Vegan Chicken Nuggets Recipe (2024)

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The best vegan chicken nuggets recipe, meaty crispy and crunchy and they taste oh so delicious! Everything you can expect from this classic favorite comfort food only meatless, cholesterol free and way better for you. Pan fried and air fryer methods included.

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Vegan Chicken Nuggets

Made from a mixture of silken tofu, vital wheat gluten and spices, these homemade meatless chicken nuggets are sure to become a favorite with kids and grown ups alike.

Easy to make and better for you than any store bought brand, especially if you air fry them without oil. Serve with ketchup or your favorite dipping sauce alongside this vegan mac and cheese or mashed potatoes.

Ingredient Tips

  • Silken Tofu – It’s what lends the nuggets their tender texture, use it straight out of the package after draining the water. No pressing required.
  • Vital Wheat Gluten – or Seitan brings everything together with a perfectly meaty texture. You can order it Here.
  • Spices – Simple but flavorful; onion and garlic powders, nutritional yeast and salt are all the seasonings you need.
  • Coating – for the ultimate crispy texture I used a batter and a panko bread crumb coating, use both.

How to Make Vegan Chicken Nuggets from Scratch

  1. Make the Seitan – In the bowl of a food processor combine the tofu, wheat gluten and spices and process until a smooth sticky dough is formed.
  2. Shape – Using your hands stretch the dough into a 1/3 inch thick round, place on parchment paper then cut out small nuggets using a small biscuit cutter, pastry cutter or simply tear them into bite size piece.
  3. Steam – Prepare a large steamer basket and steam the nuggets for 18 minutes. No need to flip them as they are small and cook through just fine.
  4. Coat – Dip each nugget in the batter then roll in the panko coating.
  5. Fry – Pan fry or air fry until golden brown to your liking. Specific temperature and time listed in the recipe card below.

Make Ahead, Storage + Reheating

The nuggets can be fried or air fried and then frozen on a baking sheet. Once fully set just transfer them to a lidded freezer container. When ready to eat they can be taken straight from the freezer and placed under the broiler for 2-3 minutes on each side until heated through and crispy.

Serving Suggestions

  • Olive Oil Mashed Potatoes & Chive Pesto
  • Sweet Chili Sauce
  • Vegan Caesar Salad
  • Scalloped Potatoes
  • Vegan Sausage Gravy
  • Cashew Queso or Aioli
  • Chimichurri Sauce
  • Roasted Baby Potatoes
  • Best Vegan Mac and Cheese.

Vegan Chicken Nuggets Recipe (8)

4.75 from 4 votes

Vegan Chicken Nuggets

The best vegan chicken nuggets recipe, meaty crispy and crunchy and they taste oh so delicious! Everything you can expect from this classic favorite comfort food only meatless, cholesterol free and way better for you. Pan fried and air fryer methods included.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:20 minutes mins

Cook Time:15 minutes mins

Total Time:35 minutes mins

Ingredients

Batter

Coating

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • To the bowl of a food processor at the tofu, wheat gluten, nutritional yeast, onion and garlic powders, paprika and salt. Process using the pulse button until incorporated into a dough. Do not over process.

    1.5 cups silken tofu, 1.33 cup vital wheat gluten, 1 Tbsp nutritional yeast, 1 Tbsp onion powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1.5 tsp sea salt, 1.5 tsp sweet paprika

  • Place a large piece (18x18 inch) of parchment paper on the kitchen counter and dump the seitan dough on top. Oil your hands lightly if need be to prevent sticking then stretch the dough into a 1/3 inch round or so. Use a small round biscuit cutter and cut out the nuggets. Alternatively you can just use a serrated knife or pastry cutter and make 1 inch square nuggets or long tenders, whatever you like.

    TIP: For the fastest method just use your hands and tear small nuggets out of the dough and line them up on the parchment paper. This will look more like "popcorn chicken”.

Steam the Nuggets

  • Bring a couple of inches of water to a boil in a pot large enough to fit your largest steamer basket (mine is 11 inches and perfectly fits all the nuggets). Spray the basket with a little oil and place all the nuggets inside without touching each other. Cover with a lid and steam for 18 minutes. Remove from heat.

Batter + Coat

  • Prepare two shallow bowls and mix the batter ingredients in one and the panko coating in the other. You want a thick batter but still loose enough to easily dip the nuggets in.

    1/2 cup plant milk, 1/2 cup all purpose flour, 1 pinch salt, 1/2 tsp onion powder

  • Take each nugget and dip it in the batter allowing any excess to drain then coat it in the panko bread crumb mixture. Place back on the parchment paper. Repeat the process with all the nuggets.

    1.5 cups panko bread crumbs, 1 tsp paprika, pinch salt + pepper

Pan Fry Method

  • Preheat 1 inch of vegetable oil to 375”F in a medium cast iron skillet. Carefully add the nuggets one by one making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Fry for a couple of minutes on both sides just until golden brown. Transfer to a plate lined with a paper towel and repeat with the rest of the nuggets. It’s important to work in batches here so the nuggets do not steam but fry quickly until crispy golden.

    vegetable oil for frying

Air Fryer Method

  • Preheat your air fryer to 375”F. Lightly spray the basket with some vegetable oil to prevent sticking then place the nuggets inside without touching each other. Air fry for 15 minutes until golden brown making sure to give the nuggets a good shake half way. (I used the Breville smart oven air fryer and the basket was perfect to fit all my nuggets. Work in batches if using a smaller air fryer to give your nuggets plenty of space to crisp up.)

