Best Vegan Burger Brands

Vegan (or meatless) burgers have gained massive popularity over the last few years, and the trend doesn’t seem to be slowing down! Athletes are doing it, major fast-food chains offer meatless options, and many grocery stores now have sections dedicated to vegan alternatives. However, as the demand continues to grow, so do the options for vegan alternatives. So how do you know which one to choose? This article will go through the best options for vegan burgers and why we chose them.

Why Vegan?

Before we get into our favourite burgers, let’s quickly discuss why a vegan alternative might be better for you. Many people think that “going vegan” is a complete lifestyle change, and you now have to avoid meats completely. But that’s not the case. Many people substitute vegan options for certain meals throughout the day but then still have their meats when they crave it.

Switching over to vegan foods isn’t easy for many people because we’ve become so accustomed to having meat in our daily lives. However, with the proper alternatives, you can fill those cravings with several vegan options. Meatless options not only provide health benefits but reducing the amount of meat we consume helps our environment. How? Mainly through the production of meat. Beef burgers produce a ton of CO2 emissions (one burger takes 50kg of CO2) and waste thousands of litres throughout the production process (one burger uses 2,500 litres of water).

How We Ranked Our Picks

Below are the key features we looked at when choosing the best vegan burger brands picks:

Nutritional Contents

For the most part, anyone choosing a vegan burger over a beef burger will want to know what the nutritional content and macros consist of. Although vegan burgers won’t provide the same type of proteins or fats that meat does, they will still give you a healthy portion of plant-based protein as well as fiber. We made sure to look at all the contents of each vegan burger to ensure you’re going to be happy with the macro breakdown.

Ingredients

So much of the food we eat today come with processed ingredients that most of us can’t even pronounce. When choosing a vegan burger, we wanted to ensure that all the ingredients included were natural and provided health benefits to our consumers.

Appearance And Texture

Anyone who has cooked or grilled vegan burgers before knows that holding the patty together can be difficult because of the ingredients involved. So we also made sure that the texture and appearance of burgers were solid and easy to cook without containing artificial ingredients.

Taste

It can be very tough to replicate a real burger, but with the number of vegan burgers created today, we’re getting pretty close! Taste is probably one of the most important factors for people when it comes to their meals, so we made sure that our picks included tasty options based on the ingredients included.

Best Vegan Burgers

If you are looking for healthy vegan burger options to stock up on for your everyday meal, or a quick-fix, or for your packed lunch, there are some options available on Amazon. While some veggie burgers come in a burger mix, a good number are available as patties.

Furthermore, the most common ones are frozen, and all you have to do is thaw and cook, but a select few come already cooked. Here are our top 6 picks for vegan burgers:

1. Best Budget Choice: Vegan Burger Veggie Six

Ingredients

Oats, Pinto Beans, Black Beans, Carrots, Bell Peppers, Celery, Potatoes, Organic Brown Rice, Tomatoes, Onions, Leeks, Salt.

Allergen: None

The Vegan Six mix is a burger mix that can make 2-3 large burger patties about 3/8” thick. It is wholesome and highly nutritious as it is made with a minimal range of natural vegetables and grains. It makes low-carbohydrate burger patties that are rich in fibre.

The Vegan six burger mix is allergen-free as it does not contain soy, dairy products, nuts, or gluten. Also, it does not contain GMOs, additives, preservatives, or chemicals. Therefore, it is suitable for both kids and adults, whether at home or on the go.

To cook it, mix a cup of the burger mix with 2/3 cups of hot water and stir. Leave it for 5-8 minutes. Preheat the pan and sauté each side for 6-8 minutes.

Pros

Allergen-free
Highly nutritious
Makes tasty burgers
Quick fix, whether at home or on the go.

Cons

It has a conspicuous oniony taste

2. Best Premium Choice: Cargill Plant-Based Burger Patties

Ingredients

Purified water, pea protein, sunflower oil, coconut oil, natural flavours, methylcellulose, carrageen, yeast extract, dried vinegar, sugar, salt, potassium chloride, and cultured dextrose.

