These are the best vegan chicken nuggets for a crispy, crunchy snack or meal! They make the perfect addition to a vegan or vegetarian meal rotation. Full of flavor, these vegetarian chicken nuggets are so delicious and super easy to make!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- These vegan chicken nuggets are easy and quick to make.
- Kids will love this vegan fried chicken recipe. Perfect for them to dip into a sauce.
- They are the ultimate comfort food and snack.
- Easy to make at home, no need to head to McDonald’s for delicious nuggets.
- Easily customizable.
- They can be easily made gluten-free if needed.
- The breading is crispy and crunchy.
- Try this Vegan Fried Chicken for another delicious dinner recipe!
Taste & Texture
These vegan chicken nuggets have all the flavor and goodness of a KFC chicken nugget. The onion and garlic powder blend with the nutritional yeast gives them a delicious, savory flavor.
They are crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. The fried coating of breadcrumbs gives these vegan nuggets a tender, crisp bite.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Use extra-firm tofu for this vegan chicken nugget recipe. This is a key ingredient in the recipe, giving the nuggets their chewy, chicken-like texture.
For a completely vegan recipe, choose breadcrumbs labeled vegan. Double check the ingredient list.
Nutritional yeast gives the nuggets their savory, cheesy flavor. Making nuggets without chicken means you need to flavor the vegan mixture well.
Garlic and onion powder season and add a deep, savory taste. These flavorings give these chicken-free nuggets their KFC taste!
The primary reason to add paprika is to color the pale mixture and give it a golden glow. This spice also adds a slightly smoky taste.
Regular, all-purpose flour is the binding agent. It helps the bread stick to the tofu. This results in a crispy coating on the outside. Substitute with gluten-free flour if needed.
Use soy milk or almond milk.
Choose a neutral-tasting vegetable oil with a high smoke point. Avocado oil and olive oil work well too. This helps create crispy vegan chicken nuggets.
How to Make (with recipe steps)
Step 1
First, drain and press the tofu to remove excess moisture. Place the tofu block on a plate lined with paper towels. Place another layer of paper towels on top of the tofu, followed by a heavy cutting board. Allow the tofu to press for 20 to 30 minutes.
Step 2
Once the tofu is pressed, cut into bite-sized nugget shapes.
Step 3
In a shallow bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix to combine.
Step 4
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and plant-based milk to create a batter.
Step 5
Dip each tofu nugget into the batter, ensuring it is fully coated.
Step 6
Roll the battered tofu nuggets in the breadcrumb mixture until they are well coated on all sides. Press the breadcrumbs gently onto the nuggets to ensure they adhere.
Step 7
Place the breaded nuggets on a baking sheet or plate. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Step 8
Heat a ¼ inch layer of oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Step 9
Once the oil is hot, carefully add the breaded nuggets to the pan in a single layer. Do not overcrowd. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until golden and crispy.
Step 10
Once cooked, remove the nuggets from the pan. Place them on a paper towel lined plate to absorb any excess oil.
Step 11
Repeat the frying process with the remaining nuggets. Add more oil to the pan as needed.
Step 12
Finally, serve the vegan chicken nuggets with your favorite dipping sauces!
Expert Tips & Tricks
One of the most important parts of the recipe preparation is to press the tofu. It is important to release as much liquid as possible. This will help achieve a delicious, chewy texture for these vegan chicken nuggets.
If the breading is still not sticking to the outside of the vegan nuggets, freeze them for 20 minutes. This will help keep everything together during frying.
When frying the meatless nuggets, cook them in small batches. The oil will remain hot by not overcrowding the pan, and the nuggets will fry evenly.
For the crispiest nuggets, drain excess oil by transferring them from the cooking oil to paper towels.
Ensure the nuggets are well seasoned. Remember that tofu has a mild flavor, so add that onion and garlic powder.
Flavor Variations and Add-Ins
Consider these tasty flavor variations for these vegan chicken nuggets.
- Smoky chipotle. Mix these vegan chicken nuggets in adobo sauce or chipotle powder to add smoky flavor.
- Hot sauce. Mix in some sriracha or hot sauce into the milk mixture.
- Lemony. Grate some lemon zest into the milk mixture. The lemon flavor will brighten the tofu.
- Maple syrup. Balance out the savory taste with a drizzle of warm maple syrup.
- Sesame seeds. Mix a few sesame seeds with the breadcrumbs before coating the tofu pieces.
- Nut butter. Add peanut butter or another nut butter to the milk mix for a rich, nutty batter.
- Chili and ginger. Add finely minced ginger and chili powder to the batter.
- Spiced. Add some cumin seeds, ground coriander, and turmeric to the breadcrumbs.
How to Serve & Store
Serve these vegetarian chicken nuggets warm and crisp. Keep them in the oven if need be.
They are delicious with these creamy, dairy-free mashed potatoes, a salad, and steaming veggies. Additionally, they make the perfect appetizer alongside a spicy dipping sauce like this maple mustard dipping sauce.
To store, pack the vegan chicken nuggets into an airtight container. Keep them in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
Leftover vegan chicken nuggets will be kept in the freezer for up to 2 months.
First, freeze the cooled nuggets on a baking sheet. Secondly, make sure there are spaces between each nugget. Lastly, place them into a freezer-safe airtight container once they are frozen solid.
Vegan nuggets can be made from several different plant-based ingredients. Options include wheat gluten, mushrooms, pea protein, and tofu.
Yes, Trader Joe's has two different types of vegan nuggets. Chickenless Crispy Tenders are made from a mix of soy and whole grains. Impossible™ Chicken Nuggets are made with soy and potato protein and have a savory flavor, and crispy texture.
KFC's Beyond Fried Chicken nuggets are not considered vegan by many people, even though they are made with plant-based ingredients. This is because they are fried in the same fryers as KFC's regular chicken, which means that they may come into contact with animal products.
Sure! Prepare the nuggets as written. Then, air fry at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 6 to 8 minutes.
Equipment Needed
Nonstick Skillet: This large nonstick skillet is easy to use for frying.
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Vegan Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- 1 block extra-firm tofu about 400g
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup plant-based milk
- vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- First, drain and press the tofu to remove excess moisture. Place the tofu block on a plate lined with paper towels. Place another layer of paper towels on top of the tofu, followed by a heavy cutting board. Allow the tofu to press for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Once the tofu is pressed, cut into bite-sized nugget shapes.
- In a shallow bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix to combine.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and plant-based milk to create a batter.
- Dip each tofu nugget into the batter, ensuring it is fully coated.
- Roll the battered tofu nuggets in the breadcrumb mixture until they are well coated on all sides. Press the breadcrumbs gently onto the nuggets to ensure they adhere.
- Place the breaded nuggets on a baking sheet or plate. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Heat a ¼ inch layer of oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Once the oil is hot, carefully add the breaded nuggets to the pan in a single layer. Do not overcrowd. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until golden and crispy.
- Once cooked, remove the nuggets from the pan. Place them on a paper towel lined plate to absorb any excess oil.
- Repeat the frying process with the remaining nuggets. Add more oil to the pan as needed.
- Finally, serve the vegan chicken nuggets with your favorite dipping sauces!
(Please refer to the post above for instructional photographs and other helpful information for this recipe)
Notes
- Press the tofu for at least 20 minutes. This elevates the texture.
- If you are gluten-free, use gluten-free flour and gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Use enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan.
- Do not overcrowd the frying pan.
- Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Air fry or heat in a skillet to reheat.
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