Following a vegan diet sometimes requires you to plan ahead, especially when eating food prepared outside of your home.
Fortunately, many popular chain restaurants have added vegan options to their menus in recent years, including Burger King.
Additionally, some vegan options have been available for a long time. However, they’re not necessarily labeled as vegan, which can make it difficult for people following a vegan diet to identify what they can order.
This article reviews 6 vegan options available at most Burger King locations, plus several other potentially vegan items.
Burger King was among the first popular fast-food chains to adopt the vegan Impossible burger patty as part of their everyday menu.
The Impossible burger patty is made entirely from plants. Specifically, it contains soy and potato protein and coconut and sunflower oils. To get its meat-like flavor, it uses heme iron that’s derived from the fermentation of genetically engineered yeast extract (
Sold as the Impossible Whopper at Burger King, it’s topped with tomatoes, lettuce, mayo, ketchup, pickles, and onions. To make sure it’s vegan, ask for no mayonnaise or vegan mayo.
After public criticism about the Impossible patty being cooked on the same grill as beef patties, the Burger King website now mentions that you can request a “non-broiler cooking method” to ensure your Whopper is completely meat-free.
The Impossible Whopper offers the following nutritional profile (2):
- Calories: 630
- Protein: 25 grams
- Total fat: 34 grams
- Saturated fat: 11 grams
- Total carbs: 58 grams
- Fiber: 4 grams
- Cholesterol: 18 mg
- Sodium: 1,080 mg
- Sugar: 12 grams
Note that because cholesterol is only found in animal-derived products, ordering this Whopper without the mayonnaise will remove the cholesterol.
This burger is high in sodium, providing nearly half of the Reference Daily Intake (RDI), which is set at no more than 2,300 mg for adults. Regularly consuming too much sodium can increase your blood pressure, high levels of which are a risk factor for heart disease (
Additionally, while it’s a good source of protein, it contains a hefty serving of fat, one-third of which comes from the saturated fat in coconut oil.
Saturated fat’s effects on heart health are debated, and coconut oil appears to boost HDL (good) cholesterol (
Still, efforts to lower heart disease risk by increasing HDL cholesterol have been unsuccessful, and limiting your coconut oil intake due to its high saturated fat content is warranted (
SUMMARYThe Burger King Impossible Whopper ordered without mayonnaise is completely plant-based. However, note that it’s high in sodium and fat, both of which you may want to limit in your diet.
A simple breakfast option, these nugget-shaped hash browns are made with potatoes fried in vegetable oil.
A small order of Burger King hash browns has the following nutritional makeup (2):
- Calories: 250
- Protein: 2 grams
- Total fat: 16 grams
- Saturated fat: 3.5 grams
- Total carbs: 24 grams
- Fiber: 3.5 grams
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Sugar: 0 grams
While vegan, hash browns alone are unlikely to keep you full for long, so you may want to pair them with something else. And although they’re a good source of fiber, they contain minimal protein to increase your satiety, as well as nearly one-quarter of your daily sodium limit (
SUMMARYBurger King’s hash browns are fried potatoes in vegetable oil and a vegan-friendly breakfast option. They’re a good source of fiber and contain a lot of sodium.
Offered as a breakfast option, the French toast sticks come in a pack of three or five sticks with a side of breakfast syrup that has been verified as vegan-friendly.
And, unlike typical French toast recipes, these sticks aren’t made with eggs, milk, or butter.
An order of three French toast sticks from Burger King offers the following nutrition (2):
- Calories: 230
- Protein: 3 grams
- Total fat: 11 grams
- Saturated fat: 2 grams
- Total carbs: 29 grams
- Fiber: 1.5 grams
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Sodium: 260 mg
- Sugar: 8 grams
While this breakfast option is vegan, it’s also high in added sugar.
One order contains approximately 32 calories from added sugar. This is close to one-third of the RDI for adult women, set by the American Heart Association at 100 calories per day, or one-fifth of the set limit of 150 calories for men (
SUMMARYFrench toast sticks contain a substantial amount of added sugar but are a vegan option on the Burger King breakfast menu.
Burger King’s classic fries are made using vegetable oil and suit a vegan diet. This may be a pleasant surprise for vegan consumers, as McDonalds’ fries contain natural beef flavoring and milk (8).
