2026 Winner: Dr. Praeger's Grillhouse Cheddar Burger
Give up meat (or eat a little less of it) without giving up burger night. This juicy vegetarian patty puts a solid 20 grams of protein, real cheddar and plenty of savory flavor on the table. Add your fave fixins' and dig in!
Dr. Praeger's Grillhouse Cheddar Burger, 2026 Best of the Year Award Winner, Courtesy of Dr. Praeger's
Remember Meatless Monday? Let's bring it back for the sake of our hearts! Eating less red meat is a simple way to reduce our intake of saturated fat, lower cholesterol, and add more variety to our diets. And whether you do it on Monday or any other night of the week, burger night is a pretty great place to start. "This is a particularly great option for someone who's not a full vegetarian, but wants to incorporate a meat-free meal into their rotation — and a good way to transition to more meat-free eating,” says one Best of the Year Judge and Nutrition Category Expert.
One reason we're happy to recommend Dr. Praeger’s new Grillhouse Cheddar Burger? It gives you 20 grams of protein per patty, plus vegetables like onions, carrots, sweet potato, and butternut squash — and real cheddar cheese. It cooks straight from frozen, costs about $6 for a package of four, and is made for those nights when you're craving a burger, just maybe not the meat.
Standout Features: Why It Won
20 grams of protein per burger. That's a substantial amount for a meatless patty and one of the first things our nutrition experts noticed.
Real cheddar cheese. You can taste it, too. Judges and testers consistently called out the gooey, cheesy flavor.
Vegetables are baked right in. Onions, carrots, sweet potato and butternut squash bring Dr. Praeger's veggie-forward roots to the Grillhouse line.
Straight-from-the-freezer convenience. There's no thawing required, and the patties held together well during cooking in our testing.
Nice price. At about $6 per box of four patties, it's easy to stock up, toss them in your freezer and keep on hand for a quick lunch, weeknight dinner, or seasonal weekend picnic.
"This is a particularly great option for someone who's not a full vegetarian, but wants to incorporate a meat-free meal into their rotation — and a good way to transition to more meat-free eating.” -Best of the Year Judge & Nutrition Category Expert
Grillhouse Cheddar Burger
View on Whole Foods at AmazonHow We Tested
Best of the Year arranged for Dr. Praeger’s to ship the frozen burgers on dry ice directly to 15 evaluators, with testing conducted during July and August 2026. Each evaluator received one package containing two burgers. Consumer testers evaluated taste, texture, overall quality, ease of preparation and likelihood to recommend, and reported what worked, what they would change and any problems encountered.
Expert review included two nutrition judges and a chef judge, who assessed the ingredients and nutritional profile, labeling, sensory experience, category performance, value and marketing claims. Two sustainability judges reviewed the brand’s environmental claims and supporting materials, while two packaging experts separately assessed product’s packaging for innovation, recyclability and more. Best of the Year analysts and the editor also prepared the product and reviewed the entry and submitted materials.
What Experts and Consumer Testers Said
The cheese was a hit. Our judges described the burger as savory and rich, with enough cheddar flavor that you know it's there. One thought it tasted and felt “more substantial than your typical meatless burger,” while our registered dietitian judges called out the 20 grams of protein as another big plus.
“By combining vegetables, protein and real cheddar cheese in a satisfying and tasty burger, it makes reducing meat consumption feel easy and enjoyable rather than restrictive.” -Best of the Year Judge & Food Category Expert
It also performed well in the pan. One of our food scientists got “a beautiful golden-brown crust on both sides” and reported that the patty “never broke apart while flipping.” She served hers on a bun with all the fixings and “thoroughly enjoyed” it. That's a small detail that matters with veggie burgers: nobody wants half the patty left behind in the skillet.
“We ate it plain, but if it was prepared with a bun and fixings, it would feel like eating a regular burger. It had good flavor.” -Best of the Year Consumer Tester
Consumer testers were similarly enthusiastic about how easy it was to make. One loved the “cheesy flavor” and being able to cook it straight from frozen in about 15 minutes. Several noted that it “didn't taste like frozen food.” One parent found it particularly easy to prepare and reported that her daughter liked it, too. Her son passed, but he doesn't like cheese, so we can't really blame the burger for that one.
Texture was where opinions split slightly. Some testers viewed it as a softer burger, and a couple of testers said they would prefer more firmness. One described the center as “a bit mushy,” while another simply wished the texture wasn't quite so soft. If you like a firm, chewy burger, we recommend cooking it slightly longer, maybe for 20 minutes in the oven, as one of our other testers discovered. On the plus side, the patty always held its shape during cooking even on the barbecue.
Best of the Year Bottom Line
Want to put a few more meatless dinners into the week? Dr. Praeger's award-winning Grillhouse Cheddar Burgers make it pretty easy. You get 20 grams of protein, vegetables, real cheddar and a burger you can cook straight from frozen and load up with all your favorite fixings. The texture is softer than beef, so know that going in. Then grab the ketchup, pickles, or whatever else you like on your burger. Dinner done!
Grillhouse Cheddar Burger
View on Whole Foods at AmazonWhy Trust Us?
The Best of the Year Media team comprises award-winning editors, analysts, subject-matter experts and consumer specialists who have spent their careers helping people make smarter, more confident decisions. With deep expertise across consumer lifestyle categories, our team brings decades of experience evaluating products, brands and services. Our recommendations are grounded in rigorous evaluation combined with expert judgment and consumer insights, giving readers trusted guidance on products, services, and experiences worth bringing into their lives.
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