Top 10 Plant-Based Vegan Burger Brands
As the demand for plant-based alternatives grows, so do the options. If you’re debating which vegan burgers to try or are interested in switching up your current choice of patty, we’ve put together some recommendations.
Why Try a Vegan Burger or Other Alternative Meats?
There's no getting around it–alternative meats are still highly processed foods. Just because something says “vegan” on it doesn’t mean it’s particularly healthy. Many of these “mock meats” are also more expensive than unprocessed plant-based foods.
However, just because we probably shouldn’t be eating vegan burgers every day doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy them every once in a while. This is especially true for those still transitioning to a vegan lifestyle.
It’s not easy to go vegan overnight. It takes time to adjust to new ingredients and get used to a different style of cooking. If you’re finding yourself missing and craving old foods, using vegan alternatives is a great way to simplify the process.
Eventually, you’ll probably lose your appetite for the animal-related products you previously enjoyed. In the meantime, take advantage of the fantastic alternatives increasingly available to us today.
Did You Know?
Besides being the cruelty-free choice, vegan burgers are more eco-friendly than traditional burgers made of beef. Let's look at some stats:
One ground beef burger is equal to 50kg of CO2 emissions. That’s the equivalent of taking your car off the road for 150 miles!
It takes a grand 2,500 liters of water to produce real meat burger, and only 158liters for one soy burger. To put that into perspective, 2,500 liters of water is equal to approximately 38 showers, 416 toilet flushes, 120dishwasher loads, or 100 laundry loads.
Why Do Some People Still Crave Meat?
At this point, we’re all aware our bodies don’t need meat to thrive. But why do some people still crave it? In this insightful interview from Plant Based News, Dr. Michael Klaper explains why people experience these cravings. When you’re used to eating meat, your body down-regulates the production of carnitine and creatine because you’re already getting it from your meals.
Naturally, once you stop eating these foods, your body still needs these nutrients. It will start producing them on its own, but that process may take longer for some than others. While your body is learning to synthesize these nutrients independently, it’s common to have meat cravings.
Dr. Klaper states: “This is not normal human physiology. It is an acquired dependency created by feeding muscle flesh three times a day in infancy. Noprimate does that.”
If you’re attempting to move towards a vegan diet and struggling with cravings, let yourself off the hook. Being tough on yourself will only end in unnecessary frustration. Try to be patient with your body and go at your own pace.
Which Vegan Burgers Should You Try?
Wherever you are at in your plant-based journey, delicious vegan burgers can always come in handy. Whether you’re battling cravings or just want a convenient treat, we’ve got you covered.
All our recommendations are cholesterol-free. If you’re scanning the options at your local grocery store, read the ingredients closely. Some veggie burgers still contain animal products such as cheese.
Vegan Burgers for Meat-Eaters
Beyond Meat Vegan Burger
Clocking in at a whopping 20g of plant protein, the Beyond Meat burger is famous for a reason. It's so convincing that you might take another peek at the label after your first bite. It really mimics a real burger in taste, consistency, and cooking. You can even spice up your raw Beyond Burgers with some fresh herbs and black pepper before cooking to give them a gourmet twist!
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Tofurky Plant-Based Burger
This soy and seitan-based patty is perfect for grilling! Bring out the lettuce, tomato, onions, and whatever other toppings you enjoy! Not only will Tofurky's burgers make a great impression at the cookout — but they're also healthier for the entire family. At 19g protein, 4g of fiber, and zero cholesterol, this alternative is sure to win their hearts! Give them a try!
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NotCo NotBurger
This Chilean company is famous for their AI software 'Giuseppe', which helps them to create vegan products that are similar to meat and dairy on a molecular level. And now, they've rolled out their NotBurgers in the U.S. for you to try!
Using unorthodox ingredients from their database of edible plants, like bamboo fiber, cocoa powder, and chia protein, they are able to recreate the taste and texture of beefy burgers, vegan style. Plus, according to NotCo, their burgers require 89% less energy, 87% less water, and 89% less CO2 emissions for their production. Discover your new favorite veggie burgers now!%
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Future Farm Future Burger
Crafted with care for incredible texture, loads of plant protein, and lower sodium, Future Farm's 'Future Burger' is a cleaner choice for the whole family. It's also non-GMO, gluten free, and totally carbon neutral!
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Sweet Earth Awesome Vegan Burger
Interested in a non-GMO, lower sodium burger with 25g of protein and 20% of your daily iron needs? Then you have to try Sweet Earth's Awesome Burger! It's made with pea protein and wheat gluten, and cooks just like a real burger resulting in a juicy, tender bite!
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Healthiest Options: Half The calories, lowest fats and lowest sodium.
Gardein Ultimate Beefless Burger
Gardein has a wide variety of alternative meat products available, and the Ultimate Beefless vegan burger patties are a solid contender in the market. It maintains a meaty-texture with a blend of soy, wheat, organic ancient grains, and veggies.
