These Halloumi Burgers are certainly "extra everything" - topped with mashed avocado, a whole portobello mushroom, crumbled chèvre cheese, peppery arugula and sweet caramelized onions. Easy to make and a sure crowd pleaser!
Jump to:
These halloumi burgers are what happens when I'm asked to come up with a summer dinner that works for both vegetarians and die hard meat lovers. Since I made them the first time they've become a common occurrence in my house - and all my friends have started to make them.
They're definitely my favorite vegetarian burgers and so far, everyone loves them. Kids, meat lovers and picky eaters alike!
Why you will love this recipe
- Pretty quick to make - all done in half an hour
- Easy to make - there are a few steps involved, but none of them complicated
- Perfect combination of flavors - sweet caramellized onions, acidic avocado sauce, earthy portobello, peppery arugula, and that creamy chèvre
- A great alternative to meat - halloumi & portobello provide sort of the same chewy texture
- Great for cooking indoors & outdoors - you can make the portobello & halloumi in a pan or on the grill
What you need to make them
Ingredient notes & substitutions
- Lemon can be swapped for lime
- Halloumi can be switched for another type of "grill cheese". Cook it stove top or make Air Fryer Halloumi.
- Arugula can be swapped for another type of leafy greens
- Burger buns - I like brioche buns and potato buns, but any kind will do
- Dried thyme can be swapped for fresh thyme
- Butter and vegetable oil - you can use just one of them (double the amount)
- Balsamic vinegar can be swapped for white balsamic vinegar
- Chèvre can be switched for another type of soft goat cheese
How to make them
These Halloumi Burgers consist of a few components which are all prepared separately:
- Caramelizing onions
- Searing portobello mushrooms and halloumi
- Making the avocado sauce
I usually make all the components at the same time. I start with the caramellized onions, and while they are simmering I start searing the mushrooms and halloumi. And then I prep the avocado sauce while they keep searing. However, you can also make everything in a sequence.
How to caramelize onions
- Place a small frying pan over medium heat and add the butter and vegetable oil. When hot, add the sliced onion.
- Cook for 5 minutes, until the onion has softened. It should not brown, if it does - lower the heat.
- Add balsamic vinegar and sugar, and simmer for 5 minutes, until sticky
- Remove from the heat, add dried thyme, and mix
How to sear portobello & halloumi
- Place a dry pan over medium-high heat - I like to use a grill pan, but any frying pan works. Season the portobello mushrooms with salt & pepper on both sides, and place stem-side down in the pan.
- Cook for 6-7 minutes, until lightly browned, then flip the mushrooms and add the halloumi slices
- Cook for 6-7 minutes, flipping the halloumi slices halfway, until the mushrooms are browned on the top and some liquid has leaked out of the mushroom
- Turn off the heat and top the portobellos with crumbled chèvre cheese
How to make avocado sauce
- Mash the avocado in a shallow bowl
- Squeeze over lemon juice
- Season with salt & pepper
- Mix well, taste test, and adjust seasoning as desired
How to make the Halloumi Burgers
- Place a pan over medium-high heat - I use a grill pan for this as well - and add the burger buns with the outside down towards the pan. Cook for 30 seconds.
- Flip the buns and cook another 30 seconds
- To plate, place a bottom bun on a plate and top with avocado sauce
- Follow with arugula
- Add a slice of halloumi
- Place a portobello with chèvre on top of the halloumi
- Top it all with caramelized onions
- Finish with a top bun, and serve your Halloumi Burgers immediately!
Tips & tricks
- You can cook the portobello and halloumi on the grill as well - they will need about the same time as when cooking stove top
- Press the mushrooms gently with a spatula when cooking stem-side down, to ensure an even sear
- Make it vegan by skipping the halloumi & chévre, and using just vegetable oil for the onions. Still delicious!
- Make it cheaper by skipping the chèvre cheese
- Prep ahead by making the avocado sauce and caremelizing the onions ahead of time, and just cook the portobello & halloumi just before serving
- If you plan on having leftovers just assemble as many burgers as you will finish, and store the components separately
- Store leftovers in the fridge in airtight containers for up to 4 days
Recipe FAQ
Can I make the onions in advance?
Yes, you can make them ahead of time and reheat them just before serving.
Can I cook this on the BBQ?
Yes, definitely! The halloumi and portobello will be even more delicious this way.
Can I cook the halloumi in the air fryer?
