The Best Vegan Seitan Chicken Recipe (2024)

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This is the best vegan seitan chicken recipe because it tastes like chicken, is easy to make, and it's so versatile. If you love our vegan BBQ ribs recipe, you're going to love this vegan chicken. You can grill it, make Vegan Fried Chicken,Hot Chicken or use it wherever you would use chicken.

Published August 1, 2019 and updated July 23, 2021.

The Best Vegan Seitan Chicken Recipe (1)

Why it Works

Vegan chicken recipes can be made with tofu, tempeh, cauliflower, or vital wheat gluten (seitan).

This particular recipe is made with vital wheat gluten, and it's as close to real chicken as you're going to get.

It's chewy, it can be shredded to make pulled barbecue, and it mimics real chicken better than anything else that we've tried

The Best Vegan Seitan Chicken Recipe (2)

VEGAN FOOD TO BRING TO A BBQ

Never again will you have to wonder what to take to a barbecue, because our vegan chicken breasts are perfect for the grill!

Serve them next to our Southern-Style Creamy Potato Salad and our Watermelon and Tomato Salad for the perfect vegan BBQ dinner

The Best Vegan Seitan Chicken Recipe (3)

WHAT IS VITAL WHEAT GLUTEN?

It’s the natural protein found in wheat and it’s what gives seitan its meat like texture.

Basically, the wheat is stripped of everything except the gluten. The good news is that it’s very high in protein and low in carbs.

It’s also a good source of calcium and iron.

Most grocery stores carry it in their health, vegan, or baking sections. You can also order it on AmazonThe Best Vegan Seitan Chicken Recipe (4)

Bob’s Red Mill vital wheat gluten is our favorite.

The Best Vegan Seitan Chicken Recipe (5)

WHAT INGREDIENTS DO YOU NEED TO MAKE A VEGAN CHICKEN RECIPE?

  • 2 cups vital wheat gluten – we use Bob’s Red Mill brand.
  • 1 cup silken tofu – we’ve used shredded jackfruit and mushrooms in our ribz and brisket recipes, but for this vegan chicken breast recipe the tofu helps mimic the tender texture of chicken.
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon Onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tbs no chicken bouillon – this is important as it really adds the flavor. We use Better than Bouillon No Chicken Base.
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 tbs chicken seasoning – most spice brands make a chicken seasoning blend.
  • 1 tbs vegan Worcestershire sauce – Annie’s or The Wizard’s makes a vegan version.
  • The Best Vegan Seitan Chicken Recipe (6)
  • The Best Vegan Seitan Chicken Recipe (7)
  • The Best Vegan Seitan Chicken Recipe (8)
  • The Best Vegan Seitan Chicken Recipe (9)
  • The Best Vegan Seitan Chicken Recipe (10)
  • The Best Vegan Seitan Chicken Recipe (11)
  • The Best Vegan Seitan Chicken Recipe (12)
  • The Best Vegan Seitan Chicken Recipe (13)

HOW DO YOU MAKE VEGAN CHICKEN?

STEP ONE

The first thing you do is whisk the vital wheat gluten with the garlic and onion powder, salt, and chicken seasoning until they’re completely combined.

STEP TWO

Whisk the tofu, water, chicken bouillon, and vegan Worcestershire sauce until the tofu is broken down into small pieces.

STEP THREE

Stir the wet ingredients into the dry and then knead the dough until it forms a solid ball. Don’t overdo it or the seitan will have a tough texture. It will be stretchy.

If it’s too dry, add a tablespoon of water at a time until it forms a stretchy dough. If it’s too wet, add a bit more vital wheat gluten.

STEP FOUR

Roll or press the dough into a flat circle, approximately a half-inch thick. It will try and shrink, just keep pressing it back.

Also, if it tears, just press the dough back together.

Now cut out cutlets. You can make them as large or as small as you’d like.

STEP FIVE

Put a steamer basket in a large pot and fill it with water just to the bottom of the basket. You don’t want the water to touch the seitan cutlets. Bring the water to a boil.

Spray a bit of oil on the basket to prevent the cutlets from sticking. Place the cutlets on the basket.

If you need to overlap the cutlets, lightly spray them with oil to prevent sticking.

