From chicken nuggets and burgers to pizzas and orange chicken, 2021 introduced many delicious vegan meals to the large fast-food chains!
It’s safe to say that 2021 was a year’s bumps and ups; however, the trend has been positive in the world of plant-based foods. This includes brand new developments and the launch of new products, openings of restaurants, and menu item rollouts – especially at fast-food eateries! Therefore, we’d like to review the most successful vegan fast-food launch in 2021 briefly!
Be aware that since these fast-food establishments offer dairy and meat products, Cross-contamination can occur. It is always best to inquire with the staff member whether or not they are vegan-friendly before ordering since products and their modifications may differ according to the place of purchase.
January
Rubio’s Insists on Impossible Meat
The year was started by a huge collab between one of the world’s most well-known vegan meat alternatives, Impossible Foods, and Rubio’s, the popular Mexican restaurant chain Rubio’s. The new menu launch included vegetarians and vegans with more nutritious options stuffed with specially prepared Impossible ground meat. Impossible meat is now purchased in burritos, tacos bowls, salads, and bowls. Be sure to specify the absence of cheese, sour cream, or dairy-based sauces for vegan options.
Fatburger
Debuts Two New Vegan Milkshakes
Although most restaurants offer at least an edible patty, Fatburger sets itself apart by offering milkshakes made from vegan ingredients. On January 20, 2021, the company launched two vegan-friendly milkshakes–Chocolate and Maui Banana – made with Craig’s Vegan cashew-based ice cream, with the coconut-whipped cream added on the top. The new drinks are among the most delicious vegan fast-food launches we’ve witnessed.
April
Shake Shack Teams up with Pinky Cole to create an Exclusive Vegan Burger.
In a separate fast-food announcement, Shake Shack announced plans to launch vegan burgers collaborating with Pinky Cole. The latter is the founder and owner of Atlanta’s renowned Slutty Vegan. Unfortunately, one of the Shake Shack team members tested positive for COVID-19. Consequently, the partnership was put on hold.
May
Johnny Rockets Adds Vegan Burger and Shakes to the Menu
Johnny Rockets, an American diner-style burger joint, has included a vegan burger and shakes on their menu in some places. It’s made using the Impossible Patty and Daiya cheese The shakes made from vegan ingredients use Craig’s Vegan ice cream. The bun, however, isn’t vegan. Vegans can get their burgers in lettuce wraps instead. The good thing is that the items on the menu were initially slated to be temporarily, but they’re in stock at present. Let’s hope they become permanent items and that we’ll also find a vegan bun shortly!
July
Beyond Tenders are launched at a variety of Fast-Food Restaurants
In July of this year, Beyond Meat announced its first vegetarian chicken product called Beyond Chicken Tenders. The same month Beyond Tenders launched on the menus of various fast-food chains across America and included Bad Mutha Clucka, Dog Haus, JAILBIRD, Melt Bar & Grilled, and many more.
Panda Express Tests Vegan Orange Chicken
Following the success of Beyond Meat’s launch of a chicken, the tender was one of their most memorable collaborations to date: vegan orange chicken from Panda Express! The new food item is now available on the menus at selected Panda Express locations in New York and Southern California as a trial. Beyond The Original Orange Chicken is created with crisp, breaded morsels made from Beyond Chicken that are wok-tossed with Panda Express’s vegan-friendly Orange Chicken Sauce.
Little Caesars Debuts Vegan Pepperoni
To make it one of the top vegan fast food launches of 2021 and start the trend towards vegan Pepperoni, Little Caesars debuted a limited-edition Planteroni Pizza featuring Field Roast’s vegan Pepperoni. It was available at certain locations in the suburbs and cities in Los Angeles, New York City, Miami, San Francisco, Portland, and its headquarters, Detroit. While we’d love to see the Pizza have the vegan-friendly cheese option, it does not. But, vegetarians could purchase it without cheese to test the pepperoni sauce and crust combo.
August
Beyond Pepperoni at Pizza Hut
Next up is Pizza Hut’s Beyond Pepperoni Pizza! We didn’t lie when we stated there was a growing trend of vegan Pepperoni. In this study, Pizza Hut partnered with Beyond Meat to test the Pepperoni made from plant-based ingredients at 70 Pizza Hut locations in Albany, NY; Columbus and Macon, GA; Houston, TX; and Jacksonville, FL. Like Little Caesars, Pizza Hut did not provide vegan cheese options.
