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    Home > Vegan Entrees

    Epic Fajitas Vegan Portobello Mushroom Burger

    By My Pure Plants on 06/10/2022 - May contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure.

    Jump to Recipe Print Pin

    Large portobello mushroom caps are marinated in a fajita spice mix and layered among guacamole, salsa, nacho cheese sauce, and spicy fajitas veggies. This vegan portobello mushroom burger is piquant and scrumptious at the same time. 

    Portobello Mushroom Burger up very close where you can see the layers of salsa, cheese cause, fajitas veggies, guacamole and the grilled mushroom cap

    This mushroom burger recipe was inspired by our vegan portobello mushroom fajitas. It is rich, colorful, and full of flavors. If you also love Tex-Mex food try our classic vegan bean chili, our quinoa sweet potato chili, our vegan taco soup, or our Mexican vegan rice casserole recipes.

    Table of Contents hide
    1. What can you expect from this recipe?
    2. Ingredients
    3. Instructions
    4. How to build this burger?
    5. FAQs and substitutions
    6. More grilling recipes
    7. Epic Fajitas Vegan Portobello Mushroom Burger

    What can you expect from this recipe?

    If you’ve never eaten it before, then you are in for a treat. In this burger recipe, you marinate and grill large portobello mushroom caps in whole and use them instead of regular burger patties.

    Obviously, it is something different from a classic beef burger. If you looking for a beefy texture, try our vegan burger with TVP. I would say this recipe is closer to grilled chicken in terms of texture.

    You can add these grilled mushroom caps to any burger recipe. May it be with a hamburger bun full of shredded lettuce, sliced tomato, and red onion rings, or try this spicy fajita-inspired vegan burger recipe? I can list several reasons.

    This grilled portobello mushroom burger…

    • is piquant and creamy at the same time.
    • is full of rich and colorful ingredients.
    • has a charred flavor and a meaty texture.
    • is healthier than beef burgers.
    • is easy to make and incredibly tasty.

    In one word, it is EPIC. Need I say more? Now, let’s see how to make one!

    Portobello Mushroom Burger up very close where you can see the layers of salsa, cheese cause, fajitas veggies, guacamole and the grilled mushroom cap

    Ingredients

    To build this vegan portobello mushroom burger, here is what you need:

    • Large portobello mushroom caps -> marinated in fajitas spice mix, garlic, lime, sweet smoked paprika powder, salt, black pepper, and olive oil
    • Lettuce leaves
    • Fajita veggies -> we have a recipe for an easy sheet pan version where you can make a large batch in one go
    • Guacamole
    • Salsa
    • Vegan nacho cheese sauce -> this recipe is a nut-free version made of mostly root veggies
    • Hamburger bun

    If you don’t have a fajitas seasoning in your pantry, don’t worry you can easily make your own using the below spices:

    • hot chili powder,
    • sweet smoked paprika,
    • cumin,
    • garlic powder, and
    • oregano.

    🛒 You can find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

    Instructions

    Marinating

    1. Take a small-sized bowl
    2. Add olive oil, salt, black pepper, minced garlic cloves, freshly squeezed lime juice, fajitas spice mix, and smoked sweet paprika powder.
    3. Stir until they are thoroughly combined. See how this marinade looks in the below picture.
    Glass bowl with a portobello mushroom marinade before stirring so you can see olive oil, minced garlic, lemon juice, salt, pepper and fajitas spice mix
    1. Peel portobello mushroom caps with a sharp knife and take out the stems.
    2. Take a glass bowl (the one in the photo is also our meal prep bowl) and place the mushroom caps in it. If you make multiple servings, choose a bowl that would fit them in one layer.
    3. Pour the marinade on top of them. Use a silicone brush to spread the marinade. Toss and turn a couple of times, to make sure they are covered everywhere.
    4. Repeat this step once more after an hour or in the morning if you marinate them overnight to make sure mushrooms are not getting dry. In the end, it will look like the ones in the below photo.

    How to cook portobello mushroom burgers? We will show you 3 ways to make them delicious. You either bake them, grill them or pan-fry them.

    Two portobello mushroom caps tossed in marinade in a glass bowl from above

    Top tips for marinating mushrooms

    • How long? – Mushrooms have a spongy texture. Therefore, the longer they soak in the marinade, the more intense the flavor will be as they absorb more. We recommend overnight soaking, but 2 hours should be the bare minimum to get them seasoned properly.
    • How much? – You don’t need to make a lot of marinades as you don’t need to immerse the mushroom caps in it. We do flip them or brush them a couple of times.
    • Hot or sweet? – In case you prepare the burger for kids or for people who don’t like spicy food, you can skip the hot chili powder and add more sweet smoked paprika powder.
    • Powder vs fresh ingredients? – We like using fresh ingredients if we have them, but you can use onion powder or garlic powder instead.

