Whenever I’m craving a juicy burger but want to skip the meat, two names always pop up—Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger. These plant-based patties have taken over grocery shelves and restaurant menus, promising all the flavor and sizzle of beef without the guilt.
I’ve often wondered which one really delivers the best burger experience. Is it the smoky taste, the texture, or maybe the ingredients that set them apart? Let’s dig into what makes each of these meatless marvels unique and see which one might win a spot on my grill this weekend.
Overview Of Beyond Meat And Impossible Burger
Both Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger use plant-based ingredients to recreate the taste and texture of beef burgers. I use these brands in my kitchen when I’m developing vegan recipes that need a rich, hearty bite. Beyond Meat’s main ingredients include pea protein, canola oil, coconut oil, rice protein and beet juice extract for color. Impossible Burger uses soy protein concentrate, sunflower oil, coconut oil and heme, an iron-containing molecule made by fermenting genetically engineered yeast, to achieve a meat-like flavor and appearance.
Beyond Meat’s burgers are completely soy- and gluten-free, which helps if you’re preparing vegan meals for people with common food allergies. Impossible Burger includes both soy and genetically modified ingredients, so I usually mention that upfront to new vegans or those with allergies. Both burgers cook, sizzle and brown much like traditional beef patties, thanks to their smart use of fats and natural colors.
Supermarkets and restaurants across the US carry both brands, making them easy to find for home cooks or those dining out. In my classes, I highlight how both options fit well into homemade vegan burger recipes, chili bowls and stuffed wraps. Their widespread availability and adaptability mean you can create a range of vegan dishes—from classic cheeseburgers to spicy sliders—without compromising on taste or nutrition.
Ingredient Comparison
Exploring Beyond Meat vs Impossible Burger ingredients helps me choose the best for my health-focused vegan recipes. I look for clean proteins and minimal additives with every plant-based burger.
Protein Sources
Protein sources in Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger create distinct nutrition and texture profiles. Beyond Meat uses pea protein isolate and rice protein, which support rich amino acid content and work well in gluten-free, soy-free recipes—my go-to for guests with allergies. Impossible Burger uses soy protein concentrate, a complete protein. Soy brings a meatier bite, though I avoid it when cooking for those with soy sensitivities. These choices influence the final mouthfeel and how each patty holds up on the grill.
Additives And Flavorings
Additives and flavorings in both burgers help achieve beef-like color and umami depth. Beyond Meat uses beet juice extract to mimic rare beef’s pinkness and apple extract to promote browning. For fats, coconut and canola oil create juiciness. Impossible Burger uses soy leghemoglobin, also called heme, for its signature meaty flavor and pink hue—an ingredient produced with genetically engineered yeast. Sunflower oil and coconut oil add fat and texture. Both products rely on starches, methylcellulose, and natural flavors to bind ingredients and refine mouthfeel. These components let me create plant-based burgers at home that rival traditional beef options.
Nutrition Facts
As a vegan chef who’s always testing new recipes, I pay close attention to what’s inside my favorite burger alternatives. Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger both offer nutrient profiles that make creating healthy, hearty vegan burgers at home easy and rewarding.
Calories And Macros
Both burger patties offer similar calories and macros per serving, so it’s easy to compare them side by side. Each patty delivers enough protein for a post-workout meal or a filling lunch.
| Beyond Meat (113g) | Impossible Burger (113g) | |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 230 | 240 |
| Protein | 20g | 19g |
| Total Fat | 14g | 14g |
| Saturated Fat | 5g | 8g |
| Carbs | 7g | 9g |
| Fiber | 2g | 3g |
Beyond Meat contains more protein, making it my pick when I’m prepping for muscle recovery. Impossible Burger includes slightly higher carbs and a bit more saturated fat—something I keep in mind for balanced meal planning.
Vitamins And Minerals
Both choices provide vitamins and essential minerals for everyday vegan cooking, thanks to their fortification and plant-based ingredients.
- Beyond Meat includes significant iron, zinc, and phosphorus—mainly from pea and rice proteins. Every burger gives about 25% Daily Value (DV) for iron, a crucial nutrient for plant-based diets.
