We taste tested 11 different name brand vegan burger brands! We’re dishing out all the details on which is the best in our vegan burgers review and taste test!
It’s officially summer time when we are writing this post and that means that it’s grill season. We have been asked a few times about this comparison so today we are finally going to share the best store bought vegan burgers review and taste test.
We did have a favorite going into this video (Gardein Ultimate) so we were super curious to see if we would agree that’s the winner at the end.
We were also surprised that we found so many name brand options that we ended up splitting the video up so there will be a part 2 of just store brand vegan burgers coming soon.
If you haven’t seen our other taste tests, we hope you’ll check those out as well.
- vegan shredded cheese taste test
- EPIC 30+ Brands vegan yogurt taste test
- vegan cream cheese taste test
- vegan sour cream taste test
- and even more vegan taste tests
Honestly can you believe we were able to find 11 different brand name ones? The crazy part is knowing that this isn’t all of them. There were other brands that we weren’t able to find or aren’t located near us.
Watch our best vegan burgers taste test:
PSA:
We know that everyone has different taste buds. What we may think is the best, may completely vary from what you actually like.
You may ultimately think our best is the worst and that’s okay. We created this video as hopefully a starting point for people and we can only go off our opinion.
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What vegan burger brands did we try?
Despite trying out 9 different brands, we know that there are even more out there. We just didn’t find them local to us. The brands that we did find and try are:
- Impossible
- Beyond
- Gardein
- Field Roast
- Lightlife
- Morningstar
- Dr Praeger’s
- Alpha
- Worthington
- Meatless Farm s
- Fry’s
How did we do the vegan burger taste test?
It was really quite simple.
We made the burgers according to the packages. Put them onto the same buns and added ketchup. We try to keep it neutral for our taste test videos so that we are focusing on the product and not a bunch of different toppings or things to detract from the actual vegan burger.
We were looking for mostly taste and texture. Our goal was to find the one closest to what we remember meat based burgers tasting like.
Impossible Burger
Thoughts: Before cooking we said this had a neutral smell and was very pink in color. It does have the white chunks like some of the others. It cooked just like burger with a brown outside a light pink center inside. Was not greasy when cooking. We really liked the flavor and texture.
Where to Buy: Impossible Store Locator
Ingredients for Impossible Burger: Water, Soy Protein Concentrate, Coconut Oil, Sunflower Oil, Natural Flavors, 2% Or Less Of: Potato Protein, Methylcellulose, Yeast Extract, Cultured Dextrose, Food Starch Modified, Soy Leghemoglobin, Salt, Mixed Tocopherols (Antioxidant), Soy Protein Isolate. Vitamins and Minerals: Zinc Gluconate, Thiamine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B1), Niacin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Vitamin B12
Top 9 Allergens: Soy, Coconut.
Price: $4.99 for 2
Beyond Meat Beyond Burger
Thoughts: Before cooking this one was pinkish but goes as much as the Impossible. It was very juicy (sort of odd honestly compared to the others). There was a slight “dog food” smell before cooking but not after and not like Meatless Farm. There are lots of white chunks in this one. There was more grease cooking this one. The overall taste and texture is pretty good on this one.
Where to Buy: Beyond Store Locator
Ingredients For Beyond Burger: Water, Pea Protein*, Expeller Pressed Canola Oil, Refined Coconut Oil, Rice Protein, Natural Flavors, Dried Yeast, Cocoa Butter, Methylcellulose, Contains 1% or Less: Potato Starch, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Beet Juice Color, Apple Extract, Pomegranate Concentrate, Sunflower Lecithin, Vinegar, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Vitamins and Minerals (zinc sulfate, niacinamide [vitamin B3], pyridoxine hydrochloride [vitamin B6], cyanocobalamin [vitamin B12], calcium pantothenate)
Top 9 Allergens: Coconut
Price: $5.99 for 2
Gardein Ultimate Plant-Based Burger (Box)
Thoughts: This was our favorite one going into the video or so we thought. They are cooked from frozen, brown in the package and not greasy when cooking. The taste and texture of these are great.
Where to Buy: Gardein Store Locator
Ingredients for Gardein Ultimate Burger: Water, Textured Pea Protein, Coconut Oil, Textured Wheat Protein (Wheat Gluten, Wheat Flour), Vital Wheat Gluten, 2% Or Less Of: Methylcellulose, Natural Flavors, Barley Malt Extract, Garlic Powder, Salt, Yeast Extract, Onion Powder, Black Pepper, Beet Juice (Color Added), Lactic Acid.
Top 9 Allergens: Wheat, Coconut.
Price: $3.99 for 2
Gardein The Ultimate Beefless Burger (Bag)
Thoughts: These are thin, very brown and cooks from frozen. It smells like Worcestershire sauce before cooking. The thinness and greasiness that happens when cooking reminds us of a McDonalds burger. It’s decent and tastes fine but definitely not the best.
