Trader Joe’s Protein Patties are hitting stores now. Teased back in September, Trader Joe’s meatless burger is made with pea protein and comes in a package of two for $4.49. I fired up the grill in the rain yesterday (yes, for one burger) and pan fried the other. Here’s the verdict.
Upfront, we’re omnivores at my house. I don’t regularly buy Beyond Meat or order Impossible Burgers from restaurants. But I’ve been intrigued by the meatless burger trend and we definitely put vegetables forward on our plates.
For me, grilling is the way to go with any burger. And that’s the case with Trader Joe’s protein patties, too. It gives the burger some char and nice grilled flavor, but if you don’t have a barbecue, pan frying works just fine.
Fixins (ketchup, mustard, pickles, lettuce, tomato, whatever you like) are going to be key to a good burger experience here. The patties themselves don’t taste like a whole lot, so getting grill marks and flavor on there help make it a more satisfying bite.
The bright pink color comes from beets, but the first ingredient is a pea protein blend. So the texture is kind of like when you overwork ground beef, it’s dense and a little pasty.
A lot of people like to add a little steak seasoning or seasoned salt to their burgers. But I should flag a couple of things. These patties have 20g of fat and 450mg of sodium per patty. The high-fat content, coming from sunflower oil, is nice because you don’t have to oil your pan or grill. But at the same time, it’s still high. So it’s a little bit of a trade-off between higher fat, but zero cholesterol. Just something to keep in mind.
The Verdict: I think they’re fine, and worth trying if you’re looking for an alternative to a meat burger. Or if you’ve got vegan/plant-based eaters coming over for a party. I don’t know that I would buy them again, but at about a dollar cheaper than other brands, it might be a good option for you.
For a look at the patty on the grill:
Check out our other recent “We Tried’s” from Trader Joe’s:
Furikake (Sesame and Seaweed Seasoning)