Easy Falafel Burgers Recipe photo by Taste of Home
Total Time
Prep: 1 hour + soaking Bake: 20 min.
Falafel warm from the oven is a snack you can’t help but love. These falafel burgers take the flavor and crisp bite of falafel balls to burger form, and topped with a creamy lemon-yogurt sauce, they are more than satisfying.

Updated: Aug. 15, 2024

Aromatic falafel still warm from the oven is a snack to make the heart soar, yet too often we’re offered this Middle Eastern specialty only as a vegetarian option when dining out. Haven’t we all had a dry, bland falafel experience? This falafel burger recipe restores the flavors and consistency to their rightful glory, creating a dish that’s a go-to choice, not a backup alternative.

Using dried garbanzo beans (a great source of zinc) soaked overnight is the master stroke, yielding burgers that are moist and fluffy on the inside. Once the beans are ready, the recipe mostly comes together in a single bowl and actually calls for more time resting in the refrigerator than cooking in the oven.

Ingredients for Falafel Burgers

Ingredients for Taste of Home falafel burgers in bowls on a marble surface.Sheri Silver for Taste of Home

  • Garbanzo beans: Use dried garbanzo beans (also called chickpeas), as these will give burgers that bind without the need for too much flour, keeping the falafel moist.
  • Baking soda: Adding this to the soaking solution breaks down the pectins in the beans, softening them faster.
  • Fresh herbs: Finely chopped parsley and cilantro leaves help hold the falafel mixture together and give the burgers their distinctive Mediterranean flavor.
  • Flour: Use all-purpose flour to form a dough with the garbanzo beans and give the surface of each burger some crispiness.
  • Jalapeno pepper: Mild but sweet jalapeno pepper, with the seeds removed, gives the burgers a pleasant kick.
  • Garlic: Go wild with fresh garlic, one of the signature flavors of falafel.
  • Lemon juice and zest: A squeeze of lemon juice provides acidity to cut through the starches in the garbanzo beans. Grate the zest too, since that’s where the citrus aromas are locked away.
  • Cumin: Ground cumin infuses the burgers with an earthy, exotic aroma and provides each bite with some heat.
  • Baking powder: This allows the burger mix to swell up into a fluffy texture. Leavening is an acceptable alternative.

Yogurt sauce:

  • Plain Greek yogurt: This provides a slightly sour, tangy counterpart to the spicy falafel flavors.
  • Tahini: This Mediterranean toasted sesame paste gives the dressing a rich, creamy texture and nutty flavor.
  • Lemon juice: The lemon juice adds the clean, citrusy element to balance the fats in the dressing.

Burgers:

  • Hamburger buns: Split and toast the buns to complete the burger. Pita bread is another option, as is a sweeter brioche-style bun.
  • Optional toppings: Complete your custom burger with lettuce leaves, pickled onion, feta cheese, red onion, tomato and/or cucumber.

Directions

Step 1: Soak the garbanzo beans

Garbanzo beans in water in a glass bowl for Taste of Home falafel burgers.Sheri Silver for Taste of Home

In a large bowl, cover the dry garbanzo beans with water and stir in the baking soda. Cover the bowl and allow it to stand overnight. Drain the beans, rinse away any detached, translucent skins, then pat the beans dry with a paper towel.

Step 2: Prepare the falafel mix

Ingredients for Taste of Home falafel burgers in a food processor on a marble surfaceSheri Silver for Taste of Home

In a food processor, combine the garbanzo beans, parsley, cilantro, 6 tablespoons flour, chopped jalapeno, minced garlic, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, lemon zest, cumin, salt, pepper and baking powder. Pulse until crumbly. Test the texture by forming a small portion into a ball with your hands. If the mixture is too dry, add water 1 tablespoon at a time. If the mixture is too wet, add more flour, 1 tablespoon at a time. Once you have the desired consistency, transfer the mix to a large bowl, then cover and refrigerate it for 30 minutes.

Editor’s Tip: You can make the falafel mix by hand if you don’t have a food processor, although you’ll need a fork to break down the garbanzo beans into a smooth but chunky paste.

Step 3: Make the burger patties

Unbaked Taste of Home Falafel Burgers on a parchment lined baking sheet on a marble surface.Sheri Silver for Taste of Home

Shape the cold garbanzo bean mixture into eight 3/4-inch-thick patties, then arrange them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for another 30 minutes while preheating the oven to 450°F.

