Trader Joe's is selling a new meatless burger: Protein Patties made with pea protein, which are sold in a package of two for $4.49.

I cooked and tasted the plant-based burger and found it sizzled in the pan, was juicy, and had a vibrant, meat-like flavor.

Aside from the patty's pink color and unnatural texture, it looked and tasted like an authentic burger.

Unlike a traditional veggie burger, though, the protein patty was dense and rich and left me feeling overwhelmingly full, so I wouldn't opt to eat it on a regular basis.

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Vegan-friendly "meat" products were a defining grocery and restaurant item of the past year, and momentum seems to only be increasing, as Trader Joe's recently released a new plant-based burger.

Trader Joe's is no stranger to meat alternatives, as it's been selling soy-based ground "meat," Tofurky, and a plethora of veggie burgers for years before plant-based foods became trendy.

Recently, the popular grocer released a new vegan item: Protein Patties. Similar to the Beyond Burger, Trader Joe's Protein Patties are made with plant-based protein, do not contain soy, and are, hence the name, heavy on the protein.

As a self-identifying flexitarian, I cook mostly plant-based recipes for myself. My mom happens to be a vegan cook and blogger, and most of the cooking I do for myself is plant-based. I stopped eating red meat when I was little, and I consume minimal dairy, poultry, and seafood (mostly for special occasions).

Needless to say, I knew I had to try the grocery store's newest take on the ever-popular meatless burger.