Loaded Zesty Portobello Burger

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my privacy policy.

Loaded Zesty Portobello Burger has so much flavor in every bite, starting with the easy mushroom marinade. Grill the bun and toppings for the perfect burger. A little heat, a lot of textures, and a ton of flavor in this burger even meat lovers will crave

This post and recipe card updated May 18, 2020

Growing up, I never really ate mushrooms. I honestly don’t recall my parents making them; and if they did, the mushrooms were mixed into a dish.

While there are lots of mushroom varieties, I keep it simple. I prefer white button mushrooms for my Easy Pan Fried Mushrooms and my Spinach and Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms. But most of the time I use baby portobellos.

I’ve always been a huge fan of burgers, and at restaurants, I usually start my menu search in the burger section. I don’t make burgers at home very often, so when I do I make them special. My Venison Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes are fabulous, and one of the most popular recipes on the blog.

Although I love the traditional burger, sometimes I’m craving something lighter. So this was the perfect opportunity to create my Loaded Zesty Portobello Burgers

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

• Vegetarians and meat eaters alike will love the meaty texture of the portobellos
• You can easily turn the heat up or down with the jalapenos
• The creamy avocado mash is the perfect topping

I always scoffed at people who said that portobellos “taste like meat”. But when you cook them right and add great burger toppings, you almost forget you’re eating mushrooms. Almost.

PREPARING THE MUSHROOMS

You can find portobello mushroom caps in every grocery store. Most stores sell them in packages of 2, but some stores have them in bulk containers so you can pick exactly what you need.

Mushrooms have no flavor on their own, so a bold marinade is key.

• I’m not sure exactly what’s in Worcestershire sauce, but it’s one of those ingredients that you miss when you don’t add it
• Use a good quality Balsamic Vinegar. Grocery stores have upped their game recently, with a wide variety of good options
• You can’t have a good marinade without fresh garlic
• You always need a little bit of oil, and I love the silky taste of Avocado Oil

LOADED ZESTY PORTOBELLO BURGER TOPPINGS

Fresh jalapenos have a lot of heat, so I grill them to tone down that spice. I grill them whole and then slice them in half, and the seeds scrape out easily.

I prefer to use red onion, but you could certainly substitute yellow. Grilling the onions makes them even sweeter.

I add baby spinach and fresh sliced tomatoes. You can substitute leaf or iceberg lettuce for the spinach if you prefer.

Avocado is one of my favorite burger toppings. I added sliced avocado the first time, but it kept sliding off the sandwich. So instead I roughly smash the avocado, and top it that way instead.

Mayonnaise is the final, optional touch. About a year ago I discovered Duke’s Mayonnaise, and I’m obsessed and use it all the time. But when I want to lighten it up a little, I’ll use Avocado Oil Mayo.

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS

Add the marinade ingredients in a container. Wipe off any excess dirt from the mushrooms with a towel, and remove the stems. Place the mushrooms, cap-side down, in the marinade for 15 minutes.

While mushrooms marinate, preheat the grill to 350 degrees and spray the grates with cooking spray. Place jalapenos and red onions on the grill.

Grill vegetables for 10 minutes, turning once halfway through. Remove vegetables. Cut the stem from the jalapenos, and slice lengthwise in half. Scoop out the seeds and slice each half into half again.

Place mushrooms, cap-side down, onto the grill. Grill mushrooms for 3 minutes per side, turning once halfway through.

Remove mushrooms and slice lengthwise into strips.

Spray burger buns lightly with cooking spray and place on the grill for 2 minutes, until lightly toasted.

Assemble burgers.

Spread a little mayo on each bun. Layer with baby spinach, tomato, onion, avocado mash, mushrooms, and jalapeno slices.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How about leftovers? I don’t recommend reheating cooked mushrooms, as they get a kind of rubbery texture. And besides, they’re so quick and easy to marinate, you can just make them fresh.

Can I leave the mushroom caps whole? It really depends on the size. If the caps are huge and bigger than the burger bun I’ll slice them before I marinate; otherwise, I’ll leave them whole.

Can I roast the mushrooms instead of grilling? Absolutely but then I recommend not slicing the mushrooms until after they cook. Otherwise the pieces will shrink.

MORE BURGERS AND SANDWICHES

• Citrus Marinated Grilled Chicken Sandwich
• Avocado Salsa Fresca Burger
• Italian Sausage and Bell Pepper Sandwich
• Venison Cheeseburger with Jalapeno and Guacamole

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? COMMENT AND RATE BELOW, THEN TAKE A PICTURE AND TAG ME ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM: @KARYLSKULINARYKRUSADE

FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM AND PINTEREST FOR MORE RECIPES!