If you’re beginning your meat-free or plant-based journey, you’ll be no stranger to the abundance of information you’ll need to soak in. From tracking down your favourite meat substitutes to experimenting with different flavour combinations, it’s an exciting time to put your culinary skills to the test. Why not get started by trialling our must-try vegan chicken recipes?

Our Top Vegan Chicken Recipes

At our restaurants and sports bar in Milton Keynes, our talented chefs and recipe developers have lovingly created a host of delicious meat-free dishes. We’re known for our tantalisingly tasty vegan wings, so we felt it was only fair to share with you our top recipes – you can thank us later!

Vegan Chicken Recipe

It won’t come as a shock that chicken is, by far, one of the most widely consumed meats in the UK, which, luckily for you, means that you’ll never be short on vegan alternatives. Learn more about vegan wings below:

What Is Vegan Chicken Made Of?

Let’s start from the beginning – what is vegan chicken actually made of? In most cases, the key ingredient in vegan chicken is pea protein which is then combined with soy, wheat, oil and seasoning to recreate the appearance, taste and texture of chicken. This is then shaped to mimic chicken nuggets, wings or goujons, for example.

Because vegan chicken is typically higher in fibre and lower in saturated fat than traditional meat, it is often seen as a healthier alternative. If you’re yet to begin sampling vegan chicken brands, we suggest heading to the Vegan Sisters website to read their super helpful article.

How To Make Vegan Chicken

Although, of course, it is far easier to purchase your vegan chicken from the supermarket, if you would like to try your hand at making your own, it isn’t impossible – and it is quite a fun experiment!

School Night Vegan has put together a fantastic article with a full tutorial on how to make meat-free chicken which can then be used in burgers, salads and more. Making the chicken itself will take just over an hour, but for maximum results, it will then need to be marinated for a minimum of 8 hours. This is how you get that super flavoursome, meaty taste – you might not even be able to spot the difference!

Vegan Chicken Alternatives

For many, the idea of swapping chicken for a like-for-like alternative isn’t the best fit, especially if you’ve ditched meat because you’re not a huge fan of the appearance, taste or texture. Luckily, there are a host of fantastic vegan chicken alternatives, such as:

  • Tofu – Tofu is one of the most popular meat alternatives. It has a chewy, hearty texture which perfectly soaks up your seasoning.
  • Jackfruit – With a stringy texture, jackfruit is best for replicating pulled chicken. Its very mild flavour makes it easy to tailor to your tastebuds.
  • Chickpeas – If you’re looking for a solid source of protein but are less fussed about mimicking meat, then chickpeas are your best bet.
  • Cauliflower – The buttery, melt-in-your-mouth texture of cauliflower makes it perfect for baking or deep drying in a batter.

Vegan Chicken Marinade Recipes

So once you’ve perfected your vegan chicken (or popped to the shops and bought some!), it’s time to start turning up the flavour. There are hundreds of mouth-watering vegan chicken marinades calling your name. Whether you live for a super sweet, smoky BBQ or prefer to add a touch of spice, the possibilities truly are endless. Here are some of our favourites:

  • Vegan BBQ Marinade – Did you know that most BBQ sauces are vegan anyway? But if you really wanted to impress your guests, you can use this easy recipe by Making Thyme For Health to make your own!
  • Vegan Jerk Marinade – Add some kick to your vegan chicken with the tasty jerk marinade by Plant-Based Passport. All you’ll need to do is blend all of your ingredients in a food processor, adjusting to taste.
  • Vegan Teriyaki Marinade – In as little as 5 minutes, you can create this sweet yet savoury teriyaki marinade from Eat With Clarity. If you want to add some heat, feel free to add red pepper flakes.
  • Vegan Lemon Garlic Marinade – A lemon garlic marinade adds a touch of brightness to any meal. Use this recipe by Plant-Based RD, swapping the tofu for vegan chicken and marinade overnight for maximum flavour.

Vegan Fried Chicken Recipe

If you’ve ever visited our restaurants in Milton Keynes, then you’ll know that our legendary vegan wings take pride of place on our menu. They’ve been trialled, tested and approved – we’ve even managed to fool our team into thinking they’re meat! So, if you love wings just as much as us, this vegan fried chicken recipe should be first on your list.

The first step is to make your buttermilk, but, of course, using a vegan recipe. Mix the plant-based milk of your choice with coconut yoghurt and lemon juice. You’ll then need to create your dry mix by combining plain flour, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt and black pepper.

Once you’re ready to fry, your vegan chicken will need to be coated in buttermilk, tossed in the dry mix and then repeated. Your chicken can then be put into the oil to fry until beautifully golden brown.

Prefer a video tutorial? Take a look at this recipe by BOSH!

Vegan Chicken Burger Recipe

Gloriously crunchy on the outside yet tender on the inside, vegan fried chicken alone is enough to steal the show. But if you’re looking for more ways to experiment with your new favourite dish, you absolutely must try a vegan chicken burger.

The beauty of burgers is that it gives you the perfect opportunity to combine all of your favourite ingredients for a flavour explosion. Of course, vegan cheese, lettuce and tomato are must-haves, but did you know it couldn’t be easier to make a vegan alternative to a traditional burger sauce?

To create your sauce, mix together:

  • 3 tbsp vegan mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp ketchup
  • 1 tsp wholegrain mustard
  • 1 tbsp pickle juice
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika

And voilà, it really is as straightforward as that! All you will need to do is store your burger sauce in the fridge in an airtight container, and it’ll stay fresh for up to a week.

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    Vegan Side Dish Recipes

    Last but certainly not least, we move on to side dishes – because it’s only fair you pair your vegan chicken with a meat-free banquet, right? Here are just some of the vegan alternatives to our favourite sides:

    • Loaded Fries – Whether you opt for conventional potatoes or swap for sweet potato, as long as your loaded fries are topped with vegan cheesy, melty goodness, you’re onto a winner. Vegan bean chilli, in particular, will always go down a storm topped with guacamole and jalapeños.
    • Mac ‘n’ Cheese – Just because you’re going vegan, it most definitely doesn’t mean that you have to say goodbye to mac ‘n’ cheese. Simply swap your traditional cheese sauce with a dairy-free alternative, just like this fantastic recipe by Loving It Vegan. Looking for more tasty mac ‘n’ cheese recipes? Take a look at our previous article!
    • Cheesy Garlic Bread – Making vegan garlic bread topped with rich, gooey cheese couldn’t be more straightforward. Simply brush a mixture of vegan butter, minced garlic, salt and parsley onto the bread of your choice and bake. Top with vegan cheese (we recommend mozzarella) and bake until beautifully melted.
    • Onion Rings – Put a vegan twist on the much-loved onion rings by altering a few ingredients in your coating. For your wet mix, swap milk for a plant-based alternative and substitute your traditional breadcrumbs for authentic panko breadcrumbs (these are naturally vegan!).

    Wings and Sides

    Ready To Head To The Kitchen?

    Gone are the days when going meat-free meant dull, flavourless dishes, as now there are thousands of tasty recipes perfect for inspiring your vegan creations. As always, if you’d prefer to sit back, relax and leave the culinary creations to the professionals, we’d love to see you at Wing Kingz. All of our dishes, including our vegan menu, are available to dine in or order via our takeaway in Milton Keynes – we’d love to see you!