- Impossible Burger includes added nutrients—iron, calcium, vitamin B12, and zinc—making each patty especially helpful for anyone new to veganism. Soy leghemoglobin in Impossible Burger is a unique iron source, giving about 130% DV for B12 and 25% DV for iron.
Both burgers help me create vibrant vegan meals with the nutrition needed for active lifestyles. When creating my favorite home recipes, I opt for the brand that matches my micronutrient focus for the day—B12 or iron.
Taste And Texture
I always look for plant-based burgers that deliver on both flavor and mouthfeel. Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger each aim to mimic the classic beef burger experience, but their unique ingredient combinations create subtle differences when I’m cooking or eating them.
Cooking Experience
When I grill Beyond Meat patties, I notice a firmer texture and visible flecks—similar to ground beef. The patties hold their shape well, making them ideal for high-heat grilling, pan-searing, or broiling. The coconut and canola oils give Beyond Meat a juicy center, especially if I sear each side for 3-4 minutes. A pink interior from beet juice extract adds to the visual appeal, and the patties don’t crumble when I flip them, which suits recipes like stacked cheeseburgers and thick sliders.
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Impossible Burger patties start off softer, and the fat blend melts rapidly, creating a slightly sizzled exterior that browns beautifully. I often get a more authentic “beefy” aroma from Impossible due to the addition of soy leghemoglobin. The interior stays moist, and the patty remains juicy even after well-done cooking. Because of this, I use Impossible in recipes where a tender, meat-like texture and quick browning are essential, such as smash burgers or stuffed patties with vegan cheese.
Consumer Feedback
My clients and students share varied but consistent feedback about both patties. Most describe Beyond Meat as having a thicker, meatier chew and a subtle plant-forward aftertaste—especially when prepared with minimal seasonings. The texture often wins over diners who prefer burgers that are dense and hearty, similar to homemade bean patties but juicier.
Impossible Burger often surprises new vegans and omnivores with its realistic flavor. Many people compare it directly to fast-food beef burgers, noting a pronounced umami and a slightly mineral taste from the soy-based heme. The softer, juicier interior earns praise, especially from those craving that traditional burger bite. Versatility comes up often, with many using Impossible in recipes like vegan meatballs, Bolognese sauce, or stuffed peppers for a meat-like consistency that satisfies diverse palates.
Feedback from my own taste tests and live cooking classes suggests both brands excel in replicating classic burger experiences using plant-based recipes, with personal preference coming down to desired texture, flavor depth, and the type of vegan recipe I’m preparing that day.
Environmental Impact
Cooking plant-based burgers like Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger helps me keep my meals eco-friendly. Both brands promote more sustainable eating, but their approaches and impact metrics show some differences worth noting.
Sustainability
I find that Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger both cut down resource use compared to beef. According to the brands, Impossible Burger reduces greenhouse gas emissions by about 89% and uses 87% less water compared to traditional beef production (source: Impossible Foods 2022 impact report). Beyond Meat claims its burgers use 99% less water, 93% less land, and emit 90% fewer greenhouse gases than beef burgers (source: Beyond Meat Life Cycle Assessment 2018).
| Burger Brand | GHG Emissions Reduction | Water Use Reduction | Land Use Reduction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beyond Meat | 90% | 99% | 93% |
| Impossible Burger | 89% | 87% | 96% |
Both brands leverage these stats to emphasize their environmental stewardship, making them attractive for anyone wanting to lower the footprint of their vegan recipes.
Water And Land Use
Both Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger cut water and land use sharply when compared to beef. For example, a single Beyond Burger patty requires just 3 liters of water, while a beef patty needs about 280 liters (source: Beyond Meat LCA). Impossible Burger also scores high for land efficiency, using about 0.06 square meters per patty, much less than a comparable beef patty.
Choosing these plant-based patties lets me keep my home cooking aligned with my values, serving satisfying vegan food while conserving water and land resources.
Price And Availability
My experience running a vegan restaurant taught me that Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger have wide but slightly different availability. Most larger grocery chains like Whole Foods, Kroger, Albertsons, and Safeway stock Beyond Meat burger patties in 2-packs or bulk. Impossible Burger, though once exclusive to restaurants, now appears in supermarkets nationwide, including Walmart, Trader Joe’s, and select Target stores. In smaller towns, I’ve noticed Beyond Meat shows up on store shelves more often.
