You’ll Make These 13 Vegan Fried Chicken Recipes Over and Over

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It’s safe to speculate that most people don’t give up fried chicken because they hate the taste. It’s crispy, salty, oily⁠—all components of great comfort food that are even better together. Thankfully, ditching chicken doesn’t mean an end to that KFC-like experience. These vegan fried chicken recipes have got you covered there.

You can make homemade vegan chicken from vital wheat gluten.

How to Make Vegan Fried Chicken: Tips and Tricks

The first step to making your own meat-free fried chicken is choosing the meat. There are several options here. Seitan, a plant-based meat made from vital wheat gluten, is a great option here. It has a meaty texture and neutral flavor that can be customized with herbs, spices, and broth. Plus, it’s high in protein.

Tofu is another option for vegan fried chicken with a meaty texture. But you’ll have to plan ahead to achieve the best results. Freeze your tofu in the package overnight, let it thaw, then put it in a tofu press to get rid of the excess water. If you don’t have a tofu press, you can wrap it in a paper towel between two cutting boards and put a heavy pot on top. You can also use tempeh, a fermented soybean-based meat, which doesn’t require freezing or pressing.

Mushrooms have a meaty texture when cooked and they shine in recipes that call for meat. Oyster mushrooms are preferable here due to their unique texture, which mimics chicken when breaded and fried. If you prefer something more vegetable-forward, try cauliflower instead. It has a neutral flavor, so feel free to season the breading generously.

Of course, if you’re not up for cooking, you could always pick up premade vegan fried chicken.

You’ll Make These 13 Vegan Fried Chicken Recipes Over and Over

Now that you know about your options, here are 11 vegan fried chicken recipes to try at home. These recipes pair perfectly with sides like potato wedges, mashed potatoes, dairy-free mac and cheese, corn on the cob, and macaroni salad.

This vegan fried chicken is made from tofu. | Mary’s Test Kitchen

1. Gluten-Free Vegan Fried Chicken

In this recipe, tofu takes on a chicken-like texture due to a clever freezing, thawing, then pressing technique. It’s then breaded with a gluten-free flour-and-puffed-rice-cereal mix for an extra-crispy coating.

Get the recipe here.

Missing KFC? Make this. | Vegan the Way

2. Vegan Copycat ‘KFC’ Chicken

Vegan chicken made from chickpeas and wheat gluten replaces the traditional animal-based meat. Just like classic KFC, the crispy breading is seasoned with 11 herbs and spices. Serve with potato wedges for that true takeout experience.

Get the recipe here.

Oyster mushrooms take on a meaty texture when fried. | Vegan With Curves

3. Vegan Fried Oyster Mushroom Chicken

Oyster mushrooms are versatile. You can throw them in stir-fries, use them in vegan clam chowder, and you can turn them into fried “chicken,” among other things.

Get the recipe here.

This mock-meat pulls apart like real chicken. | School Night Vegan

4. Vegan Fried Chicken Strips

This chickpea and seitan-based meat pulls apart, just like real chicken. The crispy breading is lightly seasoned with Old Bay.

Get the recipe here.

Crispy, tender, and completely meat-free. | K33 Kitchen

5. KFC-Style Oyster Mushroom Chicken

This oyster mushroom-based vegan fried chicken is juicy, flavorful, and it has a tearable texture just like KFC.

Get the recipe here.

These cauliflower ‘chicken’ tenders are spicy, juicy, and satisfying. | Sweet Potato Soul

6. Spicy Cauliflower ‘Chicken’

If you’re looking for a more vegetable-forward way to satisfy your fried chicken craving, try cauliflower. These vegan fried chicken tenders are extra-crispy, thanks to the arrowroot powder in the batter.

Get the recipe here.

Serve this spicy plant-based chicken patty on ciabatta. | The Vegan Caveman

7. Vegan ‘Wendy’s’ Spicy Fried Chicken

Crispy, spicy, and satisfying. This vegan Wendy’s chicken sandwich features a homemade seitan patty that’s fried in hot sauce and served with tomatoes, lettuce, and egg-free mayonnaise.

Get the recipe here.

This air-fried vegan chicken dials it back on the oil. | Live Eat Learn

8. Air-Fried Vegan Fried Chicken

This air-fried vegan fried chicken has a dairy-free buttermilk coating—all you need to do is add lemon juice to unsweetened soy milk.

Get the recipe here.

This popcorn chicken is made from tofu. | Foodie Takes Flight

9. Vegan Popcorn Chicken and Gravy

It’s uncanny how chicken-like tofu can be. This tender plant-based popcorn chicken uses the freezing and thawing technique to get the tofu’s texture just right. Pair with vegan gravy for dipping with mashed potatoes on the side.

Get the recipe here.

These spicy vegan chicken wings have a lasting heat. | The Curious Chickpea

10. Vegan Gochujang Fried Chicken

This vegan fried chicken is made spicy thanks to gochujang, a spicy, sweet, and tangy Korean chili paste. Instead of seitan, tofu, or mushrooms, this recipe uses tempeh. Pair it with a creamy, dairy-free dipping sauce to balance the heat.

Get the recipe here.

This vegan karaage has a crispy exterior and chewy center. | Salty Bean Blog

11. Vegan Japanese Fried Chicken

This vegan karaage, aka Japanese fried chicken, is made from marinated tofu. It’s crispy, chewy, and perfect served over rice with scallions and a drizzle of sauce. Or, you can pair it with crisp lettuce and perilla leaves for a lighter summer meal.

Get the recipe here.

This Southern-style fried cauliflower calls for a picnic. | The Happy Foodie

12. Southern Fried Cauliflower

A plant-based twist on a Southern classic, this vegan fried chicken swaps meat for cauliflower. You can also cut the vegetables into smaller pieces to make bite-sized, plant-based popcorn chicken. Pair this with vegan aioli and your favorite fried chicken accompaniments.

Get the recipe here.

Premade vegan fried chicken makes this recipe easy-peasy. | hot for food

13. Easy Vegan Fried Chicken Sandwich

Don’t have time to spare? This easy vegan fried chicken sandwich recipe uses Gardein Chick’n Scallopini instead of something homemade. All you need to do is thaw it, dredge it, and fry it until it’s crispy. This recipe also doubles up on the plant-based chicken for a truly crave-worthy sandwich experience. Serve with pickles, coleslaw, and green leaf lettuce.

Get the recipe here.

This post was last modified on December 15, 2020 7:31 am

Kat Smith

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Kat Smith