Still enjoy the flavor of fried chicken but want to do so without any chickens having to suffer for it? Well you’re in the right place! Below we have some mouth-watering recipes that’ll give you the same familiar taste without any animal products!
Whether it’s seitan, oyster mushrooms, tofu or other, we’ve plenty of tasty ingredients to substitute for real chicken.
So let’s get started; here are some amazingly delicious and easy vegan fried chicken recipes you can cook today.
1. Vegan Fried Chicken by Nora Cooks
Nora Cooks is a vegan recipe blog with one of the best vegan fried chicken recipes. These vegan crispy chicken tenders are 100% plant-based and will disappear off of plates like magic.
Have these ingredients on hand when making this fried vegan chicken recipe by Nora Cooks:
- Vital Wheat Gluten
- Nutritional Yeast
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Black Pepper
- Cajun Seasoning
- Salt
- Vegan Chicken Broth
- Olive Oil
- Unsweetened Soy Milk
- All-Purpose Flour
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Cornstarch
- Paprika
- Dried Thyme
- Oregano
- Frying Oil
This delicious recipe takes around 40 minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to cook. Nora Cooks recommends frying these to get that fried chicken taste you’re craving. However, this recipe can also be cooked in an air fryer or baked.
Serve these delicious fried chicken tenders with vegan mayo, ranch, or any other side sauce you prefer.
2. Vegan Fried “Chicken” by 40Aprons
40Aprons has an amazingly tender and crispy vegan fried chicken recipe worth checking out. The secret to its success? A double-breading. Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, this recipe is worth your time.
40Aprons recommends freezing and thawing the tofu to get the perfect texture that is juicy and flavorful and tastes like chicken.
Stock your pantry with the following ingredients when prepping this easy and delicious plant-based chicken recipe by 40Aprons:
- Firm Tofu
- Vegetable Broth
- Hot Sauce
- Unsweetened Non-Dairy Milk
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- All-Purpose Flour
- Cornstarch
- Onion Powder
- Smoked Paprika
- Garlic Powder
- Italian Seasoning Blend
- Cayenne Pepper
- Black Pepper
- Salt
- Neutral Frying Oil
This recipe takes about 15-minutes to prepare after the tofu has been dethawed. Cook the tenders for about six to seven minutes and serve with a delicious vegan dipping sauce of your choice.
3. The Best Ever Vegan Fried Chicken by School Night Vegan
School Night Vegan has one of the top vegan fried chicken recipes that is juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. This recipe uses aquafaba to keep your vegan chicken moist and produce less kitchen waste.
Add the ingredients listed below to your grocery list when making this recipe by School Night Vegan:
- Chickpeas
- Aquafaba
- Water
- Bouillon Powder
- White Wine Vinegar
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Silken Tofu
- Vital Wheat Gluten
- Gram Flour
- Plant Milk
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Sriracha
- White Flour
- Corn Flour
- Sea Salt
- Old Bay Seasoning
- Black Pepper
- Vegetable Oil
You’ll need a total of three hours to prepare this amazing recipe. Whip up a big batch and freeze for up to two months to have these delicious plant-based chicken tenders on hand whenever you want.
4. Vegan Fried Chicken by Grandbaby Cakes
Grandbaby Cakes has one of the best vegan fried chicken recipes that are juicy, spicey, and crunchy.
You’ll need the following ingredients to prepare this vegan fried chicken recipe by Grandbaby Cakes:
- Maple Syrup
- Frank’s RedHot Sauce
- Unsweetened Plant-Based Milk
- Chickpea Flour
- Nutritional Yeast
- Pink Himalayan Salt
- Black Pepper
- Smoked Paprika
- Water
- All-Purpose Flour
- Cornstarch
- Creole-Cajun Seasoning
- Dried Thyme
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Oyster Mushrooms
- Neutral Frying Oil
This recipe takes between 45-minutes to one hour to prep and cook. Let everything cool after being in the cooking oil for around ten minutes before serving.
5. Vegan Fried Chicken by Loving It Vegan
Loving It Vegan has a tender and delicious vegan fried chicken recipe that will have everyone asking for more.
This plant-based chicken recipe is seasoned with plenty of spices and herbs and bursting with flavor.
You’ll need quite a few ingredients to make this dish. Have the following ingredients on hand to make this vegan fried chicken recipe by Loving It Vegan:
- Chickpeas
- Vegan Chicken or Vegetable Stock
- Refined Coconut Oil
- Salt
- Nutritional Yeast Flakes
- Vegan Chicken Spice or Poultry Seasoning
- Dried Sage
- Dried Thyme
- Dried Rosemary
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Vital Wheat Gluten
- All-Purpose Flour
- Cornstarch
- Ground Black Pepper
- Paprika
- Cayenne Pepper
- Vegan Buttermilk
- Canola Oil
This recipe needs 40 minutes to prepare and one hour and 15 minutes to cook. Let cool for 30 minutes before serving. Have vegan dipping sauces like spicy vegan mayo or bbq sauce to serve alongside these finger-licking tenders.
