Nutrition Diet: What is beyond meat made out of? A Deep Dive into Plant-Based Ingredients

October 28, 2025 •

4 min read

According to a study conducted by the University of Michigan, producing a Beyond Burger requires 93% less land and 99% less water than a traditional U.S. beef burger. This impressive sustainability profile naturally leads many to ask: What is beyond meat made out of?.

Quick Summary

Beyond Meat products are crafted from a combination of plant-based components, including protein from peas and rice, alongside fats like coconut and canola oil, to mimic the texture, flavor, and appearance of animal meat.

Key Points

Pea Protein Base: The primary source of protein in Beyond Burgers is a concentrated yellow pea protein isolate, which provides the foundational meaty texture.
Plant-Based Fats: Beyond Meat uses refined coconut oil and canola oil to create the juicy, fatty marbling effect that sizzles during cooking, mimicking animal fat.
Natural Coloring: The signature red color that changes to brown when cooked comes from natural sources, specifically beet juice extract.
Lower Saturated Fat: Compared to an 80/20 beef burger, the Beyond Burger has significantly less saturated fat, along with zero cholesterol.
Higher Sodium: As a pre-seasoned, processed food, Beyond Meat products contain a higher sodium level than unseasoned ground beef.
Advanced Processing: The texture of Beyond Meat is achieved through a specialized extrusion process that uses heat, cooling, and pressure to create a fibrous, meat-like structure from the plant proteins.
Environmental Benefits: Production of Beyond Meat requires dramatically less land and water and generates fewer greenhouse gas emissions than beef.

Beyond Meat has emerged as a major player in the plant-based food industry, creating products that closely resemble animal meat in taste and texture. The secret lies in a carefully crafted recipe of plant-based proteins, fats, and natural flavorings. While the exact ingredient list can vary slightly depending on the product (e.g., burger, sausage, or steak), the fundamental components remain consistent across the brand's popular offerings.

The Core Building Blocks of Beyond Meat

Beyond Meat utilizes a strategic combination of plant-derived ingredients to recreate the sensory experience of eating meat. This process involves sourcing the same fundamental 'building blocks' as animal meat—protein, fat, minerals, and water—directly from plants.

Plant-Based Protein Sources

The protein is the backbone of Beyond Meat's products, providing the meaty texture and structure. The company primarily uses a blend of protein from several legume and grain sources.

Pea Protein Isolate: Sourced from yellow peas, this is a primary protein component for Beyond Burgers and other products. It provides a dense, meat-like texture.
Brown Rice Protein: Often used alongside pea protein, brown rice adds another source of plant-based protein.
Faba Bean Protein: The company has incorporated protein from faba beans into more recent formulations of products like Beyond Beef, adding to the protein content.
Wheat Gluten: For products like Beyond Steak, wheat gluten is used to create a fibrous, steak-like texture, though this makes it unsuitable for those with gluten sensitivities.

Fats for Juiciness and Sizzle

Fat is crucial for replicating the juiciness and mouthfeel of traditional meat. Beyond Meat uses a combination of plant-based oils that melt and sizzle when cooked.

Refined Coconut Oil: Provides a fatty mouthfeel similar to animal fat and melts during cooking.
Expeller-Pressed Canola Oil: Another oil used to provide fat content and juiciness.
Avocado Oil: Some newer product iterations have replaced coconut and canola oils with heart-healthy avocado oil, reducing the saturated fat content.

Colors and Flavors from Natural Sources

Beyond Meat uses natural extracts to replicate the taste and appearance of traditional meat, including the "bleeding" effect in some patties.

Beet Juice Extract: Responsible for the red, meat-like color that darkens as the patty cooks.
Apple Extract and Pomegranate Concentrate: These natural extracts contribute to the overall flavor profile.
Yeast Extract and Natural Flavors: Provide the savory, umami flavor characteristic of meat.

