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National Veggie Burger Day
June 5
About National Veggie Burger Day
National Veggie Burger Day falls on Friday, 5 June 2026. The day celebrates the plant-based burger in all its forms, from homemade bean and grain patties to the high-tech meat-free products now found in supermarkets and restaurants. Founded by the American food company Amy’s Kitchen, it encourages everyone, vegetarian or not, to tuck into a veggie burger and consider the benefits that plant-based eating brings to health and the planet.
How to Celebrate National Veggie Burger Day
Whether you are a committed vegetarian or simply curious, there are plenty of tasty ways to mark the day.
- Cook a veggie burger from scratch – Make your own patties using beans, lentils, chickpeas, grains or mushrooms. Homemade burgers let you control the seasoning and texture, and they are where the whole tradition began.
- Try a brand you have never had before – Pick up a different veggie or plant-based burger from the supermarket and compare it with your usual choice. The range available now is enormous.
- Host a meat-free barbecue – Invite friends and family round and fire up the grill with a spread of veggie burgers, salads and sides. It is a great way to show how satisfying plant-based food can be.
- Order one when eating out – Many pubs, cafes and restaurants now offer a veggie or vegan burger. Choosing it for a day is an easy way to take part.
- Experiment with toppings – Half the fun of any burger is the build, so go all out with avocado, caramelised onions, relishes, cheese or vegan alternatives.
- Challenge a meat-eater – Invite a sceptical friend to a blind taste test. Many people are surprised by how good a well-made veggie burger can be.
- Share your creation online – Photograph your burger and post it with the day’s hashtags to inspire others and join the wider celebration.
- Learn about plant-based nutrition – Use the day as a prompt to read up on the health and environmental case for eating more plants, even if you are not ready to go fully vegetarian.
What is National Veggie Burger Day?
National Veggie Burger Day is an annual food celebration dedicated to the veggie burger, a patty made from plant ingredients rather than meat. It was created by Amy’s Kitchen, a family-run organic food company based in the United States, to champion plant-based eating and the positive impact it can have on personal health and the environment. The day is for everyone, from lifelong vegetarians and vegans to flexitarians and the simply curious, and it celebrates both the home-cooked tradition and the modern wave of plant-based products.
When is National Veggie Burger Day?
National Veggie Burger Day is observed every year on 5 June. In 2026, that falls on a Friday, making it a convenient date for a weekend barbecue or a Friday night dinner with friends. The date is fixed, so it lands on 5 June each year regardless of the day of the week.
The History of National Veggie Burger Day
The veggie burger has a longer history than many people realise, stretching back well over half a century. Meat-free patties began life in home kitchens in the middle of the twentieth century, with early recipes appearing as cooks looked for nutritious alternatives to meat. One of the first documented restaurants to put a veggie burger on the menu was a vegetarian establishment in Oregon around 1980, and from there the idea spread steadily into mainstream food culture.
Over the decades, veggie burgers evolved from simple homemade blends of vegetables, grains and pulses into a sophisticated category of food. Today they are made from an enormous variety of ingredients, including beans, chickpeas, lentils, tofu, nuts and mushrooms, and they appear everywhere from backyard barbecues to the menus of upmarket restaurants. The more recent arrival of high-tech plant-based products designed to mimic the taste and texture of meat has pushed the veggie burger further into the mainstream than ever before.
National Veggie Burger Day was established by Amy’s Kitchen in 2017 to celebrate this beloved food and to encourage more people to give plant-based eating a try. The company, known for its organic vegetarian ready meals, used the day to highlight both the pleasure of a good veggie burger and the wider benefits of plant-based diets. The day has since been recognised on the annual calendar and is marked by food lovers, restaurants and brands each 5 June.
Fun Facts About National Veggie Burger Day
- Veggie burgers have been part of food culture for more than 50 years, far longer than the recent plant-based boom suggests.
- One of the first restaurants documented to serve a veggie burger was a vegetarian restaurant in Oregon around 1980.
- National Veggie Burger Day was founded in 2017 by Amy’s Kitchen, a family-run organic food company.
- Veggie burgers can be built from a huge range of ingredients, including beans, grains, chickpeas, tofu, nuts and mushrooms.
- Plant-based burgers are now a fixture at backyard barbecues, tailgate parties and even high-end restaurant menus.
Why National Veggie Burger Day Matters
Beyond the enjoyment of a good meal, National Veggie Burger Day carries a real message about health and sustainability. Eating more plant-based food is widely linked to benefits for both personal wellbeing and the environment, and a single meat-free day can be an easy first step. The day also celebrates inclusivity at the dinner table, giving vegetarians, vegans and meat-eaters a shared meal to enjoy. If you love food-focused celebrations, you might also enjoy National Corn on the Cob Day, another summery date that brings people together around the grill.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is National Veggie Burger Day?
It is an annual celebration of the plant-based veggie burger, founded by Amy’s Kitchen to encourage everyone to enjoy meat-free food and consider its benefits for health and the planet.
When is National Veggie Burger Day in 2026?
National Veggie Burger Day is on Friday, 5 June 2026. It is celebrated on the same date every year.
Who founded National Veggie Burger Day?
The day was created by Amy’s Kitchen, a family-run organic food company in the United States, in 2017.
Spread the Word
Join the celebration and share your best veggie burger photos on social media with #NationalVeggieBurgerDay and #NationalVeggieBurgerDay2026. Tag your friends and challenge them to go meat-free for a meal!
Related Awareness Days
- National Corn on the Cob Day – A summery food celebration perfect for pairing with a barbecue.
- Cucumber Day – A fresh, plant-forward day that celebrates a salad and burger-topping favourite.
- National Orange Chicken Day – Another food day for fans of comfort classics, with plant-based versions widely available.
Links
- Visit the official Amy’s Kitchen Veggie Burger Day page
- Explore more awareness days at AwarenessDays.com
Featured image: Photo by LikeMeat on Unsplash.
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