6. Vegan Korean Fried Chicken by The Cheap Lazy Vegan
The Cheap Lazy Vegan has a delicious vegan Korean fried chicken that you have to try! This recipe is crispy and smothered in delicious plant-based vegan sauces.
The majority of the ingredients needed are for the breading. All you need for the faux chicken are soy curls and cornstarch.
The Cheap Lazy Vegan recommends using the following ingredients to whip up a batch of these finger-licking vegan Korean fried chicken strips:
- Soy Curls Dry
- Cornstarch
- Gochujang (Korean Red Pepper Paste)
- Maple Syrup
- Ketchup
- Soy Sauce
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Water
- Green Onions (Optional)
- Sesame Seeds (Optional)
Make this crispy fried chicken in no time in your air-fryer. This recipe needs seven minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook.
7. The Best Southern Vegan Fried Chicken by Veganosity
Veganosity has one of the best easy vegan fried chicken recipes that uses seitan cutlets to mimic the texture and flavor of real chicken.
This plant-based recipe has a spice, crunch, and juicy inside. Use spices like oregano, sage, and paprika to get that classic fried chicken flavor.
You need the below ingredients to make this delicious recipe by Veganoisty:
- Seitan Cutlets
- Flour
- Smoked Paprika
- Salt
- Dried Oregano
- Dried Sage
- Garlic Powder
- Black Pepper
- Egg Replacer
Serve your vegan fried chicken with dipping sauces on the side or tossed in any vegan glaze of your choice. This recipe takes 15 minutes to prepare and 16 minutes to cook. Keep in mind that the chicken cutlets need to be premade, so give yourself an additional 45 minutes to get those ready.
8. Vegan Fried Chicken with Tofu Skin by The Edgy Veg
Check out The Edgy Veg for an amazing vegan fried chicken recipe. This recipe uses a yuba or tofu skin to give a flaky and fall off the vegan-bone texture. If yuba is hard to get your hands on, feel free to use rice paper instead.
Serve this recipe with dipping sauces, or enjoy it plain. The Edgy Veg recommends having coleslaw, corn pudding, or mashed potatoes to complete your meal.
Have the following ingredients on hand to make this vegan fried chicken with tofu skin by The Edgy Veg:
- Tofu Skin or Dried Soybean Skin Sticks
- No-Chicken Broth
- Mushrooms Seasoning
- Nutritional Yeast
- Poultry Seasoning
- Rice Paper
- Popsicle sticks
- Seasoned Flour
Whip up a batch of these amazingly good vegan fried chicken tenders in less than 20 minutes. Give yourself 15 minutes to prep all the ingredients and four minutes to fry. With such a quick prep time, you’ll want to cook extra and freeze them for an easy and delicious go-to vegan meal.
9. Vegan Fried Chicken (Oyster Mushrooms) by My Pure Plants
My Pure Plants has one of the tastiest vegan fried chicken recipes made with oyster mushrooms instead of meat. This vegan recipe is also gluten-free, so feel free to serve it up at meals with your gluten-free friends.
These chicken tenders are golden-brown with a crispy outer coating. Inside, the pearl oyster mushrooms give a faux-meat texture and absorb flavors like a sponge.
Use these ingredients for this finger-licking vegan fried chicken recipe by My Pure Plants:
- Pearl Oyster Mushrooms
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Sweet Smoked Paprika Powder
- Cayenne Pepper
- Ground Cumin
- Oregano
- Salt
- Black Pepper
- Dairy-Free Milk
- Corn Flour
- Corn Flakes
- Cornstarch
This recipe takes ten minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook. Deep fry your oyster mushrooms and let cool before digging in. You can bake this recipe in the oven, but the breading comes out best when deep-fried.
10. Vegan Fried Chicken by PETA
Leave it to PETA to have one of the best easy vegan fried chicken recipes. This quick and easy vegan recipe is everything you have been craving. They are juicy and tender yet crispy on the outside.
This recipe recommends keeping things easy by using store-bought or homemade vegan chicken cutlets. This makes the prepping process a breeze, and you can whip up a batch in under 20 minutes.