Ask for ketchup or mustard for a vegan-friendly dip.
The medium order of classic fries from Burger King offers the following nutritional makeup (2):
- Calories: 385
- Protein: 5 grams
- Total fat: 17 grams
- Saturated fat: 3 grams
- Total carbs: 53 grams
- Fiber: 4 grams
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Sodium: 570 mg
- Sugar: 0.4 grams
This serving of fries contains a substantial amount of sodium, meeting nearly one-quarter of the RDI (
It’s also a significant source of calories and total fat, without offering many other beneficial nutrients. Therefore, from a health standpoint, it’s best paired with another item.
SUMMARYUnlike fries from many other fast-food chains, the classic fries from Burger King are vegan. Note that from a health standpoint, just one serving contributes a lot of sodium, fat, and calories.
Although this salad likely won’t satisfy a big appetite on its own, it can be made vegan by asking them to omit the shredded cheese.
Burger King’s side garden salad offers the following nutritional composition (2):
- Calories: 322
- Protein: 5 grams
- Total fat: 32 grams
- Saturated fat: 6.5 grams
- Total carbs: 5 grams
- Fiber: 1 gram
- Cholesterol: 22 mg
- Sodium: 340 mg
- Sugar: 4 grams
Keep in mind that removing the shredded cheese will reduce the fat, calorie, and protein contents, as well as eliminate the cholesterol.
It may also be helpful to know that besides cheese, this salad appears to contain just tomato and lettuce. Thus, you can top it with your own vegan dressing or other add-ons if desired.
SUMMARYRemoving the cheese from the side garden salad at Burger King makes it a vegan option, though you’ll likely need to pair it with another item to make a more satisfying meal.
Though it’s not enough to make a meal, applesauce could make a good vegan side to a more substantial item.
Mott’s applesauce from Burger King has the following nutritional makeup (2):
- Calories: 50
- Protein: 0 grams
- Total fat: 0 grams
- Saturated fat: 0 grams
- Total carbs: 13 grams
- Fiber: 1 gram
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
- Sodium: 0 mg
- Sugar: 11 grams
Although the applesauce is vegan, it won’t provide much in the way of satiety. Still, it can be an appropriate pairing to another vegan-friendly item.
And while it contains more sugar than the French toast sticks, Mott’s applesauce doesn’t contain any added sugar.
SUMMARYMott’s Applesauce is a naturally vegan side option. This is not a meal on its own, but it could pair well with a more substantial item at Burger King.
While they’re not listed on Burger King’s official U.S. menu, a few other vegan options may be available at this popular fast-food restaurant.
Some potential vegan items to look or ask for at Burger King include:
- oatmeal made with water or nondairy milk
- PB&J Jamwich from the kid’s menu
- Whopper Jr. minus the meat and mayo, which equates to a veggie sandwich with tomatoes, lettuce, ketchup, pickles, and sliced onions
- Veggie Bean Burger, found on the U.K. Burger King menu
If you wonder whether other particular menu items are vegan or can be made vegan, it’s best to reach out to your selected Burger King location directly.
SUMMARYOther vegan options may exist depending on the local menu. Plus, Burger King in the United Kingdom offers a Vegan Bean Burger as a regular menu item, but this is not available in the United States.
Following a vegan diet can require a little planning when you’re eating out. Fortunately, many popular fast-food chains, including Burger King, offer vegan menu items.
While even the vegan options at Burger King aren’t exactly health foods, as they can be high in sodium, fat, or added sugar, those who follow a vegan diet may find it helpful to have menu items that align with their dietary preferences.
Vegan options at most Burger King locations include the Impossible Whopper, hash browns, classic fries, French toast sticks, garden side salad, and Mott’s applesauce. Other vegan items may be available depending on the location.
FAQs
How many vegan options does Burger King have? ›
Vegan options at most Burger King locations include the Impossible Whopper, hash browns, classic fries, French toast sticks, garden side salad, and Mott's applesauce.
Is everything on the Impossible Whopper vegan? ›It couldn't keep up with the demand. The plant-based patty by Impossible Foods is stacked with all the classic Whopper toppings including sliced tomatoes, lettuce, mayonnaise, ketchup, pickles, and sliced onions, and is easily veganized by asking for no mayo.
