This vegan fried chicken is made with oyster mushrooms which make it perfectly golden brown and crispy on the outside and meaty on the inside. This is the best plant-based take on a classic Southern dish!
Want to save this post?
Enter your email below and get it sent straight to your inbox. Plus, I’ll send you budget recipes and money-saving tips every week!
As a vegan, I often struggle to find plant-based recipes that remind me of my favorite non-vegan comfort foods. Fried chicken is one of them, and this is the only recipe that has given me those classic flavors without using any meat products.
For more vegan chicken recipes, I recommend trying my vegan shredded chicken or these vegan buffalo chicken wings.
Jump to:
❤️ Why you’ll love it
I absolutely love how the oyster mushrooms in this recipe mimic the texture of chicken. Their spongy and chewy texture, combined with the simple breading, gives you a result that is just as satisfying as traditional fried chicken.
Plus, it does not have a mushroom flavor at all! You would be surprised how close to real chicken it tastes and feels like. This recipe uses crushed cornflakes instead of breadcrumbs for the crunchiest coating.
The best part is that it is quick and easy to make, unlike other vegan chicken recipes using seitan that take 8-9 hours to make. This is the tastiest vegan fried chicken I have ever made.
Subscribe to our newsletters and download it right now.
🧾 Key ingredients
This vegan fried chicken recipe is a delicious, plant-based take on a classic dish. The best part is that you can easily find all of these ingredients at your local grocery store.
Oyster mushrooms are the star of this dish. I have used pearl oyster mushrooms for this recipe, but you can use any type of oyster mushroom. They have a meaty texture that is surprisingly similar to that of chicken.
Fried chicken seasoning is key to giving these mushrooms a delicious, meaty flavor. It is a blend of garlic powder, onion powder, sweet smoked paprika powder, cayenne pepper, ground cumin seeds, oregano, salt, and black pepper.
Corn flakes are a surprising but essential ingredient for the breading. When crushed, they provide a delicious crunch that is similar to traditional fried chicken and is so much better than regular breadcrumbs. You can also use other breadcrumb substitutes if you would like.
🛒 You can find detailed measurements for all ingredients in the printable version of the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
🥘 Equipment
To make this vegan fried chicken recipe, the most crucial piece of equipment you will need is a deep-frying pan with a strainer basket. This will make the frying process much easier and safer.
👩🍳 Instructions
Preparing the ingredients
STEP 1
Start by preparing the oyster mushrooms by separating them from the cluster. Use a wet paper towel or kitchen cloth to clean them if you find anything. Remember not to peel them, just cut off the end of the stem if it does not look good.
STEP 2
Next, prepare the spices for the vegan fried chicken seasoning. In a small bowl, combine garlic powder, onion powder, sweet smoked paprika powder, cayenne pepper, ground cumin seeds, oregano, salt, and black pepper.
STEP 3
Now, it is time to make the breading for the vegan fried chicken. Using a small chopping bowl or an immersion blender, crush the cornflakes to a fine, breadcrumb-like texture.
STEP 4
In a large bowl, add 1 tsp of the fried chicken seasoning, the crushed corn flakes, and the corn starch. This will be the dry batter for the vegan fried chicken.
STEP 5
In another large bowl, make the wet batter by combining dairy-free milk, yellow corn flour, and 2 tsp of fried chicken seasoning. Mix it well until it has a pancake batter texture.
Making the vegan fried chicken
STEP 1
Take a piece of oyster mushroom and dip it into the wet batter, making sure it is evenly coated.
STEP 2
Transfer the mushroom to the bowl with the dry batter. Sprinkle the dry batter on top of the mushroom and pat it gently to ensure the coating sticks evenly.
STEP 3
Heat sunflower oil in a pot on medium-high heat. Gently drop the breaded oyster mushrooms into the hot oil. Be careful not to overcrow the pot.
STEP 4
Fry the mushrooms for 2-3 minutes, or until the coating is crispy. Once ready, transfer them to a plate lined with a paper towel to absorb any excess oil.
💡 Expert tip
The key to perfecting vegan fried chicken using oyster mushrooms is to avoid overcrowding the pan during the frying process. If you add too many bread mushrooms at once, the oil temperature will drop, and the mushrooms will not cook properly, becoming soggy and oily. It is best to fry them in small batches, ensuring that the oil stays hot, and the mushrooms become deliciously crispy.
🔄 Variations
Try a different type of mushroom for a variety of textures. If you prefer a meatier texture, consider using king oyster mushrooms instead of pearl oyster mushrooms. This will give your vegan fried chicken a heartier bite and a different texture, adding more variety to your meal. Other substitutes like lions mane mushroom will be very similar.
Experiment with different spices to customize the flavor. This recipe is very versatile when it comes to seasoning. Cajun spices or your favorite spice mix can be easily used in this recipe.
🥣 Serving ideas
Vegan fried chicken is a versatile dish that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. If you plan to serve it as an appetizer or a snack, it pairs beautifully with a range of vegan dips and condiments.
Consider setting out a selection of your favorite vegan sauces, such as vegan barbecue sauce, ranch dressing, sriracha mayo, honey mustard, or jalapeno cilantro. It is also great with my vegan tzatziki sauce.
