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.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Debbie says
I make this recipe over and over again. It's SO easy and yet it turns out great. It's delicious and fool-proof, plus a good source of protein.
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
So happy you love it Debbie 🙂
DEB BUCCIERI says
Can I substitute any other flour instead of Regular Flour?? Almond, Coconut, Oat Fiber, Walnut, Lupin, you know like a No Carb Flour??
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi Deb, yes any of those should work fine. The end texture and taste might be slighlty different but I am sure will still taste great. Enjoy!
Jane says
I followed the recipe, only substituted veg.seasoning enstead of broth powder..delicious I will repeat often. Thank you for the recipe.
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Yay! So happy you enjoyed it Jane!
John & Jon says
Great find for such a simple and quick process. We have been making seitan for a few years now using a far more involved process. While always delicious, a little less spontaneous friendly than your version.
We used Better Than Bullion brand first time. Recently added Liquid Smoke to make a barbecue version for 20 friends and it was a success.
Thanks
Joy says
These seitan bites couldn't be easier! Great to pack for school lunches!
Lavinia Sinclair says
Can you steam these in an instant pot?
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Yes, steam for the same amount of time 🙂
KM says
This seitan recipe really is Quick & Easy! It was the first seitan recipe I tried and it gave me great confidence because the final product turned out wonderfully. She also gives you many sauce ideas if you need to change it up from week to week.
Cindy says
hi can I make this in the rice cooker or a wok?
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi Cindy, if your rice cooker has a steaming option then yes you could steam them in the rice cooker. And yes, you can use a wok to pan fry. Enjoy!
Cindy says
woops replied to you by mistake!
Kristy Mason says
This seitan recipe really is Quick & Easy! It was the first seitan recipe I tried and it gave me great confidence because the final product turned out wonderfully. She also gives you many sauce ideas if you need to change it up from week to week.
Atiya Davids says
My go-to easy seitan recipe that’s so easy and delicious
Cadence says
In Ontario, seitan isn’t available in stores with the exception of solo vegan markets, so making it was my only option. Seitan is incredibly versatile, and can seem daunting to start making, but Sam is the seitan queen and this recipe is the PERFECT place to start! It’s so quick, easy, and tasty. I never would’ve been able to dip my toes into the world of seitan without this recipe, and I’m so grateful it exists. I love making it, sprinkling salt, pepper, and nooch on it, then airfrying! It’s crispy and reminiscent of popcorn chick’n. Give it a try!
Ginger says
I am new to being a vegan & so glad I found your site. Love “It doesn’t taste like chicken”.
This was my first attempt at seitan and I am looking forward to trying many more of your recipes. Mine was a little tough but I think I mixed it too much but it was still very good. I ate 1/2 the recipe. Next time will double the amount & stir just to mix & not stir & hand mix too. Keep sharing your great recipes & tips.
Pauline Nichols says
Easy and delicious and so versatile
Stacey says
My husband and kids raved about this one! They have requested it again and again. We all love the texture of the seitan in this dish and the sauce comes out perfect every time!
Monica Wildonger says
I have never made Seitan and was very nervous to do this. I forged ahead and made it and I must say it was delish and amazing and I will be making it again. A real hit with my family... You can teach an old dog new tricks!
Lucy Stephenson says
It’s crunchy and delicious. I’ve learned that it doesn’t reheat with the same quality, so I’ll be freezing the “dough” of what we don’t eat.
Ginette Bisaillon says
This is by far my most favourite vegan recipe of all time! I never get tired of making the same dumplings because I change the sauce every time! Thank you for this!
Kim says
This was the first recipe I made using seitan, and I’ve made it several times since. I also love the sauce. I’ve found I like it best when I only mix the ingredients. The first time I over kneaded and it was quite chewy but I still enjoyed it.
Nancy Stein says
Your seitan is out of this world! Love the sauce in this recipe as well.
Steve says
Good grief, this is so easy, and incredibly tasty! I've attempted seitan multiple times, using so many different recipes, and this is the first time that I was encouraging my non-vegan friends to dine with me. That's how sure I was that it was terrific!
I had to add a bit more water as I mixed the dough - perhaps you could include the weights of the ingredients, especially the VWG, in the recipe?
Thank you for sharing another excellent recipe with the world - much appreciation!
Teresa Clark says
Easy and YUMMY!! I've made Sam's seitan plain and then seasoned it with some of her suggested seasonings. My vegetarian (boo) husband loved the BBQ one that I did where I just put BBQ sauce on it and broiled briefly. Yum!