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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
