Every herbivore knows that summer barbecues can be a dicey affair. A good host is considerate of their guests’ dietary preferences, but there’s always a chance of your meal being confined to the bowl of potato salad (that being said, it’s not a bad thing if it’s our Italian-ish Potato Salad.)
These days, the issue isn’t so much a lack of available options in grocery stores. Plant-based “meat” is easy to find, but the variations are extensive and can be difficult to navigate for meat eaters who aren’t familiar with the differences between meat alternatives or their own preferences yet.
There’s been some skepticism about whether or not vegan meat measures up to the real thing. In 2022, Kim Kardashian, the Chief Taste Consultant for Beyond Meat, had to post footage online to prove that she was actually eating the products she was endorsing.
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The question of what constitutes a burger has been heavily discussed. Is a burger a sandwich? Does a burger need to have a patty, or just something on a hamburger bun? These questions are the stuff of playful internet debates, but the controversies around burgers go back farther than you may think.
In 2022, the CBC’s viral documentary Patty vs. Patty told the story of Toronto’s 1985 “Patty Wars” between Jamaican patty sellers and Canada’s meat regulators. The battle was over the (surprisingly complex) criteria required for something to be legally classified as a beef patty. There was a summit and ultimately peaceful resolution, but amateur culinary philosophers continue to debate over burger classification and etiquette to this day. In other words, veggie burger options have their work cut out for them if they want validation from this industry’s tastemakers.
These days, though, it’s all about impersonation. Big Veggie Meat is focused on breaking into the carnivore’s market and providing plant-based protein options that meat eaters will also want to buy, without necessarily having the goal of going vegetarian. It’s not just about making money – plant-based protein is better for the environment and can be more nutritious than real meat. If you’re packing up the picnic basket or lighting the grill, these imitation-beef options are sure to start a sizzle.
Our top five vegetarian burgers
President’s Choice new Plant Based Black Bean, Corn and Sweet Potato Veggie Burgers are made in Canada and have a medium kick of Southwest heat. The first ingredient on the list is Black Beans, not an artificial ingredient with a name you can’t pronounce. These veggie burgers are also vegan, with no synthetic colours.
Impossible Burger Patties Made From Plants
Beyond Meat is often credited for taking vegan protein mainstream, but Impossible Foods was making waves in the fast food scene years before the new kid on the burger block arrived. Their partnership with Burger King was one of the first of its kind, paving the way for other partnerships between plant-based meat producers and restaurants of all sophistication levels.
The Impossible Burgers are made of soy and potato protein, but its secret ingredient is called “heme:” a lab-made product that gives the burgers their convincing and meaty-tasting juice and appearance. The fake “bleed” is pretty convincing and the plant-based fats and oils give the patties that just-greasy-enough texture necessary for a great burger. Many veggie burgers go for a healthier nutritional buildup, but Impossible Burgers is a traditional cheat meal-style burger – the sodium and fat content is pretty high, but even health nuts can appreciate the occasional indulgence.
TMRW Foods Plant-Based Burger Patties
Elon Musk might have big plans to colonize Mars, but what will the pioneers of tomorrow eat? Innovative Canadian brand TMRW Foods is on a mission of its own, and took to Instagram in 2022 with a proposition for the SpaceX CEO: TMRW Mars ration packs, packed with protein from peas, quinoa, and other sustainable nutrients. And, of course, the company’s signature black-and-pink branding, which adorns everything the self-proclaimed “Willy Wonka of Plants” touches.
TMRW’s proprietary protein formula is made up of a range of ingredients derived from whole and nutritious foods, like kidney beans, quinoa and sunflower seeds. The patties are similar in texture and grilling style to beef, which helps to give them the charred look and feel of meat-based patties. The vegetarian mince which makes up the base can be purchased individually, if you want to make your own patties or try it as a substitute for other ground beef recipes.
Beyond Burger Plant-Based Burgers
Beyond Meat has only been a household name for a few years, but its debut in restaurants, grocery stores, and meal kit delivery services in the late 2010s was a huge splash. The delicious formula speaks for itself, and the company’s environmentally-conscious ethos remains central to this day.
In 2024, Beyond Meat relaunched their Beyond Burger and Beyond Beef products, creating a new burger that replaces canola oil and coconut oil with heart-healthy avocado oil. This fourth-generation burger also that has 23% less sodium than the third-generation burger. The primary ingredient for Beyond Burger is still pea protein, but there’s now also red lentil, brown rice and faba bean proteins.
If you’re unsure about how best to prepare a frozen veggie burger, Beyond has partnerships with a number of meal kit delivery services such as Hello Fresh, which can help newbies start to get familiar with preparing meat alternatives. California Cookout Classic Burger recipe is on our menu this summer.
Yves’ The Good Veggie Burger
You’d be hard-pressed to find a Canadian vegetarian who isn’t familiar with Yves. Unlike the other fresh-faced favourites on this list, Yves has been on grocery store shelves for over 20 years and makes a wide range of meat substitutes beyond burgers. You can find them in almost all Canadian chain grocery stores and delivery services.
Yves makes a couple of veggie burger patties, but The Good Veggie Burgers are the closest in taste and grill-ability to beef. They’re affordable and usual crowd-pleasers, so they’re a good option if you’re not sure who all you’re grilling for and want to cover all your bases. They’re also healthier than many imitation meats – at only 100 calories per patty, they make a tasty burger base if you’re looking to keep it basic, but they’re also the perfect canvas if you like to load up on the cheese and spreads.
Want to make your own vegetarian burgers? Here are some of our favourite recipes to try
With files from Bobbe Hayes
