Beyond Burger Patties: 20g Protein per Patty, Labelgrade B-
B- 74 / 100 — Hits a real protein number (20g) very close to ground beef using pea + rice protein. Trade-offs: 23-ingredient panel with methylcellulose binder, elevated sodium (390mg per patty), and saturated fat from coconut oil. Best-in-class for plant-based meat-mimics; not winning against tofu or whole-food protein on ingredient simplicity.
🛒 Buy on Amazon →The short answer
Beyond Burger plant-based patties deliver 20 g of protein per 113 g patty (USDA FDC 2367272) — about 18 g per 100 g. That’s within ~10% of an 80/20 ground-beef burger, which is the entire reason Beyond exists. The Labelgrade is B- (74 / 100): a real protein number using pea + rice protein, but earned with a 23-ingredient panel, elevated sodium (390 mg per patty from manufacturing seasonings), and saturated fat from coconut oil. Best-in-class for plant-based meat-mimics; doesn’t beat tofu on ingredient simplicity or whole chicken on protein density.
Why this Labelgrade
| Dimension | Grade | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein density | B | 77 / 100 | 18 g per 100 g — strong for a plant source. Pea protein concentrate + rice protein together provide a complete amino-acid profile, comparable to animal sources on PDCAAS scoring |
| Ingredient quality | B | 75 / 100 | 23 ingredients, all recognizable (no artificial colors or flavors), but the methylcellulose binder, refined coconut oil, and pea protein isolate are clear processed-food markers. Honestly engineered, not “whole food” |
| Saturated fat load | B- | 73 / 100 | 5 g per patty — about the same as a 4-oz ground-beef burger. The coconut oil is what gets the patty to “sizzle and bleed” texture-wise, but it’s saturated-fat-heavy |
| Sodium load | C | 64 / 100 | 390 mg per patty (~17% of the FDA daily limit), or ~345 mg per 100 g — well above unsalted beef (~75 mg/100 g). Manufacturing pre-salts the patty for flavor; you can’t undo that at home |
| Sugar load | A+ | 100 / 100 | 0 g of sugar — engineered for savory only, no added sweetness despite the long ingredient list |
| Fiber | D | 43 / 100 | 2 g per patty — a modest amount from the plant protein bases. Not the reason you’d eat this for fiber |
| Overall | B- | 74 / 100 | The only “real burger replacement” that hits actual beef protein numbers. Worth it if reducing animal-product intake is the priority; less compelling if you’re already comfortable with tofu, chicken, or grass-fed beef |
How it compares
| Product | Protein per serving | Protein per 100 g | Sodium per 100 g | Ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beyond Burger (this product) | 20 g (1 patty / 113 g) | 18 g | 345 mg | 23 |
| 80/20 ground beef, cooked | ~22 g (per 4 oz / 113 g) | ~22 g | ~75 mg (unsalted) | 1 |
| House Foods Extra Firm Tofu | 14 g (per 84 g) | ~17 g | ~10 mg | 3 |
| Impossible Burger patty | ~19 g (per 113 g) | ~17 g | ~340 mg | 21 |
| Plain cooked chicken breast | 31 g (per 100 g) | 31 g | ~75 mg | 1 |
The honest read: Beyond gets you ~90% of beef’s protein density at a meaningful ingredient + sodium cost. Against tofu — Beyond has more protein per gram (18 vs 17) but tofu wins on ingredient simplicity (3 items vs 23) and dramatically lower sodium. Against chicken breast — chicken wins on every Labelgrade dimension except convenience and dietary preference.
Whole-food equivalent
One Beyond Burger patty (20 g protein) ≈ 65 g of cooked chicken breast (about 2.3 oz). The trade-off is dietary preference (vegan-compatible vs animal-derived) and form factor (grills like a burger vs prep work for chicken). Calorically Beyond costs 65-70 more calories per gram of protein than chicken breast, mostly from the coconut + canola oil layer.
Scope
This page covers Beyond Burger 8 oz / 226 g 2-patty pack (UPC 852629004583, USDA FDC 2367272). Beyond Meat sells several adjacent products:
- Beyond Sausage (Italian, brat, hot Italian) — different formulation, ~16 g protein per link
- Beyond Chicken Tenders / Grilled Strips — lower protein density (~12 g per 85 g serving)
- Beyond Meat 1 lb ground — same formulation as the patties in ground-meat form
- Beyond Burger 4-patty club pack — same recipe, larger format
All formulations use the same pea-protein + canola/coconut-oil base. Per-100-g protein varies by 1-3 g; serving sizes and Labelgrade vary more. Always cross-reference the actual package.
