Not Beyond Meat, Not MorningStar: Consumer Reports' Highest-Rated Veggie Burger Comes From This Brand

Anyone who has sought out a veggie burger from the frozen or meat departments can tell you that there's a vast selection of products to choose from. Such well-known brands like Beyond Meat and MorningStar Farms are the go-to options for many consumers. However, when Consumer Reports rated and ranked 15 plant-based burgers, Beyond Meat proved fake meat is becoming irrelevant by coming in dead last, while MorningStar's burgers only achieved middle-of-the-road status.

The longtime favorite meatless brand, Amy's, had several veggie burgers in the rankings, with its Light in Sodium California Veggie Burger earning the top spot with a score of 70 out of 100. However, this particular veggie burger from Amy's has since been discontinued, so the No. 1 slot on Consumer Reports' ranking went to Trader Joe's Quinoa Cowboy Veggie Burger with Black Beans & Roasted Corn, which scored a 69.

Trader Joe's veggie burger received a 4 out 5 for both its sensory score — based on flavor and texture attributes — and nutrition score, which is based on calories, total fat (including saturated and trans fat), sodium, sugars, iron, calcium, and fiber per serving. Price also factored into the overall rating, with each 4-count box costing roughly $4. Consumer Reports' take on Trader Joe's Quinoa Cowboy Veggie Burger was, "Grain/veg like. For those who like spicy heat ... Moderate fat flavor, too!"

Among the other veggie burgers in Consumer Reports' ranking, Trader Joe's Quinoa Cowboy Veggie Burger with Black Beans and Roasted Corn has some of the most unique flavorings, thanks to its Southwest-inspired ingredients and spices (similar to White Castle's new veggie sliders, for which we're grateful). Typically, veggie burgers are comprised of bases and binders, like grains (Guy Fieri's secret ingredient for the best vegan burger), legumes, nuts, and seeds, as well as veggies like corn, onions, and peppers — similar to the Trader Joe's veggie burger recipe. 

After being a vegetarian for over a decade, I've tried my fair share of veggie burgers, including Trader Joe's Quinoa Cowboy Veggie Burger and several others apart from those in Consumer Reports' ranking. When it comes to seasoning, most tend to fall short, tasting bland and often relying on added toppings to carry the show. However, with Trader Joe's veggie burger recipe incorporating Southwest-inspired ingredients, flavors, and spices, everything else added as a topping is a bonus, making the whole burger taste that much more satisfying.

Trader Joe's veggie burger is also one you can feel good about eating. Each burger is nutritionally balanced, containing less than 200 calories with a modest amount of fat and carbohydrates (8 grams of fat and 22 grams of carbohydrates). The veggie burger also supplies 4 grams of fiber, 5 grams of protein, and no added sugar, while also remaining relatively low in sodium for a processed frozen food product, with just 310 milligrams per serving.