Hey hey! Happy Thursdeeee! The weekend is just around the corner! Cue dancing emoji 💃🏼 💃🏼 💃🏼
Comin at ya today to share my top three favorite veggie burgers on the market right now. Disclaimer: I’ve only been vegetarian for 3-ish months & I can’t have gluten or dairy so this list does not include any veggie burgers that may contain either of those allergens but may in fact be very tasty. For example, my boyfriend likes the Trader Joe’s veggie burger but it has gluten in it so I haven’t tried it & cant speak on it. That being said, the burgs on this list are v good so I hope you give them a chance!
1. The best of the best: the Beyond Meat Beyond Burger
Guys. Oh my god. If you haven’t yet tried this, YOU MUST. As in, sprint to your nearest Whole Foods this instant to procure yourself one. It literally tastes EXACTLY like a beef burger (it even “bleeds!”). They’ve somehow infused the Beyond Burger with that smoky, grilled-on-an-actual-grill flavor. It really is phenomenal. It’s definitely my top pick for what to eat when you’re having one of those days where you’re craving meat, because it honestly will quell that craving.
Downfalls of the Beyond Burger:
✅ It doesn’t contain super clean ingredients. (Full ingredient list: Pea Protein Isolate, Expeller Pressed Canola Oil, Refined Coconut Oil, Water, Yeast Extract, Maltodextrin, Natural Flavors, Gum Arabic, Sunflower Oil, Salt, Succinic Acid, Acetic Acid, Non-GMO Modified Food Starch, Cellulose From Bamboo, Methylcellulose, Potato Starch, Beet Juice Extract (for color), Ascorbic Acid (to maintain color), Annatto Extract (for color), Citrus Fruit Extract (to maintain quality), & Vegetable Glycerin.) So they’re certainly not terrible, but they contain some fillers & preservatives. Definitely not a whole-food, made-from-the-earth, burger. But, hey. I’m not saying you should eat this daily.
✅It’s on the pricier side
Last week when I bought the Beyond Burger at Whole Foods, it was $5.99 for 2 1/4 lb patties. It definitely could be worse, but it also could be better. The other two burgers on this list are between $3.50 and $4 for 2 patties, so a little bit more affordable. Then again, buying organic meat ain’t cheap either.
2. A very close second: Dr. Praeger’s All American Veggie Burger
Ingredient-wise, this beats the Beyond Burger. It’s definitely way cleaner (scroll down for full ingredient list), and thus I would feel better about eating it more often. The taste doesn’t quite reach the level of the Beyond Burger, but it is still VERY good. It crisps up really well on the stove (there’s a brown rice flour coating) & it’s pretty heavy-duty & contains 25 grams of protein so it sticks with you for a while. Plus I bought 2 patties at Sprouts yesterday for $3.69, so it’s a bit more affordable than the Beyond Burger.
Full ingredient list: HYDRATED PEA PROTEIN (PEA PROTEIN, WATER, BLACK BEANS), CARROT, SWEET POTATO, BUTTERNUT SQUASH, EXPELLER PRESSED CANOLA OIL, ONIONS, BROWN RICE FLOUR, NATURAL FLAVORS, SESAME OIL, ROASTED GARLIC, SEA SALT, GARLIC POWDER, ONION POWDER, BLACK PEPPER.
3. Hilary’s Black Rice Burger OR Adzuki Bean Burger
These were actually the first veggie burgers I ate that I really liked after going plant-based 3 months ago. They contain quality ingredients, they’re not too pricey, & they’re pretty easy to find, at least in my neck of the woods. I spread a little Miyokos vegan cheese on a patty & toast a slice of gluten-free bread & voila! Dinner is served!
I want to mention that Hilary’s makes a variety of veggie burgers. I’ve personally only tried the two flavors above but I imagine they’re all very good! If you try another variety please share!
Full ingredient list (black rice burger): Cooked Whole Grain Millet*,Cooked Adzuki Beans*, Expeller Pressed Coconut Oil*, Lotus Foods Organic Brown Jasmine Rice*, Lotus Foods Organic Forbidden Rice®*, Leafy Greens (One or more of the following: Arugula, Beet Greens, Chard, Collards, Dandelion, Kale, Parsley, Spinach, Turnip Greens)*, Sweet Potatoes*, Cumin*, Garlic*, Redmond’s Real Salt®, Psyllium Husk Powder*, Arrowroot*, Apple Cider Vinegar*, Lime Juice*, Chili Pepper*, Oregano* *Organic
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about my favorite veggie burgers! Next step: go try ‘em all 😋 and let me know what you think!!