Veggie Burgers For Kids (That Even Non-Vegetarians Will Eat)

As a family of non-vegetarians, veggie burgers weren't exactly something I expected to become a regular in our meal rotation.

But here we are.

These veggie burgers are one of those recipes that surprised me-not just because they're healthy, but because the kids actually ask for them. And not in a "fine, I'll eat it" kind of way… but in a "can we have these again?" kind of way.

If you're trying to get more vegetables into your kids without turning dinner into a negotiation, this is a great place to start.

Why These Veggie Burgers Work (Even for Skeptical Kids)

Let's be honest - most kids aren't excited about a pile of vegetables.

But these burgers work because they feel familiar.

• They're soft and easy to bite (no dry, crumbly veggie burgers here)
• The flavor is mild and slightly savory, not overpowering
• They're handheld, which automatically makes them more fun
• You can serve them just like a regular burger-with a bun, ketchup, or even cheese

It's the kind of recipe that quietly gets more vegetables into your kids without making a big deal about it.

There are veggie burgers everywhere. Every supermarket sells them, every restaurant has them on their menu and they come in every variety imaginable.

The problem was, hardly any of them were Clean and contained more ingredients I'd never heard of than any meat version ever could. They'd be too spicy or too bland, too whatever, and the kids wouldn't touch them.

And so I started to make my own. In started off using chick peas as this seemed to be what most homemade veggie burgers are made of.

And then one of the kids said they looked weird (although I'm happy to report they love them now!). They were just too different from what he was used to in a burger.

We eat black beans in a fair few meals and so I tried using them. Bingo. We now have a veggie burger that looks like a burger and is every bit as delicious as the meat version the kids knew and loved.

What these burgers are not is spicy. I like a bit of spice, most of my family do not. I wanted a basic veggie burger for the kids that was delicious as it is, but could also be added to in the future if needed.

I've used a little paprika for flavor, but no chilli or other spices.

Feel free to add some chilli powder if your lot like a spicier burger!

Making Veggies More "Normal"

One thing I've noticed over time - recipes like this help take the pressure off.

Instead of trying to convince kids to eat vegetables on their own, you're just making them part of something familiar.

And that's really the goal with clean eating for kids… not perfection, just progress.

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How We Serve These (Real-Life Examples)

This is where these burgers really shine-they're flexible.

Some nights we keep it simple:

• Burger bun + ketchup + maybe a slice of cheese

Other nights:

• Cut into halves or quarters for smaller kids
• Served with sweet potato fries or fruit
• Tucked into a wrap for an easy lunch

They've even made their way into lunchboxes the next day, which is always a good sign.

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Ingredients

This is such a simple recipe and uses only a handful of ingredients, many of which you're likely to have in your pantry already. Lots of veggie burgers tend to fall apart when you cook them, because they're too dry. Not these!

Here are the main ingredients in these burgers. I told you there's nothing to them. Except goodness :)

I've pan fried these burgers, I find it easier and hassle free. However, you can also bake these in the oven if you prefer to.

Just line a baking sheet and oil it slightly to give the veggie burgers some crunch, and then pop your burgers in the oven for 15 minutes on a medium heat, turn, and give them another 5 minutes.

Black Beans

Black beans are something I have in the pantry, always. They're cheap. I. buy them in cans rather than dried and then have to soak them.

It would probably be cheaper to buy them dried and soak them but the cans are so convenient, so that's what I do.

You can buy the Organic verison, or the non organic ones. The organic are about 3 times the price, and so I stick with the non ones. I prefer to spend my money on Organic meat instead. Feel free to use whichever you prefer.

Rinse and drain the beans before you use them to get the brine off them, and then they're ready to use.

The antioxidants, fibre, protein, and carbohydrates in black beans make them nutritionally powerful. So all good!

Whole Grain Burger Buns

I use shop bought whole grain burger buns. They're inexpensive and you can get them pretty much anywhere.

