18 best vegan burgers to try this summer

Score: 81/100

Our winning vegan burger has aromas of sweet, warming spices, onion and potato – just as you would expect from an onion bhaji!

Incredibly light and soft in texture, testers loved the balanced flavours with a pleasing crispiness around the edges that offered a richer, caramelised flavour. Pair with a raita in your favourite bun for a mouth-watering vegan burger.

Score: 78/100

Spice up your BBQ with these Korean-inspired burgers. Our testers loved the intense flavours of spices, herbs and a lingering chilli heat.

It’s soft in texture with a good variety of vegetable pieces throughout – the onion and carrot added a nice additional sweetness, which our testers enjoyed.

Score: 78/100

Testers could instantly tell this was a Mexican-inspired burger thanks to the enticing aromas of red pepper, tomato, paprika, cumin and onion. Bold and spicy in flavour, it had well-balanced acidity from the lime with a hint of sweetness from the onion and sweetcorn.

The sweetcorn also added a pleasing bit of crunch to the otherwise soft texture. Wrap in a corn tortilla with a drizzle of green tomato salsa for a flavour-packed vegan option.

Score: 77/100

Our carnivorous tester was impressed by the “meaty” flavours of this smoky burger, which grilled nicely on the barbecue to give a slight char.

With a similarly meaty texture and a crispy outside, the panel felt this was a very classic meat replica burger done well. Stuff in a bun straight off the barbecue and add your favourite sauces.

Score: 74/100

’Shroom fans will adore these vegan-friendly burgers, made with meaty soy protein and shiitake mushrooms for a soft and chewy texture. The recipe contains a mix of herbs and spices, including fennel, chilli and cardamom, but it was the paprika, onion and garlic that stood out.

Score: 74/100

It’s always handy to have a frozen burger on hand, and this one — made with a comforting veggie base of carrot, sweetcorn, green beans, red pepper and potato — is coated in a crisp golden crumb for a nice textural contrast.

A versatile choice, it’s ideal in a burger bun or served with a garden salad.

Score: 74/100

Our testers felt the aroma of these burgers was very reminiscent of a classic meat burger, offering distinct “beefy” notes. Expect charred sweet flavours from the outside and a slightly saltier centre.

Some testers did find it little too mild and lacking the juiciness of a meat burger, but that’s nothing a few tasty toppings couldn’t rectify – we recommend finishing with vegan cheese and your favourite sauces.

Score: 73/100

Appetising and eye-catching, this dark purple patty looks like a giant falafel. Simple unseasoned flavours of beetroot and peas give this burger a fresh taste, while hints of chilli and garlic added some complexity.

Testers found the texture a little dry but suggested this could be easily remedied with the addition of a tasty sauce.

Score: 73/100

Smoky aromas give this vegan burger those classic just-off-the-barbecue vibes.

With flavours of rich caramelised red onion, tomato and salty umami notes, the fattiness of the patties makes them deliciously juicy – perfect for sandwiching in your favourite burger bun with salad and a slice of vegan cheese.

Score: 72/100

Bursting with North African flavours and reminiscent of falafel, these burgers have aromas of cumin and sweet mango.

Testers found the texture very soft but felt the abundance of vegetables, particularly carrot, did add some bite. Pair with vegan yoghurt scattered with fresh mint.

Score: 72/100

Testers felt this had a very traditional “meat replica” flavour – lightly salty with some charred notes. Though mild and short lasting, this would work well in a classic burger with lots of toppings.

Our panel also really enjoyed the course texture, which had a great chewiness.

Score: 72/100

Ideal for a midweek Mexican meal, these bean burgers are flavoured with well-balanced spices and have the spicy aroma of red pepper and sweet potatoes.

The mixture of beans and vegetables, combined with a charred outside, create a nice texture that would go well with guacamole and a refreshing Pico de Gallo.

Score: 70/100

ASDA’s breaded ‘chicken’ burger is surprisingly spicy, with a lingering heat and juicy texture. It’s well-seasoned too, so you won’t need to resort to lots of extra toppings here unless you want to — simply serve in a burger, or slice and add to a wrap.

Score: 70/100

It seems plant-based development has caught up with Beyond Meat, which previously topped our vegan charts.

However, these patties are still a good choice, proving an authentic replacement for a traditional meat burger, achieving that tell-tale BBQ char and smoky aroma. The flavour is equally convincing, with rich, umami notes, “spot on” seasoning and a juicy “bleeding” middle.

Score: 70/100

Our testers found the texture of this lightly charred reddish-brown fillet to be more like a chewy nut loaf than meat patty. However, they enjoyed the sweet smoky flavours, which are similar to barbecue sauce.

Score: 70/100

Dense and dark brown with flecks of herbs and seasoning and a strong onion flavour, this reminded our testers of a classic fairground style burger. A good choice if you’re craving that fast food feeling.

Score: 70/100

With a crispy outside and a centre similar to minced beef, these patties have an intense smokiness with subtle sweet and sour notes. Juicy but thin, just make sure not to overcook them.

Score: 70/100

The aromas of this burger reminded our testers of a vegetable stock, and the flavour was equally vegetable-forward with carrots, onions and peas.

It’s lightly seasoned – some of our testers would have preferred a punchier flavour – and the veg had a pleasingly varied texture that would work well in a soft burger bun with a crunchy salad.