Both brands list for about $5.49–$6.99 (2-patty pack, 8 oz total). Local sales can drive the price down by $1–$2. Impossible products sometimes run higher in specialty grocers or when packaged as pre-made vegan burgers at restaurants. Restaurants featuring vegan options tend to mark up both Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger by at least 30%. For example, I’ve seen Beyond Burgers at chain restaurants for $13–$15 per serving and Impossible Burgers at $14–$16 per serving.
I use the following data to help my vegan cooking students compare costs and stock options when choosing which plant-based patties to buy:
| Product | Typical Retail Price (2-pack) | Widespread Grocery Availability | Restaurant Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beyond Meat Burger | $5.49–$6.99 | Yes (Whole Foods, Kroger, etc.) | Yes (Carl’s Jr., A&W, local) |
| Impossible Burger | $5.99–$7.49 | Yes (Walmart, Trader Joe’s) | Yes (Burger King, White Castle) |
For at-home vegan recipes, I grab whichever option is on sale or easiest to find nearby. Beyond Meat typically gets stocked in the plant-based freezer aisle, while Impossible Burger usually sits near ground beef or in the vegan section. Both freeze well and keep their texture after thawing, letting me blend them into everything from vegan sliders to stuffed bell peppers.
When helping others eat more plant-based, I suggest watching for weekly deals and trying both brands in restaurant settings before buying large quantities for homemade vegan recipes. This approach balances cost, taste, and convenience in any vegan kitchen.
Which One Should You Choose?
Choosing between Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger depends on cooking style, ingredient needs, and plant-based burger goals.
- Beyond Meat
I lean toward Beyond Meat for gluten-free or soy-free vegan recipes. Pea and rice proteins bring robust amino acid content, helping me create hearty, wholesome burger patties for fitness-minded cooks. Its firm texture handles grilling and pan-searing, so I use it for classic cheeseburgers, stacked double burgers, and BBQ-style sliders. If I plan to cook for folks with soy allergies, Beyond Meat becomes the go-to option.
- Impossible Burger
I pick Impossible Burger when I’m after the richest “beefy” flavor to highlight in vegan burgers. Soy protein’s smoothness and soy leghemoglobin’s aroma help Impossible shine in juicy burger builds and restaurant-style dishes, like vegan patty melts or loaded mushroom melts. Anyone wanting the closest taste to traditional beef, without gluten concerns, might find Impossible delivers a more authentic burger experience.
- Nutritional Focus
I select Beyond Meat when I want extra protein, as it packs a few more grams per serving. Impossible Burger offers more calcium and vitamin B12, so I use it if I aim to boost these nutrients on a given day. Both burgers work in high-protein vegan meal plans and can be the center of balanced vegan recipes.
- Eco-Conscious Choice
Either brand offers massive environmental benefits over beef patties. If I’m cooking for large batches and aiming to minimize water and land use, Beyond Meat touts slightly higher conservation numbers. Both options fit vegan recipes for eco-friendly feasts.
- Price and Convenience
Both burgers cost $5.49–$7.49 per 2-pack in most supermarkets, like I’ve seen at Whole Foods, Kroger, Walmart, and Trader Joe’s. I watch for sales to keep vegan meal costs affordable, and I rotate brands based on what’s stocked locally.
Each brand helps me offer delicious plant-based alternatives in vegan cooking classes, whether students want wholesome, allergen-friendly burgers, or crave the most realistic meat flavor. For vegan BBQs, hearty lunches, or weeknight recipes, I know either patty supports fit, flavorful vegan eating.
Conclusion
After exploring both Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger I feel confident that either choice can satisfy my burger cravings without compromise. It’s exciting to have these plant-based options that deliver on flavor and texture while also supporting my health and the planet.
I love having the freedom to pick based on my mood or dietary needs. Whether I’m grilling for friends or making a quick weeknight meal I know I can count on these burgers to deliver a tasty and guilt-free experience every time.