The Manufacturing Process

Creating the meaty texture from plant ingredients is a key part of Beyond Meat's production. The process involves a specific technology to assemble the protein, fat, and water.

Sourcing: Plant proteins, fats, minerals, and other ingredients are sourced.
Extrusion: The dry ingredients are mixed with water and fed into an extruder, which uses heat, cooling, and pressure to create a fibrous, muscle-like texture.
Mixing: Plant-based fats, flavors, and colors are added to the textured protein base.
Forming: The final mixture is formed into patties, crumbles, sausages, or other shapes.

Beyond Meat vs. Traditional Beef: A Nutritional Comparison

Comparing a Beyond Burger to a traditional beef burger reveals some key nutritional differences. While both can be part of a balanced diet, their profiles vary, especially concerning fat, fiber, and cholesterol content.


Nutrient (4 oz. Patty)	80/20 Beef Burger	Beyond Burger (latest version)
Calories	~287	~230
Total Fat	~22.6 g	~14 g
Saturated Fat	~8.5 g	~2 g
Cholesterol	~80 mg	0 mg
Sodium	~75 mg (unseasoned)	~310 mg (pre-seasoned)
Protein	~19.4 g	~21 g
Fiber	0 g	~2 g

Is Beyond Meat a Health Food?

While Beyond Meat offers a plant-based alternative with benefits like zero cholesterol and lower saturated fat compared to traditional ground beef, it is still a highly processed food. Unlike whole food ingredients like beans or lentils, the nutritional density is different, and it is significantly higher in sodium due to pre-seasoning. Nutritionists suggest that while it can be a convenient and healthier choice than beef in some cases, it should be consumed in moderation as part of a diet rich in whole, minimally processed foods.

Conclusion: A Thoughtful Addition to Your Diet

Knowing what is beyond meat made out of helps consumers make informed decisions about their diet. Made from a blend of plant-based proteins, fats, and natural colorings, Beyond Meat successfully mimics the taste and texture of animal meat without the cholesterol and with a lower environmental footprint. However, as a processed food, it's not a replacement for a diet centered on whole foods. It serves as an excellent, convenient alternative for those looking to reduce their animal meat consumption, whether for health, environmental, or ethical reasons. For a balanced diet, variety is key—incorporating a mix of processed plant-based alternatives alongside whole-food protein sources ensures a well-rounded and nutritious eating plan.

For more detailed nutritional information and the latest product ingredients, visit the official Beyond Meat website: https://www.beyondmeat.com/.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main protein source in Beyond Meat products, especially the popular Beyond Burger, comes from a yellow pea protein isolate. Other plant-based proteins, such as brown rice and faba beans, are also used depending on the specific product.

Most Beyond Meat products, including the Beyond Burger, are made without soy and are labeled as soy-free. However, some newer products, like Beyond Steak, use wheat gluten and faba beans for protein and may have a 'may contain soy' warning, so it's important to check the specific product label.

The fat content in Beyond Meat is derived from refined coconut oil and canola oil. The latest version of the Beyond Burger also uses heart-healthy avocado oil.

The meat-like color comes from beet juice extract, which allows it to change color as it cooks, similar to beef. The fibrous texture is achieved through a manufacturing process called extrusion, which applies heat and pressure to the plant proteins.

Beyond Meat has some nutritional advantages over traditional beef, including zero cholesterol and lower saturated fat. However, it is a highly processed food with high sodium content, so its overall healthiness depends on the context of your diet.

No, Beyond Meat products are made from simple, non-GMO ingredients. This is a key difference between Beyond Meat and some competitors, such as Impossible Foods, which use genetically engineered components.

Yes, Beyond Meat is an excellent source of protein. A single Beyond Burger patty contains about 21 grams of protein, comparable to or even slightly higher than a traditional beef burger.

Beyond Meat products are pre-seasoned during manufacturing to enhance flavor. In contrast, unseasoned ground beef has very low sodium, but once you add salt during cooking, the final sodium levels can be comparable.