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
Amie says
These are so quick and easy, high in protein and delicious! When my son went to a small college and had limited vegan options, I’d meal prep these in the weekend and send him a few batches each week. As an athlete he appreciated the healthy and high protein meal, served with a variety of his favorite sauces.
Wil says
Absolutely loved this! Made it for the first time tonight, and added 1/4 a cup of pea protein into it to give it a good dose of protein, and it cooked up wonderfully still! Tasted great and had such a good bite to it. The family loved it! Will be printing and adding to the cook book for sure!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Amazing! So happy you loved it Wil!
Fitz says
I have made this several times following the recipe, and it is so good. But this time I kind of split the difference between this and the chikn tenders recipe. I wanted to marinate something, but I was too lazy to clean my cuisinart. So I made the dough from "quickest", cut it in 4 pieces, and steamed for 10min, then followed "tender" instructions for marinading and pan frying. I am amazed how good it was!!! Super convenient to pull one out of fridge, cook for 5 min and have dinner. Both are great recipes, and the combo works too.
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
So fun! I will have to try that! Thrilled you love it so much 🙂
Kristy says
Sam, you are a genius!!! I made and steamed the seitan. Then I made a spice rub, and did a shake and bake thing. I sprayed on some cold pressed EVOO and air fried for 10 minutes.
I can’t stop eating it!!! I make your tenders all the time, but keen to try this recipe to make tenders because it’s so easy and I don’t have to get the food processor dirty.
I’m going to make your turkey deli slices next.
Thanks again Sam
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Aww thank you Kristy!! So happy you enjoyed the recipe, thank you for your review 🙂
B.Matt says
Can this also be made with sietan that you buy in the store? I have 1 pack left and want to try steaming it and then using your sauce. Next time I will definitely try to make my own following your recipe
Jess @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Yes, the sauce should be great with storebought seitan.
Kilby says
I was so intimidated to try to make seitan, but this recipe turned out great. I was shocked how easy and tasty it was. Thank you for keeping it simple. I will be making this again!
Jess @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
We love to hear that! Thanks for your review. 🙂
Tabassum Ghani says
hi my apologies if this is a silly question but if we were to double this recipe, would it still just be 10 minutes to cook on the steamer? and would we use twice the amount of water for steaming? can't wait to make this!!! xx
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi Tabassum, not a silly question at all! If you're doubling the recipe, I recommend steaming the bites in two batches, with each batch steaming for 10 minutes. This way, there's enough room for the seitan to cook evenly and properly. As for the water, just ensure there's enough in the steamer to keep it going for the full 20 minutes of total cooking time. Hope you enjoy making it!
John Doe says
It might be worth providing metric quantities if you want the 7.9 billion non-Americans to consider switching to a plant based diet.
Jane Doe says
Hey Snarky McSnarkerson, there's a little toggle for metric conversion just under the ingredients list.
Tess says
Exactly as described. Delicious . I did add fresh chilli as love spicy. I have never been disappointed with your easy to follow recipes. I have all your books too.
Jess @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Excellent! Thank you for your support!
Kate says
Turned out great texture. I know with seiten timing is very important. If you take too long kneading it, it becomes too chewy.
Jess @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
We're glad it turned out well for you!
Tascha says
i'm wondering if that's why mine came out just really chewy? I also forgot the flour because i'm not used to adding that in seitan recipes, i wonder if that was why it didn't come together either. it was super stringy and wouldn't gather.
still tasted great though!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi Tascha, yes forgetting to add the flour will absolutely make the seitan chewy/stringy. The flour helps soften the texture. Enjoy!
Pam says
We are not vegan or vegetarian but try to incorporate plant based meals at least twice a week. I was so curious about this and finally order the VWG and it turned out great! My husband even enjoyed it and we ate the whole recipe... The sauce was really good too. Just wondering if this can be done in the air fryer to cut back on fat. Thanks for feeding my curiosity!
Jess @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
That's terrific! Yes, it can be done in the air fryer!
Nayan Bedia says
Best Seitan recipe to date. Didn't require anything too complicated, like a clover leaf from a yellow elf. Tasted brilliant in a sandwich, with the recommended sauce. Thank you.
Jess @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
We love that! Thanks for your review!
Denise says
OMGeeee! This recipe is so easy and so delicious! My husband actually thought it was beef with broccoli (as I served it over steamed broccoli) He commented that it needed a bit more spice of some sort, but I loved it just as is. I can't wait to make it again. Thanks for the great recipe!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
So happy you and your husband enjoyed it Denise! The sauce is just a recommended option so you could try another sauce if your husband likes. Enjoy!
Michelle says
Why have I been buying frozen vegan chickun nuggets all of this time??? Sam, these are amazing. So easy to make, no hard-to-find ingredients and they are delicious! I used the recommended sauce and it was fantastic too! Your recipes NEVER disappoint!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Aww thank you so much Michelle!!! 🙂
Ann says
This is SO good, easy and quick. Bye-bye to expensive frozen vegan chicken that has never impressed me. This is almost as fast and simply amazing!!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Yay!! So happy you loved it Ann!
James Ray Comer says
I love your seitan(quick and easy) and have made it many times.
-J
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
So happy to hear that! 🙂
Chris Davies says
love this recipe but because oh type 2 diabetes trying to go low carb. Is there anything I could replace the plain flour with which is low carb?
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Most types of flours should work but will all result in different tastes and textures. Let us know what you try and how it turns out 🙂
Sam says
I saw this recipe this afternoon and immediately decided it would be my lunch. So quick and simple and so delicious!
Jess @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hooray!
AK says
Has anyone had success steaming the pieces in the instant pot? Thank you!
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Yes, you can steam the pieces in the Instant pot for the same amount of time. Enjoy!
Gina says
Is it possible to batter and fry this seitan recipe?
Sam Turnbull @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
Hi Gina, yes, absolutely! Just steam the seitan first to set the texture. Then once steamed, you can batter and fry. Enjoy!
Stephanie says
Super easy & delicious! My husband said “game changer” when I made it the first time. Now it’s in the rotation.
Thank you!
Jess @ It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken says
That's wonderful!