    Pan-frying

    The easiest way is if you have a grill pan and you cook them on a stovetop.

    1. Preheat the grill pan over medium heat.
    2. Once it is sizzling hot, place the marinated mushroom caps on it. No need to add extra oil since the marinade already contains enough.
    3. Gently push the mushrooms down for a few seconds on each side with a spatula to allow the greater surface of the mushrooms to be grilled.
    4. Brush each side with the leftover marinade once.
    5. Cover the grill pan to allow hot air to circulate through the pan (just as it would in a real gas grill) and cook both sides for approx. 5 minutes each. That is all! You can see how they look when they are ready in the below picture. Now, you are ready to assemble your vegan portobello mushroom burger.
    Two portobello mushroom caps panfried in a grill pan

    Baking

    You can use a glass oven-safe dish or a grill pan (provided that the handle is not made of plastic). Preheat the oven to 400 Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius) and grill them under the broiler for 10 minutes, turning them at halftime.

    Grilling without burning them

    Our little trick to grilling mushrooms is to use aluminum foil drip pans. Preheat your gas grill to 400 Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius) and grill the marinated portobello mushroom caps for 10 minutes, turning them at halftime.

    How to build this burger?

    The best part of the whole recipe is building your yummy portobello burger. I know that the more layers you add, the harder it is to eat. However, I really-really recommend all these layers for you to try. They are absolutely amazing and delicious together!

    1. I started off with a toasted bun.
    2. First up is a generous spread of salsa sauce. Mild or hot depending on your preference.
    3. Add green leaf lettuce because the ruffles look so pretty.
    4. Next up is some spicy, nut-free, and veggie-packed nacho cheese sauce.
    5. Then, add a handful of fajita veggies aka roasted bell peppers and red onions.
    6. Now comes the star of this burger the grilled portobello mushroom caps.
    7. Finish it off, we some homemade guacamole.

    What else can you add? 

    To take it even further, we love to add another layer of grilled mushroom caps below the cheese sauce! So tasty and filling! And look how beautiful the layers are below! You can also add tomato slices instead or on top of the salsa sauce. Or avocado slices instead of guacamole.

    Portobello Mushroom Burger up very close where you can see the layers of salsa, cheese cause, fajitas veggies, guacamole and the grilled mushroom cap

    FAQs and substitutions

    Can you use other mushrooms?

    Any other large caps mushrooms can be a good substitute, but usually, portobello is the most common and available type in stores.

    How to store them?

    You can store grilled mushrooms in a fridge for 3-4 days without any problem. We recommend assembling the burger before serving and not storing them as complete burgers.

    Can you make them ahead of time?

    You can store raw portobello mushrooms easily up to a week in the fridge, or at room temperature for 1-2 days. It is also best to marinate them overnight for the best flavor. The grilled mushroom caps can be stored in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. When you are ready to serve them, reheat them in a frying pan.

    Portobello Mushroom Burger from above where you can see the layers of salsa, cheese cause, fajitas veggies, guacamole and the grilled mushroom cap. The top bun is take off and leaning to its side.

    This vegan portobello mushroom burger recipe is vegan, so meat-free, dairy-free, and egg-free. It is also suitable for vegetarian, nut-free, and gluten-free diets. It is not suitable for an oil-free WFPB (whole foods plant-based) diet, as you cannot substitute olive oil in the marinade and get the same result as in the pictures.

    More grilling recipes

    You can browse through our vegan main course recipe or our 15-min quick & easy vegan meals collection or check out

    • Smoky Vegan Beet Burger with Minty Pea Puree
    • BBQ Vegan Pulled Pork Burger (King Oyster Mushroom)
    • Meaty Vegan TVP Burger (Big Mac Style)
    • Chinese BBQ Tofu Burger (Vegan)
    • Grilled Buffalo Tofu Skewers
    • Easy Grilled Vegetable Kabobs (+5 Marinades)

    THANK YOU so much for visiting our website. Please comment below if you have tried this recipe. We LOVE hearing from you! If you loved the recipe, please don’t forget to give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ RATING. We appreciate all of our readers.  

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    ⇒ GET OUR FREE 7-DAY VEGAN MEAL PLAN E-BOOK NOW! OR CHECK OUT ALL VEGAN MEAL PLAN RECIPES! ⇐

    Epic Fajitas Vegan Portobello Mushroom Burger

    My Pure Plants
    Large portobello mushroom caps are marinated in a fajitas spice mix and layered among guacamole, salsa, vegan nacho cheese sauce, and spicy fajita veggies. This vegan burger is piquant and scrumptious at the same time.
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Marinating time 2 hrs
    Total Time 2 hrs 35 mins
    Course Main Course
    Servings 2 burgers
    Calories 263kcal

    Equipment

    • Silicone brush
    • Glass mixing bowl
    • Grill pan
    • Oven-safe glass baking dish (8-inch / 20 cm)
    • Grill tool set

