Vegan Buffalo Chickpea Burgers with Vegan Ranch

I have been wanting a Vegan “Chicken” burger again. I didn’t have the time to just boil the Seitan for an hour and season the shit out of it so this is the next best thing. You can’t get go wrong with Chickpeas for anything! They’re the most versatile ingredient I use on an everyday basis.

This recipe uses mashed chickpeas, chickpea brine and chickpea flour as the major components to making this burger. The Buffalo Sauce is a simple hot wing sauce that you can use to transform anything into a buffalo dish.

Making the Chickpea Burgers 

To begin, drain the Aquafaba {chickpea brine} into a small bowl {you’ll be using this later in the recipe}. Then rinse your chickpeas and add the rinsed chickpeas to a mixing bowl.

Crush the chickpeas using a fork until all smashed but still keep some chunky pieces.

Next, add in the breadcrumbs, paprika, garlic Powder, thyme, sea salt and the juice freshly squeezed from one lemon.

Combine these ingredients together until it’s evenly distributed throughout.

Now, add in the vital wheat gluten. Using your hands combine the flour with the mixture.

Continue to knead the mixture together. You want a “dough” like texture. Keep kneading it until everything becomes sticky and combined into one large piece.

Then, you need to form the burgers or patties. Whatever type of sandwich you’re going for. Tear a few pieces from the large dough portion and knead the smaller portions into a patty like shape. I made a few different sizes and I got 5 patties from it.

Place the patties in the freezer about 5 minutes just enough to chill them.

Prepare or arrange your dunking station. Grab your aquafaba from earlier and set it aside.

Then, in a shallow bowl or whatever you’re planning on using, add the flour, cornstarch and salt to it and whisk it to combine.

Add a pot of {your choice} oil to the stove and make sure it’s hot enough when ready to start. You have to work pretty quickly though so you don’t burn the oil.

Drop the patties first in the aquafaba to coat.

Then, dredge the wet patty into the flour mixture and fully cover on both sides. I like to use a spoon to help get the flour evenly around it.

Using a utensil {so you don’t burn yourself} drop the floured patty into the hot oil. Let it fry about 4 minutes each side.

For the Sauces

While the patties are frying prepare your buffalo sauce and Vegan Ranch.

For the Buffalo Sauce

Add in the melted vegan butter, hot sauce, garlic powder, cayenne pepper to a small bowl and whisk until combined. Set it aside until all patties are fried.

For the Vegan Ranch

To a small dish or jar add in vegan mayonnaise, almond milk {enough to liquify and loosen the mayo}, garlic and onion powder, black pepper and mix to distribute throughout. Then, add in the fresh herbs {Parsley, Dill and  Chives}. 

This Vegan Ranch is my go to recipe since I like the thicker texture it produces.

Cover and place the jar in the refrigerator to chill until you’re ready to use. The longer the jar sits in the refrigerator the thicker it will be. I would use or discard after 5 days.

Remove the chickpea patty from the hot oil and let it drain on a paper towel lined dish to absorb any excess oil.

Then, slather the patty in the hot sauce mixture on a separate plate in case the sauce goes all over the place.  Transfer the Buffalo Chickpea patty to your choice of vegan buns and layer with your choice of toppings. I decided to use Vegan Ranch, Spinach leaves, thinly sliced Red Onions and sliced Tomatoes. Serve and Enjoy!

Print Recipe

Vegan Buffalo Chickpea Burgers with Vegan Ranch

A cruelty-free burger using Chickpeas and wheat gluten to create a similar texture of a hearty burger patty. Topped with Vegan ranch, crispy red onions and fresh tomatoes and spinach!

Course

Main Dish

Prep Time

30 minutes

Cook Time

15 minutes

Servings

Burgers

Ingredients

For the Chickpea Patties

• 1 can Chickpeas
• 2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 2/3 cup Bread Crumbs
• 2 teaspoons Paprika
• 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
• 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
• ½ teaspoon Dried Thyme
• ½ teaspoon Sea Salt
• 1 Lemon freshly juiced
• 2/3 cup Vital Wheat Gluten Flour

Wet Ingredients for Breading

• Oil for Frying
• Aquafaba {Chickpea Brine}

Dry Ingredients for Breading

• 1/2 cup Chickpea Flour
• 2 tablespoons Cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt

For the Buffalo Sauce

• ¼ cup Vegan Butter
• 2 tablespoons Sriracha {you could use Frank’s Hot Sauce}
• 1 teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar
• ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
• ¼ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper

For the Vegan Ranch-Recipe 2

• ½ cup Vegan Mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons Almond Milk unsweetened
• ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
• ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
• ¼ teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
• 2 tablespoons Fresh Parsley
• 1 tablespoon Fresh Dill
• ½ tablespoon Fresh Chives

For the Burgers

• Fresh Spinach
• Vegan Cheddar Cheese sliced
• Red Onion thinly sliced
• Tomatoes sliced
• Vegan Ranch Recipe
• Vegan Sandwich Buns

Course Main Dish Prep Time 30 minutes Cook Time 15 minutes Servings Burgers Ingredients For the Chickpea Patties 1 can Chickpeas 2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil 2/3 cup Bread Crumbs 2 teaspoons Paprika 1 teaspoon Onion Powder 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder ½ teaspoon Dried Thyme ½ teaspoon Sea Salt 1 Lemon freshly juiced 2/3 cup Vital Wheat Gluten Flour Wet Ingredients for Breading Oil for Frying Aquafaba {Chickpea Brine} Dry Ingredients for Breading 1/2 cup Chickpea Flour 2 tablespoons Cornstarch 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt For the Buffalo Sauce ¼ cup Vegan Butter 2 tablespoons Sriracha {you could use Frank’s Hot Sauce} 1 teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder ¼ teaspoon Cayenne Pepper For the Vegan Ranch-Recipe 2 ½ cup Vegan Mayonnaise 2 tablespoons Almond Milk unsweetened ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder ½ teaspoon Onion Powder ¼ teaspoon Ground Black Pepper 2 tablespoons Fresh Parsley 1 tablespoon Fresh Dill ½ tablespoon Fresh Chives For the Burgers Fresh Spinach Vegan Cheddar Cheese sliced Red Onion thinly sliced Tomatoes sliced Vegan Ranch Recipe Vegan Sandwich Buns

Instructions

For the Chickpeas Burgers

1. To begin, drain the Aquafaba {chickpea brine} into a small bowl {you’ll be using this later in the recipe}. Then rinse your chickpeas and add the rinsed chickpeas to a mixing bowl.
2. Crush the chickpeas using a fork until all smashed but let a few chunky pieces remain.
3. Next, add in the breadcrumbs, paprika, garlic powder, thyme, sea salt and the juice freshly squeezed from one lemon.
4. Combine these ingredients together until it’s evenly distributed throughout.
5. Now, add in the vital wheat gluten. Using your hands combine the flour with the mixture.
6. Continue to knead the mixture together. You want a “dough” like texture. Keep kneading it until everything becomes sticky and combined into one large piece.
7. Then, you need to form the burgers or patties. Whatever type of sandwich you’re going for. Tear a few pieces from the large dough portion and knead the smaller portions into a patty like shape. I made a few different sizes and I got 5 patties from it. Place the patties in the freezer about 5 minutes just enough to chill them.
8. Prepare or arrange your dunking station. Grab your aquafaba from earlier and set it aside.
9. Then, in a shallow bowl or whatever you’re planning on using, add the flour, cornstarch and salt to it and whisk it to combine.
10. Add a pot of {your choice} oil to the stove and make sure it’s hot enough when ready to start. You have to work pretty quickly though so you don’t burn the oil.
11. Drop the patties first in the aquafaba to coat. Then, dredge the wet patty into the flour mixture and fully cover on both sides. I like to use a spoon to help get the flour evenly around it.
12. Using a utensil {so you don’t burn yourself} drop the floured patty into the hot oil. Let it fry about 4 minutes each side.
13. While the patties are frying prepare your buffalo sauce and Vegan Ranch.

For the Buffalo Sauce

1. Add in the melted vegan butter, hot sauce, garlic powder, cayenne pepper to a small bowl and whisk until combined. Set it aside until all patties are fried.

For the Vegan Ranch

1. To a small dish or jar add in vegan mayonnaise, almond milk {enough to liquify and loosen the mayo}, garlic and onion powder, black pepper and mix to distribute throughout. Then, add in the fresh herbs {Parsley, Dill and Chives}.
2. Remove the chickpea patty from the hot oil and let it drain on a paper towel lined dish to absorb any excess oil.
3. Then, slather the patty in the hot sauce mixture on a separate plate in case the sauce goes all over the place. Transfer the Buffalo Chickpea patty to your choice of vegan buns and layer with your choice of toppings. I decided to use Vegan Ranch, Spinach leaves, thinly sliced Red Onions and sliced Tomatoes. Serve and Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Did you attempt this recipe? Please let me know how you liked it {or not} by leaving a comment below or sharing a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #mamawentveganrecipes or @mamawentvegan. I love to hear your feedback and see your creations!