Vegan Chicken Fillets 🌱 An easy and delicious recipe for making the best homemade protein-packed, plant-based chicken. Prepared with seitan (made with vital wheat gluten, tofu, nutritional yeast, and seasonings) this simply delish dish is perfect for everyday and special occasions!
This simple recipe for easy vegan (seitan) chicken fillets is a breeze to whip up. Loaded with savory flavor, great texture, and protein, they make a fantastic and satisfying alternative to animal-derived meat. They're a winner for vegans and non-vegans alike. Best of all, no chickens were harmed in the creation of this very tasty and cruelty-free recipe. How nice is that?
I think you are going to love the versatility of these vegan chicken fillets, They make a wonderful addition to salads, sandwiches, or as the star of your favorite main dishes. Imagine slices of these homemade fillets served with stuffing, cranberry sauce, and mushroom gravy on Thanksgiving. Yes please!
Table of Contents
You might be wondering, what is seitan? Also known as wheat meat or wheat gluten, seitan is a high-protein meat substitute made from gluten, the main protein found in wheat. It has a chewy, meaty texture and is a popular choice for vegan and vegetarian cooking. Seitan is very easy to prepare and readily absorbs the flavors any seasonings you add.
Why you will love this recipe!
- Makes a delicious and satisfying main dish
- 100% plant-based
- Meaty texture and flavor that vegans and non-vegans will enjoy
- Super easy to make and very versatile
- Perfect for holidays, special occasions, and every day!
🥕 Ingredient Notes
🥕 See the printable recipe card below for quantities & details
Vital wheat gluten - this ingredient is truly vital to this dish, as it creates the ideal chewy, meaty texture in making vegan chicken fillets and other meat-substitute dishes (also known as seitan). Unfortunately, for those with gluten allergies, I don't know of any suitable gluten-free alternatives to use successfully in this recipe.
Tofu - (soft or medium firm) provides additional moisture, texture, and protein to the fillets.
Nutritional Yeast - provides a wonderful umami flavor.
Vegetable bouillon - boosts the savory flavor. May be substituted with vegan no-chicken bouillon or poultry seasoning.
Onion powder - adds a nice aromatic flavor.
Garlic powder - I use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic because it blends well into the dough.
Cumin - a little bit of cumin goes a long way in adding great flavor to this dish. If you aren't a cumin fan, you can omit it.
Celery salt - I love using celery salt in savory dishes like this one. If you don't have any on hand, no worries, but if you do, use it!
Salt - I used table salt, but coarse will work too.
Water - filtered or whatever you prefer to drink
Olive oil or spray oil - to prevent the vegan chicken fillets from sticking together while steaming.
🥕 Instructions
🥕 Note: This recipe requires just a few kitchen tools. Some are optional, but two items are necessary to make these seitan chicken fillets - a food processor and a steamer/double boiler.
1. Drain the water from the package of tofu. If the tofu still has a lot of liquid in it, you will need to squeeze out the remaining water in the tofu by sandwiching the block of tofu between two cutting boards and weighting it with heavy cans, letting it drain into the sink or a bowl.
2. You can also use a tofu press. I find it to be a faster and easier method. There are a lot of different presses available online. I use a clamp-style press like the one above for soft or medium tofu and a simple screw-down press for firm tofu.
3. Cut the tofu into pieces and place inside a food processor. Attach cover.
4. Pulse the tofu several times until it is fully mashed and smooth.
5. Add all the remaining ingredients, including water. Cover with lid.
6. Pulse until all the ingredients are fully combined and the seitan has a thick dough-like consistency.
7. Remove the seitan dough from the food processor and place on a clean cutting board. Lightly knead the dough with your hands a few times and form into a ball. (Don't over-knead or your vegan chicken fillets may become tough).
8. Press down to lightly flatten the ball. Use a knife to cut the ball into 6 wedges.
Note: Now is a good time to begin heating the water in the double boiler. Pour about 3 inches of water into the bottom of the double boiler. Put the steamer basket on top and cover. Place on a stove top over high heat and bring water to a boil.
9. Flatten and shape the wedges into fillet shapes. They should be roughly about ½" thick.
10. Lightly spray or brush a small amount of cooking oil onto one side of the fillets. It will help prevent them from sticking together while they steam.
11. Once the double boiler is steaming, place the fillets into the steamer basket with the oiled sides up. Cover with a lid and set on top of the double boiler. Allow to steam for 15 minutes on the stove over medium-high heat.
12. Using tongs, a flat spatula, or a large fork, gently turn the fillets over and brush lightly with additional oil. Be careful not to burn yourself from the hot steam. Cover and continue steaming another 15 minutes.
13. When the vegan chicken fillets are done steaming, they're ready to be enjoyed! You can eat them just as is, or brown them in a skillet with a bit of non-dairy butter (like I did above). It was so delicious served with a side of mashed potatoes and my homemade mushroom gravy.
🥕 Preparation & Serving Tips
This recipe is one of those that you can easily make your own. By adding different seasonings, marinades, sauces, or gravies, you can create dozens of dishes using this simple recipe for vegan chicken fillets, such as:
Vegan chicken tacos - Substitute the jackfruit in this street taco recipe with thin shredded strips of chicken fillets. A side of black beans and this easy Mexican rice would make a festive and zesty complete meal.
Barbecued vegan chicken - Brush the fillets with your favorite barbecue sauce and cook them on a grill. Serve with grilled veggie skewers, corn on the cob and this delicious old-fashioned vegan potato salad.
Veggie stir-fry with teriyaki vegan chicken - Marinate cubed fillets in teriyaki sauce and stir-fry them with sliced carrots, onion, broccoli florets, mushrooms, bok choy, and water chestnuts.