Yes, you can. Preheat the air fryer and then brush the air fryer basket lightly with vegetable oil, add in the halloumi slices, and air fry for 4-5 minutes at 400°F (200°C). Flip them once halfway.
What to serve with them
These Halloumi Burgers are amazing on their own - but they're even better when paired with a great side. Here are some of my favorite dishes to pair them with:
- Caulislaw - Raw Cauliflower Salad
- Air Fryer Potato Wedges
- Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes
- Frozen French Fries in Air Fryer
- Frozen Sweet Potato Fries in Air Fryer
Did you love these Halloumi Burgers? Rate them 5 stars!
...and let me know what you loved about it in the comments.
Recipe
Halloumi Burgers with Portobello, Chèvre & Caramelized Onions
Print Pin RateServings: 2
Calories: 735kcal
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 25 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes
Ingredients
Caramelized Onions
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 medium-sized red onion peeled & sliced thin
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
Portobello & Halloumi
- 2 portobello mushrooms
- salt and pepper
- ⅓ lb halloumi cheese sliced in half lengthwise
- 3 tablespoon chèvre cheese or other soft goat cheese
Avocado Sauce
- 1 ripe avocado peel and pit removed
- ½ lemon juice only
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
To Serve Halloumi Burgers
- 2 hamburger buns
- 1 small handful arugula or other leafy greens
Instructions
Caramelized Onions
- Heat a small frying pan over medium heat and add in the butter and vegetable oil. When hot and the butter is melted, add in the sliced red onion. Let cook slowly for about 5 minutes, until the onion has softened but not browned.
- When the onion is softened, add in the balsamic vinegar and sugar. Mix and cook for about 5 minutes, until sticky.
- Remove from the heat and mix in the dried thyme.
Portobello & Halloumi
- Place a dry pan over medium high heat - use a grill pan if you have - and season the portobello mushrooms with salt and pepper on both sides. When the pan is hot, place the mushrooms in the pan with the stem side down. Let cook like this for 6-7 minutes, until slightly browned. You can press the mushroom a bit with a spatula to ensure a good sear on the whole mushroom.
- When the mushrooms are cooked on one side, add the halloumi slices, then flip the mushrooms and cook for 6-7 minutes on the other side. On this side, you want them to brown and sweat a bit. When you see water coming out the top, cook them for a few more minutes. Flip the halloumi slices once after 3 minutes.
- When the portobello mushrooms and halloumi are done, remove the pan from the heat and crumble the chèvre cheese on top of the mushrooms.
Avocado Sauce
- Place the avocado meat in a shallow bowl and mash it. Add lemon juice and season with salt and pepper. Mix well. Taste test and adjust seasoning as needed, then set aside for now.
To Serve Halloumi Burgers
- Place a pan over medium-high heat and when the pan is hot, add in the hamburger buns with the outside down towards the pan. Sear for 30 seconds, then flip and sear for 30 seconds on the other side.
- To plate, place a bottom-bun on a plate and top with avocado mash. Add arugula and a slice of halloumi, then add a portobello mushroom with chèvre. Top with caramelized onions and a top bun. Serve immediately!
Equipment (may contain affiliate links)
- Grill pan or large frying pan
Notes
Ingredient notes & substitutions
- Lemon can be swapped for lime
- Halloumi can be switched for another type of "grill cheese"
- Arugula can be swapped for another type of leafy greens
- Burger buns - I like brioche buns and potato buns, but any kind will do
- Dried thyme can be swapped for fresh thyme
- Butter and vegetable oil - you can use just one of them (double the amount)
- Balsamic vinegar can be swapped for white balsamic vinegar
- Chèvre can be switched for another type of soft goat cheese
Tips & tricks
- You can cook the portobello and halloumi on the grill as well - they will need about the same time as when cooking stove top
- Press the mushrooms gently with a spatula when cooking stem-side down, to ensure an even sear
- Make it vegan by skipping the halloumi & chévre, and using just vegetable oil for the onions. Still delicious!
- Make it cheaper by skipping the chèvre cheese
- Prep ahead by making the avocado sauce and caremelizing the onions ahead of time, and just cook the portobello & halloumi just before serving
- If you plan on having leftovers just assemble as many burgers as you will finish, and store the components separately
- Store leftovers in the fridge in airtight containers for up to 4 days
Nutrition
Calories: 735kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 48g | Saturated Fat: 25g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 1541mg | Potassium: 1029mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 900IU | Vitamin C: 31.6mg | Calcium: 912mg | Iron: 3.5mg
Nutritional information is approximate and automatically calculated, and should only be viewed as an indication.
