The Best Vegan Seitan Chicken Recipe (2024)

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.

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

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

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 Amazon

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

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.

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.

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..

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.

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