Easy Jackfruit Burger Recipe with Bold Savory Flavor
These jackfruit burgers are hearty, flavorful, and packed with satisfying texture, protein, curry spices, and smoky savory flavor. Perfect for weeknight dinners!
I know “fruit burger” doesn’t exactly sound like the world’s most convincing sales pitch.
But stick with me here.
If you’ve never cooked with jackfruit before, it’s one of the coolest ingredients for savory recipes because of its texture. Young jackfruit has this shredded, hearty consistency that works incredibly well in tacos, sandwiches, veggie burgers, and BBQ-inspired meals.
And no — it does NOT taste like tropical fruit once cooked.
This jackfruit burger recipe is spicy, savory, filling, and honestly surprisingly satisfying. The curry powder, paprika, cilantro, and fresh ginger give the patties a bold flavor that feels warm and smoky without becoming overwhelming.
They also have an irresistible savory flavor thanks to the curry powder, paprika, fresh ginger, and cilantro. Plus, compared to a lot of veggie burgers, these have more staying power thanks to the chickpea flour and jackfruit combination adding extra protein and substance.
I also love that these jackfruit burgers don’t try too hard to imitate beef. They’re their own thing entirely, and that’s part of why they work so well.
The outside gets lightly crisp while the inside stays tender with an interesting texture that’s somewhere between pulled vegetables and classic burger patties.
If you’ve tried veggie burgers before and ended up disappointed by mushy texture, this recipe holds together much better thanks to chickpea flour. It acts almost like eggs would in traditional burgers and helps bind the mixture together beautifully.
And yes — these burgers are naturally gluten-free too.
What Is Jackfruit?
Just because I’m obsessed with this unique fruit, and I can’t wait to tell you about it. Jackfruit is native to South and Southeast Asia, and it’s the largest tree-borne fruit in the world (it can weigh up to 80 pounds!).
There are two ways to eat jackfruit: 1) ripe, when it’s subtly sweet and perfect for desserts; and 2) green, as a vegetable/delicious substitute for meat.
Yes – when it’s unripe, it has a meat-like taste and is typically used in curry dishes in Asia. For savory recipes like this one, you want canned young jackfruit packed in brine, not syrup.
That part is important.
You can usually find canned jackfruit in the international section of grocery stores, at Trader Joe’s, or in Asian groceries. I’ve noticed more regular grocery stores carrying it lately too, which makes this recipe a lot easier to make than it used to be.
Before cooking, you’ll want to rinse and drain the jackfruit well to remove the brine flavor.
Tips for the Best Jackfruit Burgers
The biggest thing is not over-processing the mixture.
You want some texture left in the patties, so pulse carefully in the food processor instead of turning everything into paste. A little chunkiness helps the final burger feel heartier and more satisfying.
I also recommend chilling the patties in the fridge before cooking. It helps the burger patties firm up and makes flipping easier later.
Another tip? Don’t overcrowd your pan.
A non-stick pan or cast iron skillet works best because the patties get a really nice crust when cooked properly over medium heat.
Ways to Serve Them
These jackfruit burgers are really versatile depending on the toppings you like. Some good additions:
- lettuce
- tomatoes
- sliced red onion
- cilantro
- spicy mayo
- avocado
- BBQ sauce
- pickled veggies
You can even add a little liquid smoke or chili powder to the mixture if you want deeper smoky flavor.
And if you enjoy experimenting with vegan burger recipes, you can absolutely play around with fresh herbs and spices depending on your tastes. Parsley works well here too.
Honestly, the hardest part of this recipe is waiting for the patties to cool enough to eat. If you are scared of making a fruit into a burger – don’t be. I promise this is worth your while.
Get the full recipe card below.
Jackfruit Burger
Ingredients
- 2 T olive oil 1 for adding to the patties; 1 for frying
- 20 oz green jackfruit 1 can drained and rinsed
- 1/3 cup chickpea flour
- 1/4 cup red onion(s) chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger grated
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 cup cilantro chopped
- 1 teaspoon curry powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 pinch salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Video
Instructions
- Remove jackfruit from the can and rinse. Place in enough water to cover and keep at a rolling boil until fork tender, which takes about 45 minutes.
- Drain the water and transfer to a food processor along with the remaining ingredients and a tablespoon of oil. Give a few pulses till everything comes together.
- Take the patty mix out of the food processor and place in a bowl. Mix in a little more chickpea flour if the mix feels too sticky.
- Shape into patties (about 1/3 cup each) and chill for about 30 minutes in the fridge.
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in a non-stick pan or cast iron skillet; fry the patties for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain off excess oil.
- This patty can be enjoyed alone, or you can place it on a bun with condiments and salad greens (mixed with a bit of olive oil).
Notes
Nutrition
If you try these I’d love your feedback in the comments! If you’re looking for more delicious jackfruit or vegetarian recipes, check out these creations from this blog as well as some of my blogging friends:
BBQ Sliders • Instant Pot Vegan Posole • Jackfruit Fajitas with Avocado Cream • Jackfruit Tinga Tostadas • Vegan Tacos • Vegetarian Chili Recipe
Can you freeze the patty’s and cook later?
Can I use another flour beside chickpea flour
@Alex Taylor, I’m not sure. You could give it a try. I think with the seasoning and flavoring of the jackfruit, you’d probably be fine. You might have to adjust the amount, though.
These look good. I had a question, could I sub brown rice flour instead of garbanzo flour?
Wow! Holy heck! We made this at home and everyone LOVED it! We were shocked how tasty it was! A total winner! And you can put whatever sauce you want onto it and turn it into whatever dreamy burger you desire! We put these into pitas and had a really great time!
Wow! Holy heck! We made this at home and everyone LOVED it! We were shocked how tasty it was! A total winner! And you can put whatever sauce you want onto it and turn it into whatever dreamy burger you desire! We put these into pitas and had a really great time!
Thank you so much! Glad you liked it.
Wow! Holy heck! We made this at home and everyone LOVED it! We were shocked how tasty it was! A total winner! And you can put whatever sauce you want onto it and turn it into whatever dreamy burger you desire! We put these into pitas and had a really great time!