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The Very Good Butchers
At 23g of protein for just 210 calories, lower sodium, and lower fat than the most popular vegan burger brands, 'The Very Good Burger' rivals its competition for both taste and nutrition. It's also a more natural choice, made of wheat gluten, black beans, organic mushrooms, barley, and other whole plant-based ingredients and spices.
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Cleanest Ingredients
Shroomeats Mushroom Patties
At 180 calories, 25% of your daily iron needs, and 16g of protein, it's hard to beat Shroomeats' juicy shiitake mushroom patties. However, what we love the most about this pick is its simple ingredients. In fact, it contains just 6 ingredients in total, if you include salt and pepper. Otherwise, it's just shiitake mushrooms, pea protein, sunflower oil, and potato flour!
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Hilary's Root Veggie Burger
There's a lot to appreciate in this low-sodium burger with zero gluten, soy, corn, and nuts. True to its name, it includes plant-based ingredients like sweet potatoes, red beets, turnips, and carrots. It also has one of our favorite anti-inflammatories, turmeric. Try it today to discover one of your new favorite veggie burgers!
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Highest In Iron
Hungry Planet Beef Burgers
These chef-crafted plant-based burgers are one of the lowest in calories on our list, with 21g of protein and just 4g of fat. They can also provide an impressive 25% of your daily iron intake! However, you'll want to watch out for their sodium content, at 420mg per patty.
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OZO Smokehouse Plant-Based Burgers
Providing an amazing 30% of your daily iron needs in just one patty, those behind OZO know what their plant-based customers are looking for. That's why their burgers are also totally non-GMO, soy free, and provide 22g of complete plant protein!
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Dr. Praeger's Perfect Burger
Complete with hidden root veggies like beets, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, and carrots, Dr. Praeger's Perfect Burger is loaded with plant-based nutrition! These pea protein patties offer 20g of protein, 30% of your daily iron requirement, and even a bit of calcium.
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Vegan Burgers for Veggie Lovers
Do burgers resembling real meat actually gross you out? If you've been vegan or vegetarian for a while, you might not be into that kind of thing. Check out our favorite veggie-friendly options below.
AKUA Kelp Burger
This sustainable brand's kelp burgers are a great source of protein, iodine, vitamin B12, and plenty more essential nutrients! Plus, they're incredibly savory and loaded with tons of veggies to enrich your plant-based meal.
What we love most about this burger is that it's made with kelp, which helps filter carbon and nitrogen from our oceans. It also requires zero additional water, fertilizers, feed, and arid lands. And now, they've cut down the plastic used in their packaging by 50%. Enjoy an even eco-friendlier version of this amazing burger today!
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Most Affordable Swaps for Meat Lovers
Field Roast Chef's Signature Plant-Based Burgers
Crafted with seitan, mushrooms, roasted garlic, and onions for a hearty texture and savory flavor, Field Roast's burger patties taste as good as they sound! Made by a Carbon Neutral, 100% Vegan Certified company, you can enjoy these savory gourmet-style burgers guilt-free. And best of all, you can find them at select retailers for just $5.87 (4 patties)! Just make sure to limit your sodium intake for the remainder of the day, since these patties contain a whopping 610mg per serving! (*Price may vary.)
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MorningStar Farms Meat Lovers Vegan Burger
If you're hunting for a meat-like burger on the healthier end of the spectrum, consider the Meat Lovers Vegan Burger. It has 27 grams of protein, and 26% less fat than a regular patty. With zero artificial colors or flavoring, it's one of the more health-conscious options. It's also one of the most affordable meat lover options, at $6.54 for 4 patties! (*Price may vary.)
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Most Affordable Swaps for Veggie Lovers
Dr. Praeger's California Veggie Burger
A low-sodium choice, this California Veggie Burger is only 120 calories per serving. With ingredients like carrots, peas, broccoli, onion, and spinach, this burger is bursting with veggies goodness. You'll also love that it's the most affordable option in our entire list, at just $4.92 for 4 patties! (*Price may vary.)
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MorningStar Farms Veggie Lovers Vegan Burger
For an option high in protein, iron, and dietary fiber, give this Veggie Lovers Vegan Burger a try. We love that it includes mushrooms, onions, carrots, celery, lentils, spinach, and pumpkin. Just keep in mind that it's higher in sodium, calories, and fat than some other options on our list. However, it's also one of the most budget-friendly picks, since you can get 2 of these delicious patties for just $2.70 at select retailers! (*Price may vary.)
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Still Not Sure Which Burger is Best for You?
We've compiled all the most important nutritional values so you can decide for yourself which are the best vegan burgers for you. To your vegan success!
Have you tried any of these vegan burgers? Give your favorite a shout-out in the comments!
Meat Lover Vegan Burgers Comparison Table
Veggie Lover Burgers Comparison Table
Haveyou tried any of these vegan burgers? Give your favorite a shout-out in thecomments!