“We are aware of the strong demand among consumers for Pepperoni, and we’re excited to introduce the world’s first plant-based pepperoni recipe as the next chapter of our collaboration together with Pizza Hut. We’re sure that fans will be delighted with Beyond Pepperoni, as it offers the crisp edges and the savory flavor of Pizza Hut’s famous Pepperoni along with the advantages of meat that is derived from plants,” said Dariush Ajami, the Chief Innovation Officer of Beyond Meat.
Vegan Steak at WaBa Grill
To break the Pizza and chicken vegan food launches, WaBa Grill came out with an amazing new vegan steak prepared by the renowned tofu company Nasoya. Wagga Grill’s Plantspired Steak line includes three meals made of vegan ingredients. It includes the Plantspired Steak Bowl, Plantspired Steak Veggie Bowl, and the Plantspired Steak Plate. These three dishes are part of the permanent menu.
MOD Pizza Launches Vegan Sausage
MOD Pizza has been one of the vegan-friendly pizza chains for quite a long time. MOD Pizza introduced a vegan Italian sausage in all their locations to maintain their reputation in August. The brand’s new Vegan Italian sausage was created by the plant-based food manufacturer Plantly. The alternative meat product is made of non-GMO pea proteins. It is cooked with oregano, fennel, and Thyme to create a traditional Italian sausage flavor. Don’t be concerned about cheese issues. MOD has a vegan alternative!
“We’ve been spending the last two years testing protein sources that are plant-based and, said. We found plantly’s Italian plant-based sausage delicious and superior in quality and taste. We were attracted to the actual ingredients list. We’re thrilled to offer the customers something that’s not just delicious, but also it’s easy to swap out or add for those who want to go meat-free or can choose more options,” said Mark Shambura, Chief Marketing Officer of MOD Pizza.
From chicken nuggets and burgers to Pizza and chicken orange, 2021 brought many delicious vegan options to big fast-food chains!
It’s safe to say that 2021 has had its fair share of bumps and ups, but it has been pretty positive in the food industry that is based on plants. This includes innovations and new restaurant openings, product launches, and menu item rollouts – especially in fast-food establishments! We want to review the most successful vegan fast-food launch in 2021 briefly!
Be aware that since these are fast-food eateries that offer dairy and meat products, there is a risk of cross-contamination. It is always best to ask the employee what’s vegan before you order since things and changes can be different depending on the location.
January
Rubio’s Comments Impossible Meat
The year you started by bringing together one of the most well-known vegan meat substitute brands, Impossible Foods, and the well-known Mexican eatery Rubio’s. The menu update offered vegetarians and vegans more nutritious options stuffed with specially prepared Impossible ground meat. Impossible meat is now available in burritos, tacos bowls, salads, and bowls. Ensure you request the absence of cheese, sour cream, or dairy-based sauces to ensure it’s vegan.
Rubio’s
Fatburger Debuts Two New Vegan Milkshakes
Although most restaurants offer at least some veggie patty, Fatburger sets itself apart by providing vegan milkshakes. On January 20, 2021, the company launched two new flavors of vegan milkshakes–Chocolate and Maui Banana – made with Craig’s Vegan cashew-based ice cream, with an ice cream swirl of coconut cream to top it off. The new drinks are among the most delicious vegan fast-food launches we’ve witnessed.
Fatburger
April
Shake Shack Teams up with Pinky Cole for An Exclusive Vegan Burger
In a different fast-food venture, Shake Shack announced plans to launch vegan burgers in collaboration with Pinky Cole. The latter is the founder and owner of Atlanta’s renowned Slutty Vegan. Unfortunately, one of the Shake Shack team members tested positive for COVID-19. Consequently, the collaboration was canceled.
Slutty Vegan
May
Johnny Rockets Adds Vegan Burger and Shakes to the Menu
Johnny Rockets, an American diner-style burger joint, has introduced a vegan burger and shakes on their menu in certain spots. It’s made using the Impossible Patty and Daiya cheese The shakes made from vegan ingredients use Craig’s Vegan ice cream. The bun, however, isn’t vegan. However, vegans can choose to have their burgers as a lettuce wrap instead. The good thing is that the items on the menu were described as temporary, but they’re in stock at present. Let’s hope they become permanent items and that we’ll also find a vegan bun soon!
Johnny Rockets
July
Beyond Tenders launch at several Fast-Food Restaurants
In July of this year, Beyond Meat announced the launch of their first vegan chicken product called Beyond Chicken Tenders. In the same month, Beyond Tenders launched on the menus of various fast-food chains across America, including Bad Mutha Clucka, Dog Haus, JAILBIRD, Melt Bar & Grilled, and many more.
