Vegan Fried Chicken
This vegan fried chicken is golden, crispy, and tastes just like classic fried chicken! It is a delicious and sustainable plant-based alternative to traditional fried chicken. Great for family dinners, lunch, meal prep, and leftovers. Even meat eaters will love this vegan recipe!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
There are many reasons why you should choose vegan fried chicken over traditional fried chicken.
- It is more sustainable.
- Vegan fried chicken requires less land, water, and energy to produce than traditional fried chicken.
- Vegan fried chicken is lower in saturated fat and cholesterol than traditional fried chicken.
- It is more ethical.
- It tastes like Kentucky Fried Chicken but without any animal products. Check ou these Vegan Chicken Nuggets too!
- Vegan fried chicken is produced without the need to harm animals.
- It has that same crispy crunchy coating!
- This recipe is great for the whole family.
- Check out this Vegan Pizza for another family favorite!
Ingredients & Substitutes
These are the ingredients and substitutions for vegan fried chicken. Scroll down to the recipe card for the full recipe.
Vital wheat gluten is the perfect replacement for chicken.
Nutritional yeast adds a classic cheesy flavor.
Garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and poultry seasoning add so much flavor.
Vegetable broth, soy sauce, and olive oil help add moisture.
All-purpose flour adds thickness to the crust. Feel free to use gluten-free flour if needed.
Fry the plant-based chicken in vegetable oil, olive oil, or avocado oil.
Taste & Texture
Vegan fried chicken has a crispy exterior and a juicy interior.
The batter is flavorful and seasoned to perfection.
When you bite into a piece of vegan fried chicken, the flavors and textures come together perfectly! It truly tastes like regular fried chicken.
Step 1
In a large mixing bowl, combine the vital wheat gluten, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and poultry seasoning (if using).
Step 2
In a separate bowl, whisk together the vegetable broth, soy sauce or tamari, and olive oil.
Step 3
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir to combine. Mix until a dough forms.
Step 4
Knead the dough for about 5 minutes until it becomes elastic and firm. Let it rest for 10 minutes.
Step 5
Meanwhile, prepare the coating by combining the all-purpose flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper in a shallow dish.
Step 6
Divide the seitan dough into small pieces and shape them into "chicken" drumsticks or nugget shapes.
Step 7
Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or deep fryer to about 350°F (175°C).
Step 8
Roll each piece of seitan in the coating mixture until well coated. Shake off any excess coating.
Step 9
Carefully place the coated seitan pieces into the hot oil, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Fry for about 5 to 6 minutes or until golden brown and crispy.
Step 10
Remove the fried seitan pieces from the oil and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil.
Step 11
Repeat the coating and frying process with the remaining seitan pieces.
Step 12
Finally, serve the vegan fried chicken hot with your favorite dipping sauce!
Expert Tips for Success
Here are a few expert tips and tricks for making the best vegan fried chicken.
Don't overcook the vegan chicken, or it will become tough and dry.
Use olive or avocado oil for frying, as they have a high smoke point and can withstand high temperatures without burning.
Let the chicken cool completely before serving to prevent the batter from becoming soggy.
Flavor Variations & Add-Ins
You can easily customize this recipe to your liking by adding different flavors to the batter or by serving the chicken with different dipping sauces. Here are a few ideas.
Buffalo sauce
BBQ sauce
Mustard sauce
Vegan ranch sauce
Hot sauce
Lemon pepper seasoning
How to Serve & Store
Vegan fried chicken is best served hot and fresh.
Serve with your favorite condiments and sauces. I love it with ketchup!
However, it can also be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
There are a variety of plant-based ingredients that can be used for vegan fried chicken, such as seitan, tofu, vital wheat gluten, or jackfruit. Seitan is a gluten-based ingredient with a similar texture to chicken. Vital wheat gluten is similar to flour. Tofu is a soy-based ingredient that is soft and versatile. Jackfruit is a tropical fruit with a meaty texture when cooked.
To prevent the vegan fried chicken from becoming soggy, make sure to let it cool completely before storing it. You can also store the chicken in an airtight container lined with a paper towel to absorb any moisture.
To bake vegan fried chicken, preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and bake the chicken for 20 to 25 minutes, or until it is golden brown and cooked through. To air fry vegan fried chicken, preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and air fry the chicken for 10 to 12 minutes, or until it is golden brown and cooked through.
Yes, Kentucky Fried Chicken has Beyond Fried Chicken, which is plant-based.
Equipment Needed
Nonstick Skillet: This large nonstick skillet is easy to use for frying.
You May Also Enjoy
- How to Cook Red Lentils
- Vegan Lentil Lasagna
- Vegan Bolognese
- Red Lentil Pasta
- Southwest Lentil Pasta Salad
Vegan Fried Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups vital wheat gluten
- 2 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon poultry seasoning optional
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce or tamari
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup all-purpose flour or gluten-free flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the vital wheat gluten, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and poultry seasoning (if using).
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the vegetable broth, soy sauce or tamari, and olive oil.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir to combine. Mix until a dough forms.
- Knead the dough for about 5 minutes until it becomes elastic and firm. Let it rest for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prepare the coating by combining the all-purpose flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper in a shallow dish.
- Divide the seitan dough into small pieces and shape them into "chicken" drumsticks or nugget shapes.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or deep fryer to about 350°F (175°C).
- Roll each piece of seitan in the coating mixture until well coated. Shake off any excess coating.
- Carefully place the coated seitan pieces into the hot oil, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Fry for about 5 to 6 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
- Remove the fried seitan pieces from the oil and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil.
- Repeat the coating and frying process with the remaining seitan pieces.
- Serve the vegan fried chicken hot with your favorite dipping sauce!
(Please refer to the post above for instructional photographs and other helpful information for this recipe)
Notes
- Knead the plant-based chicken mixture until elastic.
- Shape the chicken pieces however you wish. Be sure to make them evenly sized.
- Make sure to evenly coat the vegan chicken pieces.
- Fry for only 5 to 6 minutes.
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Can these be airfryed?
Yes, absolutely! To air fry vegan fried chicken, preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and air fry the chicken for 10 to 12 minutes, or until it is golden brown and cooked through.