You need 21 ingredients to make Guy Fieri's famous veggie burgers

When it comes to creating a veggie burger that packs as much flavor as it does ingredients, few chefs can match Guy Fieri's intensity. Known for his love of meaty dishes, Fieri has quietly become a master of vegetarian cuisine as well, drawing inspiration primarily from his late sister Morgan, who was a vegetarian.

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One of his most outstanding creations over the years is a vegetarian burger made with a whopping 21 ingredients – a tribute to his sister and a demonstration of his creativity.

While you can easily buy a pre-packaged veggie burger that's fine, Fieri's version is as over-the-top as his bold personality. Ready for Flavortown?

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The story behind the burger

Fieri's path to vegetarian cooking was very personal. His sister Morgan, who died in 2011 after a long battle with cancer, was a vegetarian and, at times, vegan.

During her senior year, she challenged Fieri to go beyond simple grilled vegetables and create more nutritious and satisfying vegetarian dishes. This challenge led him to develop a veggie burger, which he featured on his show. Guy's big bitethat is just as flavorful as any meat-based counterpart, but without relying on animal products.

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On the show, Fieri's sister and mother accompanied him as he prepared the patties. When Fieri asked Morgan how to make veggie burgers less “boring,” she replied, “They need seasoning, they need moisture… They need to be homemade.”

As the Food Network chef began mixing all 21 ingredients and explaining to his family why he had used so many components, he turned to his sister and said, “You are truly an inspiration.”

Since her death, Morgan has had a profound impact on Fieri’s culinary approach. She inspired him to push the boundaries of plant-based cooking, and Fieri has since explored meatless cuisine and developed his Diners, drive-ins and pubs He took his show to restaurants serving plant-based dishes, served vegan food at the Stagecoach Festival, and made sure everyone who enjoyed plant-based meals was happy at his Super Bowl pre-party in Las Vegas last year.

The Morgan Burger, as Fieri called it, is the ultimate tribute to his inspiring younger sister.

The 21-ingredient burger

The original recipe for Fieri's veggie burgers consists of 21 ingredients with a mix of vegetables, grains, spices and herbs. Let's break it down into digestible parts.

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1Vegetables

Vegetables are at the heart of Fieri's burger, adding a variety of flavors and textures. He uses diced red onions, black olives, red bell peppers, jalapeños, garlic and artichokes, sautéed in olive oil to bring out their natural sweetness and depth.

Fieri stressed the importance of properly sautéing the vegetables, starting with onions and adding garlic at the end to avoid burning. This technique improves the flavor and adds a crucial flavor note to the burger.

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2Pulses and beans

Beans and legumes play a key role in giving the burger its hearty, protein-rich base. Fieri uses a mix of black beans, chickpeas and white beans, all drained to avoid too much moisture. These are mashed together with the sautéed vegetables to create a substantial patty.

Fieri once noted that most vegetable patties tend to be mushy, so he avoids chopping the beans too much when mixing the ingredients.

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3Grains and binding agents

These ingredients are crucial to helping the patties hold together and cook well. Fieri uses rolled oats and seasoned breadcrumbs to give them structure and absorb excess moisture.

Typically, an egg is used as a binding agent, but for a completely vegan version, Fieri recommends using flaxseed egg, an egg alternative made from flaxseeds soaked in water until they form a gel.

He also gave tips on adjusting the consistency of the mixture, suggesting using panko breadcrumbs if the mixture is too wet or adding a little vegetable broth if the mixture is too dry.

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4Spices and herbs

To give the burger Fieri's signature “Flavortown” flair, he uses a complex blend of herbs and spices. The recipe calls for Hungarian paprika, chili powder, red chili flakes, celery salt, chopped fresh parsley, ground sage, ground cumin and dried oregano.

Fieri recommends blending and grinding spices to ensure even distribution and maximum flavor impact. He also stresses the importance of using fresh spices to avoid bland flavors.

Morgan Fieri's veggie burger legacy

In 2021, Fieri demonstrated his famous veggie burger recipe live on stage at the 38th annual Food & Wine Festival in Aspen, Colorado. He shared that his family doesn't always eat meat at home, setting the stage for his complex and flavorful veggie burger.

Guy Fieri's Flavortown Kitchen

To make the burger even better, Fieri suggested starting with the classic “LTOP” (lettuce, onions, tomatoes and pickles) and then adding fried onions for more crunch, a vegan version of his signature donkey sauce for more flavor and a cashew-based cheese sauce that he makes with lots of nutritional yeast.

He also created a version of this burger for his Seattle-based delivery-only restaurant Guy Fieri's Flavortown Kitchen, which operated briefly in 2021.

Since Fieri shared his recipe with the public over a decade ago, his veggie burger has been replicated by many and continues to be a source of inspiration for anyone looking to try meatless cuisine.

Women of today

Camila Alves McConaughey, in particular, has praised Fieri's veggie burger and even tried making it herself. McConaughey, who frequently shares her culinary experiences on her Women of Today platform, was impressed by the complexity of the recipe and appreciated how it came together despite the long list of ingredients.

She pointed out that refrigerating the patties is key to keeping their shape, and gave them a personal touch by garnishing them with spicy pickles.

It's clear that Morgan's request for Fieri to make her “real meals” lives on years later in the tradition of the complex yet satisfying Morgan Burger.

Anna Starostinetskaya is senior news editor at VegNews, keeping an eye on all things vegan in her hometown of San Francisco, California, and beyond.