Author: Just 20 minutes to make, and only 7 ingredients, this is by far the quickest and easiest seitan recipe ever!! This vegan chicken alternative is simple to whip up and perfect to add to any meal. Crispy crunchy on the outside, and tender chewy in the middle. The perfect meaty texture to amp up any vegan meal! If you are new to making seitan this is the perfect recipe for beginners to try.
FEATURED COMMENT:
Okay, I never leave comments, BUT THIS recipe is so good! I've only been vegan a year and wanted to start learning how to make my own vegan meat. This recipe is so easy and it tastes great!!! I was so proud of myself for my first try and I will definitely make this again and again! - Ty Snowden ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I came across a video on TikTok by @futurelettuce showing a 15-minute seitan recipe. I had to try it immediately! Unfortunately, even after trying it a few times, I wasn't super happy with the results. The seitan is first fried, and then you cover the pan with a lid for 10 minutes to cook it through. The problem with this is that by covering the seitan after it is fried, it tends to lose the crispy outside due to the steam. Or if you cover it and there isn't much moisture in the pan, then it can run this risk of burning before the seitan is cooked through. And I don't know about you, but soggy burnt vegan chicken just isn't my thing. The end result is spongey and rubbery, and just not super delicious.
But I loved the idea of making a quick seitan recipe so I had to play around with different techniques until I came up with my recipe for the quickest and easiest seitan recipe! In my experience, no matter how many techniques I try, steaming seitan is always a must. Boiling seitan makes it have a brainy spongey texture, frying seitan (without first steaming it) makes it rubbery and spongey, baking it makes it dry and rubbery. Steaming seitan, on the other hand, will yield the perfect meaty, juicy, chewy, yet tender seitan every single time. So even though I tried to get away with a one-pot recipe, it just didn't work for this recipe. The key is to first steam the seitan (which takes only 10 minutes) and then pan fry it for that crispy outside. Vegan chicken perfection!
The result is seitan that is crispy, juicy, chewy, tender, and absolutely amazing!!!! While I love all of my seitan recipes, (you can see them here), they do tend to take an hour or even longer to prepare. So I have fallen madly in love with this recipe as you just can't beat the speed of this one!
How to make the quickest and easiest seitan recipe:
Add about an inch of water to a pot with a steamer basket and bring to a light boil.
In the meantime, whisk together the vital wheat gluten, flour, vegetable broth powder, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt in a medium bowl.
Pour in the water and mix to form a ball of dough.
Lightly grease the steamer basket, then tear off bite-sized pieces of the seitan dough and place them in a single layer in the steamer basket.
Cover, and steam the seitan for 10 minutes.
If making the sauce, in the meantime, in a small bowl or a measuring glass, mix together the Thai sweet chili sauce, hoisin, soy sauce, water, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Set aside. (See notes for other sauce options).
When the seitan is done steaming, heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet or non-stick pan. Use tongs to remove the seitan bites from the steamer basket, and place them into the hot oil in the pan. Be careful as it may splatter. Cook the seitan bites a few minutes per side until they are golden brown and crispy.
Remove from the heat and add the sauce and toss to coat. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds if desired and serve hot.
* Learn my secret tricks to making perfect seitan in my free masterclass. Click here to learn more and register.
If you try this recipe let us know by leaving a comment, rating it, and don't forget to tag @itdoesnttastelikechicken on Instagram.
Bon appetegan!
Sam Turnbull.
(click stars to vote)
The Quickest & Easiest Seitan Recipe!! (Vegan Chicken!)
Servings:
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Ingredients
For the seitan:
- ¾ cup vital wheat gluten
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon vegetable broth powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅔ cup water
For the sauce (optional, see notes for other sauce ideas):
- 3 tablespoons Thai sweet chili sauce
- 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- ½ teaspoon sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons light oil for frying, (such as canola or vegetable)
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds, for garnish
- 1 small handful chopped green onions or chopped chives, for garnish
Instructions
- Add about an inch of water to a pot with a steamer basket and bring to a light boil.
- In the meantime, whisk together the vital wheat gluten, flour, vegetable broth powder, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Pour in the water and mix to form a ball of dough. Lightly grease the steamer basket, then tear off bite-sized pieces of the seitan dough and place them in a single layer in the steamer basket. Cover, and steam the seitan for 10 minutes.
- In the meantime, in a small bowl or a measuring glass, mix together the Thai sweet chili sauce, hoisin, soy sauce, water, rice vinegar, and sesame oil. Set aside. (See notes for other sauce options).
- When the seitan is done steaming, heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large skillet or non-stick pan. Use tongs to remove the seitan bites from the steamer basket, and place them into the hot oil in the pan. Be careful as it may splatter. Cook the seitan bites a few minutes per side until they are golden brown and crispy.
- Remove from the heat and add the sauce and toss to coat. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds if desired and serve hot.* Learn my secret tricks to making perfect seitan in my free masterclass. Click here to learn more and register.
