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Juicy, flavour packed Hidden Veggie Beef Burgers the whole family can enjoy. From babies on their solids journey to hungry big kids.
Made with ground beef and finely grated vegetables, they're a simple way to boost iron intake, add extra veggies, and serve up a family meal everyone's happy about.
These Hidden Veggie Beef Burgers are easy to make and freezer friendly. While the burgers already include veggies, they're also perfect for serving family-style with a varierty of extra vegetables on the side so everyone can build their own burger.
Serve as strips for babies just starring their solid food journey, mini patties for little toddler hands, or regular-sized burger for a simple family meal that even teens will get behind.
While the vegetables are finely grated into the burgers, I like to think of recipes like these as adding vegetables rather than hiding them. If your'e interested, you can read more whether it is a good idea hiding vegetables in kids' food.
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Ingredient Info (and Alternative Suggestions)
- Ground Beef - use good quality beef. A higher fat content works best here, helping keep the burgers juicy and less likely to crumble.
- Grated Vegetables (Onions, Carrot and Zucchini) - Added for flavour, nutrition and moisture. Finely grate so they blend more easily into the mixture.
- Garlic - Adds flavour. Can be omitted.
- Worcestershire Sauce - Adds depth of flavour. It is optional and best skipped when making for babies due to added salt and sugar.
- Egg - Helps bind the mixture, making the burgers easier to shape and less fragile during cooking. This is particularly helpful when vegetables are added and when making toddler sized portions.
Step by Step Instructions (With Images)
- Prep Veggies: Grate the onion, carrot and zucchini. Squeeze out as much liquid as possible.
- Mix: Add all ingredients to bowl and gently mix until combined.
- Shape: Divide the meat mixture into 4 portions and shape into tburgers slightly larger than your buns. Press a small indent into the centre of each burger with your thumb.
- Cook: Cook in a frying pan or grill on BBQ over med heat for 3-4 mins on one side. Flip and cook for a further 2-3 mins, or until cooked through.
Top Tips
- Squeeze out excess moisture from grated vegetables to prevent the mixture becoming too wet.
- Don't overmix - gently combining keeps the burgers tender.
- Make a small indent in the centre of each burger before cooking to help prevent doming and shrinking.
- Higher fat beef works best, helping the burger patties stay juicy and hold together.
- Add more veggies at the table. Serve with slices of tomato, lettuce, red onion, avocado, cooked mushrooms and beetroot slices so kids can build their own burger. For an extra veggie boost serve with carrot fries or sweet potato wedges.
Storage and Make Ahead
- Refrigerate: Store cooked burgers in an airtight container in the fridge doe up to 3 days.
- Freeze (recommended before cooking). Shape the burgers and place baking paper between each one. Sore in an airtight container or freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge, overnight, before cooking.
- Reheat: reheat until piping hot all the way through.
Recipe FAQs
These burgers can be offered after 6 months, provided your baby is developmentally ready and has started finger foods. There are, however, a few things to consider when serving these burgers.
Allergies
This recipe contains egg, a common allergen, and anchovies (in Worcestershire sauce which is recommended to skip). Make sure allergens have been introduced separately and safely before offering the burgers.
Texture
The burgers should be fully cooked through ans easy to squash between your fingers. The added veggies and egg help keep the burgers moist and less crumbly.
Choking Risk
Cooked ground beef can sometimes break apart or feel dry in the mouth, which may lead to gagging. Make sure they are soft and moist and served in an age-appropriate shape. You can also serve the burgers with yogurt or other sauces (like avocado sauce) to help moisten.
If preferred, the burger can be crumbles and mixed with a soft food such as vegetable purees or yogurt.
Always serve when your baby is sitting upright are supervised closely.
For informational purposes only. every baby develops at their own pace. always make decisions that is right for your child and seek professional advise if you have concerns. 
The egg helps bind the mixture with the added vegetables, making the burgers easier to shape and less fragile. You can omit it, but the burgers may be more delicate during cooking.
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Beef Burgers (with Added Veggies)
Ingredients
- 500g (1.1lb) ground Beef (beef mince)
- 1 small onion
- 1 carrot
- 1 zucchini (courgette)
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce *do not add for baby
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
Frying
- 1 tablespoon oil
Instructions
- Finely grate onion, carrot and zucchini and squeeze as much liquid out as possible (I placed the grated vegetables in a clean cloth to squeeze)
- Place all the ingredients into a large mixing bowl and mix until just combined.
- Divide the mixture into 4 equal portions and use hands to gently form into patties slightly larger than the size of your buns. (As they will shrink slightly when you cook)
- Season with salt and pepper on both sides of each burger (skip this if making for baby / younger child). Place an indent in the centre of each burger using your thumb. (This stops the burger from doming and shrinking).
- Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a skillet or BBQ over medium-high heat. Add patties and cook for 2 to 4 mins on one side (until the bottom is nicely browned). Flip and cook for a further 2 to 3 mins until cooked through.
- To Serve: Spread base of bun with sauce of choice, top with lettuce and veggies of choice (we love tomato, beetroot and onions). Top with lid of bun and serve.
Trina m
Smelled so good and tasted even better. It made me so happy. Mixed it with leftover pesto pasta I and i felt so virtuously healthy
Katalynna
My mother would make this exact recipe for me as a kid. I'm turning 46 this year and I use this recipe to this day! Reading this recipe brought back delightful memories of my childhood , Delicious
Amy
Thanks Katalynna
Danny Rose
Mince seems to be missing from the recipe?
(Just Helping. )
Amy
Thanks Danny, it is the first ingredient on the recipe card!
Kayla
My little one has issues with egg, what could I use instead of egg?
Amy
Hi Kayla, if your ground beef is fresh and of good quality, you may not even need the egg. Alternatively, you could use a flax egg.
Sandhya
Do they freeze well?
Amy
Hi Sandhya, yes you can freeze 🙂
Lauren
should they be frozen as raw or cooked patties? thanks, love your page!
Amy
Hi Lauren, I would freeze as raw patties 🙂
Gina
What could I use instead of worcestershire sauce ?
Amy
Hi Gina, you can just skip it 🙂
Jason
Made these this weekend and had them in the BBQ. Really nice
Amy
Perfect for the BBQ, thanks for the feedback 🙂