In addition, you can serve it as a main course with a variety of delicious sides. Classic potato dishes like fries, vegan mashed potatoes, vegan scalloped potatoes, or baked potato wedges are all excellent choices.
❄️ Storing tips
Storing and reheating vegan fried chicken is a simple and effective way to make sure you can enjoy this delicious dish for days to come.
To store your leftovers, allow them to cool completely. Once cooled, place them in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator. They should stay fresh and crispy for up to 3-4 days.
You can store it in a freezer as well, but the breading will lose its texture.
To get it back, you need to reheat them in the oven, deep-fry, or pan-fry them.
🤔 FAQs
How do I cook vegan fried chicken in the air fryer?
If you want to cook the vegan fried chicken in an air fryer, you can do so by placing the bread oyster mushrooms in a single layer in the air fryer basket. It is recommended to spray a bit of oil on the surface to help with the crisping. Set the temperature high and air fry them for a couple of minutes.
Can I bake vegan fried chicken as well?
Yes, you can bake the vegan fried chicken in the oven. However, the breading may not turn out as crispy as it would after deep frying. If you still want to bake them, place the bread oyster mushrooms on non-stick parchment paper, spray them with oil, and bake in a preheated oven at 390°F for approximately 20 minutes, flipping them midway.
How to crush cornflakes?
The easiest way to crush cornflakes is to use a food processor or the chopping bowl of an immersion blender. If you do not have these tools, you can put the cornflakes in a strong plastic bag and use a rolling pin to crush them into breadcrumbs.
More vegan chicken recipes
You can find all our delicious oyster mushroom recipes to give you more ideas to enjoy this awesome ingredient. Here are some of our favorite vegan chicken recipes:
THANK YOU so much for visiting our website. Please comment below if you have tried this recipe. We LOVE hearing from you! If you loved the recipe, please don’t forget to give us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ RATING. We appreciate all of our readers.
⇒ GET OUR FREE 7-DAY VEGAN MEAL PLAN E-BOOK NOW! OR CHECK OUT ALL VEGAN MEAL PLAN RECIPES! ⇐
Vegan Fried Chicken
Equipment
- Immersion hand blender with 20 fl oz container
- Cast-iron Dutch Oven 3-quart / 2.8 liter
Ingredients
- 7 oz Oyster mushrooms not king oyster, but pearl oysters
Fried chicken seasoning (3 tsp)
- ½ tsp Garlic powder
- ½ tsp Onion powder
- ½ tsp Sweet smoked paprika powder
- ¼ tsp Cayenne pepper
- ¼ tsp Ground cumin seeds
- ¼ tsp Oregano
- ½ tsp Salt
- ¼ tsp Black pepper
Wet batter
- ½ cup Dairy-free milk
- ⅔ cup Yellow corn flour
- 2 tsp Fried chicken seasoning from above
Dry batter
- 2 cup Corn flakes
- 2 Tbsp Corn starch
- 1 tsp Fried chicken seasoning from above
Instructions
Preparing the mushrooms
- Tear them off one by one from the cluster. Use a wet paper towel or kitchen cloth to clean them if you find anything. Don’t peel them, just cut off the end of the stem if it doesn’t look good.
Making the breading
- Mix all spices for the fried chicken seasoning (garlic powder, onion powder, sweet smoked paprika powder, cayenne pepper, ground cumin seeds, oregano, salt, and black pepper) in a small bowl.
- Use a small chopping bowl of our immersion blender to crush corn flakes to a fine, breadcrumb-like texture.
- Add 1 tsp of the fried chicken seasoning, the crushed corn flakes, and the corn starch in a large bowl. This will be the dry batter.
- Add dairy-free milk, yellow corn flour, and 2 tsp of the fried chicken seasoning to a large bowl. Mix it well. This will be the wet batter. It should have a pancake batter texture, slow-flowing but not too dense. In time, the flour will thicken the batter a bit, so add 1 tsp of water to thin it again.
- Dip the oyster mushroom first in the wet batter. Coat it evenly.
- Transfer them gently to the dry batter. Sprinkle the top and pat it gently. Make sure the mix sticks to the mushroom evenly.
- You can place it on a plate or fry it right away. The coating will hold at room temperature for an hour without a problem if you must wait before frying.
Frying oyster mushrooms
- Pour sunflower oil into a pot and heat it on medium/high heat.
- Gently drop the breaded vegan chicken in the oil. The oil is hot so pay attention to settle it gently without a splash. Don’t overcrowd the pan as the oil will cool down, and they will need a longer time and thus will soak up more oil.
- Fry them for 2-3 minutes until the coating gets crispy.
- Transfer them to a paper towel to absorb any excess oil when ready.
Kasia Fabi
Haven’t made it yet but planning to make it tonight for my vegetarian daughter with a copycat KFC coating recipe and a horseradish dipping sauce! Sounds like it’ll be delicious.
My Pure Plants
It sure will be. Let us know how it turns out.
Deirdre
This looks AMAZING, and I love the idea of using mushrooms!