I Tried Trader Joe’s New Turkeyless Burgers. Here’s What I thought.

I Tried Trader Joe’s New Turkeyless Burgers. Here’s What I thought.

  • Hannah Bugga
  • Hannah Bugga

Packages of Trader Joe’s brand-new Turkeyless Protein Patties have been making their way onto store shelves! Made with pea protein and sold in packs of two, each hearty four-ounce burger patty is bursting with 23 grams of protein. On its website, Trader Joe’s writes:

Plant-based burgers have become one of the most popular food trends of the past few years, and there’s no sign of slowing down. Folks are increasingly going for meatless burgers for all kinds of reasons, but we like to think that one reason in particular is primarily responsible: plant-based burgers have gotten really, really good recently.

When I heard the news, I immediately called my local Trader Joe’s to see whether they had this exciting new product. Not only did they have the patties in stock, but the staffer on the phone had recently purchased them and was eager to try them! I hurried down to TJ’s and picked up two packages for $4.99 each, along with buns, tomatoes, onions, and mixed greens.

The package offered cooking instructions for both grill and stove-top. I tossed two patties in a pan, heated them until crispy and brown on one side, and flipped them. Then I added slices of original Field Roast Chao cheese—my absolute favorite plant-based cheese!

Once my patties were done, I loaded one up with sliced tomatoes, onions, and mixed greens. I left the second one plain so I could sample the patty on its own. And let me tell you—it was tasty! The patties have a really nice flavor with that subtle turkey taste I remember (though, thankfully, it has been many years since I’ve eaten an actual turkey). It also had a very pleasant texture, crispy on the outside while warm and soft on the inside.

Final feedback? I would highly recommend this burger. It’s delicious, easy to make, and filling, and it doesn’t harm a fly—or a turkey.

Looking for more incredible plant-based burgers? Check out these nine vegan burgers that came out just last year! You can also find recipes, tips, and more by downloading our FREE Vegetarian Starter Guide.