Maybe you’re a vegetarian or maybe you’re just looking to reduce your ecological footprint. In either case, veggie burgers are a great way to incorporate non-animal protein sources into your diet.
Some are grain- and rice-based, while others are soy-based and more closely resemble meat, says Lauren Harris-Pincus, RDN, and author of The Protein-Packed Breakfast Club. “The new generation of faux meats are designed to recreate an experience of eating meat not only for people who avoid animal products but also for those who are looking to eat less meat for health or environmental reasons.”
There is a myriad of veggie burger options to choose from these days. To make shopping easier, we rounded up the best veggie burgers on the market.
How We Chose
We chatted with six registered dietitians about their favorite products and asked how to choose the best veggie burger. With their input, we narrowed down the top veggies burgers based on the following criteria:
- Protein
- Sodium
- Saturated fat content
- Fiber
1. Best Overall: Morningstar Farms Incogmeato Burger
Per serving: 250 calories, 18 grams fat (5 grams saturated fat), 370 milligrams sodium, 12 grams carbohydrates (8 grams fiber, 1 gram sugar, <1 gram added sugar), 20 grams protein
This veggie burger from Morningstar Farms is made with no animal products, so it’s 100 percent vegan. The protein in them comes from soy, and you’ll get an impressive 20 grams from one patty without all the saturated fat you’d get from a beef burger!
It’s worth noting that these burgers do contain gluten for texture and consistency, so they’re not safe for people with celiac disease or a gluten allergy or sensitivity.
Apple and vegetable juices in these veggie burger patties mimic the color of meat, while potato starch and other hearty ingredients pump up each patty with a respectable 8 grams of fiber.
2. Best Gluten Free: Before the Butcher Uncut Plant-Based Burger
Per serving: 260 calories, 17 grams fat (9 grams saturated fat), 260 milligrams sodium, 8 grams carbohydrates (6 grams fiber, 0 grams sugar), 19 grams protein
Soy takes center stage in these gluten-free, fairly low-sodium and high-fiber quarter-pound veggie burger patties.
Also available in turkey, chicken and sausage substitute varieties, these taste like they just came off the grill (even if you cook them on the stove) thanks to their smokey flavor.
3. Best Flavor: Impossible Burger
Per serving: 240 calories, 14 grams fat (8 grams saturated fat), 370 milligrams sodium, 9 grams carbohydrates (3 grams fiber, <1 gram sugar, <1 gram added sugar), 19 grams protein
Since 2016, these veggie burger patties from Impossible were known for their smoky, gamey flavor by way of heme, a compound that typically comes from meat, but is also found in smaller amounts in plants. (Impossible’s heme is made with soy and yeast.)
Soy and potato protein give these veggie burger patties an impressive 19 grams of protein. A dose of coconut oil and sunflower oil makes the texture beefier, although this means each quarter-pound patty meets 40 percent of your saturated fat quota for the day.
4. Best Meat-Like Veggie Burger: Beyond Burger
Per serving: 260 calories, 18 grams fat (5 grams saturated fat), 350 milligrams sodium, 5 grams carbohydrates (2 grams fiber, 0 grams sugar), 20 grams protein
As the first plant-based veggie burger that mocks real meat ever sold in the States, the Beyond Burger browns nicely while staying medium rare-ish on the inside thanks to beet juice.
Compared to other veggie burgers on this list, these are reasonable in the saturated fat department and have zero sugar. Free of soy and gluten, each quarter-pound pattie is stocked with protein from peas, mung beans, fava beans and brown rice to give you 20 grams of the nutrient.
5. Best for Protein: Ozo Plant-Based Burger
Per serving: 210 calories, 10 grams fat (2 grams saturated fat), 350 milligrams sodium, 6 grams carbohydrates (1 gram fiber, 1 gram sugar, <1 gram added sugar), 22 grams protein
“Ozo’s burger has much less saturated fat than the other options with just about the same protein, calories, and sodium,” Previte says.
The brand says its unique fermentation process might make the plant-based protein easier for your body to digest, process, and put to use building muscle.
6. Best Plant-Based: Gardein Ultimate Plant-Based Burger
Per serving: 240 calories, 15 grams fat (10 grams saturated fat), 450 milligrams sodium, 8 grams carbohydrates (1 gram fiber, <1 gram sugar, <1 gram added sugar), 19 grams protein
Joining Chik’n, Turk’y, Porkless and Fishless products in Gardein’s line-up are these new quarter-pound patties that are made with pea and wheat protein, plus beet juice to give them a beef-like look.
Palm oil, coconut oil and salt crank up the saturated fat and sodium count in these veggie burger patties, so keep that in mind as you eat the rest of the day.
7. Best Soy: Tofurky Plant-Based Burger
Per serving: 250 calories, 16 grams fat (7 grams saturated fat), 540 milligrams sodium, 7 grams carbohydrates (0 grams fiber, 1 gram sugar, 0 grams added sugar), 19 grams protein
Tofurky has created a soy and vegetable protein burger that’s fairly low in carbs and sugar. It does have a significant amount of sodium and saturated fat, though.
“One burger has about 50 percent of your daily value of saturated fat on a 2,000 calorie diet,” Previte says. That said, these patties are probably best enjoyed in moderation.
While they don’t have any fiber, these veggie burgers do boast a respectable 19 grams of plant-based protein.