Where to Buy: Gardein Store Locator
Ingredients for Gardein Ultimate Burger: Water, Soy Protein Concentrate, Canola Oil, Vital Wheat Gluten, Onions, Soy Protein Isolate, Methylcellulose, Yeast Extract, Malt Extract (Malted Barley, Water), Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Organic Ancient Grain Flour (Khorasan Wheat, Amaranth, Millet, Quinoa), Dried Garlic, Organic Distilled Vinegar, Natural Flavors, Cane Sugar, Potato Starch, Sea Salt, Salt, Celery Seed, Organic Cane Sugar, Smoke Flavor, Spice Extractives, Spices, Pea Protein.
Top 9 Allergens: Soy, Wheat.
Price: $4.79 for 4
Field Roast Chef’s Signature Plant-Based Burgers
Thoughts: These are very brown and smell very well seasoned. They are more fragile when cooking than any of the others and the size is uneven – thicker in some places and thinner in others. Overall they aren’t bad in taste but they aren’t comparable to the others.
Where to Buy: Field Roast Store Locator
Ingredients For Field Roast Chef’s Signature Plant Based Burger: Filtered Water, Vital Wheat Gluten, Wheat Protein Isolate (Wheat Gluten, Trisodium Phosphate, Malic Acid, L-Cysteine), Organic Expeller Pressed Palm Fruit Oil, Barley, Garlic, Expeller Pressed Safflower Oil, Onions, Tomato Paste, Yeast Extract (Yeast, Natural Flavor, Salt), Onion Powder, Barley Malt Extract, Mushrooms, Sea Salt, Spices, Celery, Balsamic Vinegar, Black Pepper, Shitake Mushrooms, Porcini Mushroom Powder, Yellow Pea Flour, Cultured Cane Sugar, Vinegar.
Top 9 Allergens: Wheat.
Price: $8.29 for 4 (have seen cheaper)
Lightlife Plant-Based Burgers
Thoughts: The smell before cooking is very indifferent, although Larisha said a little like a salad. It is brown in color both before and after cooking. There is some grease. The taste and texture of these is great.
Where to Buy: Lightlife Store Locator
Ingredients for Lightlife Plant Based Burgers: Water, Pea Protein, Canola Oil, Coconut Oil, Natural Flavors, Less Than 2% Modified Cellulose (from Plant Fiber), Sea Salt, Vinegar, Beet Powder (Color), Cane Sugar, Cherry Powder (to promote color retention).
Top Allergens: Coconut
Price: $4.99 for 2
Morningstar Incogmeato Plant Protein Burger Patties
Thoughts: This one has a neutral smell, but slightly dog food like. Little white chunks and slightly pink before cooking. There is a little grease when cooking. We think that this one has a lot of room for improvement but right now it’s just not there yet.
Where to Buy: Moringstar Incogmeato Store Locator
Ingredients for Morningstar Incogmeato Plant Protein Burger Patties: Water, soy protein concentrate, canola oil, palm oil, methylcellulose. Contains 2% or less of natural flavors, potato starch, dextrose, salt, cultured dextrose for freshness, apple juice powder (color), yeast extract, cornstarch, sunflower lecithin, vegetable juice concentrate (color), vegetable juice (color), pectin, citric acid, vitamin B1 (thiamin hydrochloride), vitamin B12, ascorbic acid for freshness.
Top 9 Allergens: Soy.
Price: $4.49 for 2
Dr Praeger’s Perfect Burger
Thoughts: This is the only super allergy friendly version and we weren’t sure about it going into the video; however, it was a shocking surpriser. These did take the longest to cook at 21 minutes. There was no grease when cooking and it cooks from frozen. There was a pinkish color before cooking and more brown when done, but not as brown as the package.
Where to Buy: Dr Praeger’s Store Locator
Ingredients for Dr Praeger’s Perfect Burger: Hydrated Pea Protein Blend (Water, Pea Protein), High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Beets, Natural Flavors, Sweet Potato Puree, Butternut Squash Puree, Carrot Puree, Methyl Cellulose, Fruit and Vegetable Juice (for color), Oat Fiber, Sea Salt, Onion Powder
Top 9 Allergens: None Listed.
Price: $5.99 for 2
Alpha Burger Plant-Based Original Beefy
Thoughts: Before cooking, these were very dark. Looks like it is cooked already, even with grill lines. You cook from frozen and they are just as dark when done. They do have the biggest width out of all of them. Overall, we weren’t a fan of the taste of these.
