Quick Answer
A 4oz Beyond Burger patty is 230 calories, 20g protein, 14g fat (5g saturated), 390mg sodium and 0mg cholesterol. The protein is comparable to ground beef, not low as often assumed. Sodium is where it differs most: roughly five times that of plain beef.
- Wins over beef: zero cholesterol, less saturated fat, and 2g of fiber beef has none of.
- Loses to beef: 390mg sodium versus about 75mg, and a much longer ingredient list.
- Highest-sodium product in the line: Beyond Sausage at 500mg per link, 21% of a day.
- Protein myth, settled: 20g per patty against roughly 22g for the same weight of 80/20 beef.
What Beyond Meat Is Made Of
Founded in 2009 by Ethan Brown and headquartered in El Segundo, California, Beyond Meat makes plant-based substitutes for beef, poultry and pork. The Beyond Burger’s base ingredients are water and pea protein isolate, with expeller-pressed canola oil and refined coconut or palm oil providing fat, plus binders (methylcellulose), flavoring and potassium chloride and potassium bicarbonate for the salty, meat-like profile.
Beyond Meat Nutrition Facts by Product
| Product | Serving | Calories | Protein | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beyond Burger | 4 oz (113g) | 230 | 20 g | 390 mg |
| Beyond Beef Italian Meatballs | 4 balls (85g) | 200 | 18 g | 360 mg |
| Beyond Meat Patty | 1 patty (71g) | 190 | 12 g | 360 mg |
| Beyond Sausage | 1 link (76g) | 190 | 16 g | 500 mg |
Beyond Burger (4 oz / 113g)
| Nutrition | Amount | % DV |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 230 | — |
| Total Fat | 14 g | 18% |
| Saturated Fat | 5 g | 25% |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 390 mg | 17% |
| Total Carbs | 7 g | 3% |
| Dietary Fiber | 2 g | 7% |
| Protein | 20 g | 40% |
| Iron | 4 mg | 20% |
Beyond Beef Italian Meatballs (4 balls / 85g)
| Nutrition | Amount | % DV |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 200 | — |
| Total Fat | 12 g | 18% |
| Saturated Fat | 2 g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 360 mg | 17% |
| Total Carbs | 6 g | 3% |
| Dietary Fiber | 3 g | 7% |
| Protein | 18 g | — |
| Calcium | — | 30% |
Beyond Meat Patty (1 patty / 71g)
| Nutrition | Amount | % DV |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 190 | — |
| Total Fat | 15 g | 23% |
| Saturated Fat | 6 g | 30% |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 360 mg | 15% |
| Dietary Fiber | 2 g | 8% |
| Protein | 12 g | — |
| Iron | — | 20% |
Beyond Sausage (1 cooked link / 76g)
| Nutrition | Amount | % DV |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 190 | — |
| Total Fat | 12 g | 18% |
| Saturated Fat | 5 g | 25% |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 500 mg | 21% |
| Dietary Fiber | 3 g | 12% |
| Protein | 16 g | — |
| Calcium | — | 21% |
Sodium is the number to watch across the whole line: a single Beyond Sausage link is 21% of a day’s limit on its own, and stacking a burger patty with a bun, cheese and condiments can add several hundred more milligrams fast. A slice of American cheese alone adds 200 to 470mg on top.
Beyond Burger vs Ground Beef
| Per 4 oz cooked | Beyond Burger | 80/20 Ground Beef |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 230 | ~290 |
| Total Fat | 14 g | ~23 g |
| Saturated Fat | 5 g | ~9 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | ~80 mg |
| Sodium | 390 mg | ~75 mg |
| Protein | 20 g | ~22 g |
| Fiber | 2 g | 0 g |
Beyond Burger wins clearly on cholesterol (zero against a real amount in beef) and saturated fat, and it adds fiber that beef has none of. Protein is close to even. The trade Beyond Meat makes for that profile is sodium, roughly 5x higher than plain ground beef, since salt is doing some of the work that fat and connective tissue do in real meat. Neither is a low-sodium food once you build a full burger with bun, cheese and condiments.
The practical read: if you are cutting saturated fat or cholesterol, Beyond is the better swap. If you are on a sodium-restricted diet, plain ground beef is actually the lower-sodium choice, which surprises most people. Being plant-based tells you about the ingredients, not about whether a food is low in salt.
Is Beyond Meat Vegan and Gluten-Free?
The company states its products contain no animal by-products and are formulated without gluten-containing ingredients. Check the specific product’s label for the current formulation and any allergen or cross-contact statement, since recipes are periodically updated and a “no gluten ingredients” formulation is not the same as a certified gluten-free product for anyone with celiac disease.
Frequently Asked Questions
A 4oz (113g) Beyond Burger patty is 230 calories, with 14g fat, 7g carbohydrate and 20g protein. That is roughly 60 calories fewer than the same weight of cooked 80/20 ground beef, before any bun, cheese or condiments.
It depends what you are optimizing for. Beyond Burger has zero cholesterol, less saturated fat, and some fiber that beef does not have. Those are real advantages. It also has roughly 5x the sodium of plain ground beef and is a more heavily processed product. Protein is comparable between the two. Neither is uniquely healthy; the better choice depends on what you are already eating too much or too little of.
Yes. The Beyond Burger has 20g of protein per 4oz serving, close to the roughly 22g in the same amount of 80/20 ground beef. The idea that plant-based burgers are low in protein does not hold for this product; pea protein isolate is the main ingredient specifically because it delivers a meat-comparable protein amount.
The Beyond Burger has 390mg per 4oz patty, about 17% of the FDA daily limit. Beyond Sausage is highest in the line at 500mg per link (21%), and the meatballs and smaller patty are both around 360mg. For comparison, plain ground beef has roughly 75mg, so the plant-based version carries about five times as much.
It is not a dedicated weight-loss food. It is moderate in calories and has some fiber and protein working in its favor, but the sodium content and processed-ingredient profile mean it should be treated like any other convenience protein: fine in a balanced diet, not a food to build a deficit around on its own.
Related Reading
- Burger King Nutrition Facts — including the Impossible Whopper’s own sodium figure.
- American Cheese Nutrition — what the cheese slice adds to a burger.
- Wendy’s Chili Nutrition — another beef-based comparison.
- Fast Food & Brand Nutrition Facts: The Complete Guide — every brand we have broken down.
Sources
- Beyond Meat published product nutrition information. Formulations are updated periodically, so check the current package.
- USDA FoodData Central (80/20 ground beef, cooked) for the beef comparison figures. fdc.nal.usda.gov
- US FDA — Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels (basis for all % DV figures on this page). fda.gov
Written and fact-checked by the HealthCoachJP editorial team, following our editorial process. No clinician has reviewed this article. This page is general nutrition information, not medical advice; if you are on a sodium-restricted diet or managing cholesterol, follow your doctor’s or dietitian’s guidance. Last updated: August 2026.
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