11 Plant-Based Meat Products You Need To Try

The contemporary culinary world is no stranger to plant-based meat products. Although they have been popularized in recent times, plant-based meat substitutes go back several decades. During the 1990s, brands like Quorn, Gardenburger, and Boca Burger started selling veggie burgers in supermarkets, allowing meatless proteins to start making waves. 

These days, it's likely that your local grocery store is stocked with all types of meat substitutes. These meals are made from everything from soy to seitan, offering a huge variety of options for plant-based, vegan, vegetarian, or other non-meat-eating folks. 

With such a crowded marketplace of vegetarian meat products, it can be tough to figure out what's actually worth trying. Luckily, we've rounded up 11 of the newest and tastiest plant-based meat options that you can buy. You'll find some tried-and-true brands on our list, like Beyond Meat, as well as newer companies like VFC. Check them all out below.

One great product is the Future Burger from the brand Future Farm. This company was initially launched in Brazil but made its way to the United States in July 2021 after finding immense popularity for its delicious plant-based goods. Its Future Burger is vegan, gluten-free, and free from any GMOs. Additionally, it contains 16 grams of protein per serving. This high amount of protein can sometimes be difficult to find in other meat substitutes. 

According to reviews on Abillion, people who tried the Future Burger were thrilled with the texture and taste. One recent shopper noted: "It didn't have such a strong taste of 'meat'," giving the product a five-star rating. Another reviewer felt similarly, stating that the burger's mouthfeel wasn't as gamey as real beef. However, they wrote that the burger cooked well and had a great texture. 

This burger's one downfall is that it's difficult to find. Future Farm products are available to buy online, but they may be hard to find in grocery stores. However, Future Farm says that its products are up for grabs at the chain Food Bazaar Supermarket.

If you're familiar with plant-based meat, you've probably heard of Beyond Meat. Started in 2009 by Ethan Brown, the company originally gained popularity for its Beyond Burger, a pea protein-based beef substitute. The company's offerings have now expanded to include vegan steak, jerky, sausage, and popcorn chicken. Similar to the Beyond Burger, the Beyond Popcorn Chicken contains pea and faba bean protein. The latter item is a legume that's rich in protein (via ScienceDirect). In November 2022, Beyond Popcorn Chicken was rolled out to 5,000 Kroger and Walmart stores.

With a whopping 14 grams of protein per serving — which amounts to six pieces of popcorn chicken — these plant-based nuggets are super easy to prepare. These nuggets don't have to be thawed whatsoever before cooking. You can use an air fryer, microwave, or oven to heat them up — as long as they reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit. This should only take a few minutes. 

Although they haven't been on the market for too long, Sam's Club buyers are raving about the Beyond Popcorn Chicken. It has a 4.6-star rating on the Sam's Club website. One recent buyer described the product as: "something everyone in our household likes ... beloved by omnivore and vegetarian alike."

While it's easy to find plant-based meat substitutes in the form of chicken or steak, it tends to be a little tougher for vegans and vegetarians to spot seafood alternatives. Luckily, there's The Plant-Based Seafood Co.'s Dusted Scallops. This is a shellfish-free, soy-free, and allergen-free alternative to real scallops. 

Launched in March 2023, this item is the brand's first shelf-stable product. This means it doesn't have to be refrigerated or frozen — it can stick around in your pantry for a long period of time. These plant-based scallops are made from a blend of natural ingredients to mimic the unique texture and taste of scallops, including konjac root, a starchy and fiber-rich plant that's typically found in Asia (as stated by Healthline). 

While they're pretty pricey, a recent YouTube reviewer was seriously wowed by how similar they tasted to regular scallops, giving the product a 10 out of 10.

Abbot's Butcher is a company that specializes in plant-based meats. It sells vegan forms of chicken, beef, and chorizo. The Plant-Based "Chorizo" is made from pea protein. It boasts an array of Spanish-inspired spices, including chili powder, cumin, paprika, and chipotle peppers. Best of all, this product is free from preservatives, artificial colors, and GMOs. Yet the item still manages to have 15 grams of protein per serving.

Buyers were really impressed with the taste profile of this plant-based product from Abbott's Butcher. One shopper described it as "rich and flavorful," while another wrote that it was "easy to cook." Upon opening, you have about five days to use this vegan chorizo before you should toss it, but it has a solid seven-month frozen shelf life. You can heat it up on a skillet or in the oven, but it's important to defrost it before cooking it. 

The brand recommends using this meat substitute in everything from sweet potato hash to papas con chorizo — sign us up!

In addition to legumes, mushrooms are another common meat substitute. These versatile foods can be found in the Shroomeats Mushroom Patties. The plant-based burgers are made with only six ingredients: shiitake mushroom, pea protein, sunflower oil, salt, pepper, and potato flour. The patties are also completely vegan, gluten-free, and soy-free. 

If you're a big mushroom fan, you'll likely love these meat alternatives. A recent shopper on the Shroomeats website wrote: "Hearty patties and easy to season." Another fan of the patties wrote: "Highly recommend for those who are so bored of vegan products you normally find in the groceries store."

A one-time purchase of Shroomeats' mushroom burgers goes for around $11. This purchase contains two burgers. We think this is not a bad deal, especially in comparison to some other plant-based options on the market. However, it's only available in person at some U.S. stores. Your best bet might be to buy it online.

