It’s finally here, vegan chicken! I have always been a fan of tofurky but it’s quite expensive and not available everywhere, so I wanted to make my own. The result is a super tender “Chick’n” with a very meaty and fibrous texture, this chick’n will blow your mind!
Get ready for something meaty!
After taking a look at the ingredients of Tofurky, I found out they were using tofu as the second ingredient. Tofu actually does a lot, it makes the seitan less chewy, more tender, and gives it a better texture overall.
The thing with seitan is that the final texture can be completely different based on how you knead it and how you cook it. For this recipe, we absolutely want to knead it for a long time to develop a fibrous texture, and then cook it wrapped in foil so it doesn’t expand or develop a spongy texture.
There are many recipes that call for garbanzo or navy beans to add tenderness to seitan, the thing is I didn’t want to add beans because I find them a bit hard to digest sometimes. So I stick to wheat gluten + tofu + seasonings + a secret ingredient to replace the beans: jackfruit! We are not using jackfruit for its texture here since it will be puréed with the other ingredients. Jackfruit adds tenderness to the seitan and makes it less chewy, which is usually a problem with seitan.
Regarding the flavorings, I didn’t use much as I wanted the chick’n to be versatile. Also, adding spices and herbs to the dough makes it darker and a bit less smooth so I didn’t add any. I prefer to flavor the ckick’n with a marinade afterwards. Now onto the process!
The first step is to blend the tofu with the water, jackfruit, salt, and a couple of tablespoons of oil until very smooth.
Next, you transfer the wet mixture to a stand mixer and add the vital wheat gluten. You want to knead the seitan for at least 20 minutes for it to develop a fibrous texture. If you don’t knead enough, the seitan won’t have that meaty texture. I highly recommend using a stand mixer, do not use a food processor, please! I broke the blade of mine when testing this recipe. The dough is very elastic so it won’t work well in a food processor.
Once your dough has developed a nice texture, it’s time to cook it. I’m sharing two ways to do so: in a pressure cooker or in the Instant Pot. You wrap the dough in two sheets of aluminum foil and pressure cook for about 30 minutes.
When your seitan is cooked, let it cool completely before shredding it, or cutting into the desired shape. I love to make shredded chick’n by simply pulling the seitan with my hands, but you can also cut it into pieces, or make chick’n breasts if you prefer!
Look at that fibrous and meaty texture!
I highly recommend letting the seitan cool in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours before using as it will get a better texture.
At this point the chicken is not flavored, so you will need to add flavor with a marinade. I’m sharing 3 marinades in the notes, but feel free to experiment!
This chick’n is super tender, very meaty and has that fibrous texture that is very similar to chicken. Thanks to the tofu and seitan, it is also very high in protein (28g per serving!).
WHERE TO USE VEGAN CHICK’N
This vegan chick’n is extremely versatile, it can be baked, sautéed, or grilled.
- In salads: Simply shred it and add it to your favorite salads.
- In curries: Add shredded chick’n at the beginning of cooking if you want it to soak up the flavors of the sauce and become very tender. Add at the end if you want a slightly firmer texture.
- In pasta dishes: Finely shredded, sautéed, and added to spicy noodles, yum!
- In stir-fries: Marinade your chick’n before adding it to stir-fried vegetables.
- In soups, bakes, and so much more!
This chick’n would also make a great substitute to jackfruit in this Buffalo Jackfruit & Rice Bake, Jackfruit Blanquette, or these 15-Minute Thai Peanut Jackfruit Noodles!
I hope you will love this vegan chick’n! It’s SO meaty, versatile, and would even surprise meat-eaters!
Let me know in the comments if you try this recipe!
The Best Vegan Chick'n
Ingredients
- 9 ounces firm tofu
- 1 20-ounce can young green jackfruit
- 2/3 cup water (for extra flavor, use vegetable broth and omit the salt)
- 2 tbsp oil
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 3/4 tsp onion powder
- 3/4 cup + 2 tbsp vital wheat gluten (I used vital wheat gluten with a 83% protein content)
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Drain and rinse the tofu. Pat it dry very well with kitchen paper towels. Add it to a high-speed blender. Drain and rinse the young jackfruit, remove the hardcore parts and discard. Add the jackfruit to the blender. Note: after removing the hardcore parts of the jackfruit, you should end up with about 7 ounces (200g) of jackfruit.
- Add the water, oil, salt, and onion powder to the blender and blend on high speed for about 30 seconds, or until very smooth.
- Transfer the wet mixture to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the flat beater/paddle. Add the vital wheat gluten and all-purpose flour. Knead on speed 2 for about 5 minutes.
