Trader Joe’s Vegetarian Cheeseburger Pizza is a frozen pizza that aims to satisfy the taste buds of both vegetarians and meat-lovers alike. This pizza comes loaded with classic cheeseburger toppings, such as pea protein crumbles, cheese, onions, pickles, and “burger sauce”, all resting atop a crispy crust made with traditional wheat flour.
I don’t know who dreams up these whacky ideas at Trader Joe’s headquarters but whoever dreamed up this product is clearly delusional and doesn’t like pizza. I’ve heard of cheeseburger pizza before and why not? California Pizza Kitchen came up with the crazy idea to make a Thai Chicken pizza why not a cheeseburger pizza? I’m a traditionalist when it comes to pizza, but as a dedicated foodie, I am always open to new and interesting flavors. Trader Joe’s definitely likes to go to new and interesting places with their food. It’s why we shop there!
This isn’t the first time that Trader Joe’s has released a whacky pizza combination before. Who remembers the Kale, Sweet Potato and Butternut squash pizza?
I’ve actually seen cheeseburger pizzas at restaurants before so this isn’t too much of a stretch, but the thing that makes this one different is the use of vegetarian “plant based burger style crumbles”. Which happen to be vegan. In this case, they are made out of pea protein and flavored to taste like ground beef. Trader Joe’s could’ve gone totally vegan on this one with some fake cheese but for whatever reason decided to keep the real cheese.
What’s on Trader Joe’s Cheeseburger Pizza?
For most people that eat a Cheeseburger, it would be buns, burgers, cheese, and probably some type of condiments like ketchup or mustard. I like tomatoes, lettuce, onions, and pickles. Well, wouldn’t you know it, Trader Joe’s stepped up and included those ingredients!
As you can see by the box picture above, there are some blobs that kind of look like ground beef, some red onions, and obviously some type of yellow cheese (cheddar in this case)
One of the first things that I noticed about this pizza was how easy it was to prepare. After preheating the oven to 400°F, I simply removed the pizza from the packaging and placed it directly on the oven rack for 18 minutes. The instructions did not suggest placing the pizza on a baking sheet, but I preferred the crispier crust that came from cooking it directly on the oven rack.
Once the pizza was done cooking, I could immediately smell the fragrant aroma of the fake meat crumbles and cheese. The cheese was nicely melted, and the toppings were evenly distributed across the pizza, which is always a plus in my book. I took a bite, and my taste buds were immediately hit with a mix of flavors. The fake crumbles tasted just like ground beef, and the pickles added a nice tangy flavor. The onions were cooked perfectly, and the burger sauce added a nice kick to the overall taste.
One of the things that I appreciated about this pizza was how filling it was. The crust was nice and thick, which gave the pizza a satisfying chewiness. The crumbles and cheese also added a nice amount of protein, which left me feeling full and satisfied for after eating it. The only downside is the amount of sodium in this pizza, which if you ate the whole thing would be more than enough for a full day of eating.
Pickles on a pizza!?!?
Overall, I think Trader Joe’s Vegetarian Cheeseburger Pizza is a solid choice for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. The flavors are bold and well-balanced, and the toppings are evenly distributed across the pizza. The crust is nice and crispy, and the soy crumbles and cheese make for a filling and satisfying meal. The only downside is that it’s a frozen pizza, which means it can’t quite compete with the taste of a fresh pizza from a pizzeria. However, for a quick and easy dinner option, this pizza is definitely worth a try. The pickles were not that weird, believe me!
In terms of nutrition, this pizza is not the healthiest option out there. It contains 340 calories per serving, with 15 grams of fat and 790 milligrams of sodium. However, it does contain 14 grams of protein, which is a decent amount for a vegetarian pizza. It’s definitely not something that I would eat every day, but as an occasional treat, it’s a tasty and satisfying meal. It does taste a little like a cheeseburger with the works. I actually liked it quite a bit.
Final Verdict
In conclusion, Trader Joe’s Vegetarian Cheeseburger Pizza is a tasty and filling frozen pizza that is perfect for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. While it’s not the healthiest option out there, it’s a quick and easy dinner option that is sure to satisfy your cravings for a classic cheeseburger in pizza form. If you’re looking for a satisfying and easy meal, this pizza is definitely worth a try.
I will give this 8 Bells!
Ingredients
DOUGH (WHEAT FLOUR, WATER, SUNFLOWER OIL, SALT, YEAST), CHEDDAR CHEESE (MILK, SALT, MICROBIAL ENZYME, CHEESE CULTURES, ANNATTO EXTRACT [COLOR]), TOMATO SAUCE (TOMATO PUREE, EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL, ROASTED GARLIC PUREE, SALT, BLACK PEPPER, OREGANO, CORNSTARCH), PLANT-BASED BURGER STYLE CRUMBLES (WATER, TEXTURED PEA PROTEIN, SUNFLOWER OIL, NATURAL FLAVOR, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF PEA PROTEIN ISOLATE, METHYL CELLULOSE, CARAMEL COLOR, POTATO STARCH, TAPIOCA STARCH, DRIED YEAST, SALT, PEA FIBER, CITRUS FIBER, CARROT FIBER, BAMBOO FIBER, PSYLLIUM FIBER), SWEET PICKLES (CUCUMBER, WATER, DISTILLED VINEGAR, SUGAR, SALT, CITRIC ACID [ACIDIFIER], NATURAL FLAVOR), BURGER SAUCE (WATER, SUNFLOWER OIL, DISTILLED VINEGAR, SUGAR, MODIFIED CORNSTARCH, SALT, HORSERADISH, GARLIC POWDER, CORIANDER, PAPRIKA, FENNEL SEED, GINGER, BLACK PEPPER, ONION POWDER, OREGANO, THYME, ROSEMARY, XANTHAN GUM, DILL), TOMATOES, RED ONIONS, SUNFLOWER OIL.
- CONTAINS MILK, WHEAT.
- MAY CONTAIN SOY.
