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

US Customary - Metric

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 does vegan chicken consist of? ›

Although components vary, certain materials are commonly used in meat and meat-free chicken products. These include water, wheat flour, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and other spices. The main difference is that plant-based chicken is usually made from soy protein and wheat gluten instead of animal flesh.

What was the vegan chicken on Shark Tank? ›

Deborah Torres is known as the entrepreneur who received and then rejected a million dollar offer on "Shark Tank," though she's equally as known for her brand of vegan fried chicken called Atlas Monroe. The plant-based chicken is made from organic wheat gluten and a secret blend of seasonings.

What is the closest thing to chicken as a vegan? ›

  1. Soy Curls. Soy curls are a dehydrated soy product made by soaking the beans in fresh water and then constantly stirring them while they cook. ...
  2. Jackfruit. Jackfruit is a large green tropical fruit that, when green, has very little flavor. ...
  3. Chickpeas. ...
  4. Tofu. ...
  5. Tempeh. ...
  6. Seitan. ...
  7. Cauliflower. ...
  8. Store Bought Vegan Chicken.
Oct 2, 2020

Can you marinate fake chicken? ›

The combination of the wine, miso paste and sugar draws out all the natural umami flavours in the seitan as well as acting as a tenderiser. Pull the vegan chicken "fillets" in half before marinating them. This helps them to absorb more flavour. I marinate my vegan chicken in the fridge overnight before using.

Does vegan chicken taste like real chicken? ›

Vegan chicken matches up the taste of real chicken because of the substitutes used in preparing it without many health and environmental risks compared to traditional chicken. Some substitutes used to prepare vegan chicken include; Soy protein, vital wheat gluten, textured vegetable protein, and pea protein.

What is a vegan that only eats chicken? ›

Also known as pollo-vegetarian, the pollotarian diet is considered to be a type of semi-vegetarianism, as some forms of animal meat are allowed. While the prefix “pollo” literally translates to “chicken” in Spanish, pollotarians generally eat all forms of poultry, including turkey and duck.

Is there a billionaire that is vegan? ›

FTX is the brainchild of Sam Bankman-Fried, a 29-year-old billionaire who sticks to a vegan diet, shares a Hong Kong apartment with roommates and often sleeps on beanbag chairs in the office.

Why did Mark Cuban go vegan? ›

just because I wanted to feel better. you know, supposedly it reduced inflammation. I've had both my hips replaced. you know, I'm still playing basketball, so I'm gonna be sore, so it makes me feel better.

Who is the largest manufacturer of vegan chicken? ›

Deborah Torres is the founder and CEO of the world's largest vegan fried chicken manufacturer Atlas Monroe. During a recent "Phenomenal Woman" event at WBUR CitySpace, she spoke about becoming an entrepreneur.

Does Tyson have vegan chicken? ›

Tyson brand chicken was born from the Great Depression's forced innovation circa 1935. With plant-based consumption on the rise and chicken production slowly decreasing, Tyson has tossed new plant-based nuggets into the vegan chicken market.

What do you call someone who is vegan but eats chicken? ›

The term "pollo-vegetarian" was first used in nutritional textbooks in the 1980s to describe a semi-vegetarian diet that incorporates poultry. Historian Rod Preece describes pollotarians as "those who refrain from mammals but are willing to eat the flesh of birds notably chickens."

What's the difference between tofu and tempeh? ›

Tempeh is like tofu that's been hitting the gym – hard. Like tofu, tempeh is still made from soy but the whole bean is used in a fermentation process. Using the whole bean gives tempeh it's chunkier texture which holds its shape better, making it ideal for crispy cubes or 'bacon' rashers.

What should you not marinate chicken in? ›

Too much salt in a marinade can cause the chicken to dry out, even if it's been marinating. Salt draws moisture out, and if you add too much, it may counteract the benefits of a marinade. If using a salty ingredient, such as soy sauce, wait to add it in during the last hour of the marinating process.

What is in mock chicken? ›

Mechanically separated meats (turkey and/or pork), Pork and/or beef, Water, Modified corn starch, Modified milk ingredients, Soy protein isolate, Salt, Potassium lactate, Monosodium glutamate, Sodium phosphate, Onion powder, Sodium erythorbate, Sodium diacetate, Spices, Sodium nitrite, Wheat flour, Mustard.

What is vegan chicken called? ›

Seitan, which is made from wheat protein, has long been used as a replacement for chicken and other meats, particularly in home cooking.

What's vegan meat made out 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%.

Does vegan include no eggs? ›

People who follow a vegan diet don't eat any animal foods, including dairy, eggs, and honey. About 3% of Americans follow a vegan diet. Their reasons for eating this way vary. Some vegans do it to improve their health, as research shows that a plant-based diet could lower the risk of certain diseases.

Does vegan chicken have protein? ›

Vegan chicken nutrition

The nutritional value of vegan chicken depends on what type you're eating, but pretty much all varieties are high in protein. Seitan, for example, contains a whopping 75 grams of protein per 100 grams.

What is the difference between vegan and vegetarian chicken? ›

A vegetarian does not eat any animal flesh such as meat, poultry, or fish. A vegan is a stricter vegetarian who also avoids consuming dairy, eggs, and any other ingredients derived from animals.

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