Vegan Chicken Recipe (2024)

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Best Vegan Chicken recipe made of a perfect mix of seitan and tofu for the most tender and meaty texture. Incredibly delicious fried as meatless cutlets or nuggets and toped with a luscious Piccata sauce. Serve with mashed potatoes as a vegan Thanksgiving turkey alongside a green bean casserole and stuffing, or anywhere you would use chicken breast.

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Vegan Chicken

This flavor packed protein rich chicken substitute is made from the perfect ratio of wheat gluten aka “seitan” and silken tofu. The meatless but meaty mixture is then shaped into thin cutlets that resemble chicken breast, steamed, coated in panko bread crumbs and pan fried until golden crispy.

It’s particularly lovely served with a Piccata sauce over mashed potatoes as a festive dish but could also be used as “vegan turkey” or “chicken parmesan” with a nice homemade tomato sauce alongside vegan fettucine Alfredo. It’s also great in tacos, fajitas, stir fries, a sandwich, added to a big salad, alongside this roasted tomato pasta, on top of the best mac and cheese, leek pasta and evenfried rice.

Ingredients

  • Wheat Gluten – otherwise known as wheat meat and wheat protein, a fine flour-like powder that is mostly gluten and no starch. Legend has it that it was discovered by Buddhist monks and used to encourage people to adopt a meat-free diet.
  • Tofu – I used this silken firm one but any silken tofu will work here. You’ll need about 1.5 cups and there’s no need to press it at all, just crumble it.
  • Spices – a simple mix of savory nutritional yeast, onion and garlic powders + just the perfect amount of sea salt.
  • Panko – if you want an extra crispy cutlet you have to use panko bread crumbs. Regular ones are ok but panko are magical.
  • Piccata Sauce – unless you are going to make a sandwich with mayo, lettuce and tomato, you really want to prepare this sauce. In a nutshell it’s butter infused with garlic and simmered away with white wine and capers until reduced to a silky heavenly emulsion. Worth every single calorie!

How To Make the Best Vegan Chicken Breast

  1. Prepare the Seitan in the bowl of a food processor by combining the vital wheat gluten, tofu, nutritional yeast, garlic and onion powder + salt. Blend until a smooth dough is form. Transfer to a cutting board and divide into 6 pieces.
  2. Shape each piece into a thin 5 to 6 inch long oval that resembles chicken breast. If you prefer you could shape it into tenders, patties or nuggets.
  3. Place the cutlets in a steamer basket, cover with a lid and steam for 25 minutes flipping them half way so they cook evenly. Transfer to a plate and allow to cool off completely or refrigerate for later use.
  4. Prepare the batter and panko coating. Dip each cutlet in the batter and coat in the panko bread crumbs.
  5. Fry in hot vegetable oil until golden crispy on each side.
  6. In a medium sauce pan make the Piccata sauce with the butter, garlic, capers and white wine. Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon and serve with the crispy cutlets and mashed potatoes.

Make Ahead

The seitan cutlets can be prepared and steamed in advance then cooled and refrigerated up to one week. It’s a great item to prep for the holidays and have ready to coat and fry in no time.

Vegan Chicken Recipe (7)

5 from 7 votes

Vegan Chicken Breast

The Best Vegan Chicken made from seitan and tofu for the most tender and meaty texture. Perfect for frying as meatless cutlets or nuggets and served with a garlic butter Piccata sauce and mashed potatoes.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:15 minutes mins

Cook Time:35 minutes mins

Total Time:50 minutes mins

Ingredients

The Cutlets

Piccata Sauce

Batter + Coating

  • 3/4 cup cashew milk (or any plain plant milk)
  • 3 Tbsp all purpose or whole wheat flour
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 2.5 cups panko bread crumbs for coating
  • 1 pinch salt
  • vegetable oil for frying

Instructions

Make the Vegan "Chicken" Cutlets

  • To the bowl of a food processor add the cutlets ingredients: crumbled tofu, wheat gluten, 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast, onion and garlic powders + sea salt. Process using the pulse button until a smooth dough ball is formed. If the mixture seems too sticky just sprinkle in a little more wheat gluten but take care not to over process. (Alternatively if the dough seems a little dry just add 1 Tbsp water).