    Ingredients
     
     

    Portobello mushroom marinade

    • 5 Tbsp Olive oil
    • 1 clove Garlic
    • 1 Tbsp Lime juice or lemon juice
    • ¼ tsp Sweet smoked paprika powder
    • ½ tsp Fajitas spice mix or see below for homemade spice mix
    • ¼ tsp Salt
    • ¼ tsp Ground black pepper

    Homemade fajitas spice mix

    • ½ tsp Hot chili powder or flakes
    • 1 Tbsp Sweet smoked paprika powder
    • 1 + ½ tsp Ground cumin seeds
    • 1 + ½ tsp Garlic powder
    • 1 + ½ tsp Oregano

    To assemble the burger

    • 2 Large portobello mushrooms
    • 2-4 leaves Lettuce Green leaf lettuce is on the picture
    • ½ serving Fajita veggies (½ bell pepper and ¼ onion)
    • 6 Tbsp Salsa
    • 6 Tbsp Nacho cheese sauce
    • 6 Tbsp Guacamole
    Prevent your screen from going dark
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    Instructions
     

    Make the fajitas marinade

    • Take a small-sized bowl. Add olive oil, salt, black pepper, fresh garlic cloves, freshly squeezed lime juice, and fajitas spice mix. Stir until combined.

    Soak mushrooms in marinade (min. 2 hours, but overnight is preferred)

    • Peel the portobello mushrooms. Take out the stems.
    • Place the mushroom caps in a shallow bowl and pour the marinade on top of them.
    • Toss and turn a couple of times, to make sure they are covered everywhere.
    • Repeat this step after an hour (in case of short marinate) or in the morning (in case of overnight marinate) to make sure mushrooms are not getting dry.

    Pan-frying

    • Heat the grill pan to medium. Once sizzling hot, place the marinated mushroom caps on it.
    • Cook both sides for approx. 5 minutes. You can push the mushrooms down for a few seconds each side with a grill spatula to allow the greater surface of the mushrooms to be grilled.
    • Brush each side with the leftover marinade once.
    • Cover the grill pan to allow hot air to circulate through the pan (just as it would in a real gas grill).

    Assemble

    • Take the bottom part of a hamburger bun (if you toasted it a bit – even better)
    • Spoon some salsa sauce on the first part of the burger. 
    • Add a couple of green leaf lettuce leaves.
    • Spoon some vegan nacho cheese sauce.
    • Add fajitas bell pepper and onion slices. (We have a detailed guide on how to make fajita veggies the EASIEST WAY).
    • Add the grilled portobello mushroom caps.
    • Finish it off with some guacamole.
    Tried this recipe? Can we see it?Please share a picture with us by uploading an image to Pinterest below ours.

    Notes

    How to bake them in the oven?

    You can use a glass oven-safe dish or a grill pan (provided that the handle is not made of plastic). Preheat the oven to 400 Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius) and grill them under the broiler for 10 minutes, turning them at halftime.

    How to grill them on a gas grill without burning?

    Our little trick is to use aluminum foil drip pans. Similar to the oven grilling, preheat your gas grill to 400 Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius) and grill the marinated mushroom caps for 10 minutes, turning them at halftime.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Nutrition Facts
    Epic Fajitas Vegan Portobello Mushroom Burger
    Amount Per Serving (1 burger without bun)
    Calories 263 Calories from Fat 171
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 19g29%
    Saturated Fat 3g19%
    Cholesterol 4mg1%
    Sodium 1374mg60%
    Potassium 859mg25%
    Carbohydrates 23g8%
    Fiber 8g33%
    Sugar 8g9%
    Protein 7g14%
    Vitamin A 3262IU65%
    Vitamin C 32mg39%
    Calcium 98mg10%
    Iron 3mg17%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

    UPDATED: This recipe was originally posted in May 2020. More info, tips, FAQs, and description were added and republished in June 2022.

    219 shares

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    1. Mama Maggie's Kitchen

      May 18, 2020 at 8:06 am

      5 stars
      You’re making me hungry… I think I just heard my tummy growl. lol! This Fajitas Portobello Mushroom Burger is perfect!

      Reply
    2. Jayne

      May 17, 2020 at 10:02 pm

      5 stars
      I love everything Portobello Mushroom. This is an amazing good recipe. We all enjoyed so much.

      Reply
    3. Shadi Hasanzadenemati

      May 17, 2020 at 9:53 pm

      5 stars
      I was looking for a recipe like this, thank you for sharing!

      Reply
    4. Jordin

      May 17, 2020 at 8:54 pm

      5 stars
      Wow talk about a delicious looking burger! I need to try out this recipe ASAP, my family would love it.

      Reply
    5. Chris Collins

      May 17, 2020 at 7:39 pm

      5 stars
      I love mushroom burgers so much and this fajita version looks right up my street!!

      Reply

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