If your kids aren't used to eating whole grain buns and you're new to Clean eating, I'd recommend letting them have white buns until they're used to the burgers themselves, and then introduce brown buns later on.

I found that the key to getting the kids to happily eat new foods when we started this was to introduce things slowly. Too much change sends my kids into a frenzy and they dig their heels in. Slow changes is the way to go!

Veggie Burger Toppings

There's so many things you can put in your burgers. Cheese is the most obvious one in this house, and I second that!

So, once you have your cheese burger ready to go, what else night you put in it?

• Tomatoes - If your kids eat whole tomatoes, these give you some extra texture, extra flavor and extra goodness!
• Lettuce - I use a round lettuce. The leaves are thin and it 'folds' easily underneath the burger. You also get a nice boost of color!
• Onions - I like to fry an onion in the pan I've cooked the burgers in, as there's already some oil in the pan and it's already hot so the onions fry really fast
• Pickles - Pickled gherkins are pretty good here if you like them
• Add a slice of avocado. It's delicious!

Veggie Burger Sides

Are burgers complete without sides? Of course not! Here's some sides that go especially well with these kids veggie burgers.

• Shoestring fries
• Parmesan potato chips
• Parmentier potatoes
• Cucumber tomato salad
• Clean eating charred corn
• Guacamole
• Raw vegetables

Naturally you need some sauce with your burger! We like to have either a tomato sauce, BBQ sauce or a chipotle mayo that has a bit of a kick to it.

More Clean Eating Veggie Recipes

• Veggie quiche recipe
• Vegetarian scotch eggs
• Veggie Quesadillas
• Broccoli and Cheddar soup
• Mushroom Fettuccini

Storing Veggie Burgers

To store these veggie burgers you can either leave them, covered, on a plate in the fridge for up to 2 days and then cook them.

Alternatively you can pop them into a freezer bag and freeze them for up to a month. To defrost them, leave them in the fridge overnight and then cook as per the recipe.

How To Make Veggie Burgers For Kids

Ingredients

• 1 Can Black beans Drained and rinsed
• 1 Egg
• 2 Slices of Wholemeal bread Wizzed into bread crumbs
• 1 tsp Onion granules
• 1 tbsp Sweet paprika
• 3-4 tbsp Water
• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• 3-4 Burger buns Sliced and toasted
• 4 Slices Cheddar cheese
• Salt & Pepper To taste
• N/B I've not added garlic to these as they're more little kid friendly without in my opinion, but you could add a little crushed garlic to the mixture before cooking if you like

Instructions

1. Mash the chickpeas

Add the chickpeas to a large bowl and mash with a fork or potato masher. You want them mostly smooth, but a little texture is totally fine.

2. Mix everything together

Add the cooked rice, carrot, zucchini, onion, garlic, breadcrumbs, egg, ketchup, and seasonings.

Mix until everything is well combined. The mixture should hold together when pressed. If it feels too wet, add a little more breadcrumbs.

3. Shape into patties

Form into 6-8 small patties, about ½ inch thick.

(If the mixture sticks to your hands, lightly wet them-it helps a lot.)

4. Cook

Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.

Cook the patties for about 4-5 minutes per side, until golden brown and heated through.

5. Serve

Serve warm on buns, in wraps, or even on their own with a dipping sauce.

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Tips That Make a Big Difference

A few small things that help these turn out right every time:

• Squeeze the zucchini well - Too much moisture = falling apart
• Don't skip the egg - It's key for binding
• Use medium heat - Gives you a golden outside without burning
• Chill the mixture if needed - 15-20 minutes in the fridge helps if it feels soft

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Final Thoughts

If you had told me a while back that veggie burgers would become a regular dinner in our house, I probably wouldn't have believed you.

But this recipe changed that.

It's simple, flexible, and-most importantly-something kids will actually eat.

And sometimes, that's the biggest win.