    12.3 oz silken tofu, 1 1/3 cup vital wheat gluten, 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast, 4 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp sea salt

  • Remove the dough from the food processor and divide it in 6 pieces. Sprinkle with some wheat gluten if needed to prevent sticking. Roll each piece into a ball then flatten and stretch into 5 to 6 inch long ovals that are about 1/2 inch thick or so. (I prefer them thinner as they will puff up again during steaming)

  • Bring 2 to 3 inches of water to a simmer in a large pot and place the steamer basket inside of the pot. Brush the cutlets with some oil and place them inside the steamer basket without touching each other. Cover with a lid and steam the for 25 minutes flipping them half way.

  • Transfer the cutlets to a plate and allow to cool off completely. At this point they can be refrigerated for later use.

Make the Piccata Sauce

  • Preheat a medium sauce pan over medium low heat. Add the vegan butter and as soon as it has melted stir in the garlic. Cook for about 30 seconds or so just until fragrant. Pour in the white wine and bring to a simmer. Add the capers and continue cooking until de sauce is reduced by half. Hit it with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, remove from heat and stir in the fresh parsley.

    1/2 cup vegan butter, 5 cloves garlic, 1 cup dry white wine, 2 Tbsp capers, 1/2 lemon, 1/4 cup Italian parsley

Batter + Fry the Cutlets

  • In a medium bowl whisk together the milk, flour, onion, garlic powder and paprika. Place the panko breads on a plate and season with a pinch of salt.

    3/4 cup cashew milk, 3 Tbsp all purpose or whole wheat flour, 2 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp paprika

  • Dip each cutlet in the batter and allow and excess to drip. Place in the panko coating and make sure to pack well all over pressing with your fingers where more coverage is needed. Repeat the process until all cutlets are breaded.

    2.5 cups panko bread crumbs for coating

  • Heat up 1 inch of vegetable oil in a heavy bottom skillet. Carefully place each breaded cutlet in the hot oil and fry for about 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown to your liking. Transfer the cutlets to a cooling rack or a plate lined with paper towels.

  • Serve hot with the garlic butter Piccata sauce over a bed of fluffy mashed potatoes. Finish with a light drizzle of olive oil and garish with fresh parsley.

Video

Notes

  • Make Ahead - The seitan cutlets can be prepared and steamed in advance then cooled and refrigerated up to one week. It's a great item to prep for the holidays and have ready to coat and fry in no time.
  • Panko - if you want an extra crispy cutlet you have to use panko bread crumbs. Regular ones are ok but panko are magical.
  • Piccata Sauce - unless you are going to make a sandwich with mayo, lettuce and tomato, you really want to prepare this sauce. In a nutshell it's butter infused with garlic and simmered away with white wine and capers until reduced to a silky heavenly emulsion. Worth every single calorie!

Nutrition

Serving: 1cutlet | Calories: 411kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 810mg | Potassium: 328mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1100IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 127mg | Iron: 4mg

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: seitan, vegan chicken

Servings: 6 cutlets

Calories: 411kcal

Author: Florentina

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Vegan Chicken Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is vegan chicken made out of? ›

Vegan chicken is more sustainable, and healthier, and it's made primarily from plant-based products. These include vital wheat gluten, soy protein, pea protein, tofu, and jackfruit, which are rich in protein, calcium, fiber, and sodium—making the substitutes a perfect supplement for real meat.

What do vegans substitute for chicken? ›

Vegan Chicken: Delicious vegetarian and vegan-friendly chicken substitutes
  • Tofu. Tofu is one of the most well-known and versatile vegan and vegetarian-friendly foods out there. ...
  • Soy curls. ...
  • Jackfruit. ...
  • Potato. ...
  • Seitan. ...
  • Tempeh. ...
  • Cauliflower.
May 18, 2023

What do vegan chickens eat? ›

Perdue's all-vegetarian fed birds eat a diet of corn, barley, wheat and soybeans, along with vitamins, minerals and probiotics intended to improve the animal's health.