Reduce the water to a simmer and cover the pot. Steam for 30 minutes.

STEP SIX

Remove the vegan chicken breasts from the pot and refrigerate for at least an hour.

Chilling the vegan chicken cutlets makes the texture even better.

The Best Vegan Seitan Chicken Recipe (14)

How to Store It

Store it covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months..

The Best Vegan Seitan Chicken Recipe (15)

How to Serve Vegan Seitan Chicken

Southern-Style Vegan Chicken and Biscuits - Shred the seitan chicken instead of using jackfruit.

Vegan Pulled BBQ Chicken

White Bean "Chicken" Chili - Shred the seitan chicken instead of using jackfruit.

Vegan Cobb Salad

Spicy Vegan Orange Ground Chicken Bowls

Make the best vegan chicken seitan recipe and let us know what you think. We love to hear from you! And, don’t forget to take a picture of your gorgeous creation and tag us @veganosity on Instagram.

Let’s connect on Instagram and Twitter. You’ll get a peek into our everyday lives in our stories and see what we’re sharing in our feed.

And, don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to the blog so you never miss a recipe. Scroll below the recipe or in our side bar to become a Veganosity subscriber.

The Best Vegan Seitan Chicken Recipe (16)

The best vegan seitan chicken recipe

This easy vegan seitan chicken recipe is perfect on the grill, fried, or in salads.

3.98 from 76 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Vegan

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 172kcal

Author:

Cost: $6

Equipment

  • steamer basket

  • stove

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Vital wheat gluten
  • 1 teaspoon Garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon Onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon chicken seasoning
  • 1 cup silken tofu
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 tablespoon no chicken bouillon paste
  • 1 tablespoon Vegan Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, whisk the 2 cups vital wheat gluten with the 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon salt, and 1 tablespoon chicken seasoning until they’re completely combined.

  • In a small bowl, whisk the 1 cup tofu, ½ cup water, 1 tablespoon no chicken bouillon paste, and 1 tablespoon vegan Worcestershire sauce until the tofu breaks down into small pieces.

  • Stir the wet ingredients into the dry and when it forms a ball.

  • On a clean flat surface dusted with vital wheat gluten, knead the dough for 1 minute then roll or press into a ½ inch thick circle. The dough will keep shrinking, just continue to press it back. If the dough tears, press it back together.

  • Using a sharp paring knife, cut out the chicken cutlets. You can decide on how small or large you want them to be.

  • Place a steaming basket in a large pot and fill with water until the water is just below the basket. You don’t want water to touch the cutlets. Bring the water to a boil.

  • Spray a light coating of oil on the basket to prevent the cutlets from sticking and place the cutlets on the basket. If you need to layer the cutlets, spray a light coating of oil on the bottom layer so they don’t stick together.

  • Reduce the water to a simmer, cover the pot, and steam for 30 minutes.

  • Remove the cutlets from the pot and refrigerate for at least an hour. This will let the seitan develop a better texture.

  • TO GRILL THE VEGAN CHIK’N BREASTS

  • Brush or spray a light coating of vegetable oil on both sides and grill for 3 to 5 minutes on each side, or until they’re heated through.

  • Layer on our homemade BBQ sauce for added flavor.

  • Enjoy!

Notes

NUTRITION DISCLAIMER

Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

You can freeze the cooked cutlets in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and heat on the grill, stove, or in the oven. You can also eat them cold chopped in salads or on a sandwich.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 172kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 654mg | Potassium: 94mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 19IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 3mg

Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @Veganosity or tag #Veganosity!

The Best Vegan Seitan Chicken Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is seitan better for you than chicken? ›

While seitan provides similar protein and iron content as meat, animal meat is a complete protein, and seitan is not. In addition, iron found in animal-based products is generally more easily absorbed than iron from plant-based foods. Meat typically also has more fat than seitan.

How to make seitan taste good? ›

soy sauce or tamari - Adds saltiness, umami, and depth of flavor. balsamic and apple cider vinegar - Vinegar rounds out the flavor profile and helps disguise the subtle bitterness of vital wheat gluten. fat - Including a little bit of oil or other fat improves the overall flavor and tenderizes the seitan.