Nutrition

Serving: 1nugget | Calories: 33kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 72mg | Potassium: 32mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 55IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: meatless nuggets, vegan chicken nuggets

Servings: 45 nuggets

Calories: 33kcal

Author: Florentina

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Vegan Chicken Nuggets Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is vegan chicken nuggets made of? ›

Ingredients. Ingredients: Water, wheat flour, soy protein concentrate, vegetable oil (corn, canola and/or sunflower), soy protein isolate.

Are vegan chicken nuggets healthy? ›

Vegan chicken nuggets contain various raw ingredients like soybean, wheat protein, and more. Peas, legumes, and fava beans are popular raw materials for the vegan meat industry. Also, plant-based or vegan chicken nuggets have lower fat content, thus proving to be a better alternative.

What is a good substitute for chicken nuggets? ›

Vegetable nuggets: These are made from mashed vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, and corn, and are often baked or grilled instead of fried. Turkey or chicken burgers: Grilled or baked patties made from lean meat are a healthier alternative to fried burgers.

What are the ingredients in Beyond meat chicken nuggets? ›

Water, Enriched wheat flour, Wheat gluten, Faba bean protein, Modified corn and wheat starch, Flavour, Canola oil, Pea protein, Amino acids (L- Threonin, L=Lysine monohydrochloride, L- Tryptophan), Salt, Yeast extract, Methylcellulose, Pea starch, Refined coconut oil, Seasoning (garlic powder, onion powder, rosemary, ...

Is seitan good or bad for you? ›

Is Seitan Healthy? In many ways, yes, seitan is quite a healthy option. The seitan nutrition facts are hard to argue with: notable amounts of protein, iron, calcium, selenium, phosphorus, and B vitamins. This combination of macro- and micronutrients can result in some pretty impressive health benefits.

What are McDonald's vegan nuggets made of? ›

This launch is the second product to come out of the fast-food giant's three-year development deal with vegan company Beyond Meat. The new nuggets are made with pea protein, corn, and wheat, and surrounded by a crispy tempura batter.

Is vegan chicken better for you than real chicken? ›

Vegan chicken is lower in cholesterol, calories, fats, and sodium. Vegan chicken matches up the taste of real chicken because of the substitutes used in preparing it without many health and environmental risks compared to traditional chicken.

Do vegan chicken nuggets taste the same? ›

The soy-based vegan chicken in these Impossible nuggets is pretty good. It has a very meaty texture; meatier than the 365 nuggets (but not as good as the Daring pieces). While the flavor resembles chicken, many of the others, including Gardein, Daring, and 365 have a more pronounced chicken flavor.

Are plant-based nuggets unhealthy? ›

Plant-based meats can be a healthy part of a balanced diet if you enjoy them in the right way. Consuming plant-based meats in moderation along with fruits, veggies and other nutrient-dense foods can profoundly support your health.

What is the closest chicken nuggets to Chick Fil A? ›

According to TikTok, Costco's chicken nuggets taste the exact same as the nuggets at Chick-fil-A.

How are McDonald's chicken nuggets so cheap? ›

How do restaurants like McDonald's keep their prices so low? For one thing, they don't buy their ingredients at the grocery store. The standard arrangement is to contract with a supplier, who sells their items at a discount in exchange for the certainty of always having a market.

What are the 4 types of chicken nuggets? ›

According to McDonald's, the nuggets come in four shapes: the bell, the bow-tie, the ball and the boot. The reason for the four different shapes is to ensure consistent cooking times for food safety.

What is McDonald's Beyond Meat made of? ›

In 2021, McDonald's partnered with Beyond Meat, a Los Angeles–based producer of plant-based meat substitutes, to create the McPlant platform. It features a plant-based meat alternative burger patty made from plant ingredients such as potatoes, peas and rice. Percentages estimated using US recommendations for adults.

What is in McDonald's Beyond Meat? ›

Ingredients: Water, Pea Protein*, Canola Oil, Coconut Oil, Natural Flavors, Rice Protein, Methylcellulose, Potato Starch, Apple Extract, Salt, Pomegranate Extract, Potassium Chloride, Lemon Juice Concentrate, Vinegar, Yeast Extract, Carrot Powder, Sunflower Lecithin, Beet Juice (color), Maltodextrin. *peas Are Legumes.

Does Costco have vegan chicken nuggets? ›

The Field Roast Plant-Based Nugget at Costco offers a new-and-improved formula that utilizes several relevant food technologies to better deliver on consumers' expectations and contains twice as many nuggets as the regular retail pack.

Are vegan nuggets ultra processed? ›

Imitation meats or meat substitutes - such as vegan nuggets, sausages, and burgers or fake chicken pieces and ready meals - are sometimes classified as ultra-processed foods4. These are convenience foods that contain additives like sweeteners, salt and artificial flavours but contain few nutrients.

What is vegan meat made of? ›

Plant- and fungus-based substitutes are frequently made with soy (e.g. tofu, tempeh, and textured vegetable protein), but may also be made from wheat gluten as in seitan, pea protein as in the Beyond Burger, or mycoprotein as in Quorn.

Are vegan chicken nuggets processed? ›

Though they can be a good source of fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals, there's no getting away from the fact that vegan chicken nuggets are a processed food. They are delicious though, so we're all for enjoying them!

Are KFC vegan nuggets vegan? ›

It's also worth mentioning that KFC has made it clear that while all of the ingredients in the Beyond Chicken are vegan, the nuggets overall are technically *not* vegan or vegetarian. That's because they are prepared in the same frying oil as the regular nuggets.

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