EV’s Take: A Back-to-Basics Veggie Burger
I have had MorningStar Farms Garden Veggie Burgers in my freezer for a few weeks, but I’ve been afraid to break them open for a review. Why? Let’s go back to 2006. My teen self was obsessed with Burger King’s veggie burger. A simple MorningStar Farms Garden Veggie Burger with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and ketchup. That was the order I would indulge in a few times a week. Served with their seasoned fries, it was just heaven for me. That their fries have gone downhill is a story for another day. Regardless, I’ve always held the MorningStar Farms veggie burger on a pedestal, and I was a little afraid to try it again after so many years in case it just didn’t hit the spot like it used to.
Unfortunately, that sentiment proved to be partly true. While I don’t think these taste quite as good as I remember, I still think the MorningStar Farms burgers are a great, back-to-basics veggie burger that won’t break the bank. While the cardboard-like texture didn’t wow me, the heavy-on-the-veggie flavor was still tasty.
My favorite part about MorningStar Farms Garden Veggie Burger? The little flecks of mushrooms. I don’t know why, but even in my Burger King era, I was obsessed with the mushroomy flavor of these burgers. I was thrilled that they hadn’t changed that aspect of the recipe.
MorningStar Farms Garden Veggie Burger Ingredients
MorningStar Farms has a pretty basic ingredient list and uses soy as its protein source.
Here’s what you’re getting in each burger:
Water, carrots, onions, soy protein concentrate, mushrooms, water chestnuts, soy flour, wheat gluten, vegetable oil (corn, canola and/or sunflower), green bell peppers, soy protein isolate, cooked brown rice (water, brown rice), whole grain oats, onion powder, red bell peppers, cornstarch. Contains 2% or less of sugar, black olives, salt, methylcellulose, konjac flour, soy sauce (fermented soybeans, salt), spices, garlic powder, potassium salt, xanthan gum, jalapeno pepper.
In general, this ingredient list is great. MorningStar Farms uses common binders like methylcellulose and konjac flour, but I love the ample amount of veggies packed into these burgers. Carrots, onions, mushrooms, water chestnuts, peppers! So many things jammed into one little patty!
MorningStar Farms Garden Veggie Burger nutrition
| Serving Size | 1 burger |
| Calories | 100 |
| Total Fat | 3g |
| Saturated Fat | 0g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 0mg |
| Sodium | 280mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 10g |
| Dietary Fiber | 5g |
| Total Sugars | 2g |
| Protein | 10g |
Source: MorningStar Farms
Want to cook MorningStar Farms Garden Veggie Burger? Here’s how!
The MorningStar Farms website advises cooking them from frozen. You can pick your choice of preparation as these burgers work well on the stovetop, microwave, air fryer, oven, or grill. So many options! They recommend the stovetop, so that’s what I went with. I’ll include the cooking instructions for the other methods as well. The main thing is just ensuring that the patty reaches 165ºF.
Stovetop:
- Lightly grease a skillet and place it on the stove over medium heat.
- Add the patties and cook until they reach 165ºF, about 7–8 minutes total. Flip the burgers periodically as they cook to ensure even browning.
Microwave:
- Place one patty on a microwave-safe dish and microwave for up to 1 minute 30 seconds, flipping the patty midway through cooking.
- MorningStar Farms doesn’t recommend microwaving more than 1 patty at a time.
Oven:
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
- Place the patties on a baking sheet and bake for 14–15 minutes until they reach 165ºF.
Grill:
- The instructions are sparse here, but I imagine you’ll grill over a medium flame until heated. It would likely take 3–6 minutes, but you’ll want to watch them closely to ensure you don’t overcook them.
Air Fryer:
- Heat the air fryer to 375ºF.
- Lightly grease the air fryer basket.
- Place the patties in the basket, avoiding overlap if possible.
- Air fry for 10–12 minutes, flipping once midway through.
How did EV eat MorningStar Farms Garden Veggie Burger?
To test vegan burgers, I try to keep each test as controlled as possible. I use the same bun and toppings; the only variation is the plant-based cheese and burger. I always sample the burger on its own and with the cheese because if I’m reviewing a burger, I might as well review cheese, too!
For these burgers, I used my familiar toppings: lettuce, tomato, onion, Follow Your Heart smoked Gouda cheese, and homemade vegan sriracha-mayo.
I used the stovetop method and cooked the burgers for about 8 minutes. I added a piece of cheese and then transferred it to the broiler for about 1 minute to melt the cheese.
From there, I served on toasted buns with my toppings and spicy mayo.
Now I’m craving veggie burgers! Where can I buy MorningStar Farms Garden Veggie Burgers?
These are pretty ubiquitous and can be found in nearly all major grocery store chains. You can also buy them on Amazon. You can find the retailer closest to you by using MorningStar Farms store locator on their website.
What do you think?
Have you tried Morningstar Farms Garden Veggie Burger? Love it or hate it? Tell us in the comments!