ELIZABETH BRAVE says
This was the easiest vwg recipe I have ever used. It was super yummy and fast to make!!
Birdie says
so versatile and delicious! we make this so often
Nick says
Thanks Sam for what has got to be the easiest and tastiest seitan recipe ever!
Just to add a little twist, make it exactly as you say except after frying, boil the seitan in the sauce until it reduces down and becomes lovely and sticky. Add veg matchsticks, such as carrot, onion and green beans then serve with rice.
Absolutely delicious!
Jess @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Yum, that sounds great!
Amber says
These were so easy and delicious! I made them as nuggets (no sauce), and my almost 3 year old loved them! I'm looking forward to trying them in other recipes.
Jess @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
That's incredible! We're happy they were a hit!
MrSuaveh says
I really enjoyed this recipe! The nuggets crisp up nice with a quick pan fry which gives them extra flavor. I'll work on the texture, which is good but maybe due to the changes that I made to the recipe:
- Added 30g of nutritional yeast
- this ingredient relaxes glutens so may have changed the texture
- Substituted 2 tablespoon of red miso paste for vegetable broth powder
- Didn't have garlic/onion powder so substituted 1.5 tablespoon Kirkland Organic No Salt Seasoning
Jess @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Jane says
Any suggestions for making my own vegetable broth powder? I can’t seem to find a powder version in the stores. I’m so excited to try this recipe!
Symone says
Fantastic recipe, so quick and easy. I have been vegan 7 years+, and this is the first time i have made seitan which tastes so good and is also so easy to make. Thank you!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Yay! So happy to hear that Symone! Welcome to the wonderful world of seitan!!
Krysten says
if I don't have all purpose flour what would be a good alternative? I have brown rice flour, garbanzo bean flour, spelt flour, coconut flour, cassava flour and oat flour
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi Krysten, I haven't tested it but I think oat flour would likely give you the best result. Enjoy!
Aldous says
Probably spelt flour because spelt is actually a subspecies of wheat
Krysten says
thank you!
Cynthia says
This is a super easy and delicious seitan recipe. It’s a keeper for sure!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Yay! So happy you loved it Cynthia 🙂
Ella says
Could I maybe steam the seitan bits in advance and keep for few days in the fridge to make this recipe even quicker to fry up in a pinch?
Ella says
Ok never mind, just read the notes
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi Ella, yes absolutely! Enjoy!
Meg says
I vaguely followed your recipe….but we use metric here…. So converted it and used Thermomix. I don’t use garlic or onion if I can, so I used a pinch of asafoetida powder. Plus b12 flakes that I’ve added when I made Seitan before, and about a tablespoon of miso (because I could). The Thermomix chopped it up a bit like mince, but then when I made it into a ball it was lovely and sticky with a great texture…will update you….
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
I hope you enjoyed it. Just a tip, at the bottom of the ingredient list there is a link that says "metric" just click that and the recipe will be converted for you.
Dani says
I have never made seitan before and this was my first attempt. I am so pleased and will be making this many more times! thank you!!!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Yay! So happy to hear that Dani 🙂
Amina says
This is my go-to seitan recipe. So easy and so delicious. I end up snacking on the seitan whilst making the sauce. It’s just that good! Thank you for this recipe.
Jess @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
We love to hear it, thanks for sharing!
Christine says
I dont know why i havent tried seitan recipies sooner, but soooo glad I started with this one...it is simply amazing!! I cannot wait to try ALL of your other ones, too!
Jess @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Yay! We're so happy you're happy!
Jules says
I have made this several times with several flavor profiles. It freezes well, letting it cool after steaming. I steam it for a few minutes again to reheat it and then fry it up. My family loves it, and it is truly the quickest and easiest seitan recipe I've tried.
Jess @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Thanks for your fantastic review, Jules!
Amber says
This is SO EASY it's amazing! Super user friendly seitan recipe the whole family will love! My 3 year old loved to make this with me! I would give more than 5 stars if I could!
Sam Turnbull says
Thank you so much for your kind review Amber 🙂
Amy says
These are delicious! I will definitely experiment with your marinades as sauces too! Also very easy to make.
Sam Turnbull says
So happy you loved it Amy!
Kelsey says
I have joint issues so traditional seitan recipes have never been feasible for me. This recipe is low impact on my hands and has an incredible texture.
Sam Turnbull says
So happy to hear that Kelsey!
Sarai says
Great Recipe, thank you!! Been making your other seitan chicken for a couple of years now and can’t believe I hadn’t tried this one yet, it was a breeze! Made extra sauce for green beans on the side. So yummy! This will be in my rotation for sure.
Sam Turnbull says
So happy you loved it Sarai 🙂
Kevin Agapay-Read says
A seitan recipe my kids love! Thank you!
Sam Turnbull says
Yay! So happy to hear that 🙂