Allergen: None

The patties are delivered frozen in a container that is insulated with dry ice. Each container of the Cargill plant-based burgers contains two 4-ounce patties and is ideal for vegans and vegetarians. They are non-GMO, gluten-free, dairy-free, and do not contain synthetic colours or artificial flavours. The patties are high protein (each patty contains 20g protein).

These burger patties are easy to cook on a skillet. All you have to do is heat the skillet on medium heat and cook each side for 4-5 minutes until the patties are fully browned. If cooking in the oven, cook until the patty’s internal temperature is at 165F.

The manufacturer recommends against cooking these veggie burgers in the microwave. Leftovers should either be discarded or stored in the fridge. Once thawed, the burgers should be used within 12 days.

Pros

100% vegan
Gluten-free, non-GMO, preservatives free
High protein
Easy to cook
Great taste and flavour

Cons

Pricey

3. Best Overall Choice: Beyond Burger Plant-Based Burger Patties

Ingredients

Pea Protein Isolate, Natural Flavors, Gum Arabic, Expeller Pressed Canola Oil, Refined Coconut Oil, Water, Sunflower Oil, Maltodextrin, Natural Flavors, Salt, Succinic Acid, Non-GMO Modified Food Starch, Cellulose derived from Bamboo, Methylcellulose, Potato starch, beetroot juice extract, Ascorbic Acid, Annatto Extract, Vegetable Glycerin, Citrus Fruit Extract.

Allergens: None

These burger patties are made with a wide range of ingredients. While they are plant-based, a number of the ingredients are non-organic. However, the patties have a juicy taste with a meaty texture. Each of them oozes red juice due to the beetroot juice extract incorporated in the recipe. The Beyond Burger plant-based burger patties are soy-free, gluten-free, and non-GMO. Their fat content is about 35% less than that of a regular ground beef burger patty.

Pros

It has a meaty taste
Non-GMO, soy-free, and gluten-free
It has lower fat content than regular beef burger patties
Easy to prepare

Cons

Non-organic
It has an unpleasant odour

4. Morning Star Farms Veggie Burger

Ingredients

Water, cooked black beans, cooked brown rice, onions, vegetable oil, corn, soy flour, tomatoes, onion powder, wheat gluten, egg whites, bulgur wheat, green chillies, calcium caseinate, corn starch. It also contains 2% spices, including tomato powder, tomato juice, salt, garlic powder, soy sauce powder, jalapenos peppers, gum Arabic, onion, carrot juice concentrate, citric acid, xanthan gum, paprika, turmeric, and cilantro.

Allergens: Gluten, dairy, soy, eggs

The Morning Star Farms Veggie Burgers are black beans based. They contain a wide range of vegetables and are highly nutritious. However, they contain soy, wheat, eggs, and milk; therefore, they may not be ideal for people with allergies. In addition, they contain eggs and milk, which makes them less than ideal for strictly vegan people. These burgers have no flavours or artificial colours.

Each patty has a good balance of proteins and carbohydrates for a balanced diet. The range of spices incorporated in these burgers gives it a delicious savoury taste. The burger can be enjoyed on its own or layered up with a vegan bun or vegetables.

They are easy to prepare by either heating on a skillet, microwave, oven, or grill. The patties come packaged in a resealable bag, with each package containing four burger patties. It is best to store them in the freezer.

Pros

Highly nutritious
Ideal for a balanced diet
Delicious meaty and savoury taste
Easy to prepare

Cons

Not strictly vegan as it contains milk and eggs

5. Gardein Ultimate Beefless Burger Patties

Ingredients

Water, soy protein concentrate, wheat gluten, onions, canola oil, soy protein isolate, yeast extract, methylcellulose, malt extract, grain flour (amaranth, millet, quinoa), dried garlic, distilled vinegar, natural flavours, cane sugar, spice extracts, pea protein, and spices.

Allergens: soy and wheat

The Gardein beefless burger is tasty, nutritious, and easy to cook. It is made with many plant-based ingredients, including various grain flours, herbs, oils, and spices. Each serving (85g) contains 14g of protein. Therefore, these beefless burger patties are ideal for people keen to incorporate high-protein meals into their diet.

