The best plant-based burger I’ve ever had

Even though I’ve never operated a grill in my life (other than opening or closing it for the griller on occasion), I love everything about barbecue season. The smell and sound of chicken, burgers, steak, ribs, you name it sizzling to perfection… it’s a sensory experience that’s been seared into my memory since childhood (hehe, sorry I had to).

The bad news is 1) grilling out isn’t always an option, especially if you’re a city dweller like me, and 2) as much as I love a real-deal burger, it doesn’t love me back in the name of health.

The very best news though—I found a plant-based burger that is legit the closest thing to a traditional burger! IMO, it’s even better than an Impossible or Beyond Burger. REALLY. TRULY. And it resembles a beef patty in appearance before AND after cooking!!

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via GIPHY

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you…Trader Joe’s Protein Patties!

Trader Joe's Protein Patties on a burger bun with toppings and condiments
Perfect pairing: the Cheddar/Gruyère blend cheese (comes in block form, also from TJ’s)

So while you coulddd make these bad boys on the grill, I followed the stovetop directions of 3-4 minutes per side on medium heat and was not disappointed. Piled onto a multigrain sandwich thin with the same toppings I usually put on a burger (cheese, lettuce, ketchup, mustard, mayo… missed the pickles this time), it was hands down the tastiest lunch I’ve had in a long time!

Trader Joe's Protein Patty on a multigrain bun on a white polka dot plate with lettuce
I like mine on the well-done side 😀

To me, there are a few factors that make these patties stand out from the other ones on the market:

The texture and taste are unmatched. I don’t know how Trader Joe’s did it, but they did it. It’s so much juicier than you’d expect (unless you overcook it, I suppose?)

They are to be stored in the refrigerator and used within a few days. It literally states this on the packaging. I can understand how some people might be a little annoyed by the short (fridge) shelf life, but it’s a good thing! Because…

Unlike most meat-free/plant-based burgers, the Trader Joe’s Protein Patties are NOT loaded with preservatives and fillers! When you can pronounce each of the 12 ingredients on the label, that’s a huge indicator that you aren’t getting any fake junk in your food. Despite these patties having a pea protein base, I promise you pea haters out there that you can’t taste those little greenies at all!

Trader Joe's Protein Patties Nutrition Facts and Ingredients
Honestly, you can’t beat the low amount of saturated fat (a.k.a. the bad, artery-clogging kind of fat), zero cholesterol, and protein and iron content.

Given the meat shortage going on, Trader Joe’s could not have debuted these at a better time. Even if you’re not able to make it to one of their stores, I hope today’s post at least encourages you to expand your palate and protein repertoire. I also hope you’ll take a closer look at the ingredient labels of what you put in your cart to ensure that you’re feeding your body the wholesome, real, healthy stuff… most of the time 😉


BONUS: these are the 11 Trader Joe’s products I can’t live without!

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