Where to Buy: Alpha Store Locator
Ingredients for Alpha Burger Plant-Based Original Beefy: Filtered water, Soy Protein Concentrate, Structured Vegetable Protein (Isolated Soy Protein, Wheat Gluten, Wheat Starch), Onions, Onion Seasoning (Sea Salt Blend [Potassium Chloride, Sea Salt], Sugar, Tapioca dextrin, Yeast Extract, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Dehydrated Onion, Grill Flavor [From Sunflower Oil], Spices [Including Celery Seed], Dehydrated Red and Green Bell Pepper, Salt, Tomato Powder, Molasses, Spice Extractive, Citric Acid), Soybean Oil, Wheat Gluten, Less Than 2% Soy Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Salt, Alcohol, Wheat), Methylcellulose, Yeast Extract, Malt Extract, Seasoning (Yeast Extract, Salt).
Top 9 Allergens: Soy, Wheat.
Price: $5.99 for 2
Worthington X Burger
Thoughts: Before cooking, these are pinkish brown with white chunks. They are still pinkish when done. These cook from frozen. One downside is that there is only a temperature recommendation and not a time. There is a little grease when cooking and they are one of the bigger patties. These didn’t taste great at all though and we wouldn’t buy again.
Where to Buy: Worthington X Burger Store Locator
Ingredients for Worthington X Burger: WATER, NON-GMO TEXTURED SOY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, PALM OIL, NON-GMO SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, SOY OIL, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF WHEAT PROTEIN, METHYLCELLULOSE, CORN STARCH, NATURAL FLAVORS, YEAST EXTRACT, DEXTROSE, SALT, VEGETABLE JUICE POWDER, BEET POWDER (FOR COLOR), CITRIC ACID, ASCORBIC ACID.
Top 9 Allergens: Soy, Wheat.
Price: $$5.49 for 2
Meatless Farms Plant Based Burgers
Thoughts: The smell of these was definitely like dog/cat food both before and after cooking. They are light brown with little white chunks. Not very greasy. These were the worst out of the ones we tried.
Where to Buy: Meatless Farms Store Locator
Ingredients for Meatless Farms Plant Based Burgers: Water, Pea Protein, Canola Oil, Shea Oil, Methylcellulose, Less than 2% of: Coconut Oil, Rice Protein, Pea Fiber, Yeast Extracts, Caramelized Carrot Concentrate, Fruit and Vegetable Extracts for Color (Beetroot, Radish, Tomato), Natural Flavors, Potato Fiber, Potato Starch, Salt, Ground Black Pepper, Carrot Concentrate, Ascorbic Acid (Antioxidant)
Top 9 Allergens: Coconut, Sheanut.
Price: $4.99 for 2
Fry’s The Big Fry Burger
Thoughts: These are brown in color before cooking and lightly darker after cooking. There is a neutral herb smell. These were more like veggie burgers and not really comparable to the other burgers in this taste test.
Where to Buy: Fry’s Store Locator
Ingredients for Fry’s The Big Fry Burger: Vegetable Protein (Soya, Wheat(Gluten)), Onions, Vegetable Oil (Sunflower Seed), Dijon Mustard, Corn Flour, Salt, Coriander Seeds, Thickener (Methylcellulose), Onion Powder, Beetroot Powder, Paprika, Smoke Flavour, Garlic Powder, Flavourings (0.1%), Cilantro, White Pepper, Black Pepper, Parsley, Turmeric, Colourant: Caramel IV.
Top 9 Allergens: Soy, Wheat.
Price: $3.99 for 2
Are these vegan burger brands allergy friendly?
We listed the allergens under each but just so it’s easier to find we wanted to list it here as well.
All of these are vegan so they are automatically dairy free and egg free. None of them listed sesame or peanuts as an ingredient. They are also all fish and shellfish free.
That leaves soy, gluten, nuts and coconut as top allergens in the US.
Contains Coconut: Impossible, Gardein (Box), Lightlife, Meatless Farms
Contains Sheanut: Meatless Farms
Contains Wheat: Gardein (Bag), Gardein (Box), Fieldroast, Alpha, Worthington, Fry’s
Coconut Soy: Impossible, Gardein (Bag), Morningstar, Alpha, Worthington, Fry’s
No Top 9 Allergens Listed: Dr Praeger’s
Who was the winner?
Okay. I put you through all that just to make you wait until here until I announce the winner. You know, wait with baited breath, type of thing! HA!
Again, we were pleasantly surprised with all the brands we were able to find and what that means for the future of those of us that are vegan or living a dairy free lifestyle.
Now, without further ado!
Our top 5 brands (in order) would be:
- Impossible
- Lightlife
- Gardein Ultimate (Box)
- Beyond
- Dr Praeger’s
The rest in order were:
- Morningstar
- Gardein (bag)
- Alpha
- Field Roast
- Worthington
- Fry’s
- Meatless Farms
Do you agree with us? Have you tried any of these ? Tell us below!
Try one of these sides with your favorite burger:
- Vegan Italian Pasta Salad
- Vegan Macaroni Salad
- Easy Vegan Broccoli Salad
- Grilled Vegan Mexican Street Corn
- Vegan Potato Salad
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