Appetizers/Snacks

August 4, 2021

Veggie Burger Bites

It’s almost time for the Super Bowl, which has been a food-filled family celebration for as long as I can remember. Regardless of what teams are playing, we always watch the big game. Well, maybe we watch the commercials more closely than the game some years…but there is always a great spread of party food on this Sunday.

This year, I’ll be making these Veggie Burger Bites. They are the perfectly poppable bite of burger, minus the bun. This is definitely a party or game day recipe because it makes enough for a crowd! But, even though there won’t be a crowd watching the Super Bowl at my house this year, these bites make a good, hearty addition to the spread of appetizers, and the leftovers can go in the fridge for snacks or lunches the next day.

These Veggie Burger bites are a fun, new addition to your party or potluck recipes. Serve them on a large platter with your favorite or a variety of burger spreads for dipping. Stick to the classic ketchup, mayo, or mustard, or mix something up! I served my bites with my favorite BBQ sauce plus my favorite burger spread, which is inspired by my favorite PNW burger joint (check it out below!).

Ingredients assembled for Veggie Burger Bites
Assemble your ingredients.

Making the veggie burger mixture in a food processor
Make the bean-based burger mixture in a food processor. It will seem wet, but veggie burger mixtures tend to dry out in the oven. The extra moisture helps keep these burger bites nice and tender!

Veggie burger bites shaped into balls on a baking sheet
Scoop the burger mixture onto a lined baking sheet (or roll into balls using your hands), then bake.

Assembling the toothpick skewers for the veggie burger bites with tomato, pickle, and lettuce
While your burger bites are baking, assemble your toothpick skewers: tomato, pickle, and lettuce.

One assembled Veggie Burger Bites with veggie burger balls ready and waiting on the sheet tray
Once the burger bites are done, bring the burger bites together by inserting a prepared toothpick skewer into each burger bite.

White platter full of Veggie Burger Bites with barbecue sauce and burger spread for dipping
Serve on a large platter with your favorite burger sauces for dipping! I like barbecue sauce, and my favorite burger spread, included in the recipe card.


Original publication date: February 1, 2021

Veggie Burger Bites

Veggie Burger Bites are the perfectly poppable bite of burger, minus the bun. This is definitely a party or game day recipe because it makes enough for a crowd!

Author:

Kira Freed - The Joyful Plateful

Prep:

25

min

cook:

25

min

total:

50

min

Ingredients

1 15-oz. black beans, drained and rinsed

1 15-oz. dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1/2 small yellow onion, roughly chopped

2-3 cloves garlic, peeled  

1/2 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese

1/4 cup panko bread crumbs (gluten-free works great, too!)

1 egg

2 Tbsp. ketchup

1 Tbsp. low-sodium tamari (or soy sauce)

1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

1 head butter lettuce or green leaf lettuce

1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes

1 small jar kosher dill pickle chips

Toothpicks (for assembling bites)

Your favorite burger sauce, for serving

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment or silicone baking mat, and set aside.
  2. In the bowl of a food processor, add your roughly chopped onion and garlic cloves. Pulse several times until finely chopped.
  3. Add drained and rinsed black beans and kidney beans to the food processor, and pulse several times until roughly mashed, and onions and garlic are incorporated.
  4. Scrape down the sides of the food processor, and add remaining ingredients for the burger bites: grated cheddar cheese, panko bread crumbs, egg, ketchup, tamari, and black pepper. Pulse several times until everything is well incorporated, but pieces of beans and cheese are still visible.
  5. Using a small scoop (or your hands), scoop bean mixture into golf ball-sized balls and place on lined baking sheet. (This recipe yields about 40 bites, so place them fairly close together.)
  6. Bake the burger bites in a 400 degree F oven for 24-26 minutes, until browned and firm.
  7. While the burger bites are baking, prep and assemble your toothpick skewers:
  8. Drain dill pickle chips on a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Cut pickle chips into halves or quarters, depending on size. Set aside.
  9. Slice cherry or grape tomatoes in half, and set aside.
  10. Break down lettuce head into leaves, and tear leaves into small pieces (about the size of a credit card). Set aside.
  11. Assemble your toothpick skewers: tomato half, pickle piece, then lettuce leaf. Repeat until you have enough small skewers for each burger bite.
  12. Remove burger bites from the oven, and let rest for several minutes. (You’ll probably be finishing up your skewers!)
  13. Gently loosen the burger bites from the sheet tray using a spatula. Marry the prepared toothpick skewers with the burger bites by inserting a prepared skewer into each burger bite.
  14. Place burger bites on a large platter for serving, along with your favorite burger sauce for dipping! Here’s mine:

Kira’s Favorite Burger Sauce

1/3 cup mayonnaise

2 Tbsp. yellow mustard

2 Tbsp. sweet pickle relish

- Stir together to combine, and serve.

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