Baked BBQ Tofu Burgers with Crispy Shallots

These baked bbq tofu burgers with crispy shallots are tangy, packed with protein, and perfect for summer dinners and cookouts! Ready in less than an hour, these satisfying gluten-free friendly vegetarian burgers are flavored with store-bought bbq sauce and baked in the oven until crisp on the bottom.

Baked BBQ Tofu Burgers That are Perfect for Summer Meals

Veggie burgers are a bit of a controversial topic around these parts because I find most of them to be terribly bland or made out of beans. Nothing against beans (I eat them all of the time!), but when it comes to a burger, I want it to be super satisfying and packed with flavor! These baked bbq tofu burgers are smoky, tangy, protein-packed, and finished with a tangle of crispy pan-fried shallots. This is the kind of veggie burger I crave during the summer months!

These tofu burgers start with hand-crumbled super firm tofu that is combined with BBQ sauce and spices. The hand-formed patties are baked in the oven until crisp on the bottom. These are definitely not suitable for the grill but they bake up wonderfully in the oven. I like to pair the patties with extra BBQ sauce, cheddar, and crispy shallots for the ultimate summer veggie burger.

Key BBQ Tofu Burger Ingredients

The most important aspect of this recipe is to use super firm tofu (sometimes called “high protein tofu”). I prefer this kind of tofu because it does not need to be pressed and holds together well when formed into patties. A flavorful BBQ sauce is also important. I like the Texas True BBQ Sauce from Whole Foods (not sponsored) because it’s tangy, sweet, and smoky while also being entirely vegan. I encourage you to use one that you like the flavor of or else you won’t like the burger! To keep these burgers gluten free, I used oat flour to help bind them together. Standard all-purpose flour also works.

How to Make these Vegetarian BBQ Tofu Burgers and Crispy Shallots

Crumble the block of super firm tofu into a mixing bowl by hand. Make sure the pieces are small because this will help the patties hold together easier. Add all of the remaining ingredients for the burger patties and mix well.

Divide the mixture into 4 equal portions then use your hands to press each portion into a ball and flatten into a patty. In order to get a nice, crisp bottom, place them on a well-greased unlined baking sheet, then brush the tops with a little more oil. Make sure to let the baked burgers rest for 10 minutes before eating so they can firm up a little more!

While the burger patties bake, you’ll have plenty of time to make your crispy shallots. Slice your shallots, separate them into rings, then toss to coat in cornstarch (this is key to getting crispy shallots, not soggy shallots!). Pan-fry them in a shallow layer of oil (just enough to cover the bottom of the pan). Drain them on a paper towel to remove excess oil when they’re done.

My Favorite Way to Assemble These Tofu Burgers

I HIGHLY recommend adding more BBQ sauce on top of the patty, then adding a slice or two of cheddar cheese and the crispy shallots. I like spreading BBQ sauce on the buns as well, but I’ll leave that up to you! Other than that, I prefer to keep the toppings simple like tender lettuce and a thick, juicy slice of tomato.

Perfect Pairings

You can never go wrong with the classic burger and potato combo! For a super easy option, I like to pair these tofu burgers with potato chips. If you don’t mind cooking something else in the oven or airfryer at the same time as the patties, fries or roasted potatoes are always a good bet. Making these as part of a larger spread for a summer cookout or gathering? This crispy potato salad would be perfect along with this blueberry mocktail to drink!

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