Target launched a new plant-based food line - I tried 6 products, and only 2 stack up against their name-brand competitors

Nuggs, the plant-based chicken nugget alternative crafted by food startup Simulate, have been through several iterations since their 2019 launch. The current version is a fan favorite. It has enough seasoning not to be bland, a crunchy outer layer, and a texturally uniform interior that comes pretty close to chicken. But Nuggs may have found some competition in Good & Gather's Plant-Based Meatless Chick'n Tenders. 

Like Nuggs, Target's tenders are well-seasoned and feature a crunchy outer layer; unlike Nuggs, they're visibly sprinkled with oats. The Good & Gather tenders also have a more chicken-like texture thanks to their superior juiciness and chewiness, and they're slightly sweeter than Nuggs. In fact, they have a faint corn taste, which I happen to enjoy.

Both Nuggs and Target's tenders come frozen, have similar baking instructions, and are mainly made of a wheat gluten and soy protein mix (although it's worth noting that Nuggs have two more grams of protein per serving). 

To my surprise, I'll probably buy Good & Gather's tenders instead of Nuggs from now on for their juiciness, texture, and more affordable price. 

Winner: Good & Gather

I was really excited about this ground beef alternative from Good & Gather. But, while Good & Gather's plant-based beef may look the part (at least before it's cooked), it doesn't come close to approximating the real deal. 

To test Target's meatless ground beef against a similar (and very popular) product from Beyond Meat, I decided to make tacos with both. When I cooked Beyond's plant-based beef, the "meat" immediately "bled" and released oils which helped give it an aroma and made it easier to break up. It also absorbed the taco seasoning spices easily. 

Good & Gather's version, on the other hand, was dry and difficult to break up in the pan. It had just about no juice. 

In terms of taste, Beyond's ground beef alternative had a meatier texture. I found Good & Gather's meatless beef to be bland and soft in comparison. Both browned similarly, but Beyond's maintained a hint of pink, which looked more appetizing to me.

Both products are chiefly made of water, pea protein, and oil. Beyond's meatless ground beef has some unique ingredients like cocoa butter and mung bean protein, and it's gluten-free.

If plant-based ground beef is on my grocery list, there's no situation where I'd buy Good & Gather over Beyond.

Winner: Beyond Meat

Although I use Just Mayo, I didn't like traditional mayonnaise growing up, so I was nervous about this comparison. Initially, I was suspicious of Good & Gather's Vegan Dressing because it's shelf-stable, which is pretty unheard of for vegan mayo.

I don't know how else to describe it but the Good & Gather mayo tasted a bit funky. I read the ingredients, trying to understand why. Maybe it's from the ground mustard seed and mustard oil, which are both absent from Just Mayo's recipe. I also noticed that Good & Gather's Vegan Dressing was significantly runnier than Just Mayo when I spread it on a sandwich. 

It's also worth noting that Just Mayo has a bit more tang, and lemon and vinegar are cited higher up on the ingredient list. Being picky with my mayo, I much prefer Just. 

Winner: Just Mayo

This taste test had a clear winner.

Oatly's formula is smooth and silky with a good amount of body. It doesn't feel uncomfortably thick or too watery. The oat flavor makes its presence known, but it won't overtake whatever you mix it with (in my case, coffee and matcha lattes). 

Good & Gather's Original Oatmilk, on the other hand, is grainy, thin, and has an overpowering sweetness. It also falls short in the calcium department, with 8% of the recommended daily value per serving compared to Oatly's 25%. 

Winner: Oatly

Good & Gather's Plant-Based Meatless Beef-Style Patties come frozen and are cut into near-perfect circles, giving them an artificial look. Once cooked, they have an extremely uniform texture, slight meatiness, and a yellowish-brown tone. Even sandwiched between burger buns and slathered with condiments, the Target patties couldn't escape their blandness and artificial taste, which reminded me of the cafeteria burgers of my pre-vegan days. 

Beyond Meat's Plant-Based Patties, on the other hand, are packaged fresh. When cooked, they're juicy, bursting with flavor, and have a pinkish-brown hue that's closer to animal meat. They also "bleed" (in other words, ooze flavorful oils) when you cook them, although, in my experience, this didn't help grease the pan. 

In terms of ingredients, Beyond Meat's patties are mainly made of pea protein, and oil —making them gluten-free and soy-free. Meanwhile, Target's patties contain soy protein concentrate and wheat gluten. 

Even though four Good & Gather patties cost less than two from Beyond Meat, I'd still buy Beyond's every time. Plant-based burgers are not a centerpiece of my current diet, and I'd rather spend a bit more for the juicier, more flavorful option. 

Winner: Beyond Meat

For my meatless meatball taste test, I fried versions from Good & Gather and Beyond Meat in a pan before mixing them into my spaghetti with marinara sauce, where their differences in texture and flavor became apparent (despite the fact that both are made mostly from water, pea protein, and oil). I'd still recommend either option — it really depends on what you're cooking. 

The consistency of Beyond's meatballs was closer to that of actual meat, and, like most Beyond products, they "bled" (the brand's lingo for releasing oils) while frying. Good & Gather's meatballs were slightly less chewy and had a distinctly spicy flavor. If you're looking for something that will seamlessly blend into standard red-sauce pasta dishes, go with Beyond Meat. If you're making something lighter and want to add a little kick, Good & Gather is the better choice. 

Winner: Tie

I enjoyed a couple of items, like the chick'n tenders and plant-based meatballs, but, overall, I didn't find Good & Gather's products to be quite as tasty as those from their name-brand vegan competitors. 

If you're on a budget, these are not bad options, considering that they're nutritionally similar to pricier alternatives. For example, Target's plant-based ground beef has the same amount of protein as Beyond's, while Target's meatballs and burgers only have a few grams less than Beyond's options. Target's oatmilk doesn't have as much calcium or Vitamin D as Oatly, but still has comparable levels of Vitamin A, Riboflavin, and Vitamin B12.

Vegan substitutes are notoriously pricey, and Target should be applauded for making affordable products with decent quality in taste and nutrition. I think Target should consider building out its plant-based products the way that Whole Foods has done with its in-house brand. Vegan ranch dressing and cheese, like cheddar or parmesan, could be good additions if done right.