Burger King Austria Launches Plant-Based Crispy Chicken

Burger King has launched a new plant-based crispy chicken burger across all its Austrian locations. The fast-food chain is offering the item as a single or double burger and as a wrap.

Georg Eder, managing director of Burger King Austria, said guests want diverse selections and plant-based alternatives to familiar products. "With the plant-based crispy chicken, we are therefore bringing another popular classic to the menu in a plant-based version and are consistently developing our plant-based range," he added.

The New Vegan Offering

The burger features a chicken alternative made from soy and wheat protein. It is sprinkled with small pieces of pumpkin seeds to visually distinguish it from the conventional meat version. The single-patty burger and the wrap are served in an extra-long sesame bun with lettuce, tomato, and vegan mayonnaise.

According to the company, the protein content of the new items is as follows:

Expanding a Plant-Based Partnership

This launch builds on Burger King's partnership with The Vegetarian Butcher, which began in 2019 with plant-based beef burgers in Europe. The Vegetarian Butcher was owned by Unilever until last year, when it was sold to Vivera, a meat-free brand owned by meat giant JBS. The two plant-based brands have since been united under the label The Vegetarian Butcher Collective.

In Austria, the crispy chicken joins other vegan options like the plant-based Whopper, long chicken burgers in regular and curry flavours, and vegan nuggets.

A Chain's Broader Vegan Push

Burger King has positioned itself as a leader in plant-based fast food. A 2023 report named it the most vegan-friendly global fast-food chain, ahead of competitors like McDonald's and KFC. Its collaborations extend beyond Europe, including a partnership with Impossible Foods in the US and with v2food in parts of the Asia-Pacific region.

The company has experimented with making plant-based options the default choice. In 2022, a Vienna store served plant-based burgers unless customers specifically requested meat. It has also run trials, like making Oatly the default milk in some German stores and pricing plant-based items cheaper than meat to encourage trial.

Not all initiatives have become permanent. Last year, Burger King Austria announced it would make oat milk the default for all hot drinks, removing dairy choice entirely. It reversed the decision a week later, citing consumer feedback despite what it called an "overwhelmingly positive" initial response. The chain has pledged to make half its UK menu plant-based by 2031.