The patties are easy to prepare and get done within 3 minutes. You can either toss them on a barbeque grill, oven, microwave, or over a skillet. They have a rich beef taste and flavour.

Pros

Dairy-free and strictly vegan
Easy to cook within 3 minutes
Taste like real meet

Cons

Have soy and wheat

6. Quorn Meatless Vegan Spicy Patties

Ingredients

My Coprotein, wheat flour, sunflower oil, niacin, thiamine, iron, sunflower oil, water, potato protein, pea fiber, wheat starch, wheat gluten, calcium chloride, calcium acetate, chilli flakes, yeast extract, parsley, salt, onion powder, tomato powder, cayenne pepper, white pepper carrageenan, rice flour, natural flavours, paprika, sage, leavening bicarbonate, sodium alginate

Allergens: Wheat

The Quorn meatless burger patties come in a pack of 4 frozen patties. They offer balanced nutrition as each patty contains 8g of protein, 5g fat, 3g dietary fibre, and 14g carbohydrates. They are relatively low in saturated fats and a great choice for people keen on a low-fat diet. The Quorn vegan beef patties are soy-free and non-GMO. However, they contain wheat, so they are not suitable for gluten-intolerant people.

They are easy to cook. You can either bake them in the oven for 19 minutes at 425F or in the microwave for 2 minutes on high. Some people prefer to cook them until golden brown on a skillet. The manufacturer recommends that you keep them frozen and only thaw when you are ready to cook.

Pros

100% vegan
A balanced diet on their own
Can be consumed on their own or with a salad
Rich in protein and low in saturated fat
Soy-free, dairy-free, and non-GMO

Cons

Contains gluten

7. Burris Country Patty Up Vegetarian Burger Mix

Ingredients

Premium shiitake mushrooms, cashew nuts, organic, kosher vegetables, cashew nuts, Brazilian nuts.

Allergens: Nuts

The Burris Country vegan burger mix is a meatless alternative suitable for a vegan, paleo, or vegetarian diet. It is soy-free, gluten-free, and non-GMO. Also, it does contain preservatives or chemical additives. This mix incorporates natural ingredients for a healthy, nutritious burger.

Premium shiitake mushrooms are the base ingredient, and they give it a smoky, earthy flavour. The mushrooms also provide probiotics benefits. The patty-up burger mix incorporates a wide range of nuts for a crunchy texture. The nuts also provide good fats that help lower bad cholesterol in the body, improve brain function, and offer a wide range of minerals.

Pros

Have a crunchy, nutty texture
Rich smoky, earthy taste from the mushrooms
Rich in minerals
100% vegan
Non-GMO, no preservatives or chemical additives

Cons

Contains nuts, so not suitable for people with a nut allergy.

8. Field Roast Vegan Fieldburger

Ingredients

Wheat gluten, filtered water, palm fruit oil, barley, garlic, carrots, safflower oil, celery, tomato paste, onion, yeast extract, onion powder, mushrooms, barley malt, sea salt, spices, vegetable-derived carrageen, celery seed, balsamic vinegar, shiitake mushrooms, porcini mushroom powder, yellow pea flour, and black pepper.

Allergens: Wheat

The Field Roast Vegan burger patties are juicy with the classic beef burger’s flavour but without the meat. Each patty is hand-formed, cooked, and then packaged. They are 100% plant-based and suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

However, they contain wheat, so they are not a good idea for gluten intolerant people. They combine a wide range of vegetables to offer a variety of nutrients. Each burger patty contains 25g of protein.

Pros

100% vegan
Nutrient-dense
Already cooked
High protein

Cons

Contain wheat and is not ideal for a gluten-free diet

9. Boca Original Vegan Turk’y Burgers

Ingredients

Soy protein concentrate, water, wheat gluten, modified cellulose, salt, dried onions, yeast extract, wheat protein, natural flavour, disodium inosinate, artificial flavour

Allergens: Wheat, soy, sesame

The Boca Original Vegan Turk’y burgers are rich in protein, with each patty containing 13g protein. However, they are rich in dietary fibre and low in carbohydrates. They are also rich in calcium, iron, and potassium. They are 100% vegan and also

ideal for vegetarians too. They are easy to cook in a microwave, skillet, or oven. Furthermore, they taste great and have a rich burger flavour.

