Wild rice burgers are flavorful, filling and such a fun vegetarian meal! Serve them on a bun with all the toppings. They’re good in a wrap or on a salad, too.
Recipe Overview
Why you’ll love it: Rice burgers are a delicious meatless alternative to regular burgers, whether you follow a vegetarian diet or not.
How long it takes: 20 minutes to prep, 5 minutes to fry; additional time required to make rice
Equipment you’ll need: mixing bowl, skillet
Servings: makes 4 burgers
About Wild Rice Burgers
If you’re looking for a vegetarian alternative to regular burgers, this may be the recipe for you. You’re going to love wild rice burgers. Whether you dress them up on a bun with all the toppings or eat ’em plain, these burgers are tasty and satisfying.
Black bean burgers will always have a special place in my heart but these rice burgers are a close contender. They fry up crisp on the outside with soft centers. With a hint of melty cheddar cheese and seasoned just right, rice burgers are certainly not bland or boring.
Rice burgers aren’t difficult to make either. Cooking the rice is the most time-consuming part but you can do that ahead of time. I like to keep cooked rice in the freezer ready to use for recipes like this.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Cooked Rice: The burgers are made with both brown rice and wild rice. Choose whatever method you like to cook the rice. If you choose a blend (such as Uncle Ben’s), omit the seasoning packet, if there is one. Microwave pouches of plain rice will work too.
- Onion, Celery, Garlic: This trio of aromatics add flavor and nutrition. They should be very finely diced or minced.
- Bread Crumbs: Unseasoned bread crumbs will help hold the mixture together for burgers.
- Eggs: A couple of eggs bind the patties and add protein to the burgers. Beat them lightly to combine the yolks with the whites.
- Cheese: Shredded cheese adds flavor. We like sharp cheddar cheese but you can use what you like.
- Seasoning: Salt, pepper, dried oregano and thyme, and paprika are all pantry ingredients and provide lots of flavor.
- Olive Oil: For frying.
How To Make Rice Burgers
Cook the rice as directed; cool completely before starting on the burgers.
Sauté the onions, celery and garlic in a skillet until they soften.
Combine all the ingredients and form into four evenly sized patties, about a half inch thick.
Heat olive oil in a skillet and fry the patties a few minutes per side until lightly golden and cooked through.
How To Serve Rice Burgers
Serve the wild rice burgers plain, or on a bun with toppings. We like to slather a toasted whole grain bun with mayonnaise or plain Greek yogurt, then add a slice of ripe juicy tomato and green leaf lettuce or alfalfa sprouts.
The burgers are pretty adaptable to any flavor you like. Top them with BBQ sauce and grilled onions. Try Thousand Island dressing; it’s similar to the “special sauce” at McDonalds. Caramelized onions and a drizzle of balsamic reduction are amazing on burgers too.
Rice burgers can be served in a wrap or on a salad, too. They are wonderful in a meal bowl or as a side for soups or salads instead of bread or crackers.
Prep the rice ahead. The wild rice and brown rice can be made ahead and either refrigerated or frozen until ready to use. Make a large batch and freeze it in recipe amounts so it can be used for future meals. It thaws very quickly.
Prep the burgers ahead. Form the mixture into patties and refrigerate overnight. The uncooked patties can also be frozen. Arrange them on a parchment lined baking sheet and freeze until firm; put into freezer containers and freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw the frozen burgers in the fridge before frying them.
Refrigerate/Freeze: Cooked rice burgers will keep in the fridge for a day or two, and in the freezer for a month. Thaw frozen burgers before reheating.
Reheat: Cooked burgers can be reheated in the microwave, in a skillet on the stove, in the oven, or in an air fryer. Cooked rice burgers are somewhat delicate; handle with care so they don’t fall apart.
More Burger Recipes
Wild Rice Burgers
Ingredients
- ½ cup uncooked wild rice (about 1 cup cooked)
- ½ cup uncooked brown rice (about 1 cup cooked)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- ⅓ cup finely diced onion (about 1 small onion)
- ⅓ cup finely diced celery (about 1 stalk)
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ cup bread crumbs
- ¼ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 large eggs, beaten
Instructions
- Cook rice according to package instructions. Allow rice to cool completely before proceeding to next step. You should have 1 cup cooked wild rice and 1 cup cooked brown rice (see note).
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Sauté onions, celery, and garlic until translucent.
- In a large bowl, combine rice with onion mixture, breadcrumbs, cheddar cheese, salt, oregano, thyme, paprika, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. Add beaten eggs, stirring to combine.
- Divide into 4 balls and shape into burgers, about ½ inch thick.
- Heat remaining tablespoon of olive oil skillet over medium heat. Fry burgers 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until crisp and golden.
- Serve on whole grain buns, if desired, with toppings of your choice (see note below). The burgers can also be served without buns, if you prefer.
Notes
- Time saving tip: Prepare rice the night before and refrigerate it. Make extra rice, package it in recipe amounts, and freeze it for future meals.
- Topping suggestions: Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, alfalfa sprouts, leaf lettuce, spinach leaves, thinly sliced tomatoes or sweet onions.
- Nutrition information is for burgers only, and does not include buns or toppings.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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awesome post