✔ Published · new plant-based copycat burger with a fully vegan option
This plant-based burger is a homemade copycat inspired by the Impossible Whopper: a smoky, char-grilled meat-free patty piled with all the classic Whopper-style toppings. Big, juicy and on the table in about 25 minutes!
How Do You Make an Impossible Whopper at Home? (Quick Answer)
Grill a quarter-pound plant-based patty over medium-high heat, cooking it per the package directions, and toast a 5-inch sesame bun. Build the bottom with the patty, pickles, ketchup and onion, and the top with mayo, lettuce and tomato. Use vegan mayo and a vegan bun to make it fully plant-based.
At a glance
The one tip that matters: Get the grill or grill pan really hot and leave the patties alone until they release. That char is what gives a plant-based patty its flame-grilled, drive-thru flavor, so resist the urge to poke them!
Why You'll Love This Plant-Based Whopper-Style Burger
- Meat-free, not flavor-free: smoky char plus the classic toppings.
- Ready in 25 minutes, with store-bought plant-based patties.
- Easy to make fully vegan with vegan mayo and a dairy-free bun.
- Big and loaded, with a 5-inch bun and a quarter-pound patty.
- Grill or stovetop: a grill pan gives the same char marks indoors.
What Makes It Taste Like the Restaurant Burger?
Two things: the char and the toppings. A very hot grill or grill pan gives the patty a smoky, flame-grilled crust, and the classic mix of creamy mayo, ketchup, tangy pickles, raw onion, tomato and crisp lettuce does the rest.
Prefer beef? Try our copycat Whopper. More drive-thru favorites are in our Burger King copycat recipes.
Step-by-Step Photos
Here's how it comes together. Exact amounts, times and temperatures are in the recipe card below.
Tips for Success
- Cook from cold. Plant-based patties hold their shape best straight from the fridge. Warm patties go soft and stick to the grates.
- Follow the package. Brands vary in thickness and fat, so use the package time and internal temperature as your guide.
- Don't press the patties. Pressing squeezes out the fat that keeps them juicy. Hands off!
- Thin onion rings. Raw white onion sliced paper-thin gives crunch without taking over.
- Toast the buns. A quick toast keeps the big 5-inch bun from going soggy under the mayo and tomato.
- Make it vegan. Use vegan mayonnaise and check that the bun has no milk, butter or egg.
Impossible Whopper-Inspired Plant-Based Burger
4
burgers15
minutes10
minutes620
kcal25
minutesA meat-free burger inspired by the Impossible Whopper: a quarter-pound plant-based patty seared on a hot grill or grill pan and cooked per the package directions, on a toasted sesame bun with mayo, ketchup, dill pickles, white onion, tomato and shredded lettuce. Makes 4 burgers.
Ingredients
- For the Burgers
4 plant-based burger patties, 4 oz (1/4 lb) each, about 5 inches wide
1 teaspoon neutral oil, for the grill
to taste salt and black pepper
4 sesame seed hamburger buns, about 5 inches wide
- Toppings
1/4 cup mayonnaise (or vegan mayonnaise)
2 tablespoons ketchup
16 dill pickle chips
1 small white onion, sliced into thin rings
2 medium tomatoes, cut into 8 thin slices
2 cups iceberg lettuce, shredded
Directions
- Prep
- Slice the onion into thin rings, slice the tomatoes and shred the lettuce. Keep the patties refrigerated until you are ready to cook.
- Heat an outdoor grill or a cast-iron grill pan over medium-high heat and brush the grates with the oil.
- Cook and Build
- Season the patties lightly with salt and pepper. Cook them according to the package directions, usually 3 to 4 minutes per side, until well charred and cooked to the internal temperature on the package (many plant-based patties call for 160°F / 71°C).
- Toast the cut sides of the buns on the grill for 30 to 60 seconds, until lightly golden.
- Set each patty on a bottom bun. Top with 4 pickle chips, a squeeze of ketchup and a few onion rings.
- Spread 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise on each top bun, then add a handful of lettuce and 2 tomato slices.
- Close the burgers, press gently and serve hot.
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Make It Vegan or Change It Up
- Fully vegan: vegan mayonnaise, a dairy- and egg-free bun and a patty labeled vegan.
- Cheese: add a slice of American or plant-based cheese in the last minute of cooking and cover so it melts.
- Double: stack two patties for a bigger burger.
- Saucy: swap the mayo for copycat Royal sauce or zesty sauce.
- Homemade patty: for a veggie patty from scratch, see these veggie burgers.
Storage
- Cooked patties: refrigerate within 2 hours in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in a skillet until hot in the center (165°F / 74°C).
- Assembled burgers: best eaten right away; the lettuce and bun go soggy in the fridge.
- Raw patties: follow the use-by and storage guidance on the package.
More Burger King Copycat Recipes
Serve it with crispy Burger King-style onion rings or mozzarella sticks, plus a dip of zesty sauce. Need more sides? See our sides for burgers.
Browse every recipe in our Burger King copycat recipes collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is on an Impossible Whopper?
The burger it is inspired by stacks a plant-based patty on a sesame seed bun with mayonnaise, ketchup, pickles, white onion, tomato and lettuce. This copycat uses the same lineup with any plant-based patty you like.
Is this burger vegan?
Not as written, because regular mayonnaise contains egg and some buns contain dairy or egg. Swap in vegan mayonnaise and a vegan bun, and check that your patty is labeled vegan, for a fully plant-based burger.
How do you cook a plant-based burger patty?
Cook it according to the package directions. Most cook in 3 to 4 minutes per side over medium-high heat, and many brands call for an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C). Use an instant-read thermometer in the center.
Can I make it without a grill?
Yes. A cast-iron grill pan or a heavy skillet over medium-high heat works well. A grill pan gives char marks; a skillet gives a deeper all-over crust.
Can I use a beef patty instead?
Yes, that makes it a classic Whopper-style burger. Use a 1/4 lb ground beef patty and cook it to 160°F (71°C), or follow our copycat Whopper recipe.
