Meatless burgers are nothing new. Restaurants from Burger King to Freddy’s to Johnny Rockets have developed recipes that not only taste like real burgers but look like them, too. Veggie burgers once focused on ingredients like mushrooms and black beans, and while there’s still a handful on our list that are more traditional, the new-and-improved veggie burgers are all about the “fake meat.” You’ve likely heard of Impossible Meats and Beyond Burgers – the two primary companies that produce plant-based burgers that are completely vegan and vegetarian. These burgers don’t taste like veggies – they taste like real meat, which is a major win for everyone out there who’s cut beef out of their diet. So, if you’re looking for a plant-based patty or one with black beans and mushrooms as the base, we’ve got all the best fast food veggie burgers outlined for you below. Enjoy!
Best Fast Food Veggie Burgers
BurgerFi Vegefi Burger
For a more “upscale” fast food veggie burger, the Vegefi from BurgerFi is a great choice. Unlike most options on our list, it’s not a product of Impossible or Beyond Meats, but it’s a classic quinoa veggie burger with all the fixings. The Vegefi is topped with white cheddar, lettuce, tomato, and BurgerFi Sauce on a Vegan Multigrain Bun. You can also order the burger “Green Style” which means you’ll get everything wrapped in greens instead of a bun. Keep in mind, if you’re a vegan eater, you’ll need to remember to ask for the burger without cheese.
Burger King Impossible Whopper
BK’s Impossible Whopper is quite possibly the most well-known fast food veggie burger. It was launched late last summer and quickly became a must-try burger, even for those who don’t care to eat meat-free. The Impossible Whopper mimics the originally beef Whopper in taste and stature, but there’s definitely a distinct difference between the two. The veggie burger lacks some of the original burger’s juicy, savory flavor, but it’s still a major improvement for vegan and vegetarian eaters. Plus, it kickstarted an entire movement of fast food veggie burgers.
Carl’s Jr. Beyond Famous Star
Carl’s Jr. is another fast food joint that has fully embraced the plant-based trend. Within the past several months, the burger chain has released several new items that feature Beyond Meat, making their menu even more appealing to vegetarians and vegans. The Beyond Famous Star is a veggie burger version of the original beef burger. It’s topped with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, special sauce, and mayo, all on a sesame bun. If you’d like to make the burger vegan, just order it without the cheese and mayo.
Shake Shack Shroom Burger
The Shake Shack Shroom Burger is one of a kind, truly. And if you’re not a fan of the Impossible and Beyond burgers, this one’s for you. It’s a giant fried portobello mushroom stuffed with muenster and cheddar cheeses (yum) and topped with lettuce, tomato, and ShackSauce™. It’s as filling as it is delicious and has been a staple on the predominantly beef-based menu for a while. Even those who are not vegetarian order this burger regularly – it’s that good.
Bonus: you can make this fast food veggie burger at home with our Shroom Burger recipe.
Denny’s Vegan Beyond Burger
Earlier this year, Denny’s released their very first Beyond Burger, a veggie burger with American cheese, All-American sauce, lettuce, tomato, red onions, and pickles on a multigrain bun. If you order this delightful burger as a meal, you’ll get wavy-cut fries on the side. With all those toppings, it tastes an awful lot like a regular hamburger, so if you’re a vegetarian craving that savory, juicy flavor, you’re in for a treat. Keep in mind, the cheese and sauce on this burger are not plant-based or vegan.
Dave & Buster’s Plant-Based Burger
Dave & Buster’s has had a veggie burger on their menu since 2018, but what most people don’t know is that it started off as an Impossible Burger. Back in the fall of last year, the franchise decided to start serving a plant-based patty from a smaller competitor of Impossible Meats called Lightlife’s. According to Reuters, “The Lightlife burgers are free of genetically modified organisms, gluten, soy and artificial flavors.” They also use heme, a genetically-modified yeast that gives plant-based burgers the taste, texture, and appearance of real meat.
Burger 21 Black Bean Burger
Burger 21 is only located in a handful of states, including Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, and Virginia. If you’re lucky enough to live near one, you’ve probably heard of their Black Bean Burger, whether you’re a vegetarian or not. This delicious dish is made with a black bean veggie patty, avocado, cilantro cream, red onion, sun-dried tomato aïoli, pico, lettuce, and vine-ripened tomato, on a toasted whole wheat bun. It’s not vegan unless you order it without the aïoli and cilantro cream, but it is 100% delicious either way. You can order it in a lettuce wrap, too, if you want to cut calories and carbs.
Burger 21 does have an Impossible Burger, as well, but I’ll take any chance I can get to get my hands on a classic veggie burger like this one.
Houlihan’s Impossible Burger
Houlihan’s is all about fresh, high-quality food. They make all their dishes from scratch and specialize in sandwiches, burgers, steaks, and ribs. Houlihan’s added the Impossible Burger to their menu back in 2018, and it features the famous veggie patty, topped with cheddar cheese, special sauce, lettuce, and tomato on a brioche bun. You can get the Impossible Burger as a meal with fries for just $11.50.
Freddy’s Veggie Burger
While Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is all about the meat, there’s a quite popular vegetarian option on the menu as well. The Veggie Burger features a black bean patty, cheese, onion, Freddy’s Sauce, lettuce, and tomato, served on a toasted bun. While it’s not vegan the way it is, you can order without the cheese and Freddy’s Sauce to make it vegan-friendly. Keep in mind, black bean burgers tend to be on the dryer side, simply because of the ingredients’ textures. But adding things like gooey melted cheese and sauce help add some moisture to the burger.
The Habit Burger Veggie Burger
The Habit Burger’s veggie burger is full of unique, refreshing flavors. It comes with a vegan veggie patty (double yay), green leaf lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions, drizzled with sweet mustard dressing. All veggie burgers are made-to-order, and they are served on your choice of bun, like grilled ciabatta roll, grilled sourdough, seeded, or wheat bun.
Johnny Rockets Black Bean Burger
Johnny Rockets introduced its Black Bean Burger back in 2017, and it’s still considered one of the best fast food veggie burgers on the market. The patty itself if made with black beans, brown rice, bell peppers, and corn, and it’s layered with lettuce and tomato on a whole wheat bun. If that sounds too plain for you, you’ll be glad to know you can spice up your burger with additional toppings like pickles, caramelized onions, grilled mushrooms, or fresh avocado.
Once you find the perfect veggie burger, you’ll need a side with that. Check out the best fast food french fries.
