These easy vegan portobella burgers are the simplest path to a seriously satisfying grilled burger - just marinate the caps, hit them with heat, and pile on the toppings.
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
- Portobello mushroom caps. The star - large, meaty caps that absorb marinade beautifully and cook up juicy and satisfying. Look for caps that are firm and dry, without soft spots. Wipe them clean with a damp cloth rather than rinsing, since mushrooms absorb water quickly and you want them to soak up marinade instead.
- Teriyaki marinade. The classic pairing for portobello burgers. Bottled teriyaki sauce is perfectly fine here, or make your own with soy sauce, mirin, a little sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. Other great marinade options: balsamic vinegar with olive oil and herbs, or a simple red wine vinegar and soy sauce combo.
- Whole-grain buns. Sturdy enough to hold a juicy portobello without getting soggy. Toast them on the grill or in a skillet - it makes a real difference. Ciabatta rolls or toasted English muffins are excellent alternatives.
- Toppings. The beauty of these burgers is how customizable they are. Caramelized onions are especially good here - their sweetness complements the savory mushroom. Baby arugula adds a peppery bite; sliced avocado adds creaminess. Have fun with it.
Helpful Tips
Marinate gill-side down first. Place the portobello caps with the gill side facing down in the marinade for the first portion of the marinating time, then flip. This ensures the undersides - which cook first on the grill - are well coated. At least 15 minutes is good; up to an hour is even better.
Don't discard the remaining marinade. Pour any unused marinade back into the bottle and set it aside. You'll want to brush the caps with additional marinade as they cook, which keeps them moist and adds a lacquered, slightly charred glaze that's absolutely delicious.
High heat for grill marks, medium for pan cooking. On a grill, you want high heat to get those gorgeous char marks. In a skillet, medium is better - high heat causes the marinade to burn before the mushroom is cooked through. Either way, don't rush it. The caps need a full 4-5 minutes per side.
Toast your buns. A dry, untoasted bun is the fastest way to make a great portobello burger feel disappointing. Throw the buns on the grill or cut-side-down in a dry skillet for 1-2 minutes. It makes the whole burger better.
Let them rest for a minute before serving. Portobello caps release a lot of moisture as they cool slightly. Give them 60 seconds on a rack or plate before loading onto the bun - this keeps the bottom bun from going soggy immediately.
Variations
- Balsamic marinade. Swap the teriyaki for a mix of 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, and a pinch of dried thyme. Rich, tangy, and excellent with caramelized onions.
- Smoky chipotle version. Use a marinade of soy sauce, lime juice, 1 teaspoon chipotle powder, and a drizzle of maple syrup. Serve with guacamole and pickled jalapeños for a Tex-Mex twist.
- Italian herb version. Marinate in olive oil with garlic, balsamic, and Italian seasoning. Top with roasted red peppers, vegan mozzarella, and fresh basil - it's essentially a Caprese burger.
- Pan-cooked with wine. For indoor cooking, deglaze the pan with a splash of red wine halfway through cooking. It adds depth and creates a silky pan sauce to drizzle over the finished burger.
- Make it a bowl. Skip the bun entirely and serve the portobello cap over a grain bowl with farro, roasted vegetables, and tahini dressing. The teriyaki flavor works beautifully in this context.
- Add cheese. In the last minute of cooking, place a slice of vegan cheese on the gill side and cover with a lid or dome to melt it slightly. Pepper jack or smoked gouda style vegan cheeses are both fantastic here.
Serving Ideas
The classic approach is on a toasted whole-grain bun with caramelized or raw onion, baby greens, sliced tomato, and a generous schmear of vegan mayo. The portobello is substantial enough to hold its own against bold toppings - sautéed garlic, a drizzle of teriyaki, pickles, and mustard all work beautifully. If you're serving a crowd, set out a spread of condiments and toppings and let everyone build their own. For more inspiration, check out the best portobello mushroom recipes on VegKitchen.
Without a bun, these are just as satisfying. Serve a portobello cap over cooked grains with roasted vegetables and a drizzle of the pan sauce. They're also excellent alongside grilled corn and a bright fresh tomato relish - simple, summery, and effortless.
Storing & Freezing
Cooked portobello caps keep well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet over medium heat with a splash of marinade or water to prevent sticking, or warm in a 350°F oven for about 8 minutes. They're also surprisingly good cold, sliced thin over a salad.
Portobello burgers don't freeze especially well - the texture becomes quite soft and watery after thawing. They're best made fresh or made a day ahead and refrigerated. If you do freeze them, wrap individually and reheat in the oven rather than the microwave for the best texture.
More Vegan Burger Recipes
If you loved this recipe, check out our full collection of the best vegan burger recipes, including our chipotle black bean burgers and our vegan beet burgers - or here are a few more individual favorites:
- Vegan Chipotle Black Bean Burgers
- Vegan Quinoa Mushroom Burger
- Vegan Beet Burgers
- Vegan Curried Tofu Burgers
- Best Vegan Burger Recipes
Recipe
Easy Vegan Portobella Burgers
Ingredients
- portobello caps as many as needed (1 per serving)
- teriyaki marinade homemade or bottled; as needed for marinating
- whole-grain buns or toasted English muffins
Toppings (Optional)
- onions carmelized or raw slices
- garlic sautéed
- scallions thinly sliced
- tomatoes sliced
- baby greens baby spinach or baby arugula
- salsa store bought or homemade
- ketchup
- mustard
- sweet pickle relish
- vegan mayonnaise
Instructions
- Stem the portabellas and wipe them clean. Pour the marinade of choice into a shallow container and arrange the portobello caps, underside down, in a single layer. Let stand for at least 15 minutes and up to an hour. Pour unused marinade back into a bottle for finishing the dish; you'll have enough left over to use for another occasion.
- To grill: Prepare grill. Grill the portobellos, underside down, for 4–5 minutes. Brush generously with more marinade, then flip and grill for 5 minutes longer or until charred to your liking.
- To cook in a skillet: Heat a shallow layer of marinade in the skillet. Cook the portobellos, underside down, for 4–5 minutes. Flip and cook for 5 minutes longer, or until browned to your liking. Add a small amount of additional marinade if needed to keep the skillet moist.
- Serve portobello caps on whole-grain buns with whatever other toppings you'd like. You can place a variety of these toppings and condiments on the table, and let everyone fix their own sandwich!
Jola says
I used the Spicy Coconut-Lime Grilling Sauce to marinate my shrooms before bbqing them. This was a favorite at our bbq table.
Karen Miller says
Using bottled teriyaki sauce...REALLY????? Look at the sodium content, then try making your own, it is so easy and simple. Using commercially prepared anything is NOT COOKING