Name: Portobello Mushroom Burger
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce; 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar; 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil; 3 cloves garlic (minced); 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning; 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; 4 portobello mushroom caps (cleaned with underside stems and gills removed); 4 thin slices havarti cheese (or swap provolone or baby Swiss); Whole wheat or brioche hamburger buns; Sliced red onions; Pesto; Sliced tomato; Arugula

I have a feeling you are having feelings about this Portobello Mushroom Burger.

Portobello mushrooms that are…

soaked in a quick but high-impact balsamic-soy marinade (a riff on my tried-and-true Grilled Portobello Mushrooms)
double stacked and stuffed with havarti cheese
slathered in pesto (and more cheese)
piled inside a fluffy brioche bun, and
topped with grilled onions and tomatoes

…tend to elicit one of two reactions.

Reaction One: GIMME.

Reaction Two: Why are we calling a portobello mushroom a burger again?

Whichever camp you fall in—I grew up in the (meat) burger-loving Midwest, so even though I fall solidly in the Reaction One group, I can hear Reaction Two’s concerns—try this Portobello Mushroom Burger recipe anyway.

Even without meat, this Portobello Mushroom Burger is savory, satisfying, and good and messy, the way a proper burger should be (this Vegan Burger has all the same delicious qualities).

The pesto makes the burgers fresh, unique, and bright, the prep and cleanup are a breeze, and it’s healthy without tasting overly so.

My #1 Trick to Making the Very Best Portobello Mushroom Burger

So, you’ve seen other Portobello Mushroom Burger recipes. Maybe you’ve made one or two at home or ordered them on a menu.

Here’s why I like this particular Portobello Mushroom Burger the best.

It is a STUFFED Portobello Mushroom Burger.

Whenever I’m creating a recipe, it is imperative to me that even though the recipe is healthy, it is 100% satisfying and stays true to the recipe’s intent and the feelings that led me to crave it in the first place.

While I’ve liked other portobello mushroom burgers I’ve tried, they tasted too “diet.”

My solution: double stack and stuff. Each Portobello Mushroom Burger “patty” is actually two portobellos, with a layer of cheese melted in between. (Those who clicked on this recipe seeking a vegan Portobello Mushroom Burger, you can swap a dairy-free cheese instead.)

I actually lifted the idea of stacking and stuffing the portobello mushrooms from Shake Shack, whose vegetarian burger does just this.

Shake Shack’s portobello burger is also breaded and deep fried, which I honestly found overkill. The burgers have a stellar flavor all on their own, no heavy excess breading required.

Portobello Mushroom Prep Tip

Whenever you are cooking with portobello mushrooms, I recommend removing the stems and gills first. The gills are edible, but they often contain bits of sand (not what I want in my burger), and because they are so black, they’ll turn whatever you are cooking them with a dark color.

To remove the gills, gently twist off the stem. Lay the mushroom cap-side down (gill-side up). Use a small spoon to scrape away and discard the dark gills. You are ready to cook!

How to Cook Portobello Mushroom Burgers

Step 1: Portobello Mushroom Burger Marinade

Start here with just three important ingredients:

Soy Sauce. For a deep, umami flavor.
Balsamic Vinegar. For a little brightness and tang.
Garlic. A mushroom’s flavor BFF.

For the max flavor impact, I recommend marinating the portobello mushrooms for at least 30 minutes or up to two hours. Use the time while you wait to prep any toppings or sides.

Step 2: Portobello Mushroom Cooking Methods

While the outdoor grill is an ideal option for summer months, you have plenty of other options to make this recipe.

Portobello Mushroom Burger on the Stove. Use an indoor grill pan like this one.
Pan-Fried Portobello Mushroom Burger. Another stove option: Cook the mushrooms in a lightly oiled cast-iron or similar heavy-bottom skillet.
Portobello Mushroom Burger in the Oven. Roast the mushrooms at 400 degrees F until tender, about 15 to 20 minutes. Add the cheese, stack, then return the burgers to the oven until the cheese melts, about 3 to 5 additional minutes.

For outdoor grill directions, follow the recipe as directed.

Step 3: Toppings

Use this recipe as guideline to create the Portobello Mushroom Burger of your dreams!

Portobello Burgers with Pesto. This is our FAVE. Ben went so far as to call the pesto a “must” because it adds so much additional freshness. I used a good-quality store-bought pesto and can only imagine how incredible the burgers would be with homemade.
Add an Egg. If you love your regular burgers with an egg, you’ll adore your Portobello Mushroom Burger with one too.
Vary the Cheese. I opted for havarti, because it melts nicely and goes well with pesto, and I find its flavor more interesting that mozzarella. For next time, I’m already planning a Portobello Mushroom Burger with goat cheese (swooooon!). If goat cheese isn’t your thing, try your Portobello Burger with feta.
Extra Veggies. Fresh tomatoes and a slice of grilled red onion make these Portobello Mushroom Burgers sublime.

How to Serve Portobello Mushroom Burgers

In true burger spirit, we picked brioche buns for our Portobello Mushroom Burgers. Brioche is supple and soft, so it doesn’t overwhelm the mushrooms the way a thicker, chewier bun would. Soft whole wheat burger buns would be delicious too.
If you are looking to save Portobello Mushroom Burger calories, you could wrap the burgers in butter lettuce leaves.
These Portobello Mushroom Burgers also work nicely as a knife-and-fork situation, alongside a bed of crisp greens.

What to Serve with Portobello Mushroom Burgers

A few of my favorite sides:

Baked Fries. Because it doesn’t get more classic than a Portobello Burger and fries! These Grilled Sweet Potato Fries would be mighty fine too.
This Asian Ramen Salad (a twist on a cabbage slaw) or the apple slaw that’s on top of these Crockpot BBQ Chicken Sandwiches would both be fantastic.
Spinach Strawberry Salad. Summer at its finest!
Good ol’ potato chips. (And since you asked, I’ll take salt and vinegar, please!)

How will you serve up your Portobello Mushroom Burger? If you try this recipe, let me know how it turned out (and what toppings you picked!) in the comments section below.

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