The BEST Chicken-Style Seitan Cutlets | Pasta-based Vegan Recipes (2024)

The BEST Chicken-Style Seitan Cutlets | Pasta-based Vegan Recipes (1)

Confession: before going vegan I’ve never heard of Seitan before. Nowadays, I hail Seitan every time I see it on the menu ;)!

Going vegan has made us aware of so many new foods, I feel like I have more variety in my diet than ever before. These best chicken-style seitan cutlets went from unknown to a staple for us.

The BEST Chicken-Style Seitan Cutlets | Pasta-based Vegan Recipes (2)

So what is Seitan? Seitan is vital wheat gluten – the natural protein found in wheat. It’s basically all gluten and no starch, so it’s not as high in carbohydrates than you would think.

BUT if you have celiac disease or a gluten-sensitivity, then you will want to stay away from Seitan. For people who can handle gluten in their diets, Seitan is a great soy-free meat alternative to try.

The BEST Chicken-Style Seitan Cutlets | Pasta-based Vegan Recipes (3)

Vital wheat gluten is 75% protein so Seitan recipes are protein-packed. Seitan has a chewy, meat-like texture and doesn’t usually taste like much unless you add seasonings.

In this recipe, a serving of 2 Seitan Cutlets has almost 30 grams of protein. Plus, it’s very low in fat and completely cholesterol free.

The BEST Chicken-Style Seitan Cutlets | Pasta-based Vegan Recipes (4)

These best chicken-style seitan cutlets are SO good. They are battered, breaded, and fried in vegetable oil to create a very authentic ‘chicken’-cutlet flavor and texture.

The BEST Chicken-Style Seitan Cutlets | Pasta-based Vegan Recipes (5)

These Seitan cutlets are the PERFECT vegan substitute for recipes like chick’n parmesan, chick’n cutlet sandwiches, chick’n rolls, chick’n piccata, chick’n and gravy, or just eaten alone with some ketchup and mashed potatoes.

The Best Chicken-Style Seitain Cutlets – in a pasta dish!

In this recipe, we made a simple lemon, olive oil, and vegan parmesan sauce that was DELICIOUS on top of spaghetti. I included the recipe for the lemon sauce below if you want to try it the same way we had it. We also added some steamed broccoli too… yum!

The BEST Chicken-Style Seitan Cutlets | Pasta-based Vegan Recipes (6)

Next time we make this recipe, I’m going to try baking the cutlets instead of frying them. Frying cutlets is a traditional Italian method and they came out AMAZING but I’m curious to see how baking goes.

If you try baking them for this recipe, please let me know in the comments the time and temperature and how they came out!

As always, please leave a comment below if you try this recipe, and remember to share on instagram @pastabased!

Vegan Chicken-Style Seitan Cutlets

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

35 mins

Total Time

45 mins

The BEST Vegan Seitan Cutlets. Delicious vegan chicken-style seitan cutlets that can be used in a variety of dishes.

Course:Main Course

Servings: 8 cutlets

Calories per Serving: 177 kcal

Ingredients

Seitan

  • 1cupvital wheat gluten
  • 2tablespoonsnutritional yeast
  • 2teaspoonsonion powder
  • 2teaspoonsgarlic powder
  • 1teaspoonsalt
  • 1teaspoonblack pepper
  • 1tablespoonsoy sauce
  • 3/4cupvegetable broth

Batter

  • 3/4cupflour
  • 2teaspoonsoregano
  • 2teaspoonsgarlic powder
  • 1teaspoonblack pepper
  • 3/4cupalmond milk(or other non-dairy milk)

Additional Ingredients

  • 1cupItalian seasoned breadcrumbs(plus extra if needed)
  • 1cupvegetable oil

--------

    Simple Lemon Olive Oil Sauce (optional)

    • 3/4cuplemon juice
    • 1/3cupolive oil
    • 1/3cupvegan parmesan cheese

    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a baking sheet and set aside.

    2. Combine Seitan ingredients in a medium-bowl. Using a large spoon, mix until combined. Once combined, knead with your hands for a minute to form an elastic dough.

    3. Separate dough into 8 roughly-equal sized pieces. Flatten each piece of dough between your hands to form a cutlet shape. Place evenly on the baking sheet and bake in pre-heated oven for 15 minutes, flipping halfway through. Let cool slightly.

    4. Add your batter ingredients in a medium-sized bowl and mix into a thick liquid. Fill a separate, shallower bowl, with Italian breadcrumbs.

    5. In a large skillet, heat 1 cup vegetable oil on medium-high heat. Make sure the oil has heated up enough before adding cutlets. Be careful because hot oil can splash.

    6. One at a time, dip a Seitan cutlet in the batter. Shake off excess batter. Then dip the cutlet into the breadcrumbs, coating each side evenly.Then, place the cutlet into the hot oil.

    7. Brown each side evenly, carefully checking and flipping, about 3-5 minutes on each side -- but this really depends on how hot your oil is. Use your judgment. While one cutlet starts cooking, you can batter and breadcrumb the next cutlet and place it into the pan. Don't overcrowd the pan, we capped the pan at 4 cutlets.

