Kick your chicken habit with 9 store-bought nuggets and 5 recipes

The 20th century was full of exciting food innovations. We’re talking chocolate chip cookies, nachos, instant ramen, Oreos, and chicken nuggets (in short, the midnight snack market has boomed). All of these food creations are still popular today, but the latter was especially revolutionary. Invented by inventor Robert C. Baker in the 1950s, Chicken Nuggets have become a fast food favorite, a supermarket staple, and a pop culture phenomenon. In 2020 alone, Americans ate more than 73 billion of them.

But the nugget market is starting to change. Today’s food scientists have taken Baker’s original invention and developed it further. Many brands now sell nuggets that look, are cooked and taste identical to the original recipe, except that they are completely chicken-free. These vegan nuggets are much better for the environment (and animals) than chicken. And meat is growing in popularity as more people choose to leave it off their plates, with more than half of young Americans describing themselves as flexitarians.

Here we’ve put together a helpful guide to vegan chicken nuggets, from which brands to buy to how to make them at home. First, let’s take a closer look at the problems with regular chicken nuggets.

Are chicken nuggets good for your health?

Due to their high fat content, chicken nuggets are not a healthy option. But with that said, most people don’t buy them believing they are nutritious. Research shows they contain nerves, bones, connective tissue, and a lot of fat.One of the analyzes published in american science journal“Chicken nuggets are mostly fat, and their name is a misnomer,” said a paper that tested nuggets from two fast-food chains. However, the chain disputes this. McDonald’s claims its nuggets are “made entirely with white meat chicken.”

Daring Foods

Health concerns aside, there are some other big issues with chicken nuggets. First of all, there is the environmental impact of intensive poultry farming. The dramatic rise in popularity of nuggets and other chicken-based fast foods and convenience products has led to a boom in poultry farming. According to Greenpeace, in 2019 there were 30 chickens for every 10 people on Earth. Feeding all these animals requires a lot of resources.

According to the BBC’s Climate Change Food Calculator, which is based on extensive food production research by the University of Oxford and Zurich’s Agroecology and Environmental Research Department, eating chicken once or twice a week creates 106kg of emissions. It is said that more than 7,130 liters of water will be used. . While this is not as much as beef, it is still a significant amount, especially when compared to the same amount of beans, which emit only 7 kilograms and use over 1,905 liters of water.

However, one of the biggest problems in poultry farming is feed. That includes soybeans, a crop that is causing massive deforestation. Nearly 80% of soybeans are grown for livestock feed. Research shows that between 2001 and 2015, 8.2 million hectares of forest around the world was replaced by this crop.

plant-based nugget ingredients

When it comes to nuggets, you don’t have to eat chicken. These days, vegan versions are similar to chicken anyway, so you can get the exact same taste, texture, and overall experience without the animal.

The ingredients used in vegan nuggets vary, but most brands use soy protein or pea protein, both of which have a meat-like texture when processed. Quorn, which has won numerous awards for its realistic-tasting vegan chicken products, makes its nuggets from mycoprotein, a type of fermented bacteria.

vegan chicken nugget brand

If you want to try out the taste of vegan chicken nuggets, here are some plant-based brands you can buy.

Impossible Food

1 Impossible Food

California-based Impossible Foods is known for its meaty Impossible Burger, but it also sells vegan Impossible Chicken Nuggets. The brand, launched last year, claims its products are almost indistinguishable from the real thing. In a blind test, 7 out of 10 meat-eaters preferred Impossible nuggets over chicken nuggets. The brand also claims that its vegan nuggets use up to 49 percent less land, use 44 percent less water, and have a 36 percent lower carbon footprint than chicken.
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beyond meat

2 beyond meat

Again, Beyond Meat made a name for itself with its realistic beef-like burgers, but has since entered the vegan chicken market. He offers three vegan his chicken products, including Plant-Based Breaded Tenders, Beyond Popcorn Chicken, and Beyond Chicken Nuggets. The latter contains 14 grams of protein per serving and 50 percent less saturated fat than standard chicken nuggets.
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alpha foods