Stock your pantry with the following ingredients when making this plant-based chicken recipe by PETA:
- Salt
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Unbleached White Flour
- Nutritional Yeast (Optional)
- Yellow Mustard
- Water
- Baking Powder
- Vegan Chicken
- Vegetable Oil
Coat the vegan chicken in seasoning and breading and fry in heated vegetable oil until golden brown. Let cool before serving with dipping sauces, vegan gravy, or serve on a salad.
11. KFC-Style Vegan Fried “Chicken” by SideChef
SideChef has a tasty and delicious vegan fried chicken recipe that is inspired by KFC’s secret recipe. This amazingly easy recipe is worth trying next time you crave a cruelty-free chicken snack.
This plant-based chicken uses oyster mushrooms to have a meaty texture without any animal products. The blend of spices seasons the mushrooms in a crispy and flavorful golden-brown coating.
Have the following ingredients handy to make this KFC-style vegan fried chicken recipe by SideChef:
- Oyster Mushrooms
- Nutritional Yeast
- Unsweetened Soy Milk
- Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice
- Ground Black Pepper
- Salt
- Chili Powder
- All-Purpose Flour
- Baking Powder
- Garlic Salt
- Onion Powder
- Paprika
- Ground Ginger
- Granulated Sugar
- Dried Oregano
- Dried Marjoram
- Dried Sage
- Dried Thyme
- Ground Allspice
This recipe only takes 25 minutes in total to make. Whip up a batch for yourself, friends, or family and serve as tasty tenders with french fries, crispy chicken pieces in pasta, or dipped in your favorite vegan sauce.
12. Seriously Good Vegan Fried Chicken by Black Foodie
Black Foodie has a seriously good vegan fried chicken recipe that is crispy and crunchy yet moist on the inside.
Oyster mushrooms are the meat in this recipe. Cut them in half for vegan chicken tenders or into quarters for vegan chicken nuggets. This recipe might have even the most avid meat-eater keeping their kitchen stocked with the ingredients to make this finger-licking recipe.
Add the following ingredients to your shopping list to make these seriously good vegan fried chicken strips by Black Foodie:
- Oyster Mushrooms
- Almond or Oat Milk
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Pickle Juice
- Hot Sauce
- All-Purpose Flour
- Cajun Spice
- Cornstarch
- Smoked Paprika
- Garlic Powder
- Salt
Prepare four servings of this recipe in under 30 minutes. Black Foodie recommends serving these with ketchup, hot sauce, or BBQ sauce.
13. Vegan Fried Chicken by By Nature Food
By Nature Food has a wide variety of vegan recipe inspirations for your next great meal. Enjoy this vegan fried chicken recipe for plant-based stuffed tacos, salads, or dipped in your favorite sauce.
Use fresh oyster mushrooms to achieve a meat-like texture. These mushrooms absorb flavor and unify the whole dish.
You need the ingredients listed below to make a batch of By Nature Food’s vegan fried chicken:
- Oyster Mushrooms
- Oat Milk
- Plain Flour
- Paprika
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Ginger Powder
- Sea Salt
- Cayenne or Chilli Powder
- Black Pepper
- Dried Thyme
- Vegetable Oil
Give yourself just under one hour to make By Nature Food’s recipe. You need 25 minutes to prepare the ingredients and 15 minutes to cook everything to perfection. Serve your finished product with any vegan sauce of your choice.
14. Vegan Korean Fried “Chicken” by The Korean Vegan
The Korean Vegan is your go-to place to find the best vegan Korean fried chicken recipe. Spicy, seasoned, crunchy, and moist, these plant-based chicken tenders will have you wishing you doubled the recipe.
The Korean Vegan will have you questioning if this is actually vegan. The oyster mushrooms tear apart like chicken and taste guilt-free.
The Korean Vegan recommends buying the following ingredients before getting started making this vegan Korean fried chicken recipe:
- Soy Milk
- Lemon
- Soy Sauce
- Oyster Mushrooms
- Frying Oil
- All-Purpose Flour
- Panko Bread Crumbs
- Gochugaru
- Dried Oregano
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Salt
Only have 30 minutes before guests arrive? No problem! This recipe takes 15 minutes to prep and 15 minutes to cook five servings.
15. Seitan Fried Chick’n by Six Vegan Sisters
Six Vegan Sisters has a super easy and distinctly delicious seitan fried chicken recipe. Once you make it once, everyone will ask you to make it again.
This recipe uses vital wheat gluten, or seitan, as the meat. 100% vegan, these chicken tenders are perfectly seasoned and deep-fried until crispy.