    8. When each cutlet is done, place it on a paper-towel lined plate to drain excess oil. Use in Seitan Cutlet recipe of your choosing 🙂

    Simple Lemon Olive Oil Sauce (optional)

    1. Add all ingredients to a medium-sized bowl and whisk until combined. Serve over pasta.

    Recipe Notes

    Nutrition facts for cutlets without sauce:

    Nutrition Facts

    Vegan Chicken-Style Seitan Cutlets

    Amount Per Serving (1 cutlet)

    Calories 177Calories from Fat 9

    % Daily Value*

    Fat 1g2%

    Sodium 741mg32%

    Potassium 133mg4%

    Carbohydrates 24g8%

    Fiber 2g8%

    Sugar 1g1%

    Protein 16g32%

    Vitamin A 85IU2%

    Vitamin C 0.5mg1%

    Calcium 88mg9%

    Iron 2.5mg14%

    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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    The BEST Chicken-Style Seitan Cutlets | Pasta-based Vegan Recipes (2024)

    FAQs

    Is seitan good or bad for you? ›

    Is Seitan Healthy? In many ways, yes, seitan is quite a healthy option. The seitan nutrition facts are hard to argue with: notable amounts of protein, iron, calcium, selenium, phosphorus, and B vitamins. This combination of macro- and micronutrients can result in some pretty impressive health benefits.

    Is seitan good for you to Lose Weight? ›

    So seitan is the perfect ingredient for meals in a protein diet. If you're on a protein diet, you often lose a lot of weight in a short time. It's also important to be aware that, at the start, you'll lose quite a lot of fluids. So if you have problems with fluid retention, a protein diet would be great for you.

    Does seitan have more protein than chicken? ›

    Protein in Seitan

    You may be surprised to learn that seitan rivals animal-based protein sources. For instance, 2 ounces of seitan has the same amount of protein as a 2-ounce serving of chicken breast.

    Is seitan a good substitute for chicken? ›

    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.

    Who should avoid seitan? ›

    While seitan is a versatile plant-based protein, people with celiac disease, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, or gluten allergy should avoid it. Premade seitan can also be high in sodium, so it's important to read the nutrition label if you monitor your sodium intake.

    What happens if you eat too much seitan? ›

    Some people may have gluten sensitivities or allergies, and seitan is not suitable for them. Additionally, consuming seitan in excessive amounts may lead to an imbalance in nutrient intake, as it is primarily a protein source and lacks other essential nutrients found in a well-rounded diet.

    Is it OK to eat seitan everyday? ›

    The answer is, yes! —as long it's part of a well-rounded diet. A 100g serving of seitan has about 141 calories and 25 grams of protein, making it comparable to the amount of protein in chicken or beef. Because the starches are removed from the wheat when seitan is made, it has very little fat and carbs.

    Why does seitan hurt my stomach? ›

    There's some evidence in medical research that wheat gluten may increase the permeability of your intestines, leading to what some health authorities call "leaky gut syndrome." If you find you experience bloating, gassiness, or other digestive symptoms after eating seitan, you may want to avoid it next time.

    How often should I eat seitan? ›

    How Often to Eat Seitan. As Churchill pointed out, it's about finding the perfect balance when incorporating seitan into your diet. “Eat it sparingly,” he says. “It's not necessarily a once a day thing, and if you think you need a plant-based option I'd actually suggest tofu over seitan.”

    Is it cheaper to make or buy seitan? ›

    Because of its meaty texture, seitan can be used in a variety of dishes, from sandwiches and stir-fries to stews and soups. The best part is that making seitan at home is easy, and it's much cheaper than buying pre-made or store-bought seitan.

    Does seitan make you gassy? ›

    If you have a wheat allergy, celiac disease or gluten intolerance, seitan is definitely out of the question as it is literally made from wheat gluten. If you have a sensitivity to gluten, eating foods like seitan can result in many adverse side effects such as bloating, diarrhea, fatigue and abdominal pain.

    Can you build muscle with seitan? ›

    Its devilish name may seem apt to paleo types: seitan is gluten. But with as much protein per calorie as chicken breast, it's also a top source of muscle fuel.

    What is it called when you are vegan but eat chicken? ›

    Also known as pollo-vegetarian, the pollotarian diet is considered to be a type of semi-vegetarianism, as some forms of animal meat are allowed. While the prefix “pollo” literally translates to “chicken” in Spanish, pollotarians generally eat all forms of poultry, including turkey and duck.

    What does seitan chicken taste like? ›

    Plain seitan on its own has a pretty mild taste. It really is all about texture and how it soaks up other flavors. The chewiness does a great job of replicating meat, particularly chicken. Add to that the fact that it easily picks up whatever flavors that are mixed into it, and it becomes a pretty versatile faux meat.

    What is healthier seitan or tofu? ›

    Is seitan better for you than tofu? Both foods are a good source of plant-based protein. Seitan has twice as much per serving than tofu. However, tofu has more calcium, phosphorus, and antioxidants than seitan.

    Which is healthier tofu or seitan? ›

    Is seitan better for you than tofu? Both foods are a good source of plant-based protein. Seitan has twice as much per serving than tofu. However, tofu has more calcium, phosphorus, and antioxidants than seitan.

    Is seitan safe to eat everyday? ›

    Eat it sparingly,” he says. “It's not necessarily a once a day thing, and if you think you need a plant-based option I'd actually suggest tofu over seitan.” That said, Mora says there's no denying that folks can benefit from adding seitan to their menu—especially since it comes in a variety of flavor profiles.

    Does seitan increase cholesterol? ›

    What are the worst foods for high cholesterol? Red meat, fried foods, and baked goods are notorious for raising levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the sticky kind that builds up in artery walls.

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