Ingredients (from the USDA Branded Foods entry)
Water, pea protein+, expeller-pressed canola oil, refined coconut oil, rice protein, natural flavors, dried yeast, cocoa butter, methylcellulose, contains 1% or less of: potato starch, salt, potassium chloride, beet juice color, apple extract, pomegranate concentrate, sunflower lecithin, vinegar, lemon juice concentrate, vitamins and minerals (zinc sulfate, niacinamide [vitamin B3], pyridoxine hydrochloride [vitamin B6], cyanocobalamin [vitamin B12], calcium pantothenate).
Where to buy
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The Labelgrade score is independent of affiliate relationships. More.
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Quick Facts
Per serving · 1 patty (113 g)
852629004583Full nutrition facts
| Nutrient | Per Serving (1 patty (113 g)) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 231 |
| Protein | 20g |
| Total Fat | 14g |
| Saturated Fat | 5g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 7g |
| Dietary Fiber | 2g |
| Total Sugars | 0g |
| Added Sugars | 0g |
| Sodium | 390mg |
| Cholesterol | 0mg |
| Calcium | 99mg |
| Iron | 4mg |
| Potassium | 330mg |
Scope: This page applies specifically to Beyond Burger Plant-Based Patties (8 oz (226 g) — 2-patty pack) · UPC 852629004583. Other sizes, flavors, or formulations may differ.
How this fits each diet
Each score is computed from the same USDA nutrition + ingredient data, against the published rules of each diet. They tell you "does this food fit this diet" — not whether the diet is right for you.
contains animal-derived ingredients
contains no listed meat or fish
no wheat, barley, rye, or malt detected in USDA ingredient list
Frequently Asked Questions
How much protein is in a Beyond Burger patty?
20 g per 113 g (4 oz) patty — about 18 g per 100 g (USDA FDC 2367272). For comparison, 80/20 ground beef cooked to medium delivers ~22 g per 100 g patty. Beyond is genuinely close, which is why it gained traction — most plant proteins are far less dense.
How does Beyond Burger compare to a real beef burger?
Side-by-side: 20 g protein (Beyond) vs ~22 g (80/20 beef). 231 cal vs ~290 cal — Beyond is leaner. 5 g saturated fat (Beyond, from coconut oil) vs ~6 g (beef). 390 mg sodium (Beyond) vs ~75 mg (unsalted beef) — Beyond's sodium is dramatically higher because it's seasoned during manufacturing. Zero cholesterol (Beyond) vs ~80 mg (beef). Mineral content is comparable due to Beyond's added vitamins/minerals.
What's in a Beyond Burger?
Pea protein and rice protein as the protein-stack workhorses, canola + coconut oil for fat (the coconut oil is what makes them sizzle and 'bleed' beet-juice-red), water for texture, methylcellulose as the binder, and a long tail of <1% flavorings, color, and added vitamins. Twenty-three ingredients total — clean by ultra-processed standards but not 'whole food.'
Is Beyond Burger 'plant-based meat'?
Yes — every ingredient is plant-derived or synthesized. The protein matrix is engineered to mimic the texture, mouthfeel, and 'bleed' of beef. Whether you accept that as 'meat' is a semantic call; nutritionally it sits in its own category between tofu and ground beef.
Why is the sodium so high?
390 mg per patty (~17% of the FDA daily limit) is real. Beyond seasons during manufacturing so the patty cooks like a pre-salted beef patty would. Per-100-g, that's ~345 mg — well above unseasoned ground beef (~75 mg) but lower than most deli meats. For DASH or low-sodium diets it adds up; for general use it's manageable.
Is it healthier than a beef burger?
Depends on what you optimize for. For lower saturated fat, lower cholesterol, slightly fewer calories — yes. For shorter ingredient list, no added sodium, no industrial binders — no, beef wins on simplicity. For environmental impact — Beyond uses ~99% less water and ~90% less land than beef. The 'healthier' answer is goal-dependent; this isn't a binary.
Beyond Burger vs Impossible Burger?
Different protein bases: Beyond uses pea + rice; Impossible uses soy. Per-100-g protein is comparable (~18 g). Impossible adds 'heme' (soy leghemoglobin) for stronger meat flavor; Beyond uses beet juice for color and natural-flavor blends. Sodium is similar (380-400 mg per patty). Impossible has a slightly higher saturated-fat load due to higher coconut-oil content. Choose by taste preference.
Is the 2-patty pack a single serving?
No — one patty (113 g, half the package) is one serving. The 8 oz / 226 g pack contains two patties intended as two servings (or one if you're piling on calories). All Labelgrade numbers above are per single patty.
Is Beyond Burger keto?
Borderline. Net carbs are ~5 g per patty (7 g total carbs minus 2 g fiber). On strict keto (≤5 g net carbs per snack), that's right at the edge. The protein and fat profile is keto-aligned; the carbs are the concern. Stricter keto practitioners often skip plant-based meats entirely because of the methylcellulose + binder load even when the carb count works.