Sweet and sour vegan chicken - Follow the directions for my sweet and sour macadamia tofu, replacing the tofu with vegan chicken fillets.
Vegan chicken wraps or sandwiches - Make a lunch of thinly sliced fillets rolled up in a soft tortilla or between slices of bread with all your favorite fix-ins, like avocado, sprouts, spinach, tomatoes, vegan mayo, our heavenly homemade hummus or vegan tzatziki sauce.
🥕 Equipment
Here are the kitchen tools we use to prepare easy vegan chicken fillets:
- Food processor
- Double boiler with steamer basket
- A tofu press or 2 cutting boards for pressing the tofu
- A measuring cup
- A kitchen knife
- Measuring spoons
FAQ's
Why use a combination of seitan and tofu in this recipe?
Using both seitan and tofu creates a balanced texture. Seitan provides a meaty bite, while tofu adds moisture, a smoother consistency and extra protein to the fillets.
Can I customize the seasonings to suit my taste preferences?
Absolutely! Feel free to adjust the seasonings to your liking. Experiment with different herbs and spices to create your own unique flavor profile.
Are these fillets suitable for gluten-free diets?
Unfortunately, this recipe is not suitable for those with gluten allergies or sensitivities, as seitan contains gluten. However, there are gluten-free meat alternatives available in stores that you can use in a similar way.
How should I store leftovers?
Store any leftover fillets in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. They can also be frozen for up to 2-3 months.
What are some serving suggestions for these easy vegan chicken fillets?
These fillets are incredibly versatile! You can serve them in sandwiches, on top of salads, alongside roasted vegetables, or even sliced and added to stir-fries. Get creative and enjoy them in your favorite dishes!
If you love this recipe ★★★★★ please be sure to rate it below! Sharing your experience lets me know that you enjoyed it and will help other readers decide if they should give the recipe a try too. Thanks a bunch!🥕
Recipe
Easy Vegan Chicken Fillets
Equipment
- food processor
- Double boiler with steamer basket
- A tofu press or 2 cutting boards for pressing the tofu
- A measuring cup
- A kitchen knife
Ingredients
- 1½ cups vital wheat gluten
- 15 oz tofu soft or medium firmness
- 3 tablespoon nutritional yeast
- 1 tablespoon vegetable bouillon
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon celery salt
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoon water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or spray oil
Instructions
- Drain the water from the package of tofu. Press the tofu (if needed) to remove the excess liquid.
- Cut the tofu into pieces and place inside a food processor. Attach cover.
- Pulse the tofu several times until it is fully mashed and smooth.
- Add all the remaining ingredients, including water. Cover with lid.
- Pulse until all the ingredients are fully combined and the seitan has a thick dough-like consistency.
- Remove the seitan dough from the food processor and place on a clean cutting board. Lightly knead the dough with your hands a few times and form into a ball. (Don't over-knead or your vegan chicken fillets may become tough)
- Press down to lightly flatten the ball. Use a knife to cut the ball into 6 wedges.
- Pour about 3 inches of water into the bottom of the double boiler. Put steamer basket on top and cover. Place double boiler on a stove top over high heat. Bring water to a boil.
- Flatten and shape the wedges into fillet shapes. They should be roughly about ½ - ¾ of an inch thick.
- Lightly spray or brush a small amount of cooking oil onto one side of the fillets. It will help prevent them from sticking together while they steam.
- Place the fillets into a steamer basket with the oiled sides up. Cover with a lid and set on top of the double boiler. Allow to steam for 15 minutes on the stove over medium-high heat.
- Using tongs, a flat spatula, or a large fork, gently turn the fillets over and brush lightly with additional oil. Be careful not to burn yourself from the hot steam. Cover and continue steaming another 15 minutes.
- Once the vegan chicken fillets are done steaming, they're ready to be enjoyed! You can eat them just as is, or brown them in a skillet, cut them into cubes for stir fry, grill them with barbecue sauce, or whatever you might do with chicken.
Notes
Equipment
This recipe requires just a few kitchen tools. Some are optional, but two items are necessary to make these seitan chicken fillets - a food processor and a large steamer/double boiler.Preparation & Serving Tips
This recipe is one of those that you can easily make your own. By adding different seasonings, marinades, sauces, or gravies, you can create dozens of dishes using this simple recipe for vegan chicken fillets, such as: Vegan chicken tacos - Substitute the jackfruit in this street taco recipe with thin shredded strips of chicken fillets. A side of black beans and this easy Mexican rice would make a festive and zesty complete meal. Barbecued vegan chicken - Brush the fillets with your favorite barbecue sauce and cook them on a grill. Serve with corn on the cob and this delicious old-fashioned vegan potato salad. Veggie stir-fry with teriyaki vegan chicken - Marinate cubed fillets in teriyaki sauce and stir-fry them with sliced carrots, onion, broccoli florets, mushrooms, bok choy, and water chestnuts. Sweet and sour vegan chicken - Follow the directions for my sweet and sour macadamia tofu, replacing the tofu with vegan chicken fillets. Vegan chicken wraps or sandwiches - Make a lunch of thinly sliced fillets rolled up in a soft tortilla or between slices of bread with all your favorite fix-ins, like avocado, sprouts, spinach, tomatoes, vegan mayo, our heavenly homemade hummus or vegan tzatziki sauce.Nutrition
These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you're using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.
Connie Edwards McGaughy says
Once you see how easy and delicious making your own vegan chicken fillets can be, you'll think twice about buying store-bought meat substitutes again. Loaded with great flavor, meaty texture, and plant-based protein, you're going to love the convenience and satisfying goodness of this recipe.