3 alpha foods

Alpha Foods has three main goals: the well-being of animals, the well-being of the planet, and the well-being of people. And all of its plant-based products, from burritos to meatballs, contribute to this core mission. That nugget is no exception. Choose from the brand’s Original Chicken Nuggets, which claim to be a great source of protein and fiber. Or, if you want something a little more exciting, try Sizzlin’ Spicy Chicken Nuggets.
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bold

Four bold

Unlike other brands on this list, Daring started with a complete focus on developing the vegan chicken market. Although the company is still relatively new, it has already achieved great success. In 2020, the company raised $8 million for product development and expansion. The range includes plant chicken pieces with a variety of spices and coatings, including breaded nugget-style options.
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simulate

Five simulate

Simulate, formerly known as Nuggs, has always taken a science-driven approach to food. Products from this brand are highly processed to make them as close to chicken as possible. And we’re not shy about that fact, and it’s proudly displayed on our packaging. Our ultra-realistic vegan chicken lineup includes tenders, nugs, and spicy his nugs.
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Gardein

6 Gardein

Whether it’s fish, beef, pork, turkey, or chicken-style plant-based meats, Gardein has you covered. The brand has built an extensive portfolio since 2003 and now offers several different vegan breaded chicken options. In addition to the ultimate plant-based chicken nuggets, you can also try Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders, Seven Grain Crispy Tenders, and Chipotle Lime Flavored Chicken Tenders.
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vegetarian butcher

7vegetarian butcher

Dutch brand The Vegetarian Butcher focuses on creating plant-based meat products so close to the real thing that you’ll never feel the need to eat meat from real animals again. The brand’s soy-based nuggets, called Little Peckers, even managed to convince Burger King to give it a try. Customers in the UK can order from all of the fast food giant’s stores in the country.
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Quorn

8 Quorn

British brand Quorn has been making convincing vegetarian meat from mycoprotein since the 1980s. The company’s products are known for their unique texture, which is very close to meat, especially chicken. This brand offers vegan dippers and nuggets. However, some products may contain milk or eggs as ingredients, so be sure to check the label before purchasing.
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morning star farms

9 morning star farms

MorningStar Farms was founded in 1975 and is currently owned by Kellogg Company. We have a wide range of vegan nuggets, some of which are a little different than what you usually find in stores. We offer several different flavors including BBQ, Zesty Ranch, and Sweet Mustard.
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vegan chicken nuggets recipe

It’s incredibly easy to stop by your local supermarket and buy a bag of frozen vegan nuggets. But sometimes you don’t want easy, you want something challenging and a little less processed. If you want to make your own nuggets at home, these recipes will help you do just that.

jessica in the kitchen

1 Vegan nuggets with tofu

This recipe proves that with the right cooking techniques, versatile tofu can taste just like chicken. But to really get the nugget experience, you also need a crispy coating. Although you can use breadcrumbs, we recommend blending in some crunchy rice cereal for this recipe to create a very satisfying crunch.
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Elephantastic Vegan

2 Vegan nuggets with seitan

The juicy texture of seitan, which is basically pure gluten, lends itself very well to vegan chicken recipes, which is why it’s the basis for this recipe. For more nutritious (and nutritious) nuggets, combine them with herbs, spices, onions, garlic, and chickpeas. This recipe also calls for sparkling water. This may seem unusual, but it helps give the seitan a light, fluffy texture.
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Not that vegan

3 vegan nuggets with mushrooms

For those who prefer vegetables to meat, mushrooms are a great alternative to vegan nuggets. Just add chickpea flour, seasoning, and salt and pulse to get the right meaty texture. You don’t even need to cook it in oil, as you can fry it right away in the airfryer.
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healthy girl kitchen

Four Vegan nuggets with chickpeas

If you love nuggets but don’t like them processed as much as store-bought nuggets, this recipe will help satisfy your cravings. Instead of vegan meat, chickpeas form the base of these nuggets. And seriously, they taste so good you won’t even notice the difference.
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hidden vegetables

Five Vegan nuggets with cauliflower

You’ve probably heard of cauliflower wings, but cauliflower nuggets are also a thing. This is a great way to sneak vegetables into your (or your child’s) meals without worrying about the fact that you’re eating healthy. For the ultimate nugget experience, serve with buffalo or barbecue dip. Have a fun snack!
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Charlotte is a writer and editor based in sunny Southsea on England’s south coast.