Burger King is one of the biggest fast-food chains in the world, but it hasn’t always been a welcoming place for vegans.
With a menu centered around burgers, chicken, and other meat-heavy options, there hasn’t been much for plant-based eaters—until recently.
With the rise of veganism, fast-food restaurants have started introducing plant-based menu items to appeal to a broader audience.
One of the biggest additions has been the Impossible Whopper, a burger made with a plant-based patty instead of beef.
But what about the Impossible Southwest Bacon Whopper? While it sounds promising, is it actually vegan? The answer isn’t as simple as you might hope.
Impossible Southwest Bacon Whopper Ingredients
Let’s break down the ingredients of this burger to see what’s plant-based and what needs to be modified.
Bun – Vegan
The buns at Burger King do not contain any animal products, making them vegan-friendly.
Impossible Patty – Vegan, but With a Catch
Burger King uses Impossible Foods’ plant-based patty, which is completely free from animal ingredients. However, there is a major cross-contamination issue (more on that later).
Toppings – Mostly Not Vegan
This is where things get tricky. Many of the toppings are not vegan, including:
- Bacon – Real pork bacon, not a plant-based alternative
- Cheese – American cheese made from dairy
- Spicy sauce – Contains non-vegan ingredients
However, there are some vegan-friendly toppings, including:
- Avocado spread
- Seasoned tortilla strips
How to Make It Vegan
To order the Impossible Southwest Bacon Whopper as vegan, ask for:
- No bacon
- No cheese
- No spicy sauce
At this point, what you’re left with is a plant-based patty, a bun, avocado spread, tortilla strips, lettuce, and tomato.
The Cross-Contamination Issue
Even after removing the non-vegan ingredients, there is still a big issue to consider—cross-contamination.
Burger King states clearly on their website:
“Patty cooked on the same broiler as beef patties.”
This means that Impossible patties are grilled on the same surface as meat patties, leading to possible contamination with animal fat and juices. The broilers aren’t cleaned between each burger, so it is highly likely that your plant-based patty will be cooked in the same space as beef patties.
For some vegans, this isn’t a dealbreaker. They see it as supporting plant-based options and reducing overall meat consumption, even if there’s some contact with non-vegan food.
For others, this is a major issue and makes the burger non-vegan by their standards. If you fall into this category, you can:
- Request that your patty be cooked separately. Some locations may microwave the patty instead of grilling it.
- Decide whether Burger King’s plant-based options align with your personal values.
Ultimately, whether or not cross-contamination is a problem is a personal choice every vegan has to make.
Other Impossible Burgers at Burger King
The Impossible Southwest Bacon Whopper is a limited-time menu item, so if it’s not available, you might come across other plant-based burgers at Burger King.
Impossible Whopper (Vegetarian, Can Be Made Vegan)
- Comes with: Sesame-seed bun, Impossible patty, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, mayonnaise
- How to make it vegan: Order it without mayonnaise
Single Impossible King (Vegetarian, Can Be Made Vegan)
- Comes with: Sesame-seed bun, Impossible patty, American cheese, pickles, onions, ketchup, mustard
- How to make it vegan: Order it without cheese
Again, cross-contamination is still a concern with both of these burgers, so keep that in mind.
Other Vegan Options at Burger King
If you’re not in the mood for a modified Impossible Whopper, Burger King has a few other plant-based options.
Burger King’s French fries are cooked in non-meat oil, but they may share a fryer with animal products like Chicken Fries and Mozzarella Sticks.
Side Salad – Vegan (Without Cheese or Croutons)
Some Burger King locations offer a simple side salad, which can be made vegan by removing cheese and choosing a plant-based dressing.
Burger King’s hash browns are free from animal ingredients, but like the fries, they may be cooked in shared fryers.
Apple Sauce – Always Vegan
A safe, plant-based snack option that requires no modifications.
Final Thoughts
The Impossible Southwest Bacon Whopper is not vegan as-is, but with a few modifications, it can be made plant-based. If you remove the bacon, cheese, and spicy sauce, you will have a burger that contains only vegan ingredients.
However, cross-contamination remains a major concern. Burger King cooks Impossible patties on the same broiler as beef patties, meaning that your burger may come into contact with animal products. Some vegans are okay with this, while others choose to avoid it entirely.
If you are looking for a fully vegan fast-food experience, Burger King may not be the best option. But if you are open to modified plant-based choices and don’t mind cross-contamination, it is still a convenient and accessible option.
