and tender.

Can I use red lentils for this recipe?

I highly suggest using only brown or green (not the French kind) of lentils for this recipe. Red or yellow lentils will be too mushy.

Recipe Tips

  • You can serve whatever you like with a lentil burger, including a fresh green side salad, sweet potato fries, or whatever you like. I also like to make an easy tahini drizzle to go with the lentil burgers. To make the tahini sauce, just mix a few tablespoons of tahini with a tablespoon of warm water and some fresh lemon juice.
  • Add a slice of vegan or regular sliced cheddar right when they come out of the oven for a gluten-free lentil cheeseburger.
  • You can freeze these lentil burgers. Once completely cool wrap the patties in plastic wrap and freeze. Once ready to eat heat in a 350 degree oven until warmed through.

More Plant-Based Main Dishes You Might Like

If you like this recipe, you might like these other plant-based recipes including:

What to Serve With Lentil Burgers

Costco Potato Salad (Copycat Reser’s Classic Recipe)

10 Gluten-Free Summer Salads (Healthy & Seasonal)

Japanese Sweet Potato Fries (Oven Baked)

Whole Foods Broccoli Crunch Salad (Copycat Recipe)

I hope you make this recipe! If you do, please leave a comment and a starred review below.

And, consider following me on social media so we can stay connected. I’m on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!

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lentil burger served on a bun with tomato

Baked Lentil Burgers Recipe (Gluten-Free)

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4.8 from 5 reviews

Print Recipe

If you’re looking for a plant-based burger recipe, consider these delicious Gluten-Free Baked Lentil Burgers that are also grain-free, vegetarian, and vegan-friendly. 

  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 cup cooked brown lentils
  • 1 regular egg or 1 vegan egg*
  • 1/4 cup roasted sunflower seeds
  • 1 cup chopped mushrooms
  • 1/4 cup almond flour
  • 2 minced or crushed garlic cloves
  • 2 tablespoons chopped onion
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  2. Combine the lentils, egg, sunflower seeds, mushrooms, almond flour, garlic, onion, olive oil, salt, and pepper in the base of a food processor.
  3. Process on high for about 45 seconds, stopping once or twice to scrape down the sides. The lentils should be broken down almost completely.
  4. Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl and then use your hands to form six patties. Don’t worry if the mixture is very wet, it will firm up as it bakes. 
  5. Place the baking sheet in the oven for 35 minutes or until the tops are golden brown, flipping the patties once during the baking process.
  6. After 35 minutes, remove the baking sheet and let the patties cool for a few minutes before serving. 

Notes

  1. VEGAN: *replace the egg with a flax egg made by combining 1 tablespoon of ground flax with 3 tablespoons of water. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes to thicken before using. 
  2. Be sure to use green or brown lentils for this recipe. Do not use red or yellow lentils.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 patty
  • Calories: 211
  • Sugar: 1.2 g
  • Sodium: 208.6 mg
  • Fat: 7.5 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1 g
  • Carbohydrates: 23.4 g
  • Fiber: 4.5 g
  • Protein: 11 g
  • Cholesterol: 31 mg

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About the Author: Carrie Forrest has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition and is a certified holistic nutritionist. She is a top wellness and food blogger with over 5 million annual visitors to her site. Carrie has an incredible story of recovery from chronic illness and is passionate about helping other women transform their health. Send her a message through her contact form.