Can you eat seitan every day? ›

Eat it sparingly,” he says. “It's not necessarily a once a day thing, and if you think you need a plant-based option I'd actually suggest tofu over seitan.” That said, Mora says there's no denying that folks can benefit from adding seitan to their menu—especially since it comes in a variety of flavor profiles.

What is the best flour for seitan? ›

For a better flavor and a cheaper price, try washing the flour and make your seitan from bread flour! The brand of bread flour doesn't matter. Choose a high protein flour for a larger yield. You can make this with all-purpose flour, however you will have a smaller yield.

Who should avoid seitan? ›

While seitan is a versatile plant-based protein, people with celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or gluten allergy should avoid it.

Why does my stomach hurt after eating seitan? ›

If you are sensitive to gluten, have celiac disease or are following a gluten-free diet, steer clear of seitan. Those with a wheat allergy should also avoid it. Seitan allergy symptoms can include swelling, itching, abdominal pain, cramps and diarrhea.

Is it cheaper to make or buy seitan? ›

Because of its meaty texture, seitan can be used in a variety of dishes, from sandwiches and stir-fries to stews and soups. The best part is that making seitan at home is easy, and it's much cheaper than buying pre-made or store-bought seitan.

Why is my seitan so rubbery? ›

Typically, leaner cuts like the flank or skirt can be chewy if not prepared correctly. Cooking Method: Overcooking can cause the steak to lose its moisture, making it dry and chewy. Conversely, undercooking can make certain cuts feel tough. Aging Process: Steaks that are not properly aged can be less tender.

Which is healthier, tempeh or seitan? ›

Nutrition and Protein

Seitan is highest in calories and protein, as its main ingredient is vital wheat gluten, which has a similar nutritional profile to protein powder. Tempeh is high in protein, vitamins and minerals, but also low in sodium and carbs.

What to pair with seitan for complete protein? ›

Beans – Add chickpeas for chickun, white beans to your sausages, and black beans to your beaf, and you've got a texturally-superior, complete protein mix. Or just crumble your seitan and toss it into a soup or chili with some kidney beans and peppers for a protein-packed punch.

Is seitan healthier than tofu? ›

Is seitan better for you than tofu? Both foods are a good source of plant-based protein. Seitan has twice as much per serving than tofu. However, tofu has more calcium, phosphorus, and antioxidants than seitan.

What does the vinegar do in seitan? ›

Spices: If you decided to eat plain seitan, the product would taste bland with a strong gluten flavor. To cut this flavor, add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to the recipe. To season seitan, get creative with spices!

Why is my seitan falling apart? ›

The biggest trick for making seitan from bread flour is to knead it in cold water! Many people have stated that when they start washing the flour the ball of dough falls apart. This means chunks of gluten can get washed away with the starch and make it difficult to handle.

How long does seitan last in the fridge? ›

Cover each container tightly with a lid and store the seitan in the fridge for up to ten days, or in the freezer for up to six months.

Is seitan higher in protein than chicken? ›

A 100g serving of seitan has about 141 calories and 25 grams of protein, making it comparable to the amount of protein in chicken or beef. Because the starches are removed from the wheat when seitan is made, it has very little fat and carbs.

Is seitan a highly processed food? ›

2. An Ultra-Processed Food High in Sodium. Most people aren't making seitan at home, but instead are getting it pre-made from restaurants and grocery stores. These ultra-processed foods tend to be higher in sodium, which can contribute to high blood pressure and a host of other health problems.

Which has more protein, seitan or chicken? ›

Which has more protein: chicken or beef? You might have wondered how much protein is in chicken. A skinless cooked chicken breast contains around 43g of protein per 100g of chicken, while the protein content of lean cooked beef is about 26g of protein per 100g of beef making chicken higher in protein compared to beef.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Otha Schamberger

Last Updated:

Views: 6086

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (75 voted)

Reviews: 82% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Otha Schamberger

Birthday: 1999-08-15

Address: Suite 490 606 Hammes Ferry, Carterhaven, IL 62290

Phone: +8557035444877

Job: Forward IT Agent

Hobby: Fishing, Flying, Jewelry making, Digital arts, Sand art, Parkour, tabletop games

Introduction: My name is Otha Schamberger, I am a vast, good, healthy, cheerful, energetic, gorgeous, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.