Pros

High in protein
Rich in potassium, iron, calcium, and dietary fibre.
Great taste and flavour
Easy to cook

Cons

Contains allergens
Has artificial flavours

10. Grandpa’s Garden Veggie Burgers

Ingredients

Carrots, white button mushrooms, organic black beans, organic brown rice, peas, Garbanzo bean flour, tomato paste, Dijon mustard, dried thyme, fresh rosemary, kosher salt, and black pepper.

Allergens: None

Grandpa’s veggie burgers are 100% plant-based. They are gluten-free, Non-GMO, and do not contain sugar, cholesterol, additives, or preservatives. They are dairy-free and suitable for vegans and vegetarians.

These burgers have a considerably bigger servicing size than other burgers in the market. Each patty is about 170g and contains 18g of protein and 20g of carbohydrates. They are rich in calcium, dietary fibre, and potassium. They leave you feeling full for hours.

The patties can be used as a burger, in salads, or as falafel in a pita. They can be stored in the refrigerator for three weeks and in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Pros

Great taste and flavour
Rich in protein, calcium, and potassium
It can be used in a wide range of recipes
It can be stored for up to 6 months in the freezer
Do not contain any allergens
A larger serving size than other burgers in the market

Cons

None so far

Components of the Ultimate Vegan Burger

Let’s break it down:

You want the base to be rich in flavour and texture. You can go for a meaty taste with lentils, chickpeas, or mushrooms. A grainy taste with quinoa, amaranth, brown rice, or millet, or a light taste with root vegetables, eggplants, or zucchini.

Vegetables

Vegetable adds juiciness to your burger. You can incorporate them as either well-cooked, partially cooked, or raw. Good veggie options for your burger include peppers, carrots, zucchini, kale, lettuce, tomatoes, spinach, corn, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, etc.

Herbs

These add a layer of flavour to the burger. With herbs, there is no right or wrong way to go. Experiment until you find those that you like and those that blend well. You can sprinkle them as part of your burger toppings or incorporate them in the patties. Common herbs to consider include rosemary, cilantro, coriander, parsley, garlic, and the good old onion. For onions, choose between white, red, and spring or incorporate them all.

Spices

Spices, like herbs, add an extra layer of flavour to the burger. Once again, experiment to find out which ones go well with other ingredients and the ones you like most. Some common spices added in burgers include ground pepper, cinnamon, salt, thyme, ginger, paprika, etc.

Vegan egg substitute

This is a crucial component that helps to keep the burger Pattie together. Examples of vegan egg substitutes include boiled and mashed potatoes, ground chia seeds, ground flax seeds, and psyllium husks.

Dry ingredients such as flour and breadcrumbs

The dry ingredients remove excess water from the patty. They also bind with the egg substitute to firmly bind the Pattie. You can use wheat flour and wheat-based breadcrumbs. However, if you are keen to keep your burger gluten-free, consider rice flour and chickpeas flour options.

Veggie burger add-ons

There is no clear-cut rule with these ones. Examples include avocado, ketchup, mustard, hanini, salsa, buns, etc.

Conclusion

Vegan diets are growing in popularity. A vegan diet can offer many health benefits, including better heart health, weight loss, and a reduced risk of chronic diseases. Research also suggests that vegan diets are better for the environment. People who wish to adopt a vegan diet will need to plan their meals carefully to ensure that they are getting enough key nutrients to avoid deficiencies.

I trust you enjoyed reading the article about the Best Vegan Burger Brands. Please stay tuned. There are more blog posts to come very shortly.

JeannetteZ

Your Opinion Is Important To Me

Ideas? Thoughts? Questions? I would love to hear from you. Would you mind leaving me your questions, experience and remarks about the Best Vegan Burger Brands in the comments section below? You can also reach me by email at Jeannette@LivingTheVeganLifestyle.org.