Step 4: Bake the falafel burgers

Taste of Home falafel burgers on a parchment lined baking sheet on a marble surface.Sheri Silver for Taste of Home

Bake the patties until they’re lightly browned, 18 to 22 minutes, turning once.

Step 5: Make the yogurt sauce

Yogurt tahini dressing for Taste of Home Falafel Burgers in a ceramic bowl on a marble surface.Sheri Silver for Taste of Home

In a small bowl, combine the yogurt, tahini, lemon juice and 1 teaspoon salt. Arrange the patties on the buns with your chosen toppings, and dress them with yogurt sauce.

Taste of Home Falafel Burgers with tahini yogurt sauce on an enamel plate with potato chips.Sheri Silver for Taste of Home

Falafel Burger Variations

  • Fry the burgers: For a crispier burger, you can fry the patties instead of baking them, but keep the heat low so the raw garbanzo beans in the center have time to fully cook through without the outside burning.
  • Bulk up the burger dough: As fluffy as it is, falafel mix can still be quite coarse. You can add moisture and give the burgers a spongier texture by incorporating cooked white rice into the burger mix.
  • Experiment with toppings: Double down on the Middle Eastern origins of falafel burgers with alternative toppings such as tzatziki or hummus. Or crank up the spice with sriracha or harissa paste added to the yogurt sauce.

How to Store Falafel Burgers

Once they’re cooled, you can refrigerate covered falafel burger patties for up to a week. Reheating them in the oven will revive the spicy aromas. However, authentic falafel is best enjoyed warm and fresh from the oven.

Can you freeze falafel burgers?

If you want to make a batch of patties for later, you can certainly freeze them for up to three months. To prevent sticking, first arrange the cooled burgers in a single layer on a tray, covered with a sheet of parchment paper. Once they’re firm and hard (after about an hour), transfer them to an airtight container or freezer bag.

Falafel Burger Tips

Taste of Home Falafel Burgers with tahini yogurt sauce on an enamel plate with potato chips.Sheri Silver for Taste of Home

Can I use canned garbanzo beans?

Yes, you can use canned garbanzo beans if you want a same-day recipe. No, it won’t be a like-for-like substitute. Canned beans, which are already cooked, have much less starch than soaked, dried beans, so they form a stickier dough that won’t hold together as well.

Is there an alternative to using all-purpose flour?

You can make a gluten-free version by substituting chickpea flour for all-purpose flour for the patties and using a gluten-free bun or chickpea flour flatbread instead of the standard hamburger bun.

What can I serve with falafel burgers?

You might find that a side of fries is too heavy to go with these filling burgers, so try serving them with a fresh Mediterranean salad, crunchy pickled cucumbers or a traditional Middle Eastern fattoush.

Easy Falafel Burgers

Prep Time 60 min
Cook Time 20 min
Yield 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 cups dried garbanzo beans
  • 1/2 tablespoon baking soda
  • 1 cup fresh parsley leaves
  • 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded
  • 6 garlic cloves
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • YOGURT SAUCE:
  • 3/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 3 tablespoons tahini
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • BURGERS:
  • 8 hamburger buns, split and toasted or whole pita breads
  • Optional toppings: Lettuce leaves, pickled onion, feta cheese, red onion, tomato or cucumber

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, cover garbanzo beans with water. Stir in baking soda. Cover; let stand overnight. Drain; rinse and pat dry.
  2. In a food processor, combine garbanzo beans, parsley, cilantro, 6 tablespoons flour, jalapeno, garlic, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, lemon zest, cumin, salt, pepper and baking powder. Pulse until crumbly. Using hands, try to shape a small portion into a ball. If mixture is too dry, add water 1 tablespoon at a time. If mixture is too wet, add more flour, 1 tablespoon at a time. Transfer to a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.
  3. Shape garbanzo bean mixture into 8 3/4-in.-thick patties. Arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 450°.
  4. Bake until lightly browned, 18-22 minutes, turning once. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine yogurt, tahini, lemon juice and teaspoon salt. Serve patties on buns with yogurt sauce and desired toppings.

Nutrition Facts

1 burger: 327 calories, 10g fat (2g saturated fat), 6mg cholesterol, 692mg sodium, 59g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 16g fiber), 15g protein.

I love to get falafel at our local Middle Eastern restaurant. It’s not always cheap or convenient to eat out, so I tried making an at-home version burger-style. This falafel burger is baked, making it a little more calorie-friendly. —Kristyne McDougle Walter, Lorain, Ohio
Recipe Creator
Community Cook
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