16 Plant-Based Burger Brands, Rated From Worst To Best

Some plant-based burgers bleed like beef. Others taste like cardboard. In a market exploding with options, the gap between brilliant and barely edible is wider than ever.

These aren’t just veggie patties anymore – they’re lab-born meat lookalikes, fast-food disruptors, and grocery store wildcards. Curious? You should be. Here’s what’s actually worth biting into – and what to avoid at all costs.

16. MorningStar Farms Garden Veggie Burgers

Yikes! These patties fall apart faster than a house of cards in a windstorm. The texture resembles mushy vegetables pressed together with glue and wishful thinking.

Flavor-wise? Imagine bland vegetables with a hint of cardboard. Not exactly what burger dreams are made of! Your taste buds might file a formal complaint after trying these disappointing discs.

15. Boca Original Vegan Veggie Burgers

Remember those hockey pucks from gym class? Boca burgers could easily substitute in a pinch. The ultra-processed taste screams “I’m trying to be meat but failing spectacularly!”

Though packed with protein, these dry patties require drowning in condiments just to swallow. Your water glass will become your best friend during this bland burger experience.

14. Gardein Ultimate Plant-Based Burger

Gardein tries hard but misses the mark with these oddly sweet patties.

Your taste senses are confused by the flavor profile; is it intended for supper or dessert? Although it has a good chew, the artificial aftertaste persists for an uncomfortable amount of time. In fact, kids may like these better than adults, especially when they’re covered in ketchup to cover up the strange sweetness.

13. Dr. Praeger’s All American Veggie Burger

If soggy vegetables had a poster child, Dr. Praeger’s would volunteer enthusiastically.

It’s quite a textural accomplishment that these patties are able to be both mushy and gritty at the same time! With unexpected appearances of random vegetable chunks, their flavor is aggressively bland. A bizarre vegetable treasure hunt that no one signed up for turns into your burger experience.

12. Amy’s California Veggie Burger

Amy’s burgers scream “health food” in the least exciting way possible.

Almost announcing their nutritious importance, the grains and vegetables overlook the fact that taste is also important. An identity issue is fought by strange mushroom undertones: is it a burger or are they just mashed vegetables? Points for tasting like real food rather than a lab experiment, though, in contrast to some of the rivals on this list.

11. Quorn Meatless Gourmet Burger

Made from fungal protein (sounds appetizing, right?), Quorn creates an unusual spongy texture that might leave you checking if you accidentally bit into your kitchen sponge. The flavor isn’t offensive, just forgettably bland.

Fun fact: some people experience digestive distress from Quorn’s mycoprotein. Nothing says “gourmet” quite like potential tummy troubles after your meal!

10. Sweet Earth Awesome Burger

Sweet Earth gets points for an ambitious name but falls short in execution.

It has a texture that is halfway between meaty and mushy, like ground beef that has experienced an identity crisis. After a promising meaty beginning, the flavor abruptly shifts to a vitamin-flavored one. The flavor of this mediocre burger will leave your taste senses unsure on whether to express gratitude or lodge a formal complaint.

9. Field Roast FieldBurger

Grain lovers, rejoice! Field Roast embraces its non-meat identity with burgers that taste distinctly like… grains.

With barley and wild grains evident throughout, the mouthfeel is more like stuffing than a burger. These patties are very tasty and contain real herbs and spices. You should go elsewhere if you’re hoping for a flesh imitation. However, what about a delicious grain patty that goes well with toppings? Not terrible at all!

8. Trader Joe’s Protein Patties

Trader Joe’s throws their hat into the plant-based ring with these pink-hued oddities. Thanks to beets, they bleed like rare meat – either cool or unsettling depending on your perspective.

Texture-wise, they’re pleasantly chewy but fall victim to an overwhelming coconut oil flavor. Whoever decided burgers should taste faintly of tropical vacation didn’t consult with actual burger fans! Still, they cook up nicely with minimal shrinkage.

7. Lightlife Plant-Based Burger

Lightlife created a burger that looks impressively meaty but tastes suspiciously like someone described beef to a robot who’d never actually tried it.

The texture hits closer to sausage than burger. What’s truly puzzling is the strange aftertaste that arrives uninvited seconds after each bite. Not terrible, just weirdly artificial.

If you close your eyes and imagine really hard, you might convince yourself it’s almost sort of kind of like meat.

6. Alpha Foods Original Beefy Plant-Based Burger

Alpha Foods creates a surprisingly decent burger that doesn’t try too hard to be something it’s not. The texture strikes a good balance between firm and tender without falling apart embarrassingly mid-bite.

Flavor-wise, it’s pleasantly savory with actual seasoning (revolutionary concept!).

While not convincing enough to fool meat lovers, these patties hold their own against toppings without disappearing into bland oblivion like some competitors.

5. Beyond Burger

Beyond Burger caused quite the stir with its eerily meat-like appearance and texture.

To the horror of your carnivorous acquaintances, the patties even “bleed” beet juice when cooked medium-rare. With a strong emphasis on coconut oil and pea protein, the flavor is unique and not a flawless imitation of beef. Even though they taste a little manufactured, they do a fantastic job of satisfying your burger need, especially when served hot off the grill with traditional toppings.

4. Gardein Ultimate Plant-Based Burger

Gardein’s second attempt at burger glory fares much better than their earlier versions.

These patties bring a substantial chew factor that satisfies that carnivorous jaw workout we secretly crave. The umami flavor profile hits surprisingly close to the mark without the weird aftertaste plaguing other brands.

Although no one would mistake it for Wagyu beef, it works well with a variety of toppings and creates a very satisfying burger experience.

3. The Meatless Farm Co. Plant-Based Burger

This British import brings some serious contender energy to the plant-based scene.

Many brands completely miss the texture’s enchanted balance between firm and juicy. It has a little smokiness to its flavor that intensifies delightfully when grilled.

These patties don’t try to overpower with artificial beef flavor like some of their rivals do. Instead, they let high-quality ingredients do the talking, creating a burger that feels more like a sophisticated meal than a scientific experiment.

2. Impossible Burger

Impossible Foods created something truly remarkable with their famous burger.

Many devoted meat eaters have been duped by the uncannily beef-like experience provided by their secret ingredient, heme protein. A fantastic burger is defined by its texture, which provides that unique resistance. Genuine burger delight is triggered by the savory, somewhat iron-rich flavor that these patties give when grilled with a beautiful crust. These plant-based marvels may make even die-hard carnivores take a second look.

1. Incogmeato Ultimate Burger

Kellogg’s somewhat awkwardly named Incogmeato line delivers a surprisingly excellent burger experience. The texture nails that perfect balance of chew and tenderness that makes burger lovers swoon.

The flavor profile focuses on savory umami notes without artificial overtones. These patties respond beautifully to high-heat cooking, developing a gorgeous crust while staying juicy inside.

For anyone seeking that genuine burger experience without the cow, Incogmeato deserves serious consideration.