PETA’s hard-to-please panelists chowed down to pick the best veggie burgers in North America. It was a tough job, but somebody had to do it! Now it’s your turn—start grillin’ and see whether you agree.

It wasn’t an easy decision, but our panel of astute judges—which included ardent carnivores, hard-core vegans, and everything in between—fired up the grill and tasted all the widely available vegan burger patties in order to narrow the field down to 10 patties for analysis and ranking. After a bit of good-spirited biting, screaming, and hair-pulling, our judges finally reached their conclusions. We tallied their votes—which were based on taste, texture, appearance, aroma, and more—to come up with the winners of the coveted Golden Bun Awards. And now, the envelope, please …

The winner of the Golden Bun Award for best overall veggie burger patty is:

1) Boca Meatless Burgers Roasted Onion Burger (9.4 points)

The roasted onion Boca burger is the grand poo-bah of veggie burgers! Our judges loved its “meaty” taste and onion-and-mushroom flavor, and while they thought that the burger tasted great no matter how it was prepared, they noted that it was especially tasty when thawed and then tossed onto the grill. It’s even super when served like a Salisbury steak. And at only 90 calories, this burger is not only a treat for your taste buds, it’ll help whittle your waistline down, too. While the standard version of the roasted onion Boca burger is vegan, the organic version is not.

2) Yves’ The Good Burger (9.1 points)

This really is a good burger! The meat-eaters in your family will love Yves’ The Good Burger. In fact, a couple of our meat-eating judges were completely fooled by this huge burger’s meaty taste. It’s so close to the “real” deal that some vegetarians actually found it a bit unsettling. Although it’s not always easy to find, it’s one of the best around and is well worth the search.

3) Garden Burger Chik’n Grill (8.8 points)

If you’re looking for a faux chicken patty, look no further than the Garden Burger Chik’n Grill. This sizeable patty tastes absolutely amazing on a toasted bun. The grill marks were a hit with several of our judges, and all our testers raved about its meaty texture and smoky taste. They suggested that this fabulous chicken alternative tastes best when it’s cooked on the grill, but it works well stir-fried, too.

4) Okara Courage Burger From Soy Boy (8.6 points)

It takes no courage at all to eat this burger. Our testers enjoyed its unique taste and texture. The sweet-tasting, crispy soy patty has a sausage flavor and is great for either breakfast or brunch. One word of caution, though: These patties are precooked, so be careful not to overcook them on the grill.

5) Morningstar Farms Better ’n Burgers (8.3 points)

Better than burgers? You bet! This “beefy” burger has a chewy texture that makes it the perfect addition to chili. Its great aroma and satisfying first bite reminded one of our judges of “Mom’s homemade burgers.”

6) Amy’s All American Burger (8.0 points)

Take just one whiff of Amy’s All American Burger, and your mouth will water. None of the other burgers can compete with its amazing aroma. Its sweet chili taste adds a South American flare, and its unique blend of spices and crispy exterior were big hits, too. Consider using foil on the grill because the burger gets a bit sticky, but overall, it cooks well and has consistent texture. One of our judges is in mourning because this one didn’t get first place.

7) Morningstar Farms Natural Touch Vegan Burger (7.7 points)

Natural Touch’s crunchy outside and soft, chunky inside make it well suited for the skillet. The burger has a pleasant, almost rib-like flavor.

8) Garden Burger (7.6 points)

This popular burger is chewy and chunky and tastes best when prepared in a frying pan or in the oven rather than on the grill.

9) Boca Meatless Burgers Original Vegan (7.4 points)

Two of our panelists thought that the Boca Original was the best, and if our only criteria had been similarity to meat, this one would have won, hands down. This is the perfect burger for those times when you’re trying to fool your picnic guests. The fact that the most meat-like burger came in ninth place is an indication of just how wonderful all the vegan burgers really are. The Boca Original also works well crumbled up in recipes that call for ground beef.

10) Hearty and Natural Organic Veggie Burgers (7.3 points)

This organic burger was designed for people who want the burger look without the burger and is perfect for veggie burger fans who don’t like meaty tastes and textures. It breaks up a bit on the grill but has an almost falafel-like taste and works wonders in Tex-Mex dishes.

Now that we’ve done the legwork, all you have to do is eat, enjoy, and show your friends just how easy and delicious vegetarian eating can be. So grab the veggie burger that strikes your fancy, pin your “Meat Is Murder” button on your apron, and get plenty of vegetarian starter kits ready for your guests.