You need the following ingredients to make this seitan fried chicken recipe by Six Vegan Sisters:
- Vital Wheat Gluten
- Nutritional Yeast
- Paprika
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Cayenne Powder
- Parsley
- Vegetable Broth
- Water
- Soy Sauce
- Flour
- Salt
- Pepper
- Vegan Egg Substitute
- Canola Oil
Give yourself 20 minutes to prepare and 50 minutes to cook this finger-licking recipe. Serve your juicy tenders with vegan ranch dressing, BBQ sauce, or ketchup after letting them cool from the hot oil.
16. Vegan Fried Chicken by The Veggie Society
The Veggie Society has a unique take on the classic vegan fried chicken recipe worthy of your attention.
This amazing recipe uses a combination of vital wheat gluten and jackfruit to give your plant-based chicken a meaty and tender texture. If you like some extra spice, The Veggie Society recommends adding chili flakes to the mix.
Have the ingredients listed below on hand to make this scrumptious vegan fried chicken recipe by The Veggie Society:
- Vital Wheat Gluten
- Young Jackfruit
- Nutritional Yeast
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Oregano
- Sweet Paprika
- Smoke Paprika
- Fresh Italian Parsley
- Sea Salt
- Chilli Flakes (Optional)
- Vegetable Broth
- Aquafaba
- Chickpea Flour
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Turmeric
- Black Pepper
- Flour
- Panko Bread Crumbs
- Olive Oil
- Water
This recipe needs 15 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook. Serve yours smothered in sauces or in its crispy breaded coating. It’s unlikely there will be any leftovers, but if you do, reheat them on a skillet for a few minutes to maintain their crispiness.
17. Vegan Fried Chicken by Damn Easy Recipes
Damn Easy Recipes has one of the best vegan fried chicken recipes you will try in a while. It only takes ten minutes to make and is one of the easiest meat substitutes around.
What sets Damn Easy Recipes vegan chicken apart from others on this list is that the meat is actually cucumber. This recipe uses the circular design of cucumber to make vegan fried chicken patties that give you a satisfying crunch and a juicy bite.
Have the following ingredients on hand to make this vegan fried chicken recipe by Damn Easy Recipes:
- Vegetable Oil
- Cucumbers
- Flour
- Salt
- Water
- Panko Bread Crumbs
- Poultry Spice Blend
- Paprika (Optional)
This recipe takes five minutes to prepare and five minutes to deep fry. Serve yours on a bun with vegan mayo and lettuce or topped on a salad.
18. Vegan Fried Chicken by The Buddhist Chef
The Buddhist Chef has an incredibly easy and mouth-watering recipe that has carnivores asking for seconds.
Maple syrup gives this recipe a subtle maple sweetness that blends effortlessly with the various spices that go into the seasoning. Batter the oyster mushrooms in this delicious blend of spices and fry them up to make something remarkable.
Stock your kitchen with the below ingredients to prep this mouth-watering vegan fried chicken recipe by The Buddhist Chef:
- Oyster Mushrooms
- Vegetable Oil
- Spelt Flour
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Salt
- Soy Milk
- Maple Syrup
- Paprika
- Ground Sage
- Dried Thyme
- Cayenne Pepper
- Black Pepper
This recipe takes under half an hour to make. Fry each piece for a few minutes or until golden-brown and crispy. The Buddhist Chef recommends serving your vegan fried chicken with thousand island dressing and even includes a dipping sauce recipe you can whip up while frying.
19. Fried Oyster Mushrooms (Vegan Fried Chicken) by Cooking with Ayeh
Cooking with Ayeh has an oyster mushroom vegan fried chicken recipe that is insanely good. From a first glance, you will think it is breaded chicken. From the first bite, you will be complimenting the chef, even if you made them yourself.
You will need the ingredients listed below to make this delicious vegan fried chicken recipe by Cooking with Ayeh:
- Oyster Mushrooms
- Plain Flour
- Paprika Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Turmeric Powder
- Cayenne Pepper
- Salt
- Cracked Pepper
- Frying Oil
Make this vegan oyster mushroom fried chicken in just 20 minutes. You need ten minutes to prepare everything and ten minutes to cook it. Let everything cool before serving, and pair it with a delicious dipping sauce.
Easy Vegan Fried Chicken Recipes, Final Thoughts
Whether you’ve been vegan forever or are recently trying to incorporate more plant-based meals into your menu, these easy vegan fried chicken recipes are here to save the day.
You don’t have to miss the flavor of BBQ sauce or the texture of crunchy chicken if you’re vegan. These amazing recipes are simple to make and only get easier the more you practice. Satiate your crispy cravings and get your fix of comfort food without the use of any animal products.
Stock up on spices and your favorite chicken substitute and whip up a batch of finger-licking good vegan fried chicken for your next meatless Monday.