Vegetarian burgers are all the rage, especially when they’re made with healthy grains like quinoa. Aldi’s distant cousin, Trader Joe’s, offers plenty of choices when it comes to veggie burgers. One option I recently tried from Trader Joe’s are the Quinoa Cowboy Veggie Burgers with Black Beans and Roasted Corn.
Trader Joe’s Quinoa Cowboy Veggie Burgers with Black Beans and Roasted Corn are sold frozen and cost $3.69 for a 12-oz. box with four burgers at the time of publication, or about 92 cents per burger.
The burgers are kosher, and the primary ingredients are cooked tri color quinoa, red peppers, cooked black beans, and bread crumbs. The ingredients list overall looks pretty clean, with no unpronounceable chemicals or fillers. Those with allergies should be aware the veggie burgers contain wheat and eggs.
Trader Joe’s Quinoa Cowboy Veggie Burgers nutrition info and ingredients. (Click to enlarge.)
One burger (91 grams) contains 180 calories, 8 grams of total fat (12% of your daily value), 1 gram of saturated fat (4% DV), 0 mg of cholesterol, 280 mg of sodium (12% DV), 22 grams of total carbohydrates (7% DV), 6 grams of dietary fiber (25% DV), 2 grams of sugars, and 5 grams of protein.
The veggie burgers can be prepared in several ways, including a conventional oven, toaster oven, stove top, or microwave.
I cooked my burgers in a conventional oven. The instructions state to preheat the oven to 450 degrees, remove the burgers from the packaging, and place them on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake 4 to 6 minutes or until browned. Carefully flip and continue to bake an additional 4 minutes or until heated through and well browned.
To prepare the burgers in the toaster oven, preheat the broiler. Remove from packaging and place desired number of burgers on an ungreased pan. Broil 5 to 7 minutes. Carefully flip and continue to broil an additional 4 minutes or until heated through and well browned.
To prepare on the stove top, preheat a non-stick skillet over medium eat. Remove from packaging, add desired number of burgers and cook until first side is browned, about 7 minutes. Flip and continue cooking, flipping as necessary until heated through and well browned, about 4 minutes longer.
To prepare in the microwave, remove from packaging and place one burger on a microwave-safe dish and cook on high for 1 1/2 minutes. Carefully flip and cook 1 additional minute.
I baked these veggie burgers in the conventional oven and served them for lunch on hamburger buns spread with mayo and topped with sliced tomatoes and lettuce. The burgers are flavorful, with lots of beans and corn and just a bit of kick, but they’re not overly spicy. The quinoa adds a nice bit of crunch to the outside of the burgers. If you are looking for meatless burgers or for a serving of veggies, these are not a bad option.
The Verdict:
Trader Joe’s Quinoa Cowboy Veggie Burgers with Black Beans and Roasted Corn are flavorful, with plenty of veggies and a crisp outer coating. They are filling and satisfying if you’re looking for a meatless option or are just tired of traditional beef burgers.