Did you make this? Tag me today!Tag @alwaysusebutter and use the hashtag #alwaysusebutter!
Elle
I'm a vegetarian so the fixins' really make my sandwiches tasty. The portobello mushrooms adds a meaty flavor and texture which is so tasty.
Haley
Absolutely delicious.
Emmeline
Thank you so much Haley!
Erin
What a unique recipe. I've never seen anything like it!
Lyosha
Looks delicious! i love halloumi cheese in burgers - always tastes perfect. great recipe will make it when I cook burgers again
Kalyan Panja
I guess this burger recipe can’t be more perfect to impress upon guests coming for a weekend.
Chad
5 STARSSSSS!!! This is the most delicious burger ever, i love love love Portobello mushrooms.
Emmeline
Thank you so much Chad!!
Gaica
My kids would absolutely love these. This would disappear in no time at our house! This is my kind of weekend treat.
Rebecca Sanchez
Ooh. I can’t wait to make this! mushroom burger is one of my all-time favorites, and I make every recipe I find. This one looks tasty!
Alexandra Cook
These look delicious! Never cooked mushroom burgers before but I guess I now need to try them, thanks for sharing the recipe
Swathi
This mushroom burger looks delicious and easy to put together. That part I liked it very much. I need to try . Caramelized onions makes it more tasty.
Christa
You just made my day! I’ve been a vegetarian for 20 years and it’s not often a burger recipe gets my mouth watering. This looks delicious!
Emmeline
So happy to hear that Christa!
Purva
I love caramelized onions too! I think I'd love the taste overall as it has all my favorite ingredients.
Sue-Tanya Mchorgh
I am all over this Portobello mushroom burger. I can't wait to try it out.
Tasha at Lady Boss Studio
Yumm This looks so delicious! There is a restaurant near me that serves a wrap with portobello mushrooms and halloumi cheese and it's the best thing ever. Can't wait to try this.
Emmeline
Oh that wrap sure sounds yummy too!
Melissa
What a gorgeous burger! You've added so many delicious elements to it that you wouldn't even miss the meat! Will have to add this to my list of foods to serve when my vegetarian friends stop by for dinner <3
Priya Srinivasan
Such a hearty burger! We love halloumi cheese and this burger is with all our favorite ingredients! Makes a perfect weekend meal!!
HilLesha
How amazingly delicious! I LOVE portobello mushroom burgers, but I have tried making my own before. Thank you for sharing your recipe!
shelby
oooh this looks so fancy and it looks fairly easy to make! I will have to try this!
Danielle Wolter
these look absolutely incredible! those caramelized onions are droolworthy. i love the flavor they add.
Gervin Khan
Your Portobello Mushroom Burgers recipe looks really good and tasty. I am going to make this for my kids afternoon snacks. Yummy recipe!
Bai-Leigh
This looks delicious! Can't wait to try it!
Cheese Curd In Paradise
This is one amazing sandwich! I love the grilled cheese and those onions- do they look incredible! I am going to be thinking about this dish until I make it!
Heidy L. McCallum
This recipe looks amazing and I had to come back to tell you it tasted just as amazing as it looked in your images---totally a hit with the hubby.
Thanks again
Heidy
Emmeline
So happy you liked it Heidy! And thank you so much for taking the time to come back to review & let me know!
Taryn
Whoa! I make portobello mushroom pizza all the time and LOVE me some halloumi, so this is a match made in heaven. Inhave actually bookmarked this for later and would love to see pics of the finished result.
Noelle
What a great burger substitute, mushrooms are my favorite! I would love to make these everyday.
Dannii
Mushroom and halloumi is always our go-to for a veggie burger. It has such a nice meaty texture.
Rosa
Yumm! I absolutely love mushrooms and this looks fantastic. Can’t wait to try this one. Thanks so much for sharing!
Heidy L. McCallum
I have to tell you this looks so much better than the recipe I just looked at on Pinterest. It looks so juicy and I love the Halloumi cheese you have added. I will be making this for dinner one night soon. I will let you know what my family thinks after!
Cathy
Omg I so want one right now! These look delicious and I love portobello mushrooms!! Great lunch or dinner!
Alexandra @ It's Not Complicated Recipes
Oh Emmeline, these look SO good! Yum! I love anything with Halloumi - one of my favourite cheeses. And who doesn't like a great burger! 🙂
Emmeline
Same here!! Thank you for commenting!