How to Make Extra "Beefy" Beyond® Burgers

Why You'll Love This Extra-Beefy Beyond Burger

• It's seasoned with a few special ingredients to make it more convincingly beefy-tasting (all-natural, of course!)
• Ready in 10 minutes or less (burger night has never been easier to pull off)
• It's good for the environment to eat less beef every once in a while
• Perfect burger recipe for a low-cholesterol diet (Beyond Burgers contain ZERO cholesterol!)
• It's an easy recipe for kids to help make
• It's actually really delicious!

What Does Beyond Burger "Meat" Taste Like?

First, let's break down the flavor of Beyond Beef vs the smell of it. When you first open the package, the pea protein aroma hits you -- and it vaguely reminds me of the faint scent of fingernail polish remover.

This sounds completely unappealing, I know, but when you season and cook the meat, it takes on a whole new, delicious, meaty flavor and texture, and the pea protein flavor turns into an almost charbroiled flavor.

Beyond Meat has a really pleasant chew to it that's reminiscent of the texture of beef, which adds to the overall vegan burger experience.

Does Beyond "Meat" Taste Like Real Beef?

If you're someone who decided to become a vegan or vegetarian to help the planet and you haven't had real meat in years, you'll be excited by how deliciously "beefy" Beyond Meat is.

If you're someone who eats a little of everything (a mindful omnivore) who's trying to cut down on your beef (or overall meat) consumption, this will totally fill the void and any craving you have for an all-beef burger.

And for those of you who are diehard meat-lovers and can't live life without the real deal, these burgers may very well be just good enough to hit the spot on occasion. The best way to know if you'll enjoy it is to make your own.

Extra Delicious Beyond Burger Ingredients 

This is one of our favorite veggie burger recipes to make. If you're vegan, you'll need to replace the Lea & Perrin's Worcestershire Sauce (which has anchovies in it) with a vegan version, or omit it altogether.

For the Burger Seasoning

• Beyond Beef (Mince or Burger patties)
• onion powder
• paprika
• Worcestershire sauce
• salt and freshly cracked black pepper
• homemade potato buns or Martin's Potato Rolls
• vegetable oil (for cooking the burgers)

Optional Burger Toppings and Garnishes

• cheddar cheese
• American cheese
• fried crispy prosciutto or bacon
• onions
• smoky quick pickled red onions
• pickles
• lettuce
• tomatoes
• Smoky Burger Sauce or...
• mustard
• mayonnaise
• ketchup

How to Make Beyond Veggie Burgers Step-by-Step

There's a reason why both beef lovers and vegetarians love this faux-meat burger -- it's really delicious and easy to cook.  Getting a good sear on the "meat" adds extra flavor and texture, so be sure to get your skillet nice and hot before adding the seasoned Beyond patties to cook.

Step 1. Season the Beyond mince & form the patties. Add the mince "meat", onion powder, paprika, and Worcestershire sauce to a mixing bowl and mix well using your hands (or a fork) until combined. Form four patties and press them down to the desired thickness, and set them aside until ready to cook.

Step 2. Toast the buns. Just before you begin cooking the burgers, butter and toast the buns under the broiler or in a warm skillet until golden brown. Remove them from the oven and add any desired sauces to the bottom bun along with lettuce, pickles, onions, and tomatoes.

Step 3. Cook the burgers. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium-high heat in a well-seasoned cast-iron skillet (or other heavy-gauge skillet).

When the oil starts to smoke, add the burgers, and do not move them once they hit the skillet. Sear the burgers for 3 minutes on the first side, or until golden and the juice starts to pool on top of the patty.

Flip them over, add the cheese and cooked bacon or prosciutto (if using), and the top bun, and cover with a lid to help melt the cheese and steam the bun. Continue cooking for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the burger is cooked through.

Step 4. Assemble the burger. Place the burgers onto the dressed bottom buns and serve with your favorite fries, salad, or potato chips, Enjoy!

How to Cook Beyond Burgers (The Best Methods)

Beyond Burgers can be cooked using several different methods, and each one gives you slightly different results. Here's how to cook Beyond Burgers perfectly using your preferred cooking method.

Stovetop Method (Most Convenient)

Cooking Beyond Burgers on the stovetop gives you the best sear and most control over the cooking process. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a cast-iron skillet or heavy-gauge pan over medium-high heat until the oil just begins to smoke.

Add the seasoned patties and cook for 3 minutes without moving them. Flip once, add cheese if desired, and cook for another 3-4 minutes until cooked through. This method gives you that perfect crispy crust.

Grill Method (Best Tasting)

Preheat your grill to medium-high heat (around 375-400°F). Lightly oil the grill grates to prevent sticking. Place the Beyond Burger patties on the grill and cook for 3 minutes per side, flipping once.

The grill gives you those beautiful char marks and adds a delicious smoky flavor that makes these plant-based burgers taste even more like traditional beef burgers.

Oven Method (Almost Hands-Off)

To cook Beyond Burgers in the oven, preheat your oven to 400°F. Place the seasoned patties on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Bake for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the burgers are heated through and slightly browned. This is the easiest hands-off method and works great when you're cooking multiple burgers at once.