- At first it will look very wet, that is normal. Keep kneading. Once it's starting to turn into a dough, replace the flat beater with the dough hook and keep kneading on speed 2 for at least 20 minutes. This may seem like a long time but it's essential to get a very fibrous texture. Make sure you stay near the stand mixer as it will probably move. The dough will be soft and slightly sticky. Again, this is normal, you don't want the dough to be too firm.
- Once the dough has a fibrous texture, divide it into two balls. Shape each balls into a log and wrap tightly in aluminum foil. Wrap in a second layer of foil.
- Fill a pressure cooker (or Instant Pot) with cold water to the 2/3 (about 3 liters). Place the seitan logs in the pressure cooker. The logs will be submerged in water.
- If using a pressure cooker: heat over medium heat, once it is under pressure, cook for 30 minutes. If using an Instant Pot: set to Manual Pressure Cook and set the time to 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, release the pressure. Carefully remove the seitan rolls from the cooker and let them cool completely.
- Once cold, remove the rolls from the aluminum foil, transfer to a plate and cover with plastic film. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours. I found out that chilling in the refrigerator for a few hours gives it a more fibrous, meatier texture.
- Next, using your hands, shred/pull the seitan chicken into bite-size pieces (or larger pieces!). You can now use it in any recipe! I recommend preparing a marinade before stir-frying or baking to add more flavor.
- Chick'n will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
This looks really interesting. I would like to try but jackfruit is super expensive here. What could I use as a substitute?
I was thinking perhaps palm hearts or cauliflower … What do you think?
Palm hearts may work, make sure to rinse them very well and drain. I also guess white beans would work but I haven’t tried it yet.
I just came across this site and you probably have answered the question but can you fry it?
If you mean coat with breadcrumbs and then fry, sure!
Hello! Awesome web site!!
Have you (or know of anyone that has) ever tried making this flute-free? I’d be curious what works since I cannot use all purpose wheat flour. Thank you for your help.
Hi, thanks Keysha!
Well, this recipe is basically just gluten so I’m afraid you will have trouble making it gluten-free.
This recipe was truly awful. I was so excited to try it but sadly it is nothing at all like the consistency of chicken. It’s kind of gooey. I kneaded it for 20 minutes in the food processor and my dough looked exactly like yours. Wasted my whole morning.
I definitely not recommend a food processor. Even with a high-quality and powerful one won’t do it, I learned it the hard way. You need a stand mixer.
Something definetely went wrong for you, sorry. I make this recipe regularly and always get a great texture, not gooey at all.
Ok i am giving this another go this morning I realized I didn’t cut the cores out of the jackfruit and that this could have been responsible for the awful texture I got. I used a stand mixer this time and kneaded it for 40 minutes. My first Impression is that it was not anywhere near as fibrous as when I did it in the food processor. It is cooking now, I’ll let you know how it turns out.
Would it work if it were kneaded with the help of a bread maker machine? On the dough cycle.
I have never used a bread maker, and honestly, I’m not sure how it works so I’m afraid I can help you with this.
Not quite vegan yet but vegan-curious. I have lowered my meat intake to a few nights a meat but want to have a 100% meatless diet eventually. I am so grateful resources like this are available; thank you!. I am hopping to use this recipe to make curried chicken or jerk chicken. I am so excited to try it. Will update on the outcome soon.
That’s a good initiative! Hope you will like this vegan chick’n!
hello thomas, excellent recipe.
i use several very good seitan recipes (mixing beans with gluten) but yours is one of my favourites, mainly for its tenderness but being very meaty. i have prepared your recipe several times.
i do use a food processor but, i mixed wheat gluten and tofu-jackfruit mixture in a large bowl, i let it rest about 15 minutes to allow gluten to absorb the moisture and then i separate the dough into 2 parts. then i process each portion separately in the food processor until the dough is warm, stretchy, smooth, and ‘shreds’ of gluten are visible (up to 6-8 minutes for each part).
thank you very much and congratulations
Hello Rebato,
Happy to hear this recipe worked great for you! I also love that texture and guests are often surprised it’s vegan!
Regarding the use of a food processor, I stopped using it after I broke the blade twice (the blade itself didn’t break but the inside of the tool did). I’m glad to hear you made it work in a food processor though!
You are amazing! Thank you for providing this recipe. I made last weekend and it turned out to be used in a pad Thai and chicken strips coated in panko. I will be making again and will post pictures. So delicious and yes I followed to a t and used the thyme marinade. Looking forward to trying your vegan pork roast also.
Thanks so much for your feedback Renee! 🙂
Using it in Pad Thai is a great idea!
Wow! Thank you for this recipe, Thomas! I turned out perfectly. I love the way it can be pulled apart into shreds. I’ve used it in a stir fry, fajitas and a sandwich. And it tastes good on its own. A family member thought it was turkey! (I followed this recipe, no substitutions, and steamed it for 40 minutes.)
With many thanks from Canada!