Beyond Meat
Panda Express Tests Vegan Orange Chicken
Following the success of Beyond Meat’s launch of a chicken tender came one of their finest collaborations to date – vegan orange chicken from Panda Express! The delicious option was introduced to menus at selected Panda Express locations in New York and Southern California as a trial. Beyond The Original Orange Chicken is created with crisp, breaded morsels made from Beyond Chicken that is wok-tossed in Panda Express’s famous vegan Orange Chicken Sauce.
Panda Express
Little Caesars Debuts Vegan Pepperoni
To make it one of the top vegan fast food launches of 2021 and start the trend towards vegan Pepperoni, Little Caesars debuted a limited-edition Planteroni Pizza featuring Field Roast’s vegan Pepperoni. It was available at certain locations in the suburbs and cities in Los Angeles, New York City, Miami, San Francisco, Portland, and the restaurant’s hometown of Detroit. While we’d love to see the Pizza have vegetarian cheeses, the pie does not. But, vegetarians could purchase the pie without cheese to taste the Pepperoni, sauce, and crust combo.
Little Caesars
August
Beyond Pepperoni at Pizza Hut
Next up is Pizza Hut’s Beyond Pepperoni Pizza! We were not kidding when we claimed there was a growing trend of vegan Pepperoni. In this study, Pizza Hut partnered with Beyond Meat to test the Pepperoni made from plant-based ingredients at 70 Pizza Hut locations in Albany, NY; Columbus and Macon, GA; Houston, TX; and Jacksonville, FL. Similar to Little Caesars, Pizza Hut didn’t offer vegan cheese options.
“We recognize that there is a huge demand from consumers for Pepperoni, so we’re delighted to announce the world’s first plant-based pepperoni recipe as the next chapter of our partnership that is focused on innovation together with Pizza Hut. We’re certain that customers will enjoy Beyond Pepperoni, as it offers the crisp edges and the savory flavor of Pizza Hut’s famous Pepperoni along with the advantages of meat that is derived from plants,” said Dariush Ajami, Chief Innovation Officer at Beyond Meat.
Beyond Meat
Vegan Steak at WaBa Grill
To break the Pizza and chicken vegan launch of fast-food products, WaBa Grill came out with new and innovative vegan steaks made by the well-known tofu company Nasoya. Wagga Grill’s Plantspired Steak line includes three meals made of vegan ingredients. There’s the Plantspired Steak Bowl, Plantspired Steak Veggie Bowl, and the Plantspired Steak Plate. These three dishes are part of the permanent menu.
Wagga Grill
MOD Pizza Launches Vegan Sausage
MOD Pizza has been one of the vegan-friendly pizza chains for quite some time. MOD Pizza introduced a vegan Italian sausage in all their locations in August to ensure their name is not lost. The brand’s new vegetarian Italian sausage was developed with the plant-based food manufacturer Plantly. The alternative to meat is made with non-GMO pea protein and is spiced with ingredients such as oregano, fennel, and Thyme to create a traditional Italian sausage flavor. Don’t fret about the cheese issue; MOD has a vegan alternative!
“We’ve been spending the last two years evaluating protein sources that are plant-based and, said. We found the Plantly Italian plant-based sausage delicious and superior in quality and taste. The ingredients list attracted us. We’re thrilled to offer the customers something, not just delicious but also it’s easy to swap out or add for those who want to go meat-free, or just can choose more op,” said Mark Shambura, Chief Marketing Officer of MOD Pizza.
Mod Pizza
Shake Shack launches Special Edition Vegan Burger with Pinky Cole.
As promised, Shake Shack rescheduled their collaboration with Pinky Cole to take place on August 11. The date was August 11, and the Shake Shack in Harlem served a limited-edition burger dubbed the SluttyShack. It’s made of the Shake Shack veggie patty topped with Pinky’s special Slut Dust lemon ginger caramelized onions, kale vegan ranch, and vegan mayo in Slutty Vegan’s signature toasty Hawaiian bun. The proceeds from the SluttyShack were directly donated to ROAR, a group of hospitality experts advocating for New York City’s independently-owned restaurant industry and paving an opportunity for an environmentally sustainable future. It’s not surprising that this was one of our top vegan fast-food launches of 2021.
“Our objective isn’t just to inform people to go vegan, but instead, to inspire guests to expand their possibilities with something fresh and unique. Working at Shake Shack is a natural method of advancing this goal. Enjoy one of America’s best-loved hamburger joints, but do something different,” Pinky Cole, CEO and founder Slutty Vegan, founder and CEO Slutty Vegan, told VegOut. “Philanthropy is the foundation of my identity, and I’m enthused by Shake Shack’s unified outlook towards giving back to the communities it serves. The goal of this collaboration is to strengthen the foundation for industries and communities that are close to our heart.”