If you're a plant-based eater that misses the presence of chicken in your life, Daring Foods may be the answer to your woes. The brand has become an expert in vegan chicken products and has introduced an entire line of meatless chicken pieces. According to the brand's mission, all items are free from animal hormones and antibiotics. They are also 100% plant-based. 

While there are some seriously yummy options to try, we recommend starting out with the company's Original Plant Chicken Pieces. This product is a meatless substitute for grilled chicken. The chicken is made from soy protein concentrate. It boasts only 90 calories and 14 grams of protein per serving.  

This meat substitute currently has a 4.1-star rating from more than 900 reviews on Amazon. One customer wrote: "It sears up in a pan with some olive oil perfectly." They also noted that "it can easily be sliced, cubed, or shredded." This means you can add it to everything from leafy green salads to creamy vegan pasta sauces. Unfortunately, this product's con is its cost, which is a bit high. A buyer wrote: "My biggest gripe is that there isn't a lot of food for the price."

Giving up meat can also mean giving up charcuterie boards: the pièce de résistance of holiday gatherings, wine nights, and housewarming parties. Luckily, Renegade Foods exists. This brand specializes in vegan deli products, allowing plant-based eaters to enjoy cured meats just the same as meat lovers. They primarily sell salami alternatives, including the Plant-Based Sweet Salami Toscana. This is a Tuscan-inspired meat substitute made from sweet Italian herbs and roasted red peppers.

Plant-Based Foods, a vegan blog, tried the brand's trio of salamis. They recommended the Sweet Toscana option. As an added bonus, you don't have to refrigerate this delicious meat substitute as long as it's unopened. This offers the product a longer shelf life. 

However, it is quite pricey. This item is currently only available as a three-pack for $42.75 on the Renegade Foods website, which makes it tougher to simply test out. 

We've heard of jackfruit meat, but what about cashew fruit meat? Cashew fruit is the part around a cashew nut that is often wasted. In February of 2023, it was reported that Cajú Love was officially debuting its Organic Cashew Fruit Meat in stores and online. On its website, Cajú Love notes that its cashew fruit meat is sustainable, organic, and 100% plant-based.

The brand's cashew fruit meat comes unseasoned. But it can easily soak up all different flavor profiles depending on what you're cooking. Additionally, the product is Kosher, USDA-certified organic, as well as a good source of fiber, magnesium, and vitamin A.

Currently, it has a 5-star rating from Cajú Love shoppers. Buyers described it glowingly, with one reviewer writing: "I would recommend to anyone who is vegan and trying to be healthier about their meat alternative." Just note that if you're planning to shop online, it's only available in a four-pack on the website.

Chances are, you've either heard of or eaten at KFC. Now, plant-based eaters can enjoy KFC-inspired vegan chicken via the aptly named VFC. The company currently sells three products, including the VFC Original Recipe Crispy Chick*n Tenders. These delicious and crispy meatless chicken fillets are made from wheat protein, as well as a crispy corn coating.

At a first glance, VFC's site is intense. But it has good intentions. Its mission is to rebel against climate change and dangerous food-sourcing practices. As a result, founders Matthew and Adam aimed to create meat substitutes that are 100% vegan, high in protein, and planet-friendly.

The company's chicken tenders are right on par with its goal. Customers wrote glowing reviews. One person wrote: "The flavour is very nice and the texture mimics the chicken nicely. Definitely the best vegan fried chicken I've tasted and would have it again." Pair these babies with your favorite dipping sauce and you'll be in vegan fried chicken heaven.

In December 2022, PLNT launched its vegan salmon fillets, offering a super yummy plant-based alternative for fish lovers. Made from pea protein, it features a variety of herbs, spices, and flavorings, like paprika and mushroom powder. According to the company, it's a great source of vitamin B12 and iron.

PLNT's salmon fillets are just as easy to cook as regular salmon, too. The brand recommends heating some plant-based butter or oil in a pan, then frying each side of the fillet for about three minutes. Stop frying when the fillets appear golden brown. You can also use an air fryer if you're not too confident in your pan-frying skills. Try cooking the fillets for a quick four minutes at around 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 

That being said, plant-based eaters in the U.S. will have a hard time finding this PLNT product. It only launched recently across Europe. It may take some time to become widely available in the States. 

Tuna is an ultra-versatile ingredient, so it only makes sense that the vegan brand BettaF!sh came out with a plant-based tuna spread. The company's Tu-Nah spread. The brand says it tastes like the ocean, despite it being 100% plant-based. It contains broad beans, which are protein-rich legumes that are high in fiber, iron, and potassium. For an added fishy taste, there's hand-grown seaweed, too. Currently, you can only shop the BettaF!sh Tu-Nah Spread online. But based on glowing reviews, we're sure it won't be long before they enter U.S. grocery stores. 

In a statement, company co-founder Deniz Ficicioglu said: "In less than a year, our team of product developers was able to create a delicious, vegan alternative to tuna that is helping us push the topic of saving our seas and their dwellers to the forefront" (via Vegconomist). If this mission inspires you, you can consider sampling some of the brand's other vegan products.