Fast food chains are finally starting to add the meatless burger to their menus and the trend is quickly catching on – so much so that the high-demand is causing a shortage. If you tasted one, and we highly recommend you do, then you’d know why. GrubHub has even said that meatless Impossible Burger orders have increased by 82% since the start of 2019 – and the year is only halfway over! And we know why…
The clean ingredients give them the flavor and look of real beef. Yup, you heard that right. These meatless burgers taste just like real meat and you can get them right at your local fast food chains. So, now you too can enjoy the satisfaction of biting into a juicy burger but without all the guilt. Plus, it’s not just vegans/vegetarians that are loving these new additions to the menu. Carnivores are loving them too – they taste that good!
What is a Meatless Burger?
There’s a difference between a veggie burger and these meatless burgers (although they’re both plant-based), and that difference is in the heme. Heme is an iron molecule found in all living things. It’s responsible for giving meat its “meaty” taste but it can also be found in soy plants.
Impossible Burger and Beyond Meat, the two leading meatless burger companies, use this molecule to their advantage creating a recipe that perfectly captures the flavor of meat in a meatless way. The patty is made of mostly soy protein, potato protein, coconut oil, sunflower oil, and heme.
But it isn’t just the taste that’s propelling these plant-based burgers into fame. It’s also the 1,799 gallons of water you save the world by not producing just one pound of beef needed for regular burgers. Or the lives of innocent animals being spared and the health benefits you get from eating less processed, red meat.
Where to Get Meatless Burgers
It can be hard to find a place that sells meatless burgers because of how popular they are – heck White Castle is sold out half the time, but we’ve done all the legwork for you with this list:
Burger King Impossible Whopper
From Impossible Foods
Burger King was among the first fast-food chains to add meatless burgers to the mix, and for that, we have to applaud them. By doing so, they are encouraging other chains to add more plant-based options too. Especially after they see how quickly they sell out!
If you can taste the difference between a regular whopper and it’s vegan twin, we’d be surprised. Just like the world-famous Whopper, you can top the Impossible Whopper with tomatoes, lettuce, mayo, ketchup, pickles, and onions on a sesame seed bun.
A&W
From Beyond Meat
On June 21st, A&W joined the vegan movement by adding the Beyond Burger to 925 of their Canadian locations. This partnership between A&W and Beyond Meat is a giant milestone for the plant-based patties as it marks its debut in Canada.
You can order the Beyond Burger with lettuce, onion, pickles, and tomatoes. To make it completely vegan, ask for it without mayonnaise. The bun is vegan, but cannot always be verified. To play it safe opt out on the bun and ask for it to be sandwiched between lettuce instead.
White Castle Impossible Sliders
From Impossible Foods
Who would have thought that White Castle would be one of the few chains adding these innovative vegan patties to their menu? We didn’t, but we’re glad they did! If you’re hesitant about giving up your juicy meat patty head to White Castle. Reviewers have claimed that the Impossible Foods meatless burgers are “the country’s best fast-food burger, period.” What’s even better? You can get these sliders for only $1.99 so you have no reason not to try them.
These do come with cheese so if you are going for a full plant-based meal, ask for it without the cheese.
Carl’s Jr
Beyond Meat
In early January 2019, Carl’s Jr announced the release of their Beyond Famous Star meatless burger. And we have to give the chain some credit. Their FAQs answered some of the most pressing questions in the simplest terms. No other chains have done this, and honestly, we think they should. The public has questions about a mysterious meat-tasting meatless burger!
What’s the difference between a veggie burger and these burgers, you ask? “The Beyond Burger looks, cooks and satisfies like a fresh beef burger.” Why are the burgers red if they aren’t real meat? “Beyond Meat uses trace amounts of beets that lend a meaty red hue to The Beyond Burger. The patty changes color as you cook it just like a beef burger.” Hat’s off to you Carl’s Jr. Well played.
Anyways, the burger comes with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and ketchup. Like most of the best fast food burgers, these do come with cheese and mayo. So if you are fully vegan, ask for these to be removed. See something on the menu you’d rather have? The chain allows you to swap out the burger or chicken patty in any of their menu items for an additional $2.
Bareburger
From Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods
The New York-based chain, Bareburger was and is way ahead of the game. Having added the Impossible Burger to one of their locations back in 2017, it has since spread into all of their locations. The addition caused the company to rethink how they do meat. Since the addition of meatless options, the company has eliminated its exotic meat burgers saving 100s of elk, wild boar, and lamb.
Bareburger by far has the most vegan burger options including The Original, Golden State, The Duchess, Big Bopper, and The Wake Up Call.
Red Robin
From Impossible Foods
Since announcing the Impossible Burger’s debut in April 2019, the demand has been so high the chain can barely keep up. Although this is a great problem to have, it turns the heat on for Impossible Foods. Especially when competitor Beyond Meat is moving in on the same markets.
It’s available on any of their Gourmet Burgers for an additional $3.50. In comparison to White Castle, this may seem a bit high. But we’d pay anything if it meant saving animals and the planet in the process.
TGI Fridays
From Beyond Meat
TGI Friday’s wasn’t quite ready to make the dive into the vegan market – until they tested it in October of 2017. After seeing the success that adding the Beyond Burger to the menu had, the company decided to jump right in. Within a couple of months, they added it into all 469 of their locations making the fastest test-to-table in the chain’s history.
The Beyond Burger features a 6oz burger topped with white cheddar, tomato, red onion, pickles, and Friday’s sauce. Again, ask for it without cheese or the sauce if you want a fully vegan burger.
BurgerFi
From Beyond Meat
BurgerFi was the very first national burger chain to offer Beyond Meat on their menu in June of 2017. Despite having gotten a lot of backlash for their implementation of this burger (McDonald’s we’re looking at you!), the company stuck to their gut. It was important to them to give everyone a delicious option, no matter what their dietary choices were. We’d have to say it paid off!
You can order the burger in two ways: traditional or vegan green style. Both come with the Beyond Burger patty, mustard, onions, pickles, tomatoes, mayo, and cheese. The only difference is the bun, lack of cheese and no mayo!
Del Taco
From Beyond Meat
Before we get into any confusion, Del Taco is not offering meatless burgers. What they are offering is Beyond Burritos and Beyond Tacos. We have to say. We are seriously impressed! With the Beyond Burger taking off the way it has, it only makes sense that taco joints wouldn’t be too far beyond. Even vegans want a hearty taco or burrito every now and again!
To take advantage of these menu items, order the Beyond 8 Layer Burrito, Epic Beyond Cali Burrito, or the Beyond Taco.
With the rise of Veganism worldwide, there is an added pressure for places to provide more plant-based options. So, you can expect to see more meatless options pop up on McDonald’s, the Cheesecake Factory’s, and many other menus soon! In the meantime, check out other game-changing fast food trends!