Air Fryer Method

Preheat your air fryer to 375°F. Place the Beyond Burger patties in the air fryer basket in a single layer (don't overcrowd).

Cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through. The air fryer gives you a nice exterior texture with minimal oil, making this a great option if you're looking to reduce fat.

How to Season Beyond Burgers

The secret to making Beyond Burgers taste extra delicious is in the seasoning. While Beyond Meat has its own flavor profile, adding the right seasonings transforms these plant-based patties into something truly special.

When to season: Always mix your seasonings into the Beyond Meat before forming your patties. This ensures the flavors are distributed evenly throughout the burger rather than just sitting on the surface. Then season the outside of the formed patties with salt and freshly cracked black pepper just before cooking.

How much to use: For every pound of Beyond Beef, use 1 teaspoon onion powder, 2 teaspoons paprika, and 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce. You can adjust these amounts to your taste, but this ratio gives you that extra beefy flavor we're known for.

Beyond Burger Recipe Ideas & Variations

Once you've mastered the basic Beyond Burger, try these delicious variations to keep things interesting.

BBQ Beyond Burgers

Mix 2 tablespoons of your favorite BBQ sauce into the Beyond Meat before forming patties. Top with cheddar cheese, crispy onion strings, and extra BBQ sauce.

Mediterranean Beyond Burgers

Add 1 teaspoon dried oregano and 1 teaspoon garlic powder to the meat mixture. Top with feta cheese, sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, and tzatziki sauce.

Spicy Jalapeño Beyond Burgers

Mix in 2 tablespoons diced jalapeños and 1 teaspoon cumin. Top with pepper jack cheese, sliced jalapeños, and chipotle mayo.

Breakfast Beyond Burgers

Cook your seasoned Beyond Burger patty and top with a fried egg, cheese, and serve on a toasted English muffin for an epic breakfast sandwich.

Beyond Burger Sliders

Form smaller 2-ounce patties instead of full-sized burgers. Perfect for parties and game day! Cook for 2 minutes per side instead of 3.

Beyond Burger vs Impossible Burger: What's the Difference?

Both Beyond Burgers and Impossible Burgers are popular plant-based burger options, but they have some key differences in ingredients, nutrition, and taste.

Main Protein Source

Beyond Burger uses pea protein as its primary protein source, while Impossible Burger uses soy protein and potato protein. If you have a soy allergy, Beyond Burger is the better choice since it's soy-free.

Key Ingredient Difference

Impossible Burger contains heme (a molecule found in plants and animals that gives meat its distinctive taste), which makes it taste more like traditional beef. This is also why Impossible Beef isn't allowed in Europe. Beyond Burger relies on beet juice extract for color and natural flavors for taste.

Nutritional Comparison

Both burgers have similar calories and protein content. Beyond Burger tends to be slightly higher in fat but also provides more iron. Both contain zero cholesterol, which is a major advantage over traditional beef burgers for anyone on a low-cholesterol diet and having a hankering for a burger.

Taste and Texture

Many people (including us) find Impossible Burger tastes slightly more like traditional beef due to the heme ingredient, which gives it a more charbroiled taste than Beyond beef.

My Beyond Burgers Are Dry

Overcooking is the most common cause of dry Beyond Burgers. Cook them for only 3-4 minutes per side over medium-high heat. Beyond Meat doesn't need to be cooked to a specific internal temperature like beef does, so don't leave them on the heat too long. Adding cheese or vegan cheese while cooking also helps keep them moist.

My Beyond Burgers Taste Too "Pea-Like"

The pea protein flavor becomes much more noticeable when Beyond Burgers are undercooked or under-seasoned. Make sure you're using enough seasoning (follow my recipe amounts - you can even add more if you like) and cook the burgers until they develop a nice brown crust. The caramelization from proper searing helps transform that pea protein taste into something more savory and meaty.

My Beyond Burgers Are Falling Apart

Beyond Meat is more delicate than ground beef when raw. Handle the patties gently and avoid overworking the meat when mixing in seasonings. Form patties carefully and let them cook undisturbed for the full 3 minutes on the first side before flipping.

My Cheese Isn't Melting

Add the cheese during the last 2-3 minutes of cooking and cover the pan with a lid. This traps steam and helps the cheese melt beautifully and make the buns super fluffy. You can also add a tablespoon of water to the pan and cover immediately for extra steam.

Why Choose Beyond Burgers?

One of the biggest nutritional advantages of Beyond Burgers is that they contain ZERO cholesterol - because they're made entirely from plants! Traditional beef burgers contain about 85mg of cholesterol per 4-ounce patty, which is nearly 30% of your daily recommended limit.

This becomes even more important for anyone who's on a low-cholesterol diet. By choosing plant-based burgers, you get all the protein and satisfaction of a beef burger without any cholesterol, but you'll also need to pay attention to the amount of sodium (which is much higher than traditional beef).

Check out the Beyond Burger comparison chart below to understand the nutritional pros and cons of Beyond beef vs regular beef.

BEYOND BURGER VS BEEF BURGER COMPARISON

Beyond Burger vs Beef Burger - MEAT ONLY Comparison (Just the meat - no seasonings, no bun, no toppings)

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