September
Unimaginable Nuggets in Fatburger as well as Dog Haus
The plant-based powerhouse Impossible Foods launched vegan chicken nuggets! Before the nuggets were released in stores, the plant-based foods offered their nuggets made of vegan ingredients in a couple of restaurants, two of which were the renowned hamburger joint Fatburger and Dog Haus, a hot dog restaurant. Dog Haus. Crispy breadcrumbs and a meaty-looking center, Impossible Chicken Nuggets quickly became popular!
If asked what the most thrilling aspect of launching in fast-food establishments is, the answer was that the Impossible Foods representative told VegOut, “Every single restaurant launch helps us get closer to our goal of addressing the threat of climate change triggered by climate change the use of animals in agriculture. We’re also witnessing more innovative menu items than ever before created using Impossible Foods’ products.”
Impossible Chicken Nuggets
October
Panda Express Expands Vegan Orange Chicken Trial
In the past, when Panda Express’ Beyond The Original Orange Chicken trial was the only thing vegans could talk about, the fast-food chain used it as an opportunity to bring the orange chicken that is vegan back. This time, the limited-edition item was available in 70 locations in 10 states. The states that participated in the launch comprise California, Washington, Texas, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, Maryland, and New York. At the time of writing, the orange chicken based on plant matter remains available at locations trialing it.
Burger King Tests Impossible Nuggets
Although it was exciting when Fatburger and Dog Haus introduced Impossible Nuggets, vegans lost their minds when Burger King announced they’d be testing the nuggets made from plant matter. The test began on October 11 in three cities, including Des Moines, Boston, and Miami. As far as we know, the nuggets remain being offered, but they’re not an ongoing menu item. If this trial proves to be a hit, it is possible to see a bigger distribution across the country.
Jack inside the box Tests Improbable Patty.
As with other popular burger chains, Jack in the Box tried offering Impossible Burger patties at participating establishments within Phoenix, Arizona! The vegan beef patty could be used for any burger on the menu at an additional fee. The trial has ended, So stay tuned for updates regarding whether or not Jack in the Box will introduce its Impossible Burger across the country.
“Restaurants are among the most effective venues to reach those who are meat-eaters who may be interested or even skeptical about the flavor or quality of our products. they often turn into permanent Impossible followers after having Impossible products on their first visit,” said a spokesperson for Impossible Foods.
November
&Pizza Launches Vegan Chicken
What’s one thing that’s not in the fast-food industry? Vegan BBQ or Buffalo Chicken pizzas! The chain of restaurants & Pizza made up for that gap in November, introducing Daring Foods’ vegan chicken as a topping in all of their stores. The soy-based chicken is available on the vegetarian Hot In Here (Buffalo chicken) and Thee Sheriff (BBQ chicken) pizzas and build-your-own options. How do you be a part of the top vegan fast-food brands?
McDonald’s Testing McPlant Burger
Last but not the least of the top fast-food vegan launches of 2021, perhaps the most shocking: McDonald’s is testing its vegan-friendly McPlant Burger in select locations within the US! It’s the traditional Vegan Beyond Meat patty on a sesame seed bun topped with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup, along with American cheese. If ordered without cheese or mayonnaise, this burger will be vegan-friendly. However, like any fast-food restaurant, there’s cross-contamination. The trial began on November 3 at eateries located in El Segundo and Manhattan Beach, California; Jennings and Lake Charles, Louisiana; Carrollton and Irving, Texas; and Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Corporate Restaurant Chains Provide Vegan Menus
We hope you’re equally thrilled that large corporate restaurants have vegan options available and take small steps towards a more sustainable and sustainable future. Some vegans may find it difficult to accept that these menu items made of plant-based ingredients are provided by large corporations that still encourage animal farming and do not bother to make vegan-friendly items in separate batches. It is important to consider the larger picture if plant-based alternatives are offered at affordable prices in convenient locations that encourage more people to consider eating a plant-based diet. Although we recognize that some vegans would prefer all-vegan restaurants, however, not everyone has access to such establishments or the money to go there for dinner.
“Our objective is to reach out everywhere in every country and to offer an array of goods that cater to every cuisine and culture. Working with restaurants with established brands, a customer base, and a wide network of locations lets us quickly introduce our products to a wider audience at an affordable and easily accessible price. It’s not unusual for customers to be loyal customers after their first experience with Impossible Burger at Burger King or White Castle or Impossible Sausage at Starbucks or Jamba. 84% of those who buy Impossible Burger said they would order it again in 3 months. Making our products accessible where people already shop and eat reduces barriers to entry and provides consumers with an excellent first impression.” stated the Impossible Foods spokesperson..