What is a vegan that only eats chicken? ›

A pollotarian diet is a type of semi-vegetarianism in which chicken is allowed, but red meat and pork are not. Some pollotarians may also include eggs and dairy in their diet.

How healthy is vegan chicken? ›

Plant-based chicken products like Alpha's Chik'n Nuggets will commonly contain fewer calories, less sodium, less saturated fat, and less total fat than meat-based equivalents. Importantly, our Chik'n products contain no cholesterol, but they all contain desirable potassium, iron, and calcium.

Why is vegan chicken so expensive? ›

According to Specht, vegan meat is currently more expensive for a number of reasons. It's partly due to the fact that brands are operating in a “free market.” They must maximize their profit, and this means charging consumers more.

What do vegans eat instead of protein? ›

The 18 Best Protein Sources for Vegans and Vegetarians
  • Seitan.
  • Tofu.
  • Lentils.
  • Beans.
  • Nutritional yeast.
  • Spelt and teff.
  • Hemp seeds.
  • Peas.

What do vegans use instead of eggs? ›

What are the best egg substitutions?
  • Aquafaba. That's right, you can make an impressive egg white substitute using the water from a drained can of chickpeas. ...
  • Ground flax seeds. ...
  • Apple purée. ...
  • Yogurt (regular or dairy-free) ...
  • Mashed banana. ...
  • Silken tofu. ...
  • Chia seeds. ...
  • Coconut oil.

What vegetable is closest to chicken? ›

Because of their excellent texture, beans and sprouts are a suitable alternative for diced chicken. Chefs who specialise in vegetarian or vegan cooking often add beans into stews and soups, where chunks of chicken may have been used traditionally.

Are home grown eggs vegan? ›

No – vegans shouldn't eat eggs from backyard hens

There's no debate about it.

Why do I crave chicken as a vegan? ›

In some cases, meat cravings stem from an area of malnutrition. Whether it's a lack of protein, iron, or other vital nutrients, your body will begin to crave nutrient-dense meals. Meat can be an easy source. When you meal prep, you're able to make sure you're getting the right amount of nutrients with every meal.

Can vegans have pets? ›

In general, the answer is yes. However, many vegans avoid exotic animals, including birds and fish. These animals live substantially different lives in the wild. Therefore, keeping them in small tanks or cages often feels inappropriate to vegans.

What does vegan chicken taste like? ›

WHAT DOES VEGAN CHICKEN TASTE LIKE? It tastes like chicken, although the exact flavour varies between brands and what type of product it is. Generally, like animal-based chicken, vegan chicken doesn't have a strong flavour on its own, and will often be seasoned.

Can chickpeas replace chicken? ›

Use Chickpeas Instead of Chicken or Turkey‍

The colour and chewiness of chickpeas can mimic that of chicken and turkey meat. Roughly mashed, chickpeas can stand in for poultry in your favorite sandwich salads. Blended with breadcrumbs, they can be turned into mouth watering burgers and kid-friendly nuggets.

What are vegan chicken patties made of? ›

Ingredients: Water, wheat flour, soy protein concentrate, vegetable oil (corn, canola and/or sunflower), soy protein isolate.

What is vegan chicken flavor made of? ›

Nutritional Yeast: Nutritional Yeast is the base for our seasoning blend. It is typically added to vegan recipes to add a cheese-like flavor but that is not what it does in this recipe at all. It adds umami and is essential to this recipe.

What's vegan meat made of? ›

Soy protein isolates or soybean flour and gluten are usually used as foundation for most meat substitutes that are available on the market. Soy protein isolate is a highly pure form of soy protein with a minimum protein content of 90%.

What is plant-based chicken breast made of? ›

Ingredients. Water, Wheat Gluten (10%), Vegetable Oils (Maize, Sunflower), Thickener (E461), Pea Protein (4%), Wheat Starch (2%), Bamboo Fibre, Preservative (E326), Salt, Yeast Extract, Stabiliser (E425), Spices, Sugar, Natural Flavouring, Pea Fibre, Smoked Salt, Sage.

References

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