Vegan Chicken & Waffles
Chicken and Waffles are a classic, beloved breakfast that is surprisingly easy to veganize! The combination of savory fried chicken with sweet, fluffy waffles drizzled in maple syrup can be enjoyed in a vegan version with just a few simple swaps and a touch of creativity. This cruelty-free recipe is every bit as satisfying, and even better for you, too!
This waffle recipe uses plant-based milk in place of dairy milk, and can be made oil-free, as well, if you don’t use oil on your waffle iron. Whole wheat flour is used to give it added nutritional benefits like complex carbohydrates and fiber. You can use any kind of vegan chicken you would like for this, or even make your own from scratch. I used Abbot’s Chopped Chick’n, which was easy to prepare and had the perfect taste and texture for this particular recipe. Feel free to get creative with your choice of toppings; I used maple syrup, dried cranberries and fresh basil!
Vegan Chicken: Many vegan chicken products will work well with this recipe; this time I chose Abbot’s Chopped Chick’n. It already comes in bite-sized pieces, rather than a filet, and takes just a couple minutes to cook on the stove. Many vegan chicken products call for a small amount of oil for frying, but I have hardly ever used oil when cooking vegan meat substitutes, and they turn out perfectly!
Non-Dairy Milk: I usually use almond milk or oat milk when cooking. Unsweetened, unflavored milk can certainly be used since the rest of the ingredients in the waffles already give them plenty of flavor. But of course, if you prefer sweetened, flavored milks, a sweet recipe, such as these waffles, would be perfect for it.
Whole Wheat Flour: Using whole wheat flour rather than refined white flour brings nutritional value and even a deeper taste to your waffles. Whole wheat flour has a bit of a nuttier flavor than white flour, and whole wheat also contains fiber, vitamins, and minerals, making these waffles into a wholesome, healthy breakfast option.
Applesauce: For these waffles, I used unsweetened applesauce. If you choose to use sweetened applesauce, you may lessen the amount of organic sugar to balance out the sweet taste. In baking recipes, or recipes such as this one, applesauce works as an egg replacer! Applesauce is a popular egg replacement in baking because it binds the ingredients together and also brings moisture to your recipe. It also negates the need for oil, making this waffle batter completely oil-free!
Organic Sugar: Adding just a touch of sugar brings a subtle sweetness to your waffles. If you’re watching your sugar intake, this can certainly be omitted. Using organic sugar varieties ensures that it’s produced without synthetic pesticides or chemicals, or is filtered using bone char.
Baking Powder: Baking powder serves as a leavening agent in the waffle batter, assisting with the light and fluffy texture. It helps the waffles rise during cooking, resulting in a crisp exterior and soft, tender interior.
Vanilla Extract: Just a small amount of vanilla extract makes a big difference in the taste of your waffles. It complements the sweet taste well and provides warmth and depth of flavor. Almond extract would be delicious in this, as well!
Salt: A pinch of salt enhances all of the flavors of the waffles, and goes a long way in bringing out the taste of all of the different ingredients.
Oil: The only need for oil in this recipe would be for lightly coating the waffle iron to prevent your batter from sticking to it, and to lightly fry your vegan chicken in. If you prefer to skip the oil altogether, silicone waffle molds are a great alternative! For cooking your vegan chicken, depending on the type that you choose, baking it in the oven is a possibility, or, what I typically do is dry-fry my vegan meat replacements on the stove. For this method, you’re simply frying your foods on a low heat setting with no oil; as long as you keep an eye on it and flip or toss it every couple of minutes to prevent it from sticking, it will lightly brown on the outside, and be tender and cooked through on the inside!
Optional Toppings: I added a waffle staple to mine, maple syrup! It’s worth indulging in high-quality maple syrup, rather than the cheaper ones with all of the fake stuff and chemicals. I promise, it tastes so much better, too! As for my other toppings, I got creative and chose some things that I had on hand; dried cranberries, and fresh basil leaves from my basil plant. Adding fruit and herbs provides a nice texture and flavor contrast, and adds some freshness, too!
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Stefanie is the founder of Life, Veganized, and a passionate vegan and animal advocate. She creates vegan recipes for all palates and resides in Los Angeles with her adorable puggle, Zeus.
Vegan Chicken and Waffles
Equipment
- 1 waffle iron
Ingredients
- Vegan chicken of choice I used Abbot’s Chopped Chick’n
- 1¾ C non-dairy milk
- 1½ C whole wheat flour
- ¼ C unsweetened applesauce
- 2 T organic sugar
- 1 T baking powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
- Oil optional, for cooking
Optional Toppings
- Maple syrup
- Fresh fruit
- Fresh herbs
Instructions
- Begin by preheating your waffle iron according to its instructions.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the whole wheat flour, organic sugar, baking powder, and salt and mix well. In a separate bowl, whisk together the non-dairy milk, applesauce and vanilla extract.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until just combined, taking care not to overmix. A few lumps in the batter are perfectly alright.
- Lightly grease the waffle iron, or use a silicone waffle mold for an oil-free option. Pour approximately ½ C of batter onto the preheated waffle iron for each waffle. Close the lid and cook the waffles according to the instructions for your waffle iron, typically about 5 minutes or until they are golden brown and slightly crispy on the outside.
- While the waffles are cooking, prepare the vegan chicken according to the package instructions. This may involve cooking it on the stove in a small amount of oil until heated through and lightly browned, typically taking no more than 5-7 minutes.
- Once the waffles are done, carefully remove them from the iron and serve them warm with the cooked vegan chicken. Add your choice of garnish; I drizzled mine with maple syrup, then topped with dried cranberries and fresh basil!
