With so many plant-based chicken alternatives available, vegan “chicken” recipes can be made easily and deliciously. And they’re kinder to the environment as well as to the animals, of course.
Over the last few years, there’s been a huge increase in vegan chicken products available at stores everywhere. The recipes following can also be made with the now-traditional vegan proteins like tofu (especially baked tofu), tempeh, or seitan, if you prefer.
Many meat-eaters consider chicken as the healthier go-to option compared with red meat. While it’s true that it’s leaner and contains less cholesterol and saturated fat, this just isn’t good enough. Also, why bother, when there are so many great vegan chicken substitutes available? Here are a few good reasons to lose the bird:
- Eating chicken can put you at risk for disease
- Chicken is infested with bacteria
- Chickens have personalities and complex social behaviors
- The poultry industry is an environmental disaster
Learn more in 12 plant-based chicken alternatives. Many stores offer their own brands as well. And now, enough preaching; let’s eat! Some of the recipes are on this site, while others are from around the web. Thanks to the talented bloggers who participated in this roundup for their photos and links to their recipes.
If you like to DIY, you can make your own Easy Homemade “Chicken” Seitan to use in the recipes that follow.
Soups & Stews
Vegan “Chicken” Noodle Soup: A bowl of comfort if ever there was one, you can make this recipe with a variety of plant proteins. This simple, soothing soup recreates a classic, minus the bird. It proves that cool-weather soups need not always be thick to provide a sense of warmth.
Vegan Chick’n & Wild Rice Soup: This recipe converts the American classic, chicken and wild rice soup, to an easy vegan version. Using a plant-based chicken-style product in tandem with vegetables and chewy wild rice results in a comforting mild soup.
Vegan Moroccan-Style “Chicken” Stew: This fragrant stew a wonderful way to enjoy the characteristic flavors and ingredients of Moroccan cuisine—including carrots, tomatoes, dried fruit, chickpeas, and cinnamon. Replacing the chicken customarily used in this stew is easy to do — use a package of prepared plant-based chicken-style protein or go more traditional with baked tofu.
Vegan Tortilla Soup with Chicken-Style Seitan: From Cadry’s Kitchen, vegan tortilla soup is filled to the brim with beans, chicken-style seitan, corn, spices, and a fire roasted tomato base. Top yours with crunchy tortilla strips, cilantro, non-dairy cheese, and avocado.
Main dishes
Vegan Tetrazzini Pasta with Plant-Based Chick’n: The traditional tetrazzini recipe combines chicken with long pasta and a heavy cream-based sauce. This vegan tetrazzini pasta makes use of plant-based “chik’n” or baked tofu, and the creaminess is courtesy of silken tofu.
Vegan Orange “Chicken” & Broccoli: Vegan orange chicken transforms a Chinese restaurant favorite into a plant-based treat. A quick and colorful dinner, it gets its subtle fruity flavor from a splash of fresh orange juice and preserves — orange or apricot.
Vegan Chick’n or Chickpea Vegan Pot Pie: Everyone loves the nostalgic classic vegetable pot pie, whether for everyday meals or as a crowd-pleasing vegan option as a Thanksgiving or Christmas main dish. The protein in this pie comes from your favorite kind of plant-based chick’n or chickpeas.
Cheesy Vegan Chick’n and Broccoli Skillet: A mild, comforting dish that never fails to please, this vegan chick’n and broccoli skillet is on the table in no time. Use baked tofu or your favorite plant-based chicken alternative.
Vegan “Chicken” Cutlets: From Veggie Inspired, crispy vegan chicken cutlets that taste like the real thing! Pair them with a carb and a veggie for a hearty “meat and potatoes” type dinner. Easy to make and can easily be gluten free.
The Best Vegan Seitan “Chicken” Recipe: From Veganosity, this delicious seitan chicken recipe can be used in so many dishes, it’s amazing fried, and makes a tasty Nashville hot chicken sandwich.
Vegan Tater Tot Casserole: From Vegan Blueberry, this plant-based tater tot casserole is made with mixed veggies and vegan chicken chunks with a delicious cashew gravy poured over and topped with a crispy tater tot crust!
Vegan General Tso’s “Chicken”: From Zardy Plants, this sweet and spicy Vegan General Tso’s Chicken is a delicious veganized Chinese takeout inspired dish. Gluten-free and packed with flavor and vegetables, this fast and easy dinner is as healthy as it is tasty!
Vegan Drumsticks: Also from Zardy Plants, these roasted, crispy, and delicious vegan drumsticks are easy to make and high in plant-based protein. Perfect for a holiday meal, appetizer, or fun weeknight main, these tender seitan drumsticks take vegan to a whole new level.
Vegan Chicken and Dumplings: From Planted 365, chicken and dumplings just like her Grandma used to make, but vegan! Fluffy clouds of dumplings, a thick and flavorful gravy, and chunks of delicious vegan chicken!
Vegan Fried Chicken Tacos: Also from Planted 365, these all vegan fried chicken tacos are absolutely delicious! That’s not entirely true. They’re not fried. They’re not really chicken either. But they are 100% honestly so good. And easy to make, too.
Sandwiches & Salads
BBQ-Flavored Vegan Chick’n Melt Baguettes: Here’s an easy big sandwich made with plant protein, barbecue sauce, fresh bread, and melted vegan cheese. BBQ-flavored vegan chick’n melt baguettes could just become a weeknight favorite!
Vegan Chopped Chick’n Salad: Chicken salad — whether on a sandwich or mounded on greens — is an American classic. But with so many plant-based chicken alternatives on the market, there are many ways to recreate this classic to be 100% vegan.
Curried Vegan Chick’n Salad with Grapes and Almonds: This classic can be served on fresh bread or dolloped onto lettuce leaves. Like the original, there are just a few simple additions to the salad — grapes, celery, and scallion. It’s all pulled together with a mildly curry flavored vegan mayo.
Vegan Buffalo Chicken Salad: Here’s any easy and immensely vegan Buffalo chicken salad with all the lively textures and flavors of the familiar “Buffalo” composition.
Vegan Teriyaki Chick’n Salad: It’s easy to transform a contemporary classic composed platter into a vegan teriyaki “chicken” salad with chick’n-style plant protein. This platter offers an array of color, flavor, and texture. Chick’n-style strips are sautéed in teriyaki sauce, then composed in a platter featuring vegetables, fruits, and nuts. It looks fancy but is so easy to accomplish!
Vegan Cobb Salad: A classic American main-dish salad, the traditional Cobb salad consists of rows of uncooked vegetables, meats, and eggs arranged in rows on salad greens, served with a mustardy vinaigrette.This platter offers an array of color, flavor, and texture. It looks fancy but is so easy to accomplish!
See more of our recipe roundups and ways to veganize classic recipes.
Wow, SO many delicious recipes here … Thanks for including mine and I can’t wait to try out the others!
Thank you so much for your contributions (via our MV social share group! — MV is the best!) to this post, Lisa and to the plant-based movement.