7 Best Vegan Burgers (Meaty, Healthy, and Affordable Options)

There are now dozens of vegan burgers available, but are they all good? If you’re anything like me (a self-proclaimed veggie burger expert), you know they’re not. I’ve eaten too many soggy, flavorless burgers to count, and you don’t have to either.

Spend your money wisely and acquire the greatest vegan burger for your next barbecue. This list has you covered whether you want a meaty texture or a more natural and wonderful vegetable flavor.

1. Best Vegan Burger: Beyond Meat Burger Patties

When the Beyond Burger first appeared on grocery store shelves, it was an immediate smash, and it’s simple to understand why. With its 20 g of protein, meaty appearance, crimson blood-like fluids, and powerful meaty scent, it was the first burger to come close to meat burgers.

This ultimate vegan burger is gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free since it is made mostly of pea protein. This is unusual in the realm of vegan burger patties. If you’re allergic to meat, this may be a decent replacement.

The Beyond Burger has just a few minor drawbacks. To begin with, it is not the most inexpensive burger, costing roughly $2.50 per patty. That, along with the fact that one patty contains just 5 g of saturated fat (less than beef burgers), makes Beyond Meat a once-in-a-while treat.

Overall, the ultimate beefy burger is difficult to surpass. Serve it to meat eaters who claim vegan cuisine are boring the next time. They’ll soon alter their tune.

2. Healthiest Vegan Burger: Dr. Praeger’s Kale Veggie Burgers

Not a fan of the Beyond Burger’s meaty flavors? Then Dr. Praegers garden vegetable burgers are ideal. Instead of resembling beef burgers, they carry a nutritional and tasty punch.

These nutritious vegan burgers are created with a mix of veggies and healthy grains, including kale, peas, carrots, broccoli, zucchini, and sweet potatoes. While their natural taste will not mislead a meat lover, they are wonderful in their own right.

Dr. Praegers vegan burgers are far and by the healthiest on the market. One patty has just 1 g of saturated fat and 6 g of fiber, keeping you satisfied for a long period after your meal.

The main drawback is that it only provides 10 g of protein, but that is easily remedied. Combine it with a plate of pinto or black beans for a nutritional boost and you’ve got yourself a whole dinner.

3. Best Chicken-Style Burger: Morning Star Farms Chik Vegan Burgers

Morning Star Farm is well-known for their tasty vegan sausages and nuggets. Their plant-based collection now includes a chicken-style burger that can be found in practically any supermarket.

The uniformity of this burger is what pleased me the most. It has the same sponge-like feel as chicken (in the greatest manner imaginable). Furthermore, since the patties are not dry, they provide an excellent flavor boost.

Another advantage of these vegan burgers is that they are quite nutritious and may be cooked without the need of additional oil. Each burger has 160 calories and 1 gram of saturated fat, which is much less than the amount found in most breaded chicken patties.

These burgers have just two drawbacks. One disadvantage is that they are not soy-free, so if you are allergic to soy, you will need to choose another burger. The second disadvantage is that, in comparison to other burgers, they have a low protein content (9 g per patty).

4. Best Budget Pick: Vegan Burger Veggie Six Mix

If you’re looking for cheap meatless burgers, these could be the ones for you. They’re shelf-stable, so you can keep them for a long time for less than a dollar a patty.

These burgers are not pre-made. Add some water to the burger mix before shaping it into patties. Don’t be disheartened, however; the preparation is simple. Then, cook them in some vegetable oil over medium heat until golden brown, and serve.

If you have food allergies, these burgers are for you; they are nut-free, soy-free, and gluten-free. Furthermore, since they are prepared with whole foods such as pinto beans, black beans, brown rice, bell peppers, and other vegetables, they are filling and healthful.

If you bite into one of these burgers expecting a meaty mouthfeel, you’ll be disappointed. The consistency is a little mushier, which may be a deal breaker for some folks. Nonetheless, since they are so full of natural tastes, they are worth a try.

5. Best Sliders: Gardein Crispy Chick’n Sliders

Of course, a vegan burger list would be incomplete without sliders. Gardein’s chicken-like sliders are a hit, whether as a snack or as a full dinner.

The first thing you’ll notice about these sliders is how close they smell and taste like chicken. You’d be excused for thinking they weren’t vegan, but they are. The spongey texture is also excellent.

These sliders aren’t bad for a fast and indulgent snack. A slider with the vegan buns has just 190 calories and a low fat level. Not bad for something that takes just two minutes to prepare in the microwave!

We’ll be the first to acknowledge that the ingredient list is extensive. There are a lot of components in such little patties, including soy protein isolate, wheat gluten, and pea protein. As a result, this is probably not a processed snack you’d want to have every day.

6. Gardein Chipotle Black Bean Burger

Although homemade black bean burgers are popular, what about a more convenient option? Gardein’s chipotle burgers contain just the perfect amount of protein and flavor to produce a satisfying dinner.

These burger patties don’t need to be seasoned with sea salt or black pepper before cooking; they’re wonderful as is. The bell peppers, red onion, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and chili powder provide a spicy note without overpowering the other tastes.

Gardeins burgers do include soy, but no gluten, which is a plus for vegan celiacs. Aside from that, there aren’t any disadvantages to these burger patties.

7. Veije Beef-Free Burger Mix

Veije is another company that creates plant-based burger mixtures that need just water. They are the greatest vegan burgers, costing roughly a dollar per patty and being meatya combo that is hard to come by.

Grill these beefless burgers in a pan or on grill pads. Season with sea salt and cook over high heat. Serve with buns for a fantastic barbecue experience or with sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, or root vegetables for a healthy dinner.

The only disadvantage of these vegan burgers is that they are not ready to eat. You must combine the whole package with water and form the mixture into patties. You can’t go wrong with Veije if you’re ready to put forth some effort.

How We Created a Best Vegan Burgers List

In my search for the finest veggie burger, I evaluated five factors: taste and fragrance, texture, aesthetics, ingredient quality, and nutritional value. To be included on this list, the burgers I tested had to score well in every category.

Flavor and Smell

To begin with, vegan burgers, whether they attempt to replicate meat or not, must taste and smell fantastic. You want the juicy tastes and enticing aroma to entice you as soon as you finish grilling them.

Texture

The texture must then physically hold up. Nobody likes to eat a wet burger that crumbles as soon as they flip it. As a result, I sought hardness and stability. It didn’t matter whether they had a meaty texture or a more healthful vegetarian texture.

Burgers with a lot of vegan protein, rolled oats, wholewheat flour, or breadcrumbs keep their form the best.

Appearance

In addition to texture and taste, I evaluated the look of the burgers. Do these seem to be tasty? The meatier vegan choices on the market, such as Beyond Burger, sometimes bleed when cooked (typically due to beet or carrot juice concentrate), which is a positive in my view but not a requirement.

Ingredients

I also checked over each burger’s ingredient list. I included soy-free, nut-free, and gluten-free alternatives in this list for anybody who is allergic to gluten, soy, or nuts.

Nutritional Content

Most vegan burgers aren’t very nutritious, but that’s OK. Vegan patties may fit into a balanced diet when paired with nutritious foods like brown rice and vegetables.

I sought for burgers with high-quality vegan protein sources (black beans, wheat gluten, pea protein, soy protein concentrate, potato protein, and so on) and low saturated fat levels (less than 7 g per serving).