Are Burger King chicken fries vegan? ›Their hand-breaded chicken does contain egg, but the nuggets and chicken fries do not. The dairy-free burgers can be ordered egg-free if you hold any mayo and mayo-based sauces. For vegan options, see the Vegan Menu Guide at the bottom of this post.
Why is plant-based Whopper not vegan? ›Burger King's Plant-Based Whopper is not certified vegan by The Vegan Society as it is cooked on the same broiler as the meat-based Whopper to guarantee the flame-grilled taste.
Are Burger King's onion rings vegan? ›Burger King onion rings are not vegan-friendly because they are made with whey, or milk protein. Foods containing vegan ingredients are also likely to be fried in the same oil. It's a good idea to avoid fried and broiled foods at fast food restaurants, which are unfortunately common in many chain restaurants.
What can vegans eat at Burger King? ›- Impossible Whopper (Ask for no mayonnaise).
- Fries.
- Garden Side Salad with Golden Italian Dressing.
- Dutch Apple Pie.
- Applesauce.
- PB&J sandwich (It may be from the kids' menu, but hey, it's a classic.)
- Hash Browns.
- French Toast Sticks.
Are Chick-Fil-A fries vegan? Yes! The waffle fries at Chick-Fil-A are vegan. We recommend pairing them up with one of the vegan sauces available at Chick-Fil-A like the famous Polynesian sauce.
Does McDonald's have vegan options? ›Unfortunately, no McDonald's menu items are certified as vegan or vegetarian. While some ingredients may not contain animal ingredients, we cannot guarantee that there will be no cross-contamination of ingredients during transportation, storage or preparation in our kitchens.
Are Wendy's fries vegan? ›Are wendy's fries vegan? Yes! Luckily, Wendy's Natural Cut Fries are vegan, along with their Seasoned Homestyle Potatoes!
Is BK apple pie vegan? ›However, Burger King's allergen menu only lists soy and wheat for the Dutch Apple Pie which makes it vegan-friendly! This has been confirmed by Peta. This is the second fast-food apple pie we have found to be vegan-friendly as the Apple Pie at McDonald's is also plant based.
Is the bun vegan at Burger King? ›
Yes! Burger King's buns are suitable for vegans!
Is Burger King gravy vegan? ›For toppings, their relish, ketchup, mustard, medium wing sauce, and original BBQ sauce are vegan. In addition to regular fries, their onion rings are also vegan but NOT the deep fried pickles. And here's a real treat! Their gravy is vegan so you can get that as a side to dip your fries in!
What is the difference between plant-based and vegan burger? ›According to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, plant-based just means that a protein from plants was used to make the patty and was constructed and formed to mimic the taste and texture of meat. Veggie burgers, on the other hand, are not meant to evoke meat products at all.
Does the plant-based Whopper use the same grill? ›Well, the main answer is that the patty, the “burger” bit of the finished Whopper, will be cooked on the same grill as all of Burger King's beef burgers. In other words, all the plant-based green goodness of the Rebel Whopper will be covered in the juices and fats of cows.
Is Impossible burger vegan? ›Is the Impossible Burger vegan? All products from Impossible Foods, including the Impossible Burger, are free of animal products and byproducts. This makes it a great option for vegans, vegetarians, and anyone looking to reduce their consumption of meat and animal products.
Is Burger King going fully vegan? ›What's on the menu at vegan Burger King? Together with its European supplier The Vegetarian Butcher, the fast-food chain has remade some of its classic items to be fully vegan. These include a plant-based Whopper, Long Chicken, Chicken Nuggets, and more.
Is Burger King going all vegan? ›The restaurant – which has also undergone a redesign transformation fit for the occasion – is open from 14th March 2022 to 10th April 2022, and will showcase our full menu of favourites, made completely meat-free.
Does Burger King have a vegan chicken burger? ›Burger King vegan menu
The Plant-Based Whopper and Chicken Royale are regular additions, but these are sometimes made on the same grill as meat or with non-vegan sauces. You should always check with your server before ordering.
The Impossible Whopper is prepared with mayonnaise and is cooked on the same grill as all other burgers. As such, it is not strictly vegetarian or vegan by default.