Thanks so much for your great feedback! I’m glad to hear you liked the result and had success with the recipe 🙂
I tried this and unfortunately it came out with the texture of boiled bread dough. And the flavor of…..boiled bread dough. Not sure what I did wrong. The dough was pretty soft, maybe not enough gluten? Maybe didn’t knead it long enough? Didn’t cook it long enough? Sadly looked nothing like your picture.
Hi Conor,
Sorry to hear that! My first guess would be that it wasn’t kneaded enough. The lack of vital wheat gluten might be another reason.
Hi Thomas,
What marinade do you have on the chick’n and scallions in the bowl photo? Also, did you fry this chick’n?
Thanks,
John
Hi John,
It was a simple marinade with soy sauce, maple syrup, garlic, lime juice, and scallions.
Thank you so much. I will let u know when I make it. Hope ti make soon. Thanks for sharing.
I LOVE this recipe!! I’ve made it a few times now and it is awesome. I was wondering if you have tried freezing it at all? I would love to make it for a party this weekend, but save the rest for thanksgiving. Please let me know what you think.
Thanks for your feedback Vicki!
I haven’t yet but I think it should freeze well!
Hi Thomas, thank you for sharing this recipe. I made it perfect on my second attempt (i used fried firm tofu on my first attempt and it turned out grainy and a bit soggy) i made teriyaki and satay “chicken” and it’s absolutely yum! 🙂
Awesome! Sounds delicious!
I’m wanting to make this for Thanksgiving and would like it to taste kinda like turkey. What seasoning would you use and how? Thanks so much for a wonderful recipe.
Humm…you may want to use a chicken seasoning spice blend.
Hi Thomas! Thank you for such an INCREDIBLE seitan recipe…it’s just absolutely amazing. My husband and I are both vegan and we’ll be eating this as our Thanksgiving main entree…I’m so excited! I pulled strips and dredged them in a vegan buttermilk batter and then coated them in seasoned breadcrumbs…baked them at 375 degress for about a half an hour. We had it as chik’n parmesan…gonna do the same for Thanksgiving, but I’m going to marinade first in a herby marinade! Absolutely the BEST seitan recipe, EVER! ♥
Thanks again Melissa! 🙂
Is it necessary to put that much water in the IP if it is wrapped in foil? What is the purpose of all that water? Usually only one cup in the IP is necessary to steam. Thanks really want to try this.
This is a good question, I would say less water should work. I will definitely try next time.
Can I use somthing else than jackfruit? We don’t have this fruit in the north.
Hi Vimala,
I don’t use fresh jackfruit, but the young one is cans.
After I pressure cook, it still doesn’t bind and is like paste or minced meat
Did you knead enough? Also, I’m not sure what you mean by “doesn’t bind” as it definitely should because it’s gluten.
I’m definitely going to try this. Does it freeze well?
I have never tried freezing them yet.
Amazing results
i used white beans and it came out just like your pictures
Awesome!
Mine is in the Instapot even as I write this!!! I’m very excited!! It certainly was fibrous!!! Are there any other marinades? I would like to make some fried “chicken”.
You can use basically any marinade for the chick’n!
I just made this yesterday. I wish I would have read all your comments. Especially the one that said fresh frozen jackfruit won’t work. Cuz that’s what I used. The flavor is great but the texture isn’t what I had hoped it would be. So tomorrow is another day!!!
Happy New Year everyone!!!!
I’m afraid I’ve never seen fresh frozen jackfruit at the store, that’s why I recommended using in cans.
Anyway, hope you next try will turn out better! Happy New Year to you too!
I just got your vegan fish recipe. It looks good. I want to do this vegan chick’n recipe also. I do not have a pressure cooker or an instant pot. I will have to cook it in a pot on the stove. How long should I cook it?
I made this the other day but used frozen jackfruit. It had great flavor but not the texture. I’ve just pulled another attempt out of the instapot. I’m really looking forward to this!!! Fingers crossed. I had to knead it in my Kitchen-aid for 45 minutes!!!
Thanks for your feedback Connie!
Hi Connie,
As explained in another comment I have never tried frozen jackfruit, I always use the one in can so I guess frozen might not be suitable for this recipe.
Hi Thomas, just wanted to say thanks for this recipe it works really well for texture and it is incredibly versatile, you are an inspiration and a genius!
You’re welcome Helen! Glad your liked this recipe!
Hi Thomas,
I notice it needs ‘wheat gluten’
Im wondering if ‘gluten free wheat’ would be acceptable as a member of my family is gluten intolerant?
Thanks
Jason.
Hi Jason,
This is a seitan recipe so you must use vital wheat gluten, it cannot be made gluten-free.
Thomas, this easily surpasses tofurky! I used one commenter’s approach of dividing the dough in two and using my FP. 5 minutes of kneading and it turned out beautifully! I have never before posted a comment anywhere but felt compelled to congratulate you! I have been making and experimenting with seitan, tofu etc.for 30 years and this recipe nails it! Mille Mercis!
Your feedback means a lot, thanks Pamela! 🙂
Micheal,
Veganism is about 3 things,
1. Save the animals
2. Save the plant – environment etc
3. Eating a plant based diet – which by definition is way better than eating cardiogenic red meats, cows milk which is not good for human health (it’s great for baby cows though). etc etc
You can of course buy vegan junk food, so the educated vegan just like the educated non vegan needs to choose wisely in a world full of processed, manufactured ‘food’, some good for you some bad.
Check out this great article about this subject.
https://www.vegansociety.com/go-vegan/health
Kind Regards
Jason
So I am a meat eater! However my daughter has chosen not to eat meat anymore, and in turn, has had me searching the web for countless vegan recipes! I was very impressed with the texture of this recipe! Cant say it didnt look and feel like chicken! However!, I know it says this is un seasoned and to season with a sauce but why not a little more seasoning to start with? I made a second time and added in a vegan chicken bouillon spice mix! Game changer! I’ll even eat it! Either way much thanks for the help with this new cooking journey I’m on!
Thanks so much for sharing Shane 🙂
I’m glad you and your daughter liked this vegan chicken! 🙂 The addition of vegan chicken bouillon is a great idea, I didn’t add it as I can’t find that kind of spice mix here.
What do you think of adding a vegan chicken flavored broth For the water in this recipe? Just for some additional flavor.
That would definitely add more flavor if you want to season your chick’n!
I’ve never commented on a recipe before but I just had to this time. We are new to eating a plant-based diet and have tried several different “meat” recipes and this is by far the best!! The texture is perfect! We held it up to actual chicken strips and it looked exactly the same. And there is really no flavor so it picked up the flavor of the marinade we soaked it in overnight and it was delicious!! It’s our new go-to chicken recipe!
Awesome! I’m happy to hear you like the meaty texture 🙂
Thanks for your rating!
I tried the recipe but the chickn didnt firm up after the 4 hour cool down. The inside was slightly soft. What do you think this could be? Too much liquid? Not enough cooking time?
Did you divide the dough before cooking?
Has anyone done this by hand? My blender broke, I don’t have a stand mixer and I am very eager to try this… it has been mentions here that it will take a long time but I’d love to know your experience if you tried. Thank you !
Hi Thomas!
I’m excited to try this. One quick question, my can of jackfruit is 500ml. Will that be enough?
20-ounce can is approximately that weight. Although it’s hard to measure a can of jackfruit by ml.
Hii! i was just wondering if it‘s possible to use yellow or ripe jackfruit instead since there is no young jackfruit where i live? thanks a lot for the recipe!!
Hi Celestia,
No, it’s not possible. Ripe jackfruit is too sweet and doesn’t have the same texture.
Hi, just curious what the jack fruit adds to the recipe?
Hi Lori,
Jackfruit adds moisture and helps make the seitan more tender. Cooked beans might work as well but I have yet to try.
Hi Thomas
I just decided to make a vegan chicken for Easter dinner. I’m going to use one of my two jackfruit cans (ordered from Amazon UK all the way here to rural Italy – my first ever jackfruit). I’m going to have to try using my ninja with the dough blade on low speed as I have no stand mixer , but I’m just wondering… in the instant point do you really need 3 liters of water? I usually just add a couple of cups of liquid when I make seitan sausages…is this different?
Thanks also for your cheese recipes! I’ve made a few and they’re really great, and inspirational!
Hi Cleona,
I’m not very familiar with the ninja but I would recommend being careful with it. I have a powerful food processor with a dough blade and I damaged a part of it when trying to knead the dough for the first time. A kneader like a KitchenAid is highly recommended.
I use 3 liters of water so the seitan is covered with water, it is actually boiled, not really steamed.
Hi! Thank you for the recipe! My question is if using instant pot should the pressure setting be on less, normal or more?
Hi Roshni,
I pressure cook on normal.
This is such a fantastic recipe! I couldn’t help but notice all the silly comments about things that really have almost nothing to do with the actual recipe. People can get so preach-y and will always find something to tell you you’re doing wrong. In all of the seitan recipes I’ve made over the years, this is literally one of the best and it’s already become a part of my regular cooking rotation. I did see the comments about “never book seitan” to avoid sponginess – I wanted to add my experience to help clarify for others; when wrapped in foil, boiling doesn’t create spongy seitan. The wrapping in foil first is what the major difference is here. Boiling unwrapped seitan will allow the seitan to create air bubbles within itself, creating spongy texture. Thus, boiling this recipe wrapped in foil will turn out just fine as Thomas noted. Anyway, can